The Delta Drone TuksWomensRugby7's won the USSA Tournament yesterday for a fourth time by beating the University of Fort Hare 19-7 in the final played at Wits.
Tuks had a strong start to the tournament. In their first four games, they scored 150 points and only conceded seven.
During the semifinal, UJ was the first team to truly test Tuks's defensive abilities, and at first, they had the better of the onfield battle. Halftime, UJ had a 10-7 lead.
There is, however, a reason why Tuks abide by the motto of "united we stand". It was a rejuvenated Tuks who took to the field to play the second half. Cinanda Potgieter scored a stunning try. After spotting a gap in UJ's defence, she ran 65 metres before dotting down the ball.
It was not her only long-distance trying scoring effort. She had to run approximately 40 metres for her second try.
Tuks also had to keep their wits about them in the final against Fort Hare. Halftime the score was still 7-all. Fort Hare's hopes were however dashed by two tries in the last seven minutes. It was Kemisetso Baloyi and Shanea Swart who secured the victory for Tuks.
Being next to the sidelines witnessing his team's fightback in the last two games is according to Riaan van der Merwe, which makes coaching to him worthwhile.
"I will admit I was slightly worried at the start of the tournament as we are going through a rebuilding phase at Delta Drone Tuks. Only five of the players who played last week during the München Oktoberfest took to the field again.
"It meant for quite a few of the young players it was their first major tournament. What excites me is how they were able to step up during the semifinal and final when it was needed," explains the Tuks head coach.
Baloyi was the player of the tournament.
Van der Merwe was also impressed with how Kirsten Eastes took to captaining the team for the first time.
"Kirsten was continually encouraging her teammates while being herself in the thick of things at all times. In one game she ran nearly 50 metres to score a try which is not bad for a prop.
"Jodie Ayres might be one of our smallest players, but she has got heart. She impressed with how she was prepared to put her body on the line to make the big tackles.
"Every time Shanea Swart had the ball in hand, the opponents had to pull out all the stops to bring her down. It led to her scoring three tries. She was deadly accurate as placekicker succeeding with 21 conversions."
Rumandi Potgieter who last year was still playing netball for Tuks had an excellent debut playing at scrumhalf especially when she started to understand the defensive lines of sevens rugby.
Delta Drone Tuks won the USSA Tournament for the first time in 2015, then again in 2016. They missed out in 2017 as they were contesting a tournament in Germany which by the way they won. Tuks was also last year USSA champions.
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