South African Rugby League –Rhinos succeeded in its first step towards qualification time for the 2017-World Cup (13-man code) by beating the national side from the Philippines -Tamaraws 32-28 in an international game at Hammondville Oval, New South Wales, Australia whilst being on a development tour. The Rhinos started with a bang by scoring the first three tries of the game before the Tamaraws could stop the flow of tries. The Philippines with their superior knowledge of the game had to claw back with similar attacks to ensure that the Rhinos were not going to overpower them already in the first half. Both teams produced nice runs and the scoreboard was kept busy with the scoring taking place on both sides. The tempo of the game was fast with quality group-tackles on both sides. At the end it was the superior conversions of the Rhinos that kept them on the score board as the leaders. For the first time Australian-based players with heritage-association with South Africa, were invited to join the Rhinos on the development tour to Australia. Their experience in the code was of great advance to the SA-players of whom but only started to play the game about a year ago. Most of the Philippine players are also based in Australia and plays Rugby League atAustralian Rugby Clubs. Having only 6 penalties allocated during the game to each team- both sides each indicated how well controlled and disciplined the game was played. Captain & Stand-off (Flyhalf) Jean Coetzer from the Pretoria-Rabbitohs was first to open the score board for the Rhinos and converted his own try. South African Rugby League –Rhinos succeeded in its first step towards qualification time for the 2017-World Cup (13-man code) by beating the national side from the Philippines -Tamaraws 32-28 in an international game at Hammondville Oval, New South Wales, Australia whilst being on a development tour. The Rhinos started with a bang by scoring the first three tries of the game before the Tamaraws could stop the flow of tries. The Philippines with their superior knowledge of the game had to claw back with similar attacks to ensure that the Rhinos were not going to overpower them already in the first half. Both teams produced nice runs and the scoreboard was kept busy with the scoring taking place on both sides. The tempo of the game was fast with quality group-tackles on both sides. At the end it was the superior conversions of the Rhinos that kept them on the score board as the leaders. For the first time Australian-based players with heritage-association with South Africa, were invited to join the Rhinos on the development tour to Australia. Their experience in the code was of great advance to the SA-players of whom but only started to play the game about a year ago. Most of the Philippine players are also based in Australia and plays Rugby League atAustralian Rugby Clubs. Having only 6 penalties allocated during the game to each team- both sides each indicated how well controlled and disciplined the game was played. Captain & Stand-off (Flyhalf) Jean Coetzer from the Pretoria-Rabbitohs was first to open the score board for the Rhinos and converted his own try. Score: Rhinos 6 – 0 Tamaraws After a few quick moves Australian based player- Winger-Gideon Mzembe from the Brisbane Panthers used his fast superior speed down the side-line to send an inside pass to Center-Rudolph Prinsloo to score the next try. Converted by Jean Coetzer Score: Rhinos 12 – 0 Tamaraws Prop Jaicee Terblanche from Bethal Broncos shoulder charged throught the Philippines defense to up the scoreboard. Score: Rhinos 16 – 0 Tamaraws After a few power plays the Tamaraws succeeded in scoring in the right-hand corner with quick backline passes outclassing the defence. Conversion attempt not successful. Score: Rhinos 16 – 4 Tamaraws Again the Tamaraws had to absorb a lot of attacks from the Rhinos and was able to regain some meters and then succeeded again by penetrating the Rhino defence and scoring in the right-hand corner. Conversion attempt not successful. Score: Rhinos 16 – 8 Tamaraws Allowing a lot of errors to stem their tide of attacks the Rhinos slipped on quality defence and the Tamaraws scored on the 40thmin of the game. Score@ Half-time: Rhinos 16 – 12 Tamaraws Brendon Snell from Middelburg Tigers then got a beauty of an offload from Jean Coetzer to score next to the sticks. Score: Rhinos 22 – 12 Tamaraws The Tamaraws was able to score the next try. Conversion attempt successful. Score: Rhinos 22 – 18 Tamaraws. The Rhinos then revived their attempt to work back to scoring successfully at outplaying the defence. Marcell Viljoen from the Bears was next to score. Score: Rhinos 26 – 18 Tamaraws. In the 63rd minute the Rhinos via Rudolph Prinsloo from the Bears scored his second try of the day. Score: Rhinos 32 – 18 Tamaraws. The Tamaraws then scored from the base of a scrum. Score: Rhinos 32 – 22 Tamaraws. The Tamaraws then was able to score the last try of the game by opening the outside defence of the Rhinos. Final Score: Rhinos 32 – 28 Tamaraws. Rhino Man-of-the-Match: Shane Gilham. Next Game: 2 May (Saturday) 2015 – Rhinos vs Pacific Islands- Niue @ Campbell sports Stadium Pembroke Road, Leumeah, NSW @ 19h00 (Aus Time). 11h00 (SA Time)