John Dobson found value in DHL Western Province’s challenging match against Griquas on Friday, despite a tough 37-29 loss at Griqua Park. The match, which was the final game of the Currie Cup for both teams, was a chance for the Stormers to gain crucial experience, especially with their upcoming Vodacom URC season opener postponed.
“We’re disappointed with the result,” Dobson said after the game. “But the main goal was to get our players some game time.”
With the uncertainty around the new URC season’s start date, Dobson highlighted the importance of the game in bringing his team closer to full match readiness.
The Northern Cape fixture allowed key Stormers players such as Leolin Zas, JD Schickerling, Marcel Theunissen, Andre-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouche, and captain Dan du Plessis to get valuable playing time. Du Plessis, who scored a try on either side of halftime, was noted for his standout performance.
“A lot of the guys haven’t played in a while, so it was important for them to get on the field,” Dobson said. “Dan was exceptional, and we had no injuries, which is a positive.”
Despite these positives, Dobson acknowledged issues in the lineouts, which he believes contributed to the loss. “Our lineouts were poor, and that probably cost us the game. While lack of game time played a part, we did well in the scrums.”
Dobson also commended Griquas for their resilience and ongoing effort. “Credit to Griquas for their fight. They have a lot of good players. Some of our players showed fight too, but they still need more game time before we play again in three weeks.”
