Macassar Edge Kylemore in Super League B Opener
Macassar RFC kicked off their 2025 Super League B campaign with a hard-fought 15-20 victory over Kylemore RFC in a tightly contested encounter played in Kylemore over the weekend of April 5, 2025.
The clash lived up to expectations, with both teams showing grit and intensity throughout the 80 minutes. While Macassar emerged victorious, it was far from a walkover, with the hosts pushing them all the way in front of a vocal home crowd.
A decisive moment came with the introduction of veteran playmaker Jovan Cookson at halftime. The experienced back immediately made his presence felt, orchestrating play with precision and control. Just minutes into the second half, Cookson launched a sniping break from inside his own half, slicing through the Kylemore defense before linking up with Jaden Pieterse, who dotted down under the posts for a converted try that swung momentum firmly in Macassar’s favor.
Macassar’s dominant forward pack, led by Clint Stewart and Eduardo Titus, laid the platform with relentless pressure up front, giving their backs room to operate. However, discipline—or the lack thereof—proved a worrying theme, with the visitors receiving three yellow cards. Captain Jaydee Dampies, Jaydean Machelm, and Chad Williams were all sent to the bin at various stages for ill-discipline, putting the team under unnecessary pressure.
Despite playing shorthanded for significant periods, Macassar’s defense held firm in the closing stages, repelling wave after wave of Kylemore attack to seal a gritty 15-20 win and start the season on a high note.
“We’re proud of the fight the boys showed, especially under pressure in the last 20 minutes,” said Forward coach Renaldo Meyer. “But the ill-discipline is a concern. In tighter matches, those yellow cards could be the difference between winning and losing.”
Assistant coach on the day Cameron Isaacs echoed the sentiment, while praising the impact of the senior players:
“The injection of experience from Jovan [Cookson] and Garth [de Bruin] brought great composure to the team. Their leadership and decision-making were key in seeing the game out.”
Macassar next host Vineyards RFC, and while the coaching staff are pleased with the opening result, they know improvements are needed if they’re to mount a serious campaign in 2025.
“We’ll take the win, regroup, and work on tightening our discipline. The potential is there—we just need to polish a few areas,” added Meyer.
Photo credit: Pb-Pix Patrick Vermeulen