Defender Keegan Allan was the hero for home side Richards Bay who kicked off their Betway Premiership season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over TS Galaxy.
New signing Keegan Allan scored the decisive goal at the King Zwelithini Stadium in the 22nd minute.
New Natal Rich Boyz coach Brandon Truter was overseeing his first competitive game for the club and he handed debuts to Siyethemba Sithebe, Thabang Sibanyoni and Allen.
Rockets boss Sead Ramovic, meanwhile, made three changes from the team that lost to Stellenbosch in an MTN8 quarter-final.
Goalkeeper Eliezer Ira Tape made his Galaxy debut while Kganyane Letsoenyo and Thokozani Sibanyoni were also handed starts.
The home side were certainly on top in the opening exchanges and after some good forays forward were rewarded when Allen headed home an excellent cross from Lwandile Mabuya.
The hosts remained largely in control of the first half with Galaxy struggling to create anything in the way of a clear-cut chance.
They were rocked by an injury to Sithebe though as Moses Mthembu came on, while Salim Magoola made an excellent save to stop Sibanyoni from pulling a goal back for the away team just before the half-time break.
The second stanza proved to be a cagey affair with both sides squandering a number of half chances before changes were made to impact the outcome.
Ramovic introduced new signing Nhlanhla Mgaga for Mpho Mvelase and Victor Letsoalo replaced Marks Munyai.
But it wasn’t to be as Richards Bay claimed all three points from their first game of the 2024/25 campaign.
#BetwayPrem - RESULT:@RichardsBayFC_ secure maximum points as they win at home against @TSGALAXYFC. pic.twitter.com/trkuGai29L
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) September 15, 2024
