Mary Waters crowned EP Under-15 champs
Mary Waters Secondary School proved to be the toast of the Eastern Province after the U15 rugby team defeated Ndzondelelo High School from Port Elizabeth 17-7 in a pulsating final of the SA Rugby Legends Vuka programme. The game was played at the Dan Qeqe Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The game started at a slow pace as both teams, undefeated in league play during the season, looked to find a way past the other. Mary Waters, with their lighter players, ran the ball to keep the heavier Ndzondelelo players chasing. This created an opening in the fourth minute when fullback Nolan Madlebe crossed the tryline in the left-hand corner after another sweeping backline move.
Ndzondelelo came back storming and set up numerous phases with their heavy forwards to test the defence of Mary Waters. The defence stood firm. In the 15th minute however, the bulky prop forward of Nzondelelo managed to barge his way over for a converted try to give the hosts a 7-5 lead. This seemed to spur them on as they continued with wave upon wave of attack, only to be denied by turnovers in the rucks or unforced errors.
This gave the visitors the confidence and in the 22nd minute, speedy centre Blaine Jeggels was put through a gap in midfield with an excellent offload by fellow centre Aphelele Botha to score after shrugging of a desperate high tackle attempt. This gave Marry Waters a 10-7 lead that they kept until the half time mark.
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams still showing belief that they could win the game. Ndzondelelo continued to test the Mary Waters defence with some bullocking runs by the forwards. The support for the ball carriers was however, still lacking, with numerous balls being turned over by the visitors at the breakdown.
Mary Waters, after weathering the storm for most of the half, continued to back their running game.
They came close on several occasions to extending their lead, only to be thwarted by mistakes and desperate tackles by the home team. With two minutes left in the game, Ndzondelelo went on the offensive.
In their quest to get the ball out wide to their right wing, centre Botha intercepted the pass on the halfway line to run in untouched. Madlebe converted to give Mary Waters a 17-7 lead. Ndzondelelo launched one last attack to get points in the half. They however lost possession and the ball was kicked forward by the visitors.
Two Mary Waters players converged on the ball in the in-goal area, and through a lack of communication between them, the ball was knocked forward and over the dead ball line.
This signalled the end of the game with Mary Waters victorious by 17-7 to end a successful season.
To play the final, Mary Waters played Chapman High from Port Elizabeth in the semi-final and won 37-12.
They reached the semifinals by beating Ntaba Maria 33-17 in the Albany Finals. Tries were scored by centre Aphelele Botha, centre Blaine Jeggels, fullback Nolan Madlebe and replacement flyhalf Damian Maerman (2). Madlebe added four conversions.