WSU just pip Harlequins in tough match
Ill-discipline costs Gardens against Swallows
WALTER Sisulu University (WSU) broke the hearts of Port Elizabeth Harlequins when they won their Eastern Cape Super 12 club rugby fixture 14-12 at Adcock Stadium on Saturday.
The “All Blacks” snatched the spoils in a nail-biting clash.
Harlequins got the upper hand in the 20th minute when WSU lock Bongile Ntoko was yellowcarded for a high tackle.
The home side sneaked in two back-to-back tries through speedy left wing Irvin Kapara and right wing Chessy Lewack. They were denied their third try when flank Ricky Williams knocked the ball 5m from the try line.
WSU got off to a good start in the second half when skipper and lock Lelo Gamashe scored their first try from a well executed set piece by the forwards. Bongani Zwane converted.
Frustration got the better of Harlequins and they started deviating from the form they had shown in the first half.
WSU capitalised on their infringements and Gamashe got in for his second try of the game in the dying minutes.
Zwane converted with just three minutes on the clock to close out the victory.
In another thrilling match, played in Mdantsane, Swallows narrowly edged defending champions Gardens 16-12.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when flanker Dalington Gans crossed the try line.
Swallows fullback Cameron Lentoor hit back with a penalty after Gardens were judged to have had hands in a ruck.
Gardens’ ill-discipline crept in first when forward Ayanda Nagompula was yellow-carded for playing the ball while offside.
The hosts took full advantage of playing against 14 men as impressive 8th man Lukhanyo Siyobi scored a try. Lentoor easily converted to make it 10-5.
Gardens flanker Nathal Forbes was the second player sent to the sin bin, for slowing down play.
His teammates Gans and inside centre Virgil Russel were given a yellow card and red card respectively for dangerous play.
Despite ill-discipline costing them, the visitors seemed determined to get back in the game and played more with their wings.
However, poor officiating did not do them any favours as the ref made several bad calls.
Lentoor finally extended Swallows’ lead to 16-5 with quick successive penalties.
The visitors threw everything at the hosts and were rewarded when they scored a converted intercepted try under the poles.
The full results were: Group A Swallows 16 Gardens12 Park 17 Spring Rose 22 Breakers 18 Cambridge 25 Group B EL Police 7 Buffaloes 10 Harlequins 12 WSU 14 Progress 26 Despatch 14