Imposing Ithembelihle take Mary Waters to cleaners

Ithembelihle beat Mary Waters 27-10 in an entertaining schools rugby match in Grahamstown on Saturday.

The teams were evenly matched, both sides frequently running the ball.

After each side had missed penalties, Ithembe began to settle down and set up phases, with No 8 Kwii Tshaka and big lock Phumelela du Preez prominent.

Prop Siphelele Ntundushe opened the scoring when he went over for an unconverted try after sustained pressure on the Mary Waters line.

From the kick-off, the visitors were trapped inside their half and Mary Waters caught them napping from a quick penalty, spreading the ball for wing Mbulelani Mandla to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

After knocking the ball on close to their line and conceding a scrum, Ithembe got out of trouble when centre Lotto Kete intercepted and ran the length of the field for another unconverted try.

Mary Waters struck back when centre Blade Jeggels rounded the defence to score in the corner, making it 10-10 at halftime.

Forcing Mary Waters into a mistake soon after the restart, Tshaka broke wide and fed flanker Akhona Sonti to go over for a try converted by Kete.

Fullback Julian Grey then slotted a penalty to extend the lead to 20-10.

Mary Waters fought back fiercely, but great defence from centre Luyanda Oniwe and lock Du Preez kept them out.

After another Ithembe attack, scrumhalf Makweila Mnyungula dummied his way through for a try in the corner, with Grey slotting a difficult conversion from the touchline.

The Ithembe U15 team scored a last-minute try to earn an 18-17 victory.