Ithembe overpowered by DP

DANIEL Pienaar struck early with a converted try to set up a 25-5 win over Ithembelihle in their schools rugby encounter in Uitenhage at the weekend.

Coming off a hard game just two days previously against Ndzondelelo, Ithembe battled back well after conceding the 7-0 lead.

For the next 20 minutes, the match became an arm wrestle, with Daniel Pienaar camping in the Ithembe 22 and the visitors defending stoutly. The pressure resulted in a penalty for the home side which they kicked out to set up a lineout on the Ithembe line.

However, lock Khanyisa Max- amba managed to steal the ball to relieve the pressure for his team.

Ithembe, though, remained under pressure, but were saved again when hooker Lubabalo Maqoma took a heel against the head at a scrum close to their line.

After trying a blindside move, Daniel Pienaar eventually took the opportunity to kick for the posts to make it 10-0.

Ithembe then had a chance on attack, but a knock-on in the Daniel Pienaar 22 saw the home side move downfield, where they were awarded a penalty to increase their lead to 13-0. Both sides were prepared to run the ball and Ithembe were finally able to get close to the Daniel Pienaar line. After a try was ruled out when prop Sinoxolo Sihoyiya barged over the line, Ithembe received a penalty from which captain Akho Tshoba took a quick tap for scrumhalf Bathandwa Matrose to slip through for an unconverted try in the corner.

DP came back strongly and scored two more tries before the end, one of which was converted to secure the 25-5 victory.

Daniel Pienaar’s try-scorers were hooker Zander Viljoen, wing Athenkosi Sikiwe and flank Duan du Plessis.