Cillie hang on in rain to defeat Ithembelihle

ITHEMBELIHLE and Cillie produced some excellent rugby in their schools clash, despite the wet conditions at the weekend. Cillie held on for an exciting 20-15 victory. Ithembe opened the scoring through a penalty by flyhalf Thabo Matiso, but Cillie, led by powerful No 8 Leonardo Tshingane, took control as they put on the pressure up front.

Ithembe loose forwards Gabri Mbambisa Skalika and Charlie and Ayabonga Mayigcwale stood out, but Cillie scored the first try when powerhouse centre Dylan Grootboom, broke through for an unconverted try. He soon followed up with a penalty.

Cillie went further ahead when Tshingane barged over for another unconverted try, making it 13-3 at the break.

Ithembe lock Hussayn Banzi’s call-up in the second half changed the game as he often led attacks.

From a ruck close to the Cillie line, the ball went to Banzi, who brushed the opposition aside for a try under the poles. It was converted by Matiso.

With their confidence high, Ithembe wing Lutho Mdudo put in some telling runs.

From another ruck, on the Cillie 22, the ball again went to Banzi, who powered through for a try. Matiso failed to convert, but Ithembe had a 15-13 lead.

After both sides missed penalties, Cillie took a quick tap when Ithembe infringed at a ruck and wing Lawrence Basson fended off some half-hearted tackles to score in the corner.

Grootboom slotted the difficult conversion to give Cillie the 20-15 victory.

Alex v Kirkwood

AFTER a defeat against Cillie, Alexander Road bounced back with a narrow victory over Kirwood on Saturday, winning 7-5.

Kirkwood opened the scoring in the 20th minute through a try, but the Alex defence stood firm to stop the big Kirkwood runners from scoring again.

In the 34th minute of the second half, the Alex forwards won a tighthead scrum, and flank Keagan Sighn broke away to go over the line for a try.

Flyhalf Ayden Lauberschagne successfully kicked the conversion to give Alex the lead – and eventually the 7-5 victory.