Brandwag too strong for Muir in try fest
BRANDWAG beat Muir 35-12 with five tries to two in their schools rugby match played at Brandwag on Saturday.
Muir, who scored an impressive victory over Nico Malan last week, were first to score when fullback Senisipho Toyis crossed the line.
Centre Sicelo Tole converted and Muir briefly had a 7-0 lead.
Tole wore the number 13 shirt, but often moved to the flyhalf position where his boot proved an asset to his side.
Brandwag were resting a few regulars, most notably prop Le Klue Stokes and flyhalf Chadwyn November, but did not take long to find rhythm.
Scrumhalf Chadd Adams scored his first try after yet another telling break and wing Dean Jordan showed his speed for the second before fiery Adams scored Brandwag’s third try.
Gavin Kriel, at fullback for the day, converted all three to give Brandwag a 21-7 lead at the break.
After the break, lock Donovan Stevens broke a number of tackles to score in the midfield for the home side.
Muir scored the next try when replacement Abongile Ngqondi made a break and passed to flank Luvo Mbonvane for the score.
Ngqondi initially replaced scrumhalf Delano Terblanche, but later moved to left wing when Xhanti Katase had to be carried off late in the second half.
The last try of the game belonged to Brandwag hooker Waldo van Greunen who was justly rewarded after being on the prowl throughout the second half.
Kriel converted the try for a perfect five from five.
WYNBERG V GREY
GREY High maintained their unbeaten record this season when they outlasted Wynberg 40-30 in a hard-fought schools rugby derby in Cape Town on Saturday.
After building a comfortable lead in the second half when they went 33-18 ahead, Grey had to dig deep in the closing stages to hold Wynberg at bay after two tries saw their cushion suddenly reduced to three points at 33-30.
However, Grey showed good maturity and control as the pressure grew for flyhalf LJ du Preez to step through the defence for a try, which he converted, to make the final score 40-30.
After leading 28-18 at half time, Grey went further ahead in the second half when scrumhalf Runaldo Pedro crossed for a try, taking the score to 33-18.
Had Grey scored again at this stage they might have run away with the game, but Wynberg showed great character to give their opponents a real scare with their spirited comeback.
The visitors led throughout the game after Joshua Oosthuysen crossed for a try in the fifth minute, converted by Du Preez.
Centre Waqar Solaan then scored two tries, both of which Du Preez converted, while Wynberg kicked two penalties to make it 21-6 midway through the first half.
Captain Bevan Prinsloo added a fourth try for Grey, but Wynberg displayed their fighting qualities with two tries of their own as an action-filled first half ended at 28-18.
The pace of the scoring slowed in the second half before the later stages of the match when Wynberg came back strongly.
But Grey are proving a tough unit this season, demonstrating admirable fortitude under pressure and it again stood them in good stead in Cape Town.
Grey will host Graeme College on Wednesday at 4pm.
PEARSON V HUDSON
PEARSON put in a brave performance against East London rivals Hudson Park before eventually going down 22-7 in an exciting encounter in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Playing with the wind, the home side were first to score when fullback Rodwill Baatjies crossed for a try, which he converted.
Immediately after the restart, Pearson suffered a yellow card for a high tackle and Hudson Park seized the initiative with two converted tries in a period which had a crucial effect on the game.
The visitors added a penalty by flyhalf Avuyile Mabece and although Pearson pressed hard to close the gap in the closing stages of the first half, the Hudson Park defence stood firm.
Pearson had to run the ball against the wind in the second half and they produced some exciting moves, twice crossing the line only for the referee to recall them for infringements (forward pass and foot in touch).
Despite the home side creating a number of opportunities in the second half, they just failed to finish them off.
Hudson Park sealed the victory with a try in the final minute when wing Bulelani Ngaki crossed for the second time in the match.
Hudson’s other try came from scrumhalf Hlumelo Ndudula, while Mabece kicked two conversions and a penalty.
It was a much improved performance by Pearson after losing to Hudson 61-3 in East London last year.