Ndzondelelo win SA U15 Vuka title
NDZONDELELO High emerged as winners of the South African Rugby Legends U15 Vuka tournament when they beat Grahamstown’s Mary Waters 22-7 at the Dan Qeqe Stadium at the weekend.
Mary Waters, who had a good campaign in the tournament, came into the match with guns blazing, showing Ndzondelelo that they were not fazed by their unbeaten run in the competition.
They drew first blood early with a fine try from speedy wing Breyton Johnson, which Damian Maerman converted.
Ndzondelelo eventually found their footing and started to display excellent structured rugby. They shifted to attack mode and their efforts paid off immediately with a try from hefty prop Lungisa Komsana.
The heat that the visitors had shown in the opening stages of the game gradually died down and the home side capitalised with another try from flyhalf Buhlebenkosi Mswana, who added the conversion.
They went into the break leading 12-7.
Discipline proved to be a problem in both camps as a player from each side was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
Ndzondelelo revved up their attack and crossed for another try from Luvuyo Hanabe after he broke through the defence.
Fatigue took its toll on the visitors and they were punished by Ndzondelelo after missing a few opportunities to get back into the game.
Mswana put the final nail in the coffin with a brilliant individual try that saw him outrun four defenders from his own half.
Eastern Province High Schools Rugby president Willem October said he was impressed how the level of rugby in the township schools had improved.
“The standard of rugby displayed by these schools is quite impressive and we must commend the development and nurturing that they are getting from their schools,” he said.
A 30-player squad will now be selected for a training camp next month in preparation for the Iqhawe tournament that will host teams from all nine provinces in Johannesburg.