Ithembe off to good start
With a number of new faces in their squad, Ithembelihle have made a solid start to their rugby season, defeating Victoria Park 33-3 and putting in a strong effort against the Daniel Pienaar.
After the win over VP in the Kirkwood Festival, Ithembe played Daniel Pienaar team on Friday at the Despatch Festival.
Conditions were wet underfoot, which threatened to hamper their natural running game, while Ithembe were also outweighed by their opposition.
After thwarting a number of attacks, Ithembe received a penalty but were penalised at the lineout.
Daniel Pienaar kicked for touch and from the lineout they set up phases to go over for a converted try.
Using their rush defence, Ithembe kept their bigger opponents behind the advantage line and had a chance to score when Daniel Pienaar were penalised at a ruck.
However, centre Lotto Kete’s kick was just wide.
The Uitenhage side surged back on to the attack and an attempted drop goal was just wide.
They continued to attack from all over the field, but Ithembe’s defence was resolute as the sides went into halftime with a score of 7-0.
Playing with the wind in the second half, Daniel Pienaar dominated the lineouts, but Ithembe also disrupted their throw-ins on occasion.
From one of those moments, they received a penalty, went for a quick tap and big Phumelela du Preez drove well for diminutive No 9 Makweila Mnyungula to eventually burrow his way over for an unconverted try (7-5).
Daniel Pienaar then attacked relentlessly, but could not break the Ithembe defence.
The side almost scored after an attack from their 22 when wing Sbu Zenzile rounded his man and kicked ahead, but was held back.
Ithembe attacked from the ensuing penalty, but the Daniel Pienaar defence held.
With five minutes left, Daniel Pienaar started stringing phases together and eventually crossed for an unconverted try to make the final score 12-5. Ithembe now travel to Graaff-Reinet for the Union High Festival where they will take on Paarl Gym Daisies and Cambridge.
That will be followed by the Grey Festival with games against Grey Unicorns and Woodridge.
● The St Andrew’s rugby team did not disappoint in a muchanticipated start to the 2019 season with a clinical 47-12 win against the visiting Nico Malan from Humansdorp in Makhanda at the weekend.
Conditions were not ideal on Lower Field after some much-needed rain had fallen in the build-up to the game.
St Andrew’s settled any nerves by scoring early through their captain Chris Poole, who executed well from a lineout drive.
New flyhalf Connor Stulich added the conversion to make the score 7-0 after five minutes.
Due to the pressure being exerted, Nico Malan conceded a number of penalties and it was tireless flank Busang Mmile who was rewarded with a try.
Further tries from Poole and Dylan Wilson, which were all converted by Stulich, took the score to 28-0 before halftime.
It was then that a moment of magic from provincial flyhalf Delron Dickin allowed Nico Malan to bounce back with a try of their own to reduce the deficit, with the half ending at 28-7.
A well-worked try to impressive fullback Lloyd Koster and another to centre Jason Thomas meant St Andrew’s put the result beyond doubt early into the second half, jumping out to a 42-7 lead.
Nico Malan never gave up and did score again before hard-working St Andrew’s eighth man Matthew Hillary finished the scoring to make it 47-12.
It was an impressive and dominant performance from the St Andrew’s pack and, in the conditions, a real workmanlike performance which has set the tone for the season.