Ithembelihle maintain fine run
Players hold their own in exciting schools rugby clash
In the wake of their win over John Walton, Ithembelihle maintained their momentum when they defeated Cillie 27-10 in their schools rugby clash at the weekend.
Leading 10-0 at halftime, Ithembe struggled to find their rhythm after having not played the previous weekend and had to contend with a stiff breeze as both teams felt each other out in the first half.
This made it something of a disjointed affair and both sides made several handling mistakes.
Ithembe scrumhalf Lunesipho Maqoma proved a handful for the opposition as he broke through the Cillie defence a few times from scrums.
Ithembelihle eventually struck in the 15th minute as Cillie tried to run the ball out of their 22m area, but their player was tackled.
At the ensuing ruck, the ball was turned over and flank Sivenathi Fenqe broke strongly and fed hardworking lock Kamva Memani, who brushed off several defenders to run through from the 10m line for a try under the poles.
Centre Endy Myosana added the conversion.
Now Ithembe began to find their feet and big prop Mugsi Banzi went on the run, brushing defenders aside.
With Cillie under pressure, they infringed in front of their poles and Myosana kicked the goal to give Ithembe a 10-0 lead at halftime.
With the wind at their backs, Ithembe made a bright start to the second half when a Cillie penalty kick did not find touch.
It was fielded by Maqoma on the Ithembe 10m line and he broke and fed Myosana, who passed to midfield partner Kuhle Kete.
He drew two defenders before feeding wing Luphelo Nxawe on the halfway line, who outpaced the opposition for an unconverted try in the corner.
Ithembe began to run the ball at every opportunity and from a ruck on their 22m line the ball was moved quickly to right wing Durrah Makina, who crossed over for another unconverted try.
Cillie, however, refused to give up and hooker Cloenynne Classen was a handful with his runs, taking two to three defenders to put him down.
They eventually scored when a break from a scrum saw wing Cleavan Adams go over for a try in the corner to make it 20-5. Ithembe struck back from the kickoff when Cillie knocked the ball on.
From the scrum, flyhalf Bongani Songongo passed to Myosana, who ran a beautiful line to cut straight through the defence for a try under the poles, which he converted himself.
Cillie continued to fight hard and launched one attack after another.
They were rewarded when Adams came around from his wing to the other side to finish off a great attacking move for their second try.
Ithembe are now preparing for a clash with Bonzai as they work to improve their game ahead of what will be a serious challenge against Graeme College in Makhanda on June 4.