FANTASTIC RUN BY HLUHLUWE AND IMPI
HLUHLUWE won the Link Sports 74th Bozas Cup on Saturday while last Friday FNB UKZN Impi picked up their first win of the 2020 FNB Varsity Shield, coming back from 19-5 down at half-time to beat the University of Fort Hare 31-24.
What made the Impi’s victory that much more special was the fact that they were away from home in Alice, the home of Fort Hare, which by all accounts is not the easiest of venues to play in.
Fort Hare scored the bulk of their points in the first half and it ended up being a game of two halves, with Impi digging deep to dominate proceedings against their hosts in the second session.
The University of Fort Hare came flying out the blocks and opened the scoring in the first half, crossing for three of their four tries with the touch-downs going to Kamvelihle Menze, Mihkali Nobomvu and Mkhomo Caku-Caku, of which two were converted by Keith Chinara.
Their second half try came from Migcobo Bovu. The Impi scored six tries to four with their tries going to Onke Jiba and Tenderai Mdudzo who crossed for two each, with the others going to Devandre Adendorff and Wadile Shabangu. Sibongile Novuko converted three of the tries to conclude the scoring.
In the other games the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) went down 32-24 to the Madibaz and front runners Walter Sisulu University thumped Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 51-10.
UKZN Impi will have their second home game on Friday evening at Howard College and will be up against log leaders Walter Sisulu, CPUT host Rhodes and TUT are at home to Fort Hare.
Up in Eshowe the Eshowe Rugby Club hosted the 74th Bozas Cup, with 11 clubs converging on the Zululand town to join their hosts for yet another entertaining afternoon of fast, bruising and enthralling rugby.
It’s best described as the 15-man game played to Sevens rules, a unique format of the game that definitely looks at improving handling skills.
Richards Bay beat a vastly improved Ballito Dolphins XV 10-7 in a closely contested final to take the First Division title, while the Bozas Cup was won for the sixth time by Hluhluwe in 74 years, having last won the cup in 2018, after beating their hosts Eshowe.
Scrum-half Ngcebo ‘Stingray’
Zulu from Ballito Dolphins was named backline player of the tournament while lock Jean Engelbrecht from Richards Bay was named best forward.
Huge accolades to the chairman of Eshowe RFC Johnathan Maduma and thanks for his personal invitation to an exceptionally well run tournament.
The president Jonny Pinto and his organising committee deserve credit for their efforts in making the tournament run smoothly. To Barry Neville and sponsors Link Sports, your support for the club game is appreciated. To Graham Chennels from Sugar Mill Manor, thanks for the accommodation. Next year will be the 75th anniversary of the Bozas Cup and fittingly it will be played in the centenary year of the club.
The draw for the Flya Club competition takes place this evening at Vox Crusaders at 5pm with the top local clubs in action. College Rovers will be looking at retaining the crown while SA Home Loans Durban Collegians, hosts Crusaders and Varsity College will all be fielding incredibly competitive outfits. Other sides In the draw are UKZN Maritzburg, Hillcrest Villagers, Richards Bay and Amanzimtoti.
The opening round will be played on Friday evening.