Breakers scrape to a tense win
THE twists and turns continue in the highest league of Border rugby as teams battle it out in what many have found to be a tough competition.
Breakers turned in a ruthless defensive second half performance to shut out Cambridge in a nail-biting 12-11 win away from home. The Mlungisi side deserved the tense win. All the points were scored in the first half.
Cambridge was the quickest out of the blocks as De Wet Theron crossed the whitewash for the game’s opening try. Rudy Robson failed with the conversion.
The men from Queenstown replied with a try and conversion by fullback Nkunku Mbusi and the visitors led 7-5. Theron slotted a penalty and Cambridge took the lead again at 8-7. Breakers had other ideas, however, as Thandile Magaqa dived over for an unconverted try. Theron had the final say in this half as a successful penalty brought his side close at 12-11.
The second half was a tight affair. Both teams threw everything into attack to salvage a victory, but both defences stood firm. Breakers are sixth on the log with nine points while Cambridge dropped to eighth with seven points.
Old Collegians let them- selves and their supporters down after going down 20-7 to Winter Rose at the Thobi Kula Sports Centre. The match turned out to be a nightmare for the Collegians’ coaching staff as poor decision-making and a lethargic outfit who clearly lack the mental and physical acumen laboured to their third defeat of the season. Winter Rose’s game plan was spot on. After a pulsating first half it was the visitors who took a deserved 6-0 lead through two penalties by Luxolo Mtsewu. OC could not put any points on the board as they lacked creativity and fire power to penetrate the Winter Rose rear-guard.
The second half started on a positive note for the home side. Cheslin Jekels breached the Winter Rose defence to score. Chawiele Hartnick, who had a nightmare outing at flyhalf, slotted the conversion. OC’s 7-6 lead was short-lived as Mcedisi Sifati dazzled his way to a converted try. Leading 13-7 Winter Rose stamped their authority as flyhalf Thobani Mveli put the final nail in OC’s coffin with a try. Mtsewu made no mistake with the conversion. With the win Winter Rose leapfrogged Collegians to ninth with six points while OC dropped to 11th with five points. Elsewhere, Old Selbornians gave a warning of their title credentials after hammering Swallows 33-0 to win their third consecutive match. Old Boys are on top of the table with 14 points. Swallows and 10th with five. WSU All Blacks made it three out of three after smashing Buffs 48-8 away from home. All Blacks have 14 points and are third. Buffs is seventh with nine points. It was a massacre as Police ran riot, destroying Africans 50-5. Police is second on the log, also with 14 points. Africans is at the bottom with no wins in three outings. Fort Hare Blues defeated Berlin Tigers 11-9. Fort Hare is fifth on the log with nine points while Tigers is one spot above them with 10.
In the Premier League, Shining Stars lost 10-3 away to Busy Boys. In a commemorative match on Sunday where a mixture of Breakers and Shining Stars players honoured Whawha Ludidi, Mlungisi Kings defeated the Mlungisi Stars 31-30.
Zola Madiba captained the Kings while the Stars were led by Malusi Gomba. Killa Manzi was the man of the match with two tries.
Tomorrow Breakers are at home against Fort Hare Blues while OC travel to Berlin to clash with Tigers.
‘Collegians go down 20-7 to Winter Rose at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sport Centre in Queenstown’