Nathaniel Nyaluza first and second rugby teams squared up against each other at Miki Yili Stadium on Wednesday.
The Nyaluza second team proved to be worthy replacements for Ntsika High School as they went down in a fast paced game punctuated by scintillating backline movements.
Nathaniel Nyaluza first and second rugby teams squared up against each other at Miki Yili Stadium on Wednesday.
The Nyaluza second team proved to be worthy replacements for Ntsika High School as they went down in a fast paced game punctuated by scintillating backline movements.
In the first ten minutes, both sides went at each other hammer and tongs. Both sides were guilty of conceding turnovers at every second phase; but this did not disrupt the fluency of the game as both sets of wings from each team tested each other out.
The first maul from an offside penalty resulted in a try by lock Siviwe Mvela, as the first team forwards showed more cohesion than the second team forwards.
The first team kept the seconds defence very busy with some enterprising interplay between backs and forwards, but handling errors hampered the execution of the moves.
Nyaluza first team were duly rewarded when tight head prop Bonginkosi Sanders crashed over for the second try which was converted by half back Thobani Tshoba to extend the lead to 12-0 at half time.
Effective defence
The second half continued very much like the first half with both teams breaking through the advantage line regularly, but the cover defence of both sides was very effective.
The slick handling and interplay of both back lines was something of a marvel, and the first team’s third try came from clever running by Thobani Tshoba, who skimmed the back line and cover defence to down the ball under the uprights to extend the lead to 19-0.
Another move orchestrated deep in Nyaluza’s half lead by Tshoba put the result beyond doubt at 26-0.
The seconds stuck to their guns and attacked the firsts, who had begun to slow their pace. The seconds attacked with verve and purpose and were rewarded when prop Thulani Khonza crossed the chalk to reduce the margin to 26-5, which remained unchanged until the final whistle.
