Kingswood 1st XV captain Olehile Losaba rescued his team with a late try as they survived a scare from Graeme College in their final game of the season on Saturday to win 26-19. Despite cold and rainy conditions, the crowd at Graeme’s Somerset Field were left thoroughly entertained.
Kingswood 1st XV captain Olehile Losaba rescued his team with a late try as they survived a scare from Graeme College in their final game of the season on Saturday to win 26-19. Despite cold and rainy conditions, the crowd at Graeme’s Somerset Field were left thoroughly entertained.
Fly-half Sivu Ngqiyaza drew first blood for Graeme with a penalty from near the left touchline deep into opposition territory. However, this only seemed to spur Kingswood on. Right from the subsequent kick-off, the visitors piled pressure on Graeme.
Their breakthrough came through full-back Athi Halom, who waltzed through the Graeme defence in typical fashion to dot down under the posts. As expected, fly-half Weston Potgieter nailed the conversion.
Ngqiyaza soon nailed another penalty – this time from close to halfway. However, Kingswood once again hit back. Another try soon followed, this time from winger Matthew Takeloo. This time, Potgieter failed to convert from near the touchline. Kingswood thus went into the break six points ahead.
The lead did not last long. Early in the second half, Graeme scored a try through captain and centre Ntsika Ndungane. Ngqiyaza’s conversion put the hosts in front.
Kingswood rallied hard and a penalty gave them the opportunity to turn the tide. Potgieter missed, but the visitors were soon camped on the Graeme tryline. Number eight Jimmy Sholto-Douglas crashed over and the tide had turned once more.
Graeme refused to lie down and levelled the cores through two quickfire penalties from Ngqiyaza. The game looked set for a tense finish.
As the clock ticked down, flanker Losaba came to Kingswood’s rescue and scored what looked set to be the winning try. Potgieter converted. Directly afterwards, Ndungane was yellow carded and Graeme’s dream looked in tatters.
The hosts once again fought back and nearly broke through for another try. However, Halom chased back in time and forced a knock-on.
Potgieter was yellow-carded soon afterwards, but Kingswood had done enough. The victory ensured that they ended a superb season with 17 wins from 19 games. However, this was one that required every ounce of energy they had left.
