St Andrew’s signs off with a win, Graeme shocked at Union
Skilful flyhalf Oli Johns proved to be the catalyst as St Andrew’s College took control of their match against Dale College, in Qonce, on Saturday, to score a 33-21 win after they trailed 7-8 at halftime.
With nothing between the sides after the first 35 minutes, Johns set up a brilliant try by flank Luca Nigrini and then sliced through the defence for a score of his own to take the visitors out to a 26-11 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Although Dale hit back in the final stages of the game with unconverted tries by Azola Sodlaka and Mahle Mehlomane, St Andrew’s added a fourth second-half try by wing Qhawe Madikizela to secure a hard-earned victory against perennially tough opponents.
St Andrew’s was the aggressor from the start, camping in the Dale 22 and testing the home defence to the full.
Although the Dalians stood up well to this examination, eventually the gaps showed and in the 14th minute St Andrew’s centre Aphindile Ngcuka went through a gap for a try which Johns converted.
Dale came back with a penalty by Soso Dyani and then they took the lead in the 26th minute when an attacking move by St Andrew’s ended up at the opposite end of the field after fullback Inga Mafanga snaffled an intercept and sprinted away untouched for a try.
Johns, though, was quick to put St Andrew’s ahead early in the second half. Receiving the ball near his own 22, he beat a number of defenders and then sent the ball to the left where Nigrini took the final pass to scorch his way 60 metres downfield for a thrilling try.
A little more than 10 minutes later, Johns was again in the thick of things and this time his nimble footwork saw him thread his way through the Dale defence for another converted try.
While Dale showed courage to hit back late in the game, St Andrew’s had built up enough of a cushion to maintain their winning form this season.
At City Lords, in Makhanda, there was no shortage of passion or commitment as Kingswood College and Woodridge squared off in their final match of the season.
With many players playing their final game for Woodridge, they never gave up trying but were done in by Kingswood’s clinical execution of their moves.
The home team’s outside centre, Likhona Kepe, was the standout player of the day, showing that there is no substitute for sheer speed as he waltzed over for a remarkable total of six tries.
The home side was in control from the outset and led 36-3 at the break, with Woodridge’s only points coming from a penalty by flyhalf Tim Teulon.
The visitors continued to fight hard after the break. They never let their heads drop and signed off with the final try of the match, scored by Dimitri Alexandris.
In Graaff-Reinet, Union High produced one of their best performances of the season to defeat Graeme College 19-14 after leading 5-0 at the break.
Although the visitors hit back strongly after halftime to score two tries for a 14-5 lead, Union High kept their composure and crossed the line twice more to secure a memorable upset victory.
Scorers
St Andrew’s College 33 (7) – Tries: Aphindile Ngcuka, Luca Nigrini, Oli Johns, Qhawe Madikizela, Sivitho Mjali. Conversions: Johns (4). Dale College 21 (8) – Tries: Inga Mafanga, Azola Sodlaka, Mahle Mehlomane. Penalty: Soso Dyani (2).
Union High 19 (5) – scorers not available. Graeme College 14 (0) – Tries: Masi Maboza, Asakhe Ranuga. Conversions: Ethan Bokbaard (2).
