Itembelihle Spurred on
Itembelihle fielded four teams last Saturday, against Humansdorp Sekondêre Skool. There was also a fifth team from Linkside High School.
Linkside, a former “Model C” school, in another significant development, has now joined forces with the township school, in order to develop their own rugby.
Up till this occasion, Itembelihle has not been able to afford to travel out of town with so many teams. This time they managed it, thanks to Spur.
Khakhi Dlala, from Spur marketing, came to our rescue, committing himself to the development of township rugby, by not only supplying us with a bus for all our away games, but also kitting the boys out in new rugby jerseys, wind breakers, as well as and amount of money for scholarships and golf shirts! Megapro also supplied the team with windbreakers.
This might sound insignificant, but more established schools demand that you bring at least five sides to play them on a weekend. This we have never been able to do, but with Spur’s help, huge development will take place, as these youngsters will be playing every weekend, thus keeping them out of mischief and giving them a genuine opportunity of making it big in rugby! This is something other companies should look at, developing the game at grassroots level, especially in the township and rural areas, and then there will be no necessity for a quota system in rugby!
Spur also plays a role in the development of youth rugby, by sponsoring Itembelihle’s Under-17s to take part in the annual KwaZulu Under-17 development tournaments in the area.
The game against Humansdorp was a hard-fought battle, between two sides that enjoy running the ball from all over the field. Itembelihle beat their foes by 26-21, in a physical encounter that saw the referee hand out six yellow cards during the game.
Humansdorp were first to score, when they converted a penalty. Itembelihle soon replied, with wing Ayabonga Mteto slotting two penalties for a 6-3 lead. Then the referee handed Itembelihle two yellow cards within the space of two minutes, to reduce them to thirteen men. Humansdorp capitalised, with their speedy wing going over in the corner for a try.
Itembelihle, down two men, responded by going on to the attack from the kick-off, with wing Mteto brilliantly winning the ball in the air, from the kick off. The resulting movement ended in a penalty to the visitors, which Mteto converted. Itembelihle’s forwards now took control, with big 130 kg prop, Bigsho Sixonxo, hard to stop. Bigsho barged over for a converted try, just before half time.
The home team attacked strongly from the kick-off, and were rewarded a penalty near the Itembelihle goal-line, which they converted. Mteto struck back with a penalty. Centre and captain, Khanyiso Pini, broke well from within his own 22, putting fellow centre Tyson Smondile away, who chipped ahead, only for the home team to boot it out on their try line.From the line-out, the backline attacked, when Pini was stopped, a ruck formed and prop Innoscence Mamase, burrowed over for a try, after Bigsho, made about ten metres, before being stopped.
Itembelihle were well in charge, but Humansdorp would not give up, they scored an unconverted try after sustained pressure, and a consolation try at the end of the game, to make the final score 26-21 to the visitors.
There were joyful scenes at the end of the game, with happy supporters streaming onto the field, to celebrate with their heroes. For Itembelihle, prop Sixonxo, centre Khanyiso Pini and wing Mteto had outstanding games, with big lock, Colin Faku, doing well in the line-outs.
By Theo Pieterse
