Itembelihle win Final handsomely
Itembelihle Comprehensive School became the very first winners of the very first Mzwandile Mali Memorial Rugby Festival Tournament played at New Brighton Oval when they beat Thamsanqa 59-0 in the Final.
Holy Saturday was the final day of the tournament with big wins all round.
Theo Pieterse reports: 'Itembelihle won the inaugural Mzwandile Mali Memorial tournament by annihilating opponents Thamsanqa High 63-0. Winger, Ayabonga Mteto was the star, scoring no less than six tries and converting three of them for a personal tally of 36 points! The final started at a blistering pace, with the Itembelihle no. 8 Siya Charlie, getting his side on the front foot from a scintillating break from the scrum, when stopped, flanker Sbongile Nqweniso took the ball further, and from the ensuing ruck, the ball went wide for Mteto to score in the corner! Centre, and captain, Khanyiso Pini, was next to score under the poles after a great run by flyhalf Akho Tshoba. Mteto scored as Itembelihle attacked from the kick-off fullback Omo Mcwabeni broke well to put him through for his try. Itembelihle now dominated every phase of the play, and winger Slovo Dzaka cut through for a try after the ball was taken up by flank Sedge Teyise. Mteto then scored three tries in a row, as the Itembelihle forwards did well to suck their opponents in to create space for him. It looked all over for Tamsanqa, with Itembelihle leading 39-0 at the break, but to their credit, they came back and kept Itembelihle scoreless for the next 20 minutes. Siya Charlie then broke the deadlock by breaking through for a try under the poles and was soon followed by the hardworking Teyise and then Mteto scored again as Pini broke right through to put him away! Fullback Mcwabeni was next on the score sheet as he simply weaved his way through the defence to score in the corner and converting his own try.
'In the play off for third place, Chubekile High massacred the hapless Cowan outfit by 99-0. Outstanding for them was giant prop Zubenathi Sixonxo, who scored the try of the festival, when he broke from his own 10 metre line, simply shrugging off would be defenders for a grat try. He followed that up with four more tries and even converted three of them! Centre Samkelo Ndlovu was also outstanding, scoring four tries! In the play off for fifth place, the Eezie Fana invitation xv defeated Mzontsundu by 27-0. '
Results
Tournament Championship: Itembelihle vs Thamsanqa, 59-0
3rd vs 4th: Chubekile vs Cowan, 99-00
5th vs 6th: Eezie Fana 27 vs Mzontsundu, 27-0
There were awards at the end of the tournament with monetary prizes. Itembelihle, unsurprisingly, did very well indeed.
Awards
1st Place: Itembelihle (10 000)
2nd Place: Thamsanqa (R8 000)
3rd Place: Chubekile (R5 000)
4th Place: Cowan (R4 000)
5th Place: Eezie Fana (R2 000)
6th Place: Mzontsundu (R1 000)
Best back: Omo Mcwabeni (Itembelihle) (R2 500)
Best forward: Bigsho Sixonxo (Chubekile) (R2 500)
Most tries: Ayabonga Mteto (Itembelihle) (R2 500)
Best coach: Theo Pieterse (Itembelihle) (R2 500)
