Three Muir Matches

Muir College of Uitenhage, one of the oldest schools in South Africa, went up to East London to take part in a rugby festival organised by Cambridge High School, one of the oldest schools in East London.

Muir played two matches at the Festival and with the start of the this term its first match of the term, giving it two wins and a draw.

Muir vs Cambridge

The College’s first game of the festival saw them take on the hosts Cambridge in the main game.  The Muir first stuck to their structures and beat the hosts 22-15 in a superb game of rugby.  The Muir side was ahead 17-8 at the break.

Fly-half Abongile Sonjica opened the scoring by kicking a penalty and put the College in the lead.  Sonjica extended Muir’s lead when he crossed the line after the forwards worked well to cross the advantage line, Sonjica converted his own try.  Continues pressure by the Muir side saw Cambridge make a mistake and centre Lunathi Nxele capitalized crossing the white wash.  Sonjica kicked the conversion to extend the lead.

Cambridge replied by kicking a penalty to try and chip away at Muir’s lead.  Just before the break Muir was caught napping and the hosts ran in a try.

Both teams come out blazing in the second-half giving the spectators a perfect example of school boy rugby.  Nxele showed some individual brilliance in breaking a tackle, stepping the cross cover and showing a clean pair of heals to score his second of the game.

Cambridge worked hard in the last few minutes to retain possession and rewarded with a converted try.

Scorers:

For Muir:

Tries: Abongile Sonjica, Lunathi Nxele 2

Cons: Abongile Sonjica 2

Pen: Abongile Sonjica

Muir vs Grens

The College’s second game was against Grens, another local school from East London.  This was a more physical encounter for the Muir side as this was Grens’s “hot-shot” team they have been nursing for the past years.

Both teams played well and the game ended in 13-13 draw when the final whistle blew.  The Muir side was ahead 13-6 at the break.

Grens opened the scoring with a penalty.  Their lead was sort lived when scrum-half Joel Wates kicked a penalty.  The Muir side increased the intensity of the game forcing an error and Wates kicked a penalty for Muir to take the lead.

Grens used their forwards well to retain possession but could not cross the line as the College’s defence was rock solid with the team putting their bodies on the line.  A silly mistake cost the College side and Grens kicked a penalty to level the scores.

8th man Mihlali Mosi picked up the ball at the base of a scrum after a solid left shoulder and crossed the line for the first try of the game.  Wates kicked the conversion to extend the lead.

The second-half saw both teams use their opportunities well but their defensive structures stood up to the test.  Running rugby was enjoyed by those from the side lines and stands.  The Grens side got lucky in the final minutes of the game and crossed the line for a converted try to level the score.

Scorers:

For Muir:

Try: Mihlali Mosi

Con: Joel Wates

Pens: Joel Wates 2

Muir vs Woodridge

The Muir 1st XV ran rampant at Woodridge beating the hosts 42-0 on a cool winter’s morning.  The College led 28-0 at the break.

Muir opened the scoring when eighth man Mihlali Mosi showed a clean pair of heals down the touchline to beat the crosscover and dot under the poles.  Fullback Ruben de Vos had his kicking boots on and converted successfully.

The College forwards retained the ball for numerous phases and saw hooker Gary Karlin cross the line.  De Vos successfully converted.  Lock Lungile Sonwabo pick-up from the base of a ruck, shrugged off a few defenders and covered thirty meters to run in the College’s 3rd try which De Vos converted.

After good interplay between backs and forwards and a fancy “Sonny Bill” by flyhalf Abongile Sonjica prop Libonga Masango scored to extend the lead.  De Vos was on song and converted another.

The second half saw both sides make good use of their possession and had the crowed on their feet.  8th man Mosi was rewarded with his second of the game after some individual brilliance.  De Vos stepped up and converted again.  Replacement centre Sicelo Tole put his hand up as a future prospect to show good skill, do the basics and rewarded with his first try for the College 1st XV.  De Vos made it 6 out of 6 to seal victory for Muir.

The Muir forwards did extremely well and the following need a mention: lock Lungile Sonwabo who did the dirty work and basics superbly, flank Mzi Goba forcing a few turnovers or penalties playing towards the ball and 8th man Mihlali Mosi who carried well gaining metre after metre allowing the backs to play into space

Scorers:

For Muir

Tries: Mihlali Mosi    2, Gary Karlin, Lungile Sonwabo, Libongo Masango, Sicelo Tole

Cons: Ruben de Vos 6

By Lyntin Gouws of Muir