Two wins for Muir
Muir College of Uitenhage, kicked off their season with two excellent wins over Cillie of Port Elizabeth and Port Alfred, the latter at Graeme College's rugby day.
Muir vs Cillie
The cricket pitches were still growing underfoot when Muir kicked off their season as visitors to Cillie High School in Port Elizabeth. The scores were level at 7-7 at the break but swung in the College’s favour to win 26-12.
The first half saw both sides playing conservatively as they were trying to find holes in each other's defence. Centre Lunathi Nxele found the first gap in the defensce out wide and ran in the first try of the game. Scrumhalf Abongile Sonjica kicked the conversion. Cillie soon hit back with a well worked try under the sticks to convert and level the score.
The second half saw a more confident Muir take the field. The College ran in three tries by Nxele, flank Mziwamadoda Goba and centre Mihlali Nobomvu. Sonjica kicked two successful conversions. Cillie replied by running in a try.
Lock Ancel Velkers on “debut” had a solid game and did the basics well allowing eighthman Mihlali Mose and centre pairing Lunathi Nxele and Mihlali Nobomvu to play their game and have “fun” on the park.
Scorers:
For Muir:
Tries: Lunathi Nxele 2, Mizwamadoda Goba, Mihlali Nobomvu
Cons: Abongile Sonjica
For Cillie:
Tries: 14, 7
Con: 10
Muir vs Port Alfred
Muir recorded another win at the Graeme Rugby Day running in seven tries to beat a “die-hard” Port Alfred 45-0. Because of many mistakes Muir only lead 19-0 at the break.
Muir stared off slowly because of handling errors and poor decision-making, as a result not settling down until lock pairing Ancel Velker and Mihlali Mosi worked hard from a pick and drive to cross the line. Scrum-half Abongile Sonjica kicked the conversion. Mosi crossed the line for his second, Sonjica converted. Centre Lunathi Nxele beat his man and the cross defence to run in the College’s third of the half just before the break.
A shortened second-half saw a more composed Muir who played to their strengths and ran in four more tries to take the game out of their opponents reach. Tries were scored by fullback Yomilele Keswa, left wing Xolela Daniels, centre Mihlali Nobomvu and right wing Sithembiso Metshe. Centre Nxele kicked three convertions.
Scorers:
For Muir:
Tries: Mihlali Mosi 2, Lunathi Nxele, Yomilele Keswa, Xolela Daniels, Mihlali Nobomvu, Sithembiso Metshe
Cons: Abongile Sonjica 2, Lunathi Nxele 3
By Lyntin Gouws
