Victory closes Graeme's season

Graeme ended their rugby season with a 75% winning record when they beat Muir 29-13 in Uitenhage on Wednesday.

Graeme dominated throughout and played good rugby, but struggled to shut out the game until the last five minutes, as Muir defended well – winning the battle at the breakdown on a number of occasions.

The match started off at a quick pace with three tries being scored in the first 10 minutes. Graeme used a simple but good blindside move off a scrum to put right wing Eling Muyingi over for the first of his two tries.

Muir hit straight back from the kick-off when Graeme gifted them an intercept try as wing Mzwakhe Mgwangqa took the opportunity to level the scores 7-7.

Five minutes later Graeme declined three points in front of the poles and used a good penalty move to put flank Bradley Berriman over. The game went into a bit of a lull and the score remained 14-7 until half-time.

Straight after the break center Dylan Fetting scored from a quick tap penalty after Graeme chose not to kick for posts. Bongi Vena scored next after Graeme again declined the penalty option and took the positive approach.

Muir flyhalf Jean-Claude du Toit meanwhile slotted two penalties as his team tried to stay in the game.

Muyingi scored Graeme’s final try, which was their best of the day. Off a line-out on the half-way line the Graeme forwards drove 20 metres and then spread the ball to the backline who got the ball quickly to the right wing. He still had a lot to do when he got the ball on the 22, but shrugged off a number of tacklers to emphatically seal his team’s win.

Although the game was scrappy at times and Graeme did not take all their opportunities they will be happy with the rugby they played, ending the season on a high after a few hiccups in the middle of the season.

By Grant Ball