The Easter weekend saw College play two rugby matches against Parktown and Kingswood College at the St Stithians Festival in Johannesburg.

The College boys showed great determination and courage in winning both of their games and are already showing excellent progression since the start of the season, ahead of the this weekend’s fixtures against St Charles College.

Linda Westermeyer feature image: Anele Nzimanda in full flight against Parktown.

1^st team report – Cameron Fraser – 1^st team Coach

On 17 April the College 1^st XV travelled to St Stithians in Johannesburg to participate in the annual Saints Sports Festival.

College vs Parktown

The College 1^st XV faced Parktown as their first fixture. In the 13^th minute Anele Nzimande, College’s flyhalf finished off a brilliant solo effort in the corner to open the account for College.

Henry Trodd easily converted from the corner to put College in the lead 7-0.

Shortly before the half time break Anele Nzimande finished off another sublime counter attack to put College in the lead 12-0.

 

Poor discipline came at an expensive price when after a surge of penalties College found themselves defending their own try line in the last minutes of the half.

Unfortunately the defence could not contain the Parktown attack and the locals scored a soft try just before the half time whistle had gone.

The second half started well for College as Jarred Hendrikz went over for the 3^rd College try with Trodd slotting the conversion to add the extra two points.

Philani Simamane then managed to score a brace of long range tries in the 2^nd half. Trodd converted one of the two. College ran out victors in this game 31 points to 5.

 

College vs Kingswood

College came up against the highly rated Kingswood side who had already taken some big scalps in their 2019 season.

They had beaten Dale College as well as Kearsney College in previous fixtures so this was going to be a good benchmark for the College 1^st XV.

The game didn’t start favourably for College as they conceded an early intercept try, putting Kingswood in the lead 7-0.

 

College played in the right areas of the field and with forward dominance managed to hit back with a brilliant close-quarters try by Siya Ningiza.

College then converted more pressure into points and went over for their 2^nd try by Junior Mndaweni in the form of a maul.

Anele Nzimande scored his 3^rd try of the tournament in dazzling fashion as he once again outwitted the opposition defences and Trodd converted successfully.

The best try of the day was arguably one where almost every College player handled the ball. Junior Mndaweni was the right player at the right time and found himself on the end of a stunning team attack that left the half-time score at 24-7.

 

Anele Nzimande, with very little space and a defender clinging onto him, crossed the whitewash for his fourth try of the tournament. Henry Trodd, as has become the norm, slotted the conversion from the corner.

With a few minutes to spare Brannan Webster intercepted a wayward pass from Kingswood and with some mazy yet rangy running dived over for the final score of the day.

Overall College put together two solid performances, and there are still many aspects of their game that they aim to improve on.

The festival served as a good yardstick to see how the team has progressed since the start of the season.

 

 

Summary of Results

College 1^st XV vs Parktown 1^st XV: won 38-7

College 1^st XV vs Kingswood College 1^st XV: won 31-5

Played 2 Won 2