Dale Changes Fortune
By the time the second match between local team Westville and Dale College had begun, the sun was shining at the Kearsney Easter Festival at Botha's Hill and the crowd had swelled.
It was a much tighter affair than the earlier game, with Dale eventually running out 22-10 winners, after losing their first game against SACS on Thursday.
Much of the first half was played between the two 22m lines but it was Westville that opened the scoring, going into the second quarter when hooker Hendrik Prinsloo saw the defence open in front of him for a clear run to the line. Niel van Rooyen converted for a 7-0 lead.
After a yellow card issued against a Dale player, Westville had a period of dominance, but it was Dale that opened their score with a penalty by flyhalf Courtney Winnaar with two minutes remaining in the half, to leave Westville 7-3 in front.
Opposing hooker Bubele Gongqa scored the opening try of the second half when he finished off a good Dale move. The conversion by Winnaar was successful, leaving Dale 10-7 in front. Dale received a second yellow card and this time it was Westville's Van Rooyen who added a three-pointer, to level the scores at 10-all.
As the game progressed the Dalians became more confident, running the ball in exciting moves. Two further tries were scored when flank Siyanda Am had a good run to the try-line, converted by Winnaar, to lead 17-10.
Finally it was fullback Godknows Mavara who scored, after flyhalf Winnaar had kicked through the Westville defensive line for the fullback to power through and dot down, leaving the Border side 22-10 in front with four minutes remaining.
After their exciting and close win on Thursday against Menlopark, the local team’s many supporters were disappointed by the second-day loss.
Scorers:
For Westville:
Try: H Prinsloo
Con N van Rooyen
Pen: N van Rooyen
For Dale:
Tries: B Gongqa, S Am, G Mavara
Cons: C Winnaar 2
Pen: C Winnaar
Teams
Dale College: 15 Godknows Mavara, 14 Buntu Zatu, 13 Jonathan Booysen, 12 Siyamthanda Mgubo (captain), 11 Luyolo Khuse, 10 Courtney Winnaar, 9 Siphe Renene,8 Ronald Jiri, 7 Oratile Mabusela, 6 Siyanda Am, 5 Kwanda Dimaza, 4 Solomon Makhubelo, 3 Reezwaan Shahadat, 2 Bubele Gongqa, 1 Thabiso Maziza.
Replacements: 16 Hennie Otto, 17 Luvo Bazi, 18 Cinga Moni, 19 Sihle Diniso, 20 Zukhanye Roji, 21 Siposethu Dlongodlongo, 22 Sibulele Mbana, 23 Bamanye Xenxe.
Westville Boys’ High: 15 Shane Ball (captain), 14 Tonny Mahlangu, 13 Mpilo Shange, 12 Brogan Boulle, 11 James Wheeler, 10 Niel van Rooyen, 9 Bryce Kitching, 8 Keegan Nicholson, 7 Devon Muller, 6 Donovan Grant, 5 Johannes Pelzer, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Shawn Stolz, 2 Hendrik Prinsloo, 1 Jordan Els.
Replacements: 16 Damon Lee, 17 Melusi Mtabela, 18 Marcelle Barnard, 19 Zane Heyneke, 20 Garryth Jackson, 21 Craig Schlemmer, 22 Hanro Naude, 23 Sakhle Xaba.