Item stars in KZN
Itembelihle showed just what talent is available in the franchise when they took part in the annual Kzn Development Tournament in Durban last weekend, as Theo Pieterse reports.
They won all three of their games for the first time ever, and what made it even more special, is that it was done against regional teams from the area!
In our first game we came up against the Durban Development XV, and beat them 7-5 in a very hard and physical match played in hot conditions of 34 degrees! They tried to dominate us physically with their big forwards but our boys stood up to the challenge, stopping them in their tracks every time they attacked. We were behind for most of the game but started to find our rhythm in the last 10 minutes to launch attacks on their try-line as their forwards began to tire! Something had to give and lock Diva Busakwe burst over for the winning try, under the poles for wing Ayabonga Mteto to slot the easy conversion for a great win.
Lock Busakwe was named man of the match after the game for an outstanding performance.
In our second game against the KwaZulu Natal South XV we found our rhythm very quickly with locks Diva Busakwe and Attie Faku, No.8 Mbulelo Shuwana, centre and captain Bull Mendu, wing Ayabonga Mteto (2) and replacement Anele Jonga scoring tries and flyhalf Akhona Tshoba converting three.
Tshoba was deservedly selected man of the match for a brilliant all round performance.
In the final, we faced the unbeaten Zululand side. We faced yet another big pack of forwards but were ready for the challenge. We put them under a lot of pressure from the start with a quick try by flanker Isaac Nqweniso, who simply brushed the defenders aside to score under the poles converted by wing Ayabonga Mteto to take an early lead, but the Zulus were not going to lie down, they attacked from a mistake of ours and their big No.8 scored in the corner. We now began to take control of the game, hooker Gigi Nokeva took a crucial tight head in a scrum on our try line after the Zulus had camped there for a while and No.8, Mbuleleo Shuwana began to dominate in the line-outs!
We held a slender two point lead at half time, but the boys came out very determined in the second half and it was not long before No.8 Mbulelo Shuwana broke loose on his own 10m line to run straight through the defence for a try under the poles, converted by replacement Bandile Menze. Then we scored the try of the match! The Zulus rushed up for a quick kick-off, our forwards gained control and the ball was quickly spread to the wings, Mteto cut through and there was some delightful interpassing between backs and forwards before fullback Siyavuya Sogoni dived over for the try that sealed the game!
Outstanding for us at the tournament were locks Busakwe and Faku, flank Nqweniso, No.8 Shuwana, the halfbacks, Mcwabeni and Tshoba and wing Ayabonga Mteto!
We were named Under-17 team of the tournament and flyhalf Tshoba was named the best back of the Under-17 tournament!
Our thanks must also go to Quentin Reynolds for a well-run tournament, going out of his way to give the boys a tour of Mr Price Kings Park and Khakhi Dlala, marketing manager from Spur, for organising our tour and looking after us in Durban.
By Theo Pieterse