Mzwandile Mali Results, Day 1

The very first day of the very first Mzwandile Mali Memorial Rugby Festival Tournament  took place in Port Elizabeth on Maundy Thursday.

There were four matches, prior to the finals day on Holy Saturday.

Six schools took part and the winners of the later matches played off to see who would play Itembelihle Comprehensive in Saturday's final for the big prize of R10 000.

Theo Pieterse of Itembelihle reports:

A good crowd came and enjoyed some excellent schoolboy rugby.

We defeated a tough Eezie Fana XV, with Ayabonga Mteto scoring two brilliant tries.  It took us a whole first half to break down their resistance, and then we rallied on from 12 -5 at half time to win by 29-15.

Thamsanqa vs Cowan was a very close match, very evenly balanced, with Thamsanqa just stealing the match 10-5.

Chubekile had too much firepower for a gutsy Mzontsundu, and with Bigsho Sixonxo  and centre Samkelo Ndlovu in good form they won 19-12.

They then had to play for second place against Thamsanqa, and during the first 20 minutes it looked as if they were going to give them a big hiding, but the tenacious Thamsanqa, down 0-10, just kept coming back at them , scoring two great tries at the end to steal it, and they will now face us in what promises to be an exciting final!

Results, Day 1

Itembelihle 29 vs Newell, 29-15

Thamsanqa 10 vs Cowan, 10- 5

Chubekile 19 vs Mzontsundu, 19-12

Play-off for a place in the final

Thamsanqa vs Chubekile, 12-10

Fixtures for Holy Saturday

Matches will be played at New Brighton Oval, starting at 08.30.

5th vs 6th: Mzontsundu vs Newell High

3rd vs 4th: Cowan vs Chubekile

Championship Final: Itembelihle vs Thamsanqa

In the photograph organiser, Xolisa Mali, son of the late Mzwandile Mali  addresses the players.