DAY 1, MATCH 2:
TRANSVALIA 26 – 5 PETERHOUSE
With the morning dew being burned away by the sun, handling improved, and Hoërskool Transvalia and Peterhouse delivered a well-contested clash in the second game of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival on Thursday morning.
‘Valia made the early running, but they were stung when Zimbabwe’s Peterhouse struck first.
Forced onto the defensive, the Marondera school turned over possession and thrilled the growing crowd with a breakaway try from deep inside their 22. Left-wing Munashe Masamha made the running down the left-hand flank before putting outside centre Russell Musekiwa away for the opening score of the contest.
Having scored, Peterhouse began to enjoy a better share of the territory, and they continued to ask questions of Transvalia by getting the ball out wide quickly.
‘Valia regrouped, though, and replied from close range, driving hooker Aldo Fourie over from a lineout to open their account. Flyhalf Chester MacCamel gave the Vanderbijlpark boys the lead with a sweetly struck conversion.
They added to their advantage two minutes from the break when, after a period of sustained pressure, lock Jeanré Barnard crashed over just to the left of the uprights. The conversion kick attempt struck an upright, and Transvalia took a 12-5 lead into halftime.
With only five minutes remaining in the contest, an overthrow at a lineout five metres from Peterhouse’s try line worked out well for Transvalia. The ball found tighthead prop Damian van Heerden in space, and he drove towards the try line. With a long stretch and a couple of tacklers trying to stop him, he dotted down to give his side some breathing room. Jaydee Maree added the extras.
Having broken through, Transvalia struck quickly again. Flyhalf MacCamel produced one of the highlights of the match, first fending off a defender before cutting inside and rounding off next to the uprights after a crazy run.
Maree was again on target, and Transvalia went on to a 26-5 victory.
Scorers
Peterhouse: Tries: Russell Musekiwa
Transvalia: Tries: Aldo Fourie, Jeanré Barnard, Damian van Heerden, Chester McCamel; Conversions: Jaydee Maree (2) Chester MacCamel
Photographer: Gaby Swanepoel
