A cracking finish to the first half of the rugby season saw Hudson Park High School first team claim a powerful 46-13 win against Port Rex Technical High school at Port Rex on Monday evening.
The visitors began the match at a cracking pace, but Port Rex gradually worked their way back into the game and early in the second half were only trailing by 13 points. However, Hudson closed out the match in style to register a convincing win.
This was Hudson’s fifth win in a row and 11th of the season, while they have lost just four games, and the team should be proud of their achievements so far.
They will head into the next half of the season after the imminent holiday with confidence, and they will face some daunting matches as they take on Selborne, Grey High and Dale as well as co-ed rivals Stirling and Cambridge.
A biting cold cross field wind greeted players at the start of Monday’s match. That did not seem to bother Hudson as they started with a bang.
From a Port Rex lineout near the halfway line Hudson stole the ball and attacked the hosts’ 22m, with the ball being swung right from a ruck. Good handling and a nice step from Hudson eighthman Liyabonga Geza saw him dive over.
Flyhalf Sine Qeshile added the extras to give Hudson a 7-0 lead after three minutes.
In the sixth minute Port Rex had a shot at goal from 30 me-tres out towards the left-hand touchline, but fullback Litha Mbali’s effort sailed wide left.
Hudson doubled their lead moments later after setting up a lineout deep in the Port Rex 22m. They set up a good driving maul, from which the ball was passed to centre Gacula Poswa at pace, allowing him to burst through the defence and drive himself over the line for a converted try.
In the 18th minute Hudson scored their third converted try as from a 5m scrum a ruck was set up and, after a few pickup and drives, prop Cole Haggard crashed over to give them a 21-0 lead.
Port Rex had another chance to get on the scoreboard six minutes later but Mbali’s long-range penalty drifted past the left-hand upright.
Despite Hudson dominating for the rest of the half Port Rex managed to keep them out.
Port Rex started the second half well as Mbali slotted a penalty in the 37th minute for their first points of the match.
Hudson replied instantly, going up the other end from the kickoff after Port Rex knocked on, with the ball spread across the field and back to Poswa to power through Port Rex’s defence again and go over towards the left-hand corner.
Port Rex then brought themselves back into the match. First Mbali popped over an easy penalty in Hudson’s 22m and then, with Hudson back on attack in the Port Rex 22m, they took a quick tap penalty and tried to swing it to the wide men, only for Mbali to intercept the ball and sprint to Hudson’s 22m, where he was caught, passing inside to wing Sonwabile Caga up in support, with Caga then tackled but able to return the pass to Mbali, who dived over next to the right- hand uprights.
Port Rex centre Zukhanye Tomose added the extras and at 26-13 Port Rex may have believed they had a sniff.
However, Hudson’s forwards added four further unconverted tries to the score, with the last three coming in the final seven minutes.
Hudson flank Kyle Rodgers, prop Alulutho Tshakweni with two and Haggard with his second scored in the closing moments as the Hudson forwards claimed six of their eight tries scored in the match.
Hudson in real explosive mood
The visitors began the match at a cracking pace, but Port Rex gradually worked their way back into the game and early in the second half were only trailing by 13 points. However, Hudson closed out the match in style to register a convincing win.
This was Hudson’s fifth win in a row and 11th of the season, while they have lost just four games, and the team should be proud of their achievements so far.
They will head into the next half of the season after the imminent holiday with confidence, and they will face some daunting matches as they take on Selborne, Grey High and Dale as well as co-ed rivals Stirling and Cambridge.
A biting cold cross field wind greeted players at the start of Monday’s match. That did not seem to bother Hudson as they started with a bang.
From a Port Rex lineout near the halfway line Hudson stole the ball and attacked the hosts’ 22m, with the ball being swung right from a ruck. Good handling and a nice step from Hudson eighthman Liyabonga Geza saw him dive over.
Flyhalf Sine Qeshile added the extras to give Hudson a 7-0 lead after three minutes.
In the sixth minute Port Rex had a shot at goal from 30 me-tres out towards the left-hand touchline, but fullback Litha Mbali’s effort sailed wide left.
Hudson doubled their lead moments later after setting up a lineout deep in the Port Rex 22m. They set up a good driving maul, from which the ball was passed to centre Gacula Poswa at pace, allowing him to burst through the defence and drive himself over the line for a converted try.
In the 18th minute Hudson scored their third converted try as from a 5m scrum a ruck was set up and, after a few pickup and drives, prop Cole Haggard crashed over to give them a 21-0 lead.
Port Rex had another chance to get on the scoreboard six minutes later but Mbali’s long-range penalty drifted past the left-hand upright.
Despite Hudson dominating for the rest of the half Port Rex managed to keep them out.
Port Rex started the second half well as Mbali slotted a penalty in the 37th minute for their first points of the match.
Hudson replied instantly, going up the other end from the kickoff after Port Rex knocked on, with the ball spread across the field and back to Poswa to power through Port Rex’s defence again and go over towards the left-hand corner.
Port Rex then brought themselves back into the match. First Mbali popped over an easy penalty in Hudson’s 22m and then, with Hudson back on attack in the Port Rex 22m, they took a quick tap penalty and tried to swing it to the wide men, only for Mbali to intercept the ball and sprint to Hudson’s 22m, where he was caught, passing inside to wing Sonwabile Caga up in support, with Caga then tackled but able to return the pass to Mbali, who dived over next to the right- hand uprights.
Port Rex centre Zukhanye Tomose added the extras and at 26-13 Port Rex may have believed they had a sniff.
However, Hudson’s forwards added four further unconverted tries to the score, with the last three coming in the final seven minutes.
Hudson flank Kyle Rodgers, prop Alulutho Tshakweni with two and Haggard with his second scored in the closing moments as the Hudson forwards claimed six of their eight tries scored in the match.
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