By ROSS ROCHE
A dream final match is in the offing today as Eastern Cape rivals Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Rhodes University front up in the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Rugby Week C division final at Old Selbornians.
USSA Week hosts WSU and Rhodes are the only two unbeaten sides left in the division after securing two wins in their two games so far, and they will now fight it out for the title.
“It was my dream to play against Rhodes in the final – and to have two Eastern Cape teams in the final shows the country that we have quality teams playing here,” said WSU coach Sipho Metula.
It will be an interesting contrast of styles, with Rhodes’ two wins coming on the back of an impressive attack that scored 11 tries in their two matches while conceding just three.
WSU’s defence has been the cornerstone of their two wins – they have not conceded a single try, only two penalties, while also scoring six of their own.
So it could be a very close match defined by small margins.
“It’s going to be a very interesting game,” said Rhodes coach Qondakele Sompondo.
“It will be our toughest test of the week but we are confident and we’ll be going for the win.”
WSU started their week with a 22-3 win against Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in a scrappy match littered with handling errors.
Windy conditions in their second match against Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) ensured the clash became a very tight one with the sides locked at 0-0 at half time.
But WSU scored three second-half tries to triumph 15-3.
They will now want that same stingy defence to stifle Rhodes while looking to break through their line to secure the much desired win.
“There is a lot of excitement in the camp – the guys are pumped and ready for the match,” said Metula.
“We are happy with the way we are playing and we are proud of our defence which has been superb.
“We will look to take the momentum we’ve built up into the final.”
Rhodes’ week began with a 26-12 win over the University of Limpopo, running in four tries.
They followed that up with a magnificent seven-try haul against the University of Zululand, winning 37-7.
Their forwards laid a solid platform in both matches, with their backs utilising it to the maximum and they will aim for a similar performance against WSU.
“The minute we give them enough room to express themselves the back line really performs and they will be looking for that space in the final,” said Sompondo.
A slight concern however, will be their goal-kicking as they did not convert any of their tries in the first game, and only slotted one kick out of nine in the second.
Wayward kicking could cost them dearly in the final.
“This is something we have been working on. The wind did play a part in the second match, but we hope that things will come right in the final,” said Sompondo.
The final kicks off at 10.10am at Old Selbornians.
lOther C division matches on show will see CPUT take on Zululand in the third/fourth playoff, and the University of Venda against Vaal University of Technology both kicking off on Hudson Park High School fields at 8:30am.
The seventh/eighth playoff between MUT and Limpopo will be played at Port Rex with kickoff also at 10.10am.
Eastern Cape rivals front up in dream rugby week final
A dream final match is in the offing today as Eastern Cape rivals Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Rhodes University front up in the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Rugby Week C division final at Old Selbornians.
USSA Week hosts WSU and Rhodes are the only two unbeaten sides left in the division after securing two wins in their two games so far, and they will now fight it out for the title.
“It was my dream to play against Rhodes in the final – and to have two Eastern Cape teams in the final shows the country that we have quality teams playing here,” said WSU coach Sipho Metula.
It will be an interesting contrast of styles, with Rhodes’ two wins coming on the back of an impressive attack that scored 11 tries in their two matches while conceding just three.
WSU’s defence has been the cornerstone of their two wins – they have not conceded a single try, only two penalties, while also scoring six of their own.
So it could be a very close match defined by small margins.
“It’s going to be a very interesting game,” said Rhodes coach Qondakele Sompondo.
“It will be our toughest test of the week but we are confident and we’ll be going for the win.”
WSU started their week with a 22-3 win against Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in a scrappy match littered with handling errors.
Windy conditions in their second match against Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) ensured the clash became a very tight one with the sides locked at 0-0 at half time.
But WSU scored three second-half tries to triumph 15-3.
They will now want that same stingy defence to stifle Rhodes while looking to break through their line to secure the much desired win.
“There is a lot of excitement in the camp – the guys are pumped and ready for the match,” said Metula.
“We are happy with the way we are playing and we are proud of our defence which has been superb.
“We will look to take the momentum we’ve built up into the final.”
Rhodes’ week began with a 26-12 win over the University of Limpopo, running in four tries.
They followed that up with a magnificent seven-try haul against the University of Zululand, winning 37-7.
Their forwards laid a solid platform in both matches, with their backs utilising it to the maximum and they will aim for a similar performance against WSU.
“The minute we give them enough room to express themselves the back line really performs and they will be looking for that space in the final,” said Sompondo.
A slight concern however, will be their goal-kicking as they did not convert any of their tries in the first game, and only slotted one kick out of nine in the second.
Wayward kicking could cost them dearly in the final.
“This is something we have been working on. The wind did play a part in the second match, but we hope that things will come right in the final,” said Sompondo.
The final kicks off at 10.10am at Old Selbornians.
lOther C division matches on show will see CPUT take on Zululand in the third/fourth playoff, and the University of Venda against Vaal University of Technology both kicking off on Hudson Park High School fields at 8:30am.
The seventh/eighth playoff between MUT and Limpopo will be played at Port Rex with kickoff also at 10.10am.
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