A hard-fought game brought the season to a close for Cambridge and Hudson Park high schools’ first rugby teams as Hudson claimed a 14-9 win over Cambridge in their FNB Classic Clash at Cambridge on Saturday.
It was a typically close match between the two rivals, with scoring chances few and far between, and it was Hudson’s clinical first half that saw them take their few opportunities that got them the win.
Both sides’ defences were on point throughout the match, with Hudson only crossing the tryline twice, while Cambridge were unable to.
In all it was a scrappy match with plenty of handling errors from both sides robbing them of momentum, while keeping the two evenly-matched packs quite busy, and ended up being a battle of attrition that Hudson just managed to edge.
“The team did well to finish with a win. We knew it would be a tough game,” said Hudson coach Charles Howe.
“The team had a good season. The boys worked hard and it paid off for them.”
The match kicked off with a couple of early mistakes from both sides, but Hudson seemed to settle into the game quicker and managed to open the scoring after five minutes.
Cambridge were punished for early indiscretions as three breakdown penalties in quick succession saw Hudson move from their own half to a lineout deep in Cambridge’s 22m, which they duly secured and mauled over the line, with flank Danielle Naidoo dotting down.
Flyhalf Sine Qeshile slotted the difficult conversion from the left-hand touchline, putting Hudson 7-0 up.
Cambridge then came into the match and dominated the majority of the half.
They first reduced the deficit in the eighth minute as Hudson were penalised at the breakdown, dead in front from about 30m out, with flyhalf Milasakhe Qabaka slotting the kick.
Four minutes later another penalty for holding on at the ruck from Hudson gave Qabaka another chance to cut the deficit, but his effort from the left was pushed past the right-hand upright.
Cambridge’s third penalty in striking range in the 22nd minute from a very similar position to the first saw them make it 7-6 as Qabaka punished Hudson’s breakdown infringements.
With it having been all Cambridge since Hudson’s try the visitors finally came back into the match with a really strong finish to the half.
First Hudson received a penalty straight in front of the uprights in their 22m for hands in the ruck in the 30th minute, which Qeshile inexplicably missed after his impressive conversion earlier in the game.
However, Hudson were not to be denied and, with the clock ticking down to halftime, Hudson came storming back as from a scrum near the halfway they attacked well down the right-hand side, bursting into Cambridge’s 22m, where a few good pick and goes got them right onto the tryline, allowing centre Gacula Poswa to receive the ball at pace and crash over next to the right-hand uprights, with Qeshile this time adding the extras.
With the score 14-6 at halftime the second half saw just one penalty being scored as Hudson went off their feet at a ruck in the 51st minute just outside their 22m in front, with Qabaka on target.
Both sides had chances in the second half, Hudson putting together a few good rolling mauls that almost reaped benefits, and both teams turned down chances to kick for goal from touchline penalties just in each others 22m, but no other points were scored and Hudson came away with the 14-9 win.
Hudson find X-factor to outdo gritty Cambridge
It was a typically close match between the two rivals, with scoring chances few and far between, and it was Hudson’s clinical first half that saw them take their few opportunities that got them the win.
Both sides’ defences were on point throughout the match, with Hudson only crossing the tryline twice, while Cambridge were unable to.
In all it was a scrappy match with plenty of handling errors from both sides robbing them of momentum, while keeping the two evenly-matched packs quite busy, and ended up being a battle of attrition that Hudson just managed to edge.
“The team did well to finish with a win. We knew it would be a tough game,” said Hudson coach Charles Howe.
“The team had a good season. The boys worked hard and it paid off for them.”
The match kicked off with a couple of early mistakes from both sides, but Hudson seemed to settle into the game quicker and managed to open the scoring after five minutes.
Cambridge were punished for early indiscretions as three breakdown penalties in quick succession saw Hudson move from their own half to a lineout deep in Cambridge’s 22m, which they duly secured and mauled over the line, with flank Danielle Naidoo dotting down.
Flyhalf Sine Qeshile slotted the difficult conversion from the left-hand touchline, putting Hudson 7-0 up.
Cambridge then came into the match and dominated the majority of the half.
They first reduced the deficit in the eighth minute as Hudson were penalised at the breakdown, dead in front from about 30m out, with flyhalf Milasakhe Qabaka slotting the kick.
Four minutes later another penalty for holding on at the ruck from Hudson gave Qabaka another chance to cut the deficit, but his effort from the left was pushed past the right-hand upright.
Cambridge’s third penalty in striking range in the 22nd minute from a very similar position to the first saw them make it 7-6 as Qabaka punished Hudson’s breakdown infringements.
With it having been all Cambridge since Hudson’s try the visitors finally came back into the match with a really strong finish to the half.
First Hudson received a penalty straight in front of the uprights in their 22m for hands in the ruck in the 30th minute, which Qeshile inexplicably missed after his impressive conversion earlier in the game.
However, Hudson were not to be denied and, with the clock ticking down to halftime, Hudson came storming back as from a scrum near the halfway they attacked well down the right-hand side, bursting into Cambridge’s 22m, where a few good pick and goes got them right onto the tryline, allowing centre Gacula Poswa to receive the ball at pace and crash over next to the right-hand uprights, with Qeshile this time adding the extras.
With the score 14-6 at halftime the second half saw just one penalty being scored as Hudson went off their feet at a ruck in the 51st minute just outside their 22m in front, with Qabaka on target.
Both sides had chances in the second half, Hudson putting together a few good rolling mauls that almost reaped benefits, and both teams turned down chances to kick for goal from touchline penalties just in each others 22m, but no other points were scored and Hudson came away with the 14-9 win.
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