A cracking show of exciting, attacking rugby saw Hudson Park High School claim a brilliant 41-23 win over massive rivals Stirling High in their derby match at Hudson Park on Saturday.
“I think coming into this week we were feeling the pressure, as being the favourites is a tough tag to wear, but we also knew that it would bring out the best in us and I thought our guys produced today and proved that we are the top co-ed,” said Hudson Park director of rugby James Winstanley.
The match exploded to life in the first 10 minutes as Hudson and Stirling exchanged tries.
First Hudson scrumhalf Hlumelo Ndudula rounded off a good break down the left hand touch line with a try in the corner, with Stirling responding from the kick off after Hudson’s attempted clearance was charged down, with lock Morné Coetzee picking up and going over, and flyhalf Siba Mqeni slotting the conversion to put the visitors into the lead.
Hudson, however, hit back just two minutes later through hooker Philisa Mbadamana, taking the lead at 10-7.
A Mqeni penalty in the 14th minute then drew the scores level, but the ding-dong battle continued when wing Bulelani Ngaki scored his first try in the 20th minute to put Hudson 15-10 up, with Stirling then responding with another Mqeni penalty and an unconverted try to their own wing Sakhe Dingileto take the lead after 27 minutes.
But Hudson Park finished the half strongly, with a well worked move from a lineout which ended fullback Jarred du Plessis going over in the left-hand corner for an unconverted try, giving them a slender 20-18 lead at the break.
Hudson then came out firing in the second half, with Ngaki crashing over after a set move from a scrum, and then claiming his hat-trick three minutes later, capitalising on a Stirling knock-on in their own 22m, allowing Hudson to spread the ball to the flyer to go over. Flyhalf Sine Qeshile slotted both conversions to put Hudson in a handy position, being 34-18 up after 44 minutes.
Stirling eighthman Kwezi Dlamini then rounded off some good interplay by the visitors with a try in the 50th minute, with the conversion attempt hitting the uprights, but that was as close as they would get as Du Plessis showed his impressive pace with a converted try in the 60th minute.
Next up for Hudson is a meeting with Grens this week, before they head into the winter holiday break before the second half of the season.
“It is a tough season, we still have some big games ahead like Selborne, Dale and Stirling again, so we will just regroup and focus on Grens on Thursday,” said Winstanley.
In the other big match Dale College claimed another massive victory over Grey High School, making it two wins in a row over the Port Elizabeth powerhouse after they upset them on their home turf last year.
This time in front of their home supporters in King William’s Town, Dale edged an entertaining match
28-25. In other results Queen’s College and Grens High both lost to Grahamstown-based opposition as Queens went down to Graeme College 18-11 and Grens were no match for Kingswood, who won 35-10.
RUGBY: Hudson emerge victorious in derby
“I think coming into this week we were feeling the pressure, as being the favourites is a tough tag to wear, but we also knew that it would bring out the best in us and I thought our guys produced today and proved that we are the top co-ed,” said Hudson Park director of rugby James Winstanley.
The match exploded to life in the first 10 minutes as Hudson and Stirling exchanged tries.
First Hudson scrumhalf Hlumelo Ndudula rounded off a good break down the left hand touch line with a try in the corner, with Stirling responding from the kick off after Hudson’s attempted clearance was charged down, with lock Morné Coetzee picking up and going over, and flyhalf Siba Mqeni slotting the conversion to put the visitors into the lead.
Hudson, however, hit back just two minutes later through hooker Philisa Mbadamana, taking the lead at 10-7.
A Mqeni penalty in the 14th minute then drew the scores level, but the ding-dong battle continued when wing Bulelani Ngaki scored his first try in the 20th minute to put Hudson 15-10 up, with Stirling then responding with another Mqeni penalty and an unconverted try to their own wing Sakhe Dingileto take the lead after 27 minutes.
But Hudson Park finished the half strongly, with a well worked move from a lineout which ended fullback Jarred du Plessis going over in the left-hand corner for an unconverted try, giving them a slender 20-18 lead at the break.
Hudson then came out firing in the second half, with Ngaki crashing over after a set move from a scrum, and then claiming his hat-trick three minutes later, capitalising on a Stirling knock-on in their own 22m, allowing Hudson to spread the ball to the flyer to go over. Flyhalf Sine Qeshile slotted both conversions to put Hudson in a handy position, being 34-18 up after 44 minutes.
Stirling eighthman Kwezi Dlamini then rounded off some good interplay by the visitors with a try in the 50th minute, with the conversion attempt hitting the uprights, but that was as close as they would get as Du Plessis showed his impressive pace with a converted try in the 60th minute.
Next up for Hudson is a meeting with Grens this week, before they head into the winter holiday break before the second half of the season.
“It is a tough season, we still have some big games ahead like Selborne, Dale and Stirling again, so we will just regroup and focus on Grens on Thursday,” said Winstanley.
In the other big match Dale College claimed another massive victory over Grey High School, making it two wins in a row over the Port Elizabeth powerhouse after they upset them on their home turf last year.
This time in front of their home supporters in King William’s Town, Dale edged an entertaining match
28-25. In other results Queen’s College and Grens High both lost to Grahamstown-based opposition as Queens went down to Graeme College 18-11 and Grens were no match for Kingswood, who won 35-10.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos