NutriTech 10 hour SA Touch Record in aid of charity

On the 28th of March, Team NutriTech will attempt to set a new South African Touch Rugby record when they will play non-stop for 10 hours at the Parks Rugby Club in Port Elizabeth.

Ten teams will challenge Team NutriTech continuously for ten hours, playing four games of fifth teen minutes each. The first game will start at 8am with the last one scheduled for 6pm.

Team NutriTech will include former Lions and Kings winger, Michael Killian, former Boland and Eastern Province fullback, Justin Peach, SA legends player, Riaan Swartz, Community Cup and Despatch player Kelvano King and Varsity Cup and Madibaz player Yamkela Ngam.

Event organiser, Christo Botha said the idea came to mind on a morning cycle somewhere between the Greenbushes and Seaview road.

Players will enjoy a NutriTech supplement zone where they will receive free supplements, a Score Energy Drink zone where they will receive free energy drinks and a Refreshhh Hawain zone where players can enjoy slushies, relax on bean bags or cool off in the splash pool between games. Ice baths will also be available for players.

DJ Score Energy will add to the festivities along with a "cash bar", big screen TV for the rugby and a jumping castle for the youngsters. 

Western Rugby will sponsor their Western Pro Touch ball, which will be in use for the ten hours.

Entry fees from the teams and all other funds raised on the day will be donated to the MTR Smit Children's Haven.

A big thank you to our main sponsors, NutriTech, Greyvensteins Attorneys, Score Energy Drink and Refreshhh.

For any further information, or to enter a team, feel free to contact event organiser Christo Botha on 072 238 4463 or christobotha@igen.co.za.

Shane Gates to lead Kings

The Eastern Province Kings have made a few changes to their side that went down 30 - 31 to the Cheetahs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth a week ago.

Newly appointed captain, Shane Gates, will lead the Kings side with no less than eight changes to their starting lineup when they host the Lions at the same venue on Saturday.

Two changes to the back three sees Sylvia Mahuza replacing Scott van Breda, who moves to the bench, at fullback and Siviwe Soyizwapi replacing Siyanda Grey on the right wing. Luther Obi will retain his place on the left wing.

Hansie Graaff will keep the number thirteen jersey as he partners up with Shane Gates, to form a new mid-field combination. 

Tony Jantjies gets his first start for the Kings, as he replaces Gary van Aswegen at flyhalf. Kevin Luiters will again start at scrumhalf with Jaco Grobler on the bench, along with van Aswegen.

Tim Agaba comes in at eighthman replacing Aidon Davis, to form the loose trio along with Thembelani Bholi and Eital Bredenkamp. The lock pairing remains unchanged with David Bulbring and Tazz Fuzani.

Changes to the front row sees Tom Botha, Martin Ferreira and Lizo Gqoboka replacing Simon Kerrod, Michael van Vuuren and Charles Marais respectively.

Kick-off is at 5pm.

EP Kings:

15 Sylvia Mahuza 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi 13 Hansie Graaff 12 Shane Gates (C) 11 Luther Obi 10 Tony Jantjies 9 Kevin Luiters 8 Tim Agaba 7 Thembelani Bholi 6 Eital Bredenkamp 5 David Bulbring 4 Tazz Fuzani 3 Tom Botha 2 Martin Ferreira 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Replacements:

16 Mike van Vuuren 17 Charles Marais 18 Jan Uys 19 Paul Schoeman 20 Jaco Grobler 21 Gary van Aswegan 22 Scott van Breda 

Despatch leading the pack

GAP Management Despatch extended their lead at the top of the table when they beat Shumba Ferros at the Puma Stadium in Emalahleni on Saturday.

Despatch turned a three point deficit at half time into a 29 - 26 win after scoring three second half tries. 

Ferros took a twelve point lead after scoring two tries through inside centre, Christiaan Els, and lock, Werner Smit. Fullback Jan van der Merwe converted the first try as they took a 12 - 0 lead after thirty minutes.

Despatch right wing, Elcardo Mintoor, scored his team's first try two minutes later, flyhalf Ryan Brown added the extra two as they trailed 7 - 12 with less then twelve minutes to half time. 

Brown added a further penalty on half time as he narrowed the gap to just two points, trailing 10 - 12.

Despatch took the lead ten minutes into the second half after scrumhalf, Marlon Lewis, scored their second try. Brown added the extra two as they took a five point lead, 17 - 12.

Mintoor scored his second try of the afternoon as they extended their lead to 22 - 12, after a missed conversion from Brown.

Nkululeko Ngozo's try took Ferros within three points after van der Merwe succesfully converted, to bring the score to 19 - 22 with a quarter to play.

Despatch captain and eighthman, Jaco Swanepoel, secured the win for the visitors from the Eastern Cape as he scored his team's fourth and bonus point try with three minutes left on the clock. Replacement Justin Peach converted as Despatch took a 29 - 19 lead with the final whistle minutes away.

Ferros still had one try left as Louis Roos scored their forth and bonus point try on the eightieth minute. Van der Merwe converted as the game ended 29 - 26.

Despatch are sitting comfortable at the top of Group D, with three wins from three games, on fifteen points. Wesbank is second on ten points from three games, followed by Durban Collegians in third on 5, Ferros in fourth and Rovers Welkom in fifth.

Scorers:

Shumba Ferros (12) 26 - Tries: Werno Smith, Nkululeko Ngozo, Louis Roos. Conversions: Jan van der Merwe (3)

GAP Management Despatch: (10) 29 - Tries: Elcardo Mintoor (2), Marlon Lewis, Jaco Swanepoel. Conversions: Ryan Brown (2), Justin Peach (1). Penalty: Ryan Brown.

Springs snatch victory in 83rd minute against PE Police

Don's Pawn Shop PE Police suffered their second defeat on the weekend, as they went down 22 - 25 to East Rand Crane Springs at the Springs Rugby Club in Springs.

The visitors from Port Elizabeth took a seven point lead into the half time break, but two tries in the last quarter gave the home team a three point victory.

Police' right wing, Sabastian Loxsen, opened the scoring for his team in the fourth minute as they took a five point lead after a missed conversion from Juan Smit. Smit extended that lead a few minutes later when he kicked a penalty as Police took an eight point lead after nine minutes, 8 - 0.

Springs scored their first try through hooker, Riaan Botha, three minutes later. Johannes Zondagh missed the conversion as they trailed 5 - 8 after thirteen minutes.

Police scrumhalf, Daniel Vosloo scored his team's second try, Juan Smit added the extra's as he streched their lead to 15 - 5.

Zondagh kicked a penalty minutes later, as Police held on to a seven point lead until half time, 8 - 15.

Springs fullback, Zondagh brought the score to 11 - 15, after a succesful penalty kick early in the second half as they trailed by 4 points.

Smit failed to stretch Police' lead when he missed a penalty kick two minutes later, but hooker, Jeremy Sebia, crossed the line shortly thereafter as they took a 22 - 11 lead after Smit added the extra two.

Springs scored two unanswered tries in the last twenty minutes, the first through eighth man, Anton van Deventer and the second through replacement prop, Marthinus de Plessis, in the eighty third minute. Zondagh successfully converted both tries to give Springs a narrow 25 - 22 win.

Police is currently in fourth place on five points in Group A, four points behind log leaders Rustenburg Impala on nine. Old Selbornians is second on six and Durbanville-Bellville are also on five in third. Springs are currently at the bottom on four, but have a game in hand.

Scorers:

East Rand Crane Springs: (8) 25 - Tries: Riaan Botha, Anton van Deventer, Marthinus du Plessis. Conversions: Johannes Zondagh (2). Penalties: Zondagh (2)

PE Police: (15) 22 - Tries: Sebastian Loxsen, Jeremy Sebia, Daniel Vosloo. Conversions: Juan Smit (2). Penalty: Smit

Maidza positive after his team's performance

FNB NMMU Madibaz head coach, David Maidza remained in positive spirits after his team's fourth loss in this year's FNB Varsity Cup, when they went down 21 - 23 to FNB UFS Shimlas at the NMMU Stadium on Monday night.

"We implemented the strategies we had been working on all week, and it was good to see the team working together to improve," said Maidza.

 

He said there was definitely a big improvement in the NMMU team’s performance this week, especially when considering how close the result had been against one of the top teams this season.

 

Maidza added that the effort his team had been putting in to minimise their errors had paid off on the night.

 

"The best part about Monday’s match was that we stuck exactly to how we practised playing the game."

 

"We stayed out of our own half for much of the game. We were attacking in the Shimlas’ half, instead of defending in our own all match," said Maidza.

 

“The effort has been there all along, except for the accuracy, and I think on Monday we were a bit more accurate with what we wanted to achieve in our game plan.”

 

According to Maidza, one of the key qualities that shone through on Monday night was the players’ willingness to learn.

 

"Although we weren’t close enough to finish them off, it is all part and parcel of growing as a young group and we will keep on learning."

 

“I think we have now learnt the steps that we need to be taking to move forward in the next game,” he said.

 

Madibaz remain seventh on the log, with seven points from five matches. They have scored 107 points and conceded 154, with 16 tries for and 22 against.

Madibaz' next match will be against the sixth placed FNB Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday, kick-off at 6:30pm

Madibaz lose the battle of two halves

The FNB NMMU Madibaz came close in beating the FNB Varsity Cup log leaders, FNB UFS Shimlas, in their Round 5 match at the NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth last night.

After trailing 8 - 21 at half time, Madibaz drew level through a CJ Velleman try in the sixty sixth minute, but a penalty after the eightieth minute gave Shimlas an opportunity to snatch a victory from the home side.

Shimlas took an early lead after lock Neil Claasen scored his team's first try, flyhalf Neil Marais added the extra's as Shimlas took an 8 - 0 lead after just four minutes.

The visitors added a further two tries after NMMU flank, CJ Velleman, received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle ten minutes into the game. The first was scored by prop, Teunis Nieuwoudt, after a driving maul and the second through their scrumhalf, Renier Botha. Marais was succesful with one of the conversions as Shimlas raced to a 21 - 0 lead within the first quarter.

Madibaz's captain and fullback, Jarryd Buys scored his team's first try after continuous pressure inside Shimlas half and good inter play amongst the outside backs. Flyhalf, Steven Hansel kicked the touchline conversion as NMMU trailed 8 - 21 with ten minutes to half time.

Marais had an opportunity to stretch their lead even further but failed with a penalty kick as they took a 21 - 8 lead into the break.

Madibaz looked like a different side in the second half, as they did most of the playing and continuous pressure paid off when right wing, Tythan Adams, scored their second try, Hansel failed to add the extra's as they trailed 13 - 21 with thirty minutes left.

A few minutes later CJ Velleman brought the score within two points after he scored his team's third try, Hansel added the extra three to draw level at 21 all with just over ten minutes left to play.

A tense couple of minutes remained as Shimlas pushed NMMU back inside their 22. The presses was just to much for NMMU as they gave away a penalty after the eighty minutes, Marais added the two points to give Shimlas a hard fought 23 - 21 victory in the end, as they remain unbeaten after five rounds.

Scorers:

FNB NMMU Madibaz (8) 21 - Tries: Jarryd Buys, Tythan Adams, CJ Velleman. Conversions: Steven Hansel

FNB UFS Shimlas (21) 23 - Tries: Neil Claasen, Teunis Nieuwoudt, Renier Botha. Conversions: Neil Marais. Penalty: Marais (1)

Too many errors costing Madibaz

FNB NMMU Madibaz suffered their second consecutive defeat, third of the tournament, on Monday when they lost to FNB UJ at the NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

The visitors from Johannesburg scored three first half and three second half tries to turn a thirteen point half time lead into a 42 - 13 bonus point win.

Speaking after the match, head coach David Maidza said the score line did not accurately reflect his team’s performance and commitment but that a number of mistakes had cost them dearly.

“The first two tries they scored, they did so off of our mistakes. We can’t keep making error after error,” said Maidza.
 
NMMU took an early eight point lead after flank, CJ Velleman, broke through the defence to sprint 20 meters as he scored his team's first try. Steven Hansel converted as they took an 8 - 0 lead after just two minutes.

UJ replied with three tries, two of which were converted to take a 21 - 8 half time lead.

NMMU started the second half in a similar way when left wing, Yamkela Ngam, scored his team's second try two minutes into the half. Hansel failed with the touch line conversion as the Madibaz trailed 13 - 21 in the 42nd minute.

Frustration crept in as the Madibaz struggled to build any form of momentum, with passes not going to hand causing too many handling errors.

UJ added a further two tries and a penalty try, due to poor discipline, late in the second half.

“There is no denying that the effort is there. The boys are really trying,” Maidza added.
 
“But, at this stage, we’re putting ourselves under a lot of pressure by making these kinds of errors.”
 
He said that the
opposition had also noted the Madibaz’s lighter defence and destroyed them in the mauls.
 
“Defending too much in our own half, especially in our 22, is definitely something we need to work on for the next match,” said Maidza.
 
Despite giving credit to the team for their continued effort, Maidza said they had to cut down their error rate.
 
“We need to make sure that we come out next week and just hammer away again.
 
“Once we cut out some of the silly mistakes that we have been making, we will compete better,” he said.
 
According to Maidza, the errors that needed to be improved on boiled down to both individual decisions and technique.
 
“Yes, we are a young side but we need to learn how to improve on our errors in a shorter period of time, and I do believe that if we put our heads down we can do it.
 
“We will be focusing on what we need to fix as a squad ahead of the next game,” he said.
 
The Madibaz are set to take on log leaders FNB Shimlas at the NMMU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on March 9 at 6.30pm.

Scorers:

FNB NMMU Madibaz (8) 13 - Tries: CJ Velleman, Yamkela Ngam. Coversion: Hansel

FNB UJ (21) 42 - Tries: Dylan Petersen, Robert de Bruyn (2), Adrian Vermeulen, Wian Conradie, Penalty Try. Conversions: Jaco Fourie (3), James Campbell (1)

Former NMMU head coach now Kings' Head of Defence

The Golden Lions Rugby Union have released former NMMU Madibaz head coach, Brent Janse van Rensburg from his current contract with the Lions following personal reasons.

“Brent approached us and asked us if he could be released from his contract for personal reasons, and he wished to return to Nelson Mandela Bay,” said CEO of the Golden Lions, Rudolf Straeuli.

Straeuli said he wished Janse van Rensburg all the best for his future.

EP Kings CEO, Charl Crous said following the abrupt departure of former defence coach, Omar Mouneimne, the Kings had been hard pressed to find a suitable replacement for him.

“When we heard that Brent was returning to Nelson Mandela Bay, we approached him to consider taking up the position of Head of Defence,” said Crous.

“Brent is a top calibre coach, having earned his stripes in the school system and at the NMMU Madibaz, and we are confident that he will play a significant role in our preparations going forward” said Crous.

Crous said he was sure that Janse van Rensburg would fit into the existing structures quite seamlessly, having already had a close working relationship with the Kings during his tenure as Head Coach of the NMMU Madibaz Varsity Cup side.  

“We are also extremely thankful to the Lions who have, in good faith, released Brent to take up this opportunity with us,” he said.

Janse van Rensburg started his rugby coaching career with the South African Rugby Institute, before moving through the school ranks until he was hired as the Head of Rugby at Queens College, later becoming the school's professional rugby coach.

His work at the school got him noticed by Border rugby and Janse van Rensburg spent two years with the union before taking on both the role of Technical Director and Head Coach at Alan Zondagh’s Rugby Performance Centre.

In 2011, Janse van Rensburg took over as Head Coach at NMMU and built the team into a competitive unit that worked closely with the Kings Academy and EP Kings professional structures.

He then went on to take the position of Head Coach for Grey High School last year, before recently taking up a coaching position at the Lions.

Another bonus point win for Despatch

GAP Management Despatch picked up yet another bonus point win, after they scored seven tries in their second round match at the WJ de Wet Stadium in Despatch on the weekend.

Their opponents, Wesbank, scored three unanswered tries in the first twenty minutes, taking a 19 - 0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Despatch struck back with three tries of their own, the first through outside centre, Siviwe Magaba. The conversion was missed as they trailed 5 - 19 halfway through the first half.

Inside centre, Basil de Doncker scored their second try as they trailed 10 - 19, after Morne Labuschagne failed to add the extra's.

Despatch's Kalvano King scored his fourth try of the tournament when he crossed the line for his team's third try, just before half time. Labuschagne added the extra's as they trailed 17 - 19 at halftime.

Despatch picked up their bonus point try in the fifty second minute when right wing, Cameron Jacobs, scored their forth try. Labuschagne missed the conversion as Despatch took the lead for the first time, 22 - 19.

Flank, Elroy Ligman went over for their fifth try three minutes later as they stretched their lead to 29 - 19, after a successful conversion from Labuschagne.

Wesbank's Dashton Wellman kicked two penalties to bring the score back to a four point ball game, as they trailed 25 - 29.

Despatch had the final say when they scored two unanswered tries in the final five minutes, the first from captain, Jaco Swanepoel and the second from left wing, Baldwin McBean. Labuschagne converted both tries as the game ended 43 - 25.

Despatch extended their lead to ten points from two bonus point wins in Group D. Durban Collegians are in second place, with a game in hand, on five. Wesbank is also on five log points in third, followed by Rovers Welkom in fourth and Ferros in fifth.

Scorers:

GAP Management Despatch (17) 43 - Tries: Siviwe Magaba, Basil de Doncker, Kalvano King, Cameron Jacobs, Elroy Ligman, Jaco Swanepoel, Baldwin McBean. Conversions: Morné Labuschagne (4).

Wesbank (19) 25 - Tries: Anvon Davids, Evan Liedeman, Salmon Coetzee. Coversions: Dashton Wellman (2). Penalties: Wellman (2)

First win for PE Police

Don's Pawn Shop PE Police celebrated their first win in the Cell C Community Cup, after a late second half try secured a victory against Kempston Old Selbornians at Kemsley Park in Port Elizabeth on Saturday afternoon.

Police turned a three point half time lead into a 15 - 8 win, scoring two second half tries.

Police took an early three point lead through a Juan Smit penalty, after missing an opportunity a few minutes earlier, 3 - 0 after seventeen minutes.

The score remained the same as Police took a three point lead into the half time break.

Three minutes into the second half Police stretched their lead by five points after inside centre, Alwyn Jordaan, scored their first try. Smit missed the extra two as Police took an 8 - 0 lead.

Old Selbornians scored their first points when captain and eighthman, Roy Bursey, scored his team's first try. Dale Sabbagh missed the conversion as they trailed 5 - 8 in the fiftieth minute.

Smit scored a late try with ten minutes to go as he stretched Police' lead to 11 points, after he also successfully converted his try, giving them a 16 - 5 lead.

Old Selbornians flyhalf, Sabbagh kicked a last minute penalty as the game ended 16 - 8, giving the Port Elizabeth side their first win.

The win sees Police move to fourth, one point less than Old Selbornians in third, Rustenburg Impala in second and Durbanville-Bellville in first, all on five points after two rounds.

Scorers:

PE Police (3) 16 - Tries: Alwyn Jordaan, Juan Smit. Conversion: Smit. Penalty: Smit.

Kempston Old Selbornians (0) 8 - Try: Roy Bursey. Penalty: Dale Sabbagh.