THIS past Saturday, April 13, Union High School hosted Victoria Park High School (VP) from Port Elizabeth for the two schools’ annual rugby and hockey encounters.
The positive atmosphere around the campus and the great support for the Union teams ensured that UHS completely dominated the fixture, with all the teams showcasing the high quality of play Union’s rugby is known for.
The u/14As won 50-17, the u/15As won 26-7, the u/16As won 55-12, the third team lost 25-17 against Asherville Secondary School’s first team and the second team won 41-19 against VP. These incredible performances from all the Union teams set a high benchmark for the first XV game which was to follow.
There was also a lot riding on this match, with the school’s “Mighty Whites” owing the community a better performance after last weekend’s loss against Muir College.
Three minutes into the game, Union was first to cross the tryline through Luke McNaughton picking up a loose ball and running half the field to get Union onto the scoreboard.
A few minutes later, the forwards set up a good maul, with Zusakhe Ngwane dotting down to increase Union’s lead to 12 – 0, followed by Victoria Park scoring soon thereafter.
Ten minutes before half time, the Union team took control of the game once again.
Good continuity and setting up phases, resulted in Gary Shell scoring Union’s third try, taking Union’s lead to 17-7 at the break.
In the second half, Jaden Brotherton and Brett Amsterdam used the conditions perfectly, ensuring that most of the play took place in VP’s 22m area. Union, once again, scored first in this half, through Gary Shell from good trick play off a lineout.
VP hit back with a penalty a few minutes later, taking the score to 24-10 in Union’s favour.
Amazing attacking play, running lines and interlinking between backs and forwards saw Union score three more tries, thanks to Bowen Langmead, Khwezi Simon and Lihle Mxhunyelwa. Brotherton successfully converted all three.
A lapse in concentration and turning their backs on the opposition led to VP scoring towards the end of the game.
The final score was 45-17 in Union’s favour. Union High School’s try scorers were Shell (2), McNaughton, Ngwane, Langmead, Simon and Mxhunyelwa, with Brotherton successfully converting five of the seven.
It was a wonderful day for Union rugby and a good comeback by the first XV.
