Union High School’s rugby teams took to the field against Gill College on Saturday, 26 July.
From the u/14s to the 1st XV, our players showed great determination, with ๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ the u/16s (17-12), 2nd XV (24-14) and 1st team (34-24). While the u/14s (14โ26) and u/15s (8โ12) faced defeat, the matches were closely contested.
๐ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ง๐ฆ๐ญ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ถ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ข๐ณ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ด๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ฉ๐ช๐ฑ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ.
1st XV Match Report
The game started slowly for Union, as the boys took some time to find their rhythm. Once they settled, they began applying pressure on the Gill defense, earning an early penalty inside kicking range. Opting not to go for the posts, Union instead pushed forward and were rewarded when Issy Ahmed crashed over the line from a maul to open the scoring. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Union had drawn first blood, 5โ0.
Gill had an opportunity to respond with a penalty of their own but failed to convert. Union struck again shortly after, this time through a moment of brilliance from flyhalf Similo Mvandaba, whose pinpoint cross-kick found Liso Booi on the wing. Booi dotted down in the corner to extend Unionโs lead to 10โ0.
Gill fought back, gaining momentum through a midfield break which saw them enter Unionโs half. Their pressure paid off with a try from a 5m lineout, narrowing the gap to 10โ5. But Union responded swiftly. After a lineout, Elvandre Meyer broke through the defensive line to score under the poles. The try was converted, restoring a 12-point cushion at 17โ5.
However, Gill werenโt done yet. A well-timed intercept on Unionโs 10m line led to another try, bringing them back into the game at 17โ12. Just before halftime, Gill capitalised on a lapse in discipline and struck again, leveling the scores at 17โ17 going into the break.
Union came out firing in the second half. They regained the lead early on through a well-taken penalty, making it 20โ17. The momentum continued as loosehead prop Athi Mahlati bulldozed over for a crucial try, taking the score to 27โ17.
Substitute Shaakir Kazi made an immediate impact off the bench with sharp spatial awareness. His accurate cross-kick found Siba Mbutye, who finished beautifully to push Union further ahead at 34โ17.
Injuries and moments of ill-discipline disrupted Unionโs flow, allowing Gill to mount a late surge with a well-earned try, closing the gap to 34โ24. Despite the pressure, Union held firm in the dying minutes to secure a well-deserved win.
Final Score: Union High School 34 โ 24 Gill College