The Sunday Mail
Prince Edward . . . . . . . . . . (14) 21
Peterhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) 6
The curtain came down on the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival in empathic style as hosts Prince Edward claimed a massive victory over rivals Peterhouse College in yesterday’s main game.
Both teams appeared cautious at the outset, though the visitors held possession by dominating the fringes, and the strategy broke the first half deadlock after a couple of forced errors resulted in a Peterhouse converted penalty.
Tapiwa Nyangoni took the honours.
The Prince Edward Tigers quickly adapted and changed the game, bringing the ball to their own pack. Three phases in the Peterhouse 22-yard area also gave them a penalty which was taken by Munashe Furamera.
Furamera was the only kicker on the Jubilee field who had a 100 percent success rate on conversions and his boot turned the pendulum in Prince Edward’s favour.
After the try the Tigers, who had mastered the structure of Peterhouse’s forwards, began to dominate possession using three phases and spreading the ball to their back-line.
Tigers centre Francois Chikukwa fixed his previous ball-handling errors of the last two games with a blistering try that gave the hosts a comfortable 14-3 cushion by the halfway mark.
The Tigers were not completely out of harm’s way as Peterhouse were going pound for pound with them in the centre of the field.
Peterhouse made a wise call, taking posts in the second half and they added three more points from Nyangoni.
With the floodlights switched on, the Tigers flaunted their back-line looping and timeously popping the ball back inside in open play.
The free flow resulted in winger Bedsley Mabhenge extending the lead with a try on the far left corner flag.
Peterhouse did give it a big heave towards the end, as they covered all defensive channels and were quick in their counter attacks but unfortunately for them it was too little too late.
Prior to the Tigers’ victory Churchill Bulldogs had registered a 15-14 victory over a spirited St George’s College.
After the match Mabvuku High School was awarded the accolade for Most Improved Team, while Cyprian Mandege’s Eaglesvale team was named the Team of the Year.
Victoria High School impressed as the Most Disciplined School while Girls’ High School was named the best girls’ team in the event.
