Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students left Grahamstown as the overall winners of the Eastern Cape Intervarsity tournament last weekend, but residents can be forgiven for wondering if any sporting activities took place at all.
Port Elizabeth's Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) students left Grahamstown as the overall winners of the Eastern Cape Intervarsity tournament last weekend, but residents can be forgiven for wondering if any sporting activities took place at all.
While swarms of students from the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and now six-time consecutive winners NMMU have come and gone, no major reports of criminal activities were reported but there were a number of incidents involving various students and security personnel at events.
One student saw fit to insult security guards after he attempted to sneak a bottle of whiskey into a venue, which was confiscated by the security team. Another attempted to run off with a branded banner, but was quickly escorted from the grounds.
Some law students tried in vain to throw the contents of their law books at a security guard who refused to let them into a sports ground. There was also a report of property vandalism at one digs party in town.
In between all the merriment most of the advertised Intervarsity events went according to plan, although many started later than scheduled. And although hosts Rhodes University lost the tournament to NMMU, the local purple people did manage to win a number of sporting codes.
Rhodes beat WSU in one of the two scheduled cricket games and also walked away with full points for winning the women's basketball. The Rhodes men and women teams also won the 10km road race sections with their combined times.
The Rhodes first and third men's hockey teams received the full 12 points, as did NMMU, for their 0-0 and 1-1 draws. The Rhodes women's seconds and thirds also picked up full points for a draw and a win. Rhodes were the overall pool winners.
NMMU were awarded 355.5 points in total, while Rhodes earned 345 points to finish second. University of Fort Hare finished third with 188.5 points, followed closely by Walter Sisulu University with 184 points.
