Rhodes University first rugby side produced an epic performance to overcome Varsity Shield side, University of Fort Hare, 28-14 on Saturday 24 August.
Rhodes University first rugby side produced an epic performance to overcome Varsity Shield side, University of Fort Hare, 28-14 on Saturday 24 August.
The game began with a brilliant solo effort from Rhodes fullback Tafadzwa Chitokwindo. He gathered the ball on the halfway line, sprinted past a defender, chipped the ball over Fort Hare’s last defender and dotted down to give Rhodes an early 5-0 lead.
Rhodes were strong on defence, making countless tackles and resisting the pressure from Fort Hare’s strong forwards and nippy backline. Fort Hare conceded a penalty from 35 metres out, which Chitokwindo converted to make it 8-0. Rhodes then scored a second try through prop Uvutera Ngatjizeko, taking the score 13-0 to after another missed conversion.
Fort Hare's Jerome Williams bundled over to give them their first try of the match. Fullback Khanyiso Komano converted with ease to make it 13-7 at half time.
Rhodes came out strongly again in the second half, with flank Rick Moolman crawling over to score their third try, the result of a maul off a Rhodes line-out. Winger Ryan Dewey converted, giving Rhodes a lead of 13 points, with the score at 20 points to 7. Fort Hare struck back almost instantly through another try from their number 7, which their fullback converted.
With the score at 20-14, it could have been anyone’s game, but Rhodes fullback Chitokwindo stole the show with another long-range penalty and a second try, thanks to a clever chip from Dan Gluckman.
The final score was 28-14.
Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, who plays fullback for Rhodes and is part of Zimbabwe’s Rugby Sevens team, had an outstanding match. He recently played at the World Student Games in Moscow. After Saturday’s match he said, “We played a great game against a Varsity Shield side. We dominated them and deserved the win.”
