Sondishe delighted by UKZN win in opener

WSU All Blacks captain Awonke Sondishe was delighted with his side’s strong performance in their Varsity Shield opener against UKZN on Thursday at Sisa Dukashe which saw them walk away with a 35-21 victory.

The All Blacks ran in five tries which were a mixture of backline and forward precision against the Impi.

“The match was basically the outcome of what we have put out through the preseason,” Sondishe said.

“The forward line chipped in very well because they are largely what our game plan is about, because the backline thrives from the tone they set up front.”

He praised the input that experienced former Lithuania and Russia men’s Sevens mentor Sabelo Kolanisi bought to the side.

Kolanisi was roped in by WSU this year as skills coach.

“He has been working well; he came in with his professionalism and his overall skills that he has been handing down to the team.

“We appreciate any help we get as a team. We scored some good tries against UKZN thanks to some of his input.

“It was brutal and ugly, a proper definition of forward pack pummeling.”

They dominated the scrums, gained line success and for their efforts they were eventually awarded with a rolling maul try scored by Mangaliso Zixesha.

UKZN quickly opened their account seconds later with the boot of Minenhle Ngcamu to make the score 7-3.

After the penalty, UKZN momentarily controlled ball possession, but the All Blacks managed to hit back, with Sondishe slicing the UKZN defence in half to cross the line.

Ngcamu knocked another three points over for the visitors before Zixesha scored his brace close to the break.

Flanker Wela-Aphumelele Mnata Takata’s try gave UKZN something decent to build on after the sides finished the first stanza 21-11 with the home* team leading.

As in the first half, WSU were the first to draw blood via Lukhangele Tshayi, who finished off a brilliant attack.

Tinotenda Mazhindu scored the visitors’ second try to make it 28-16 going into the strategic break.

Another Eastern Cape representative in the competition, Fort Hare, was in action against Tuks at Davidson Stadium in Dikeni on Friday.