Paying the price for ill discipline

ILL discipline proved costly for the Empangeni 1 outfit on Friday evening, when going down 37-17 to Mtubatuba in a Stewart Shield fixture played at Mick Kelly Park.

The result left a bitter taste in flyhalf Dean Moolman and inside centre Tyler van Staden’s mouths, as the pair staged their comebacks for the home side.

‘Disappointing result at home, but hoping to be pulled up to the Rhinos 1 and 2 squad soon,’ said the pair.

Players played as individuals, failed to follow captain Mauritz Blignaut’s instructions and constantly questioned the referee, resulting in decisions being reversed and a yellow card dished out to No 8 Ruben Janse van Rensburg.

The centre pairing of Van Staden and Sphamandla Mokoena tested the Mtubatuba defensive line all the time, but the link proved unbreakable.

Moolman and Van Staden crossed the chalk for the home side, with Martin Coetzee kicking one conversion and a penalty, with Moolman adding a conversion.

Mtubatuba thrived on the lack of ill-discipline shown by the home side, which resulted in five tries being scored and a bonus point win.

Sizwe Sibiya, Msizi Buthelezi, Nhlanhla Ndlela, Wonderboy Zikhali and Karli Schulze all dotted down for the visitors, with Reinhardt Hedder kicking three conversion and two penalties.

‘It was a hard game, with lots of lost opportunities and chances that we failed to capitalise on.

‘We are going to work on ball handling this week at training as it was poor tonight. It was a great effort from the boys away from home and we’re definitely pleased with the result,’ said Mtubatuba head coach Dieter Hedder.

Mtubatuba will host eShowe on Friday, 19 June in their next fixture, with Empangeni 1 playing hosts eShowe on Friday, 26 June in their next fixture.

Hluhluwe remain on top of the Stewart Shield log after their close loss to eShowe over the weekend.

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