Craven Week: Boland overtake Border
Boland came from behind to pick up a 20-15 victory over Border in a tight Craven Week clash on Wednesday.
Border had the wind at their backs in the first half, and scored all of the points through two quick tries just before half-time, but Boland managed to make even better use of the conditions in the second half to pick up a hard-fought win.
Border made a bright start to the game as they took the game to Boland, but could not make it count, with two penalty attempts sailing wide.
Both teams were clearly intent on running the ball, but their basic skills were letting them down which resulted in some disjointed rugby in the opening 20 minutes.
The opening try finally came as Botha sent the ball wide on attack to fullback Michael Botha who dived over in the corner to break the deadlock.
Botha was on hand to set up the second try shortly afterwards as he drew a defender to release right wing Tristian Coetzer who finished in the corner and the conversion from flyhalf Courtney Winnaar sent Border into the half-time break with a 12-0 advantage.
Boland hit back early in the second half, with wing Gilroy Philander cutting in on a switch and showing great pace to go over for a try which cut Border's lead to 12-7 once converted by flyhalf Adriaan van der Bank.
The team from the winelands had the wind at their backs in the second half and were looking far more convincing as Border's defence was put under some serious pressure.
That pressure told when Boland flank Steyn Olivier stormed over for his second try, with the conversion from Van der Bank giving them a 14-12 lead as they got their noses in front for the first time in the game.
However, Border hit back with a long-range penalty from flyhalf Courtney Winnaar which put them 15-14 ahead with 15 minutes left to play, leaving the game wide open.
Boland responded with a penalty of their own from Van der Bank to take the lead back, and he put the final nail in Border's coffin with a late drop-goal to seal the win.
Man of the match: Adriaan van der Bank
The scorers:
For Boland:
Tries: Philander, Olivier
Cons: Van der Bank 2
Pen: Van der Bank
DG: Van der Bank
For Border:
Tries: Botha, Coetzer
Con: Winaar
Pen: Winaar
Yellow card: Gerhard Broodryk, (Border, 68 – Dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Boland: 15 Earll Douwrie, 14 Keanan Boonzaaier, 13 Gustav September, 12 Shane Bezuidenhout, 11 Gilroy Philander, 10 Adriaan van der Bank, 9 Frans Hugo, 8 Evan Booysen, 7 Jacobus Abel (captain), 6 Steyn Olivier, 5 Marco Koen, 4 Erik Groenewald, 3 Denver Prins, 2 Ruan Terblanche, 1 Pieter Stassen.
Replacements: 16 Etienne van Dyk, 17 Pieter Koegelenberg, 18 Stephan Fourie, 19 Barend van der Westhuizen, 20 Rick Jordaan, 21 Byron Qupa, 22 George Davids.
Border: 15 Michael Botha, 14 Tristian Coetzer, 13 David Brits, 12 Sango Xamlashe, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Courtney Winnaar, 9 Siyamthanda Mgubo, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Siyanda Am, 6 Heinrich Nieuwenhuizen, 5 Daniel Froneman, 4 Gerhard Broodryk, 3 Daniel Voigt, 2 Cole van Tonder, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Bubule Gongqa, 17 Lutho Selem, 18 Nico Grobler, 19 Kwanda Dimaza, 20 Josh Allderman, 21 Bulele Sotyelelwa, 22 Thaki Boloko.
Referee: Ricus van der Hoven
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Vusimuzi Msibi
TMO: Renier Vermeulen
