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Craven Week: WP trounce Pumas

WRAP: The Pumas scored first, Western Province scored last and in between Western Province did most of the scoring, ending 72-10 winners in the final match of the first day of the Craven Week.

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In the first 17 minutes, the match promised to be an exciting match. From the very start, both sides ran with enthusiasm. Tackles were intense, handling secure and turnovers offered much promise. But after Stravino’s try, the Pumas slid downhill from their promising start as tackles were missed and some of their strong, long passing went astray.

Western Province, with their short, accurate passes, were far too good in every aspect of the fluid game, and yet it was Sphe Mthetwa who scored the most spectacular try of the day – a 100-metre effort.

Eleven tries to one tells the story of the match.

The Pumas kicked off with the sun and the dying breeze behind them. Western Province found kick-off difficult with the lowering scrum in their eyes, and the Pumas were the first to attack. scrumhalf Willie Rose was penalised and flyhalf Conraad Visser goaled from 42 metres out. 3-0 after 2 minutes. The Pumas had a second penalty on the half-way line but this time Visser missed.

Then Western Province won a turnover and went down the left with advancing phases. They went right and tall flyhalf, Juan Mostert dummied and broke and scored. 5-3 after 7 minutes.

Both sides were running, both sides turned the ball over and Western Province scored when Darren Hendricks goaled a penalty. It was the only time in the match that Western Province aimed a penalty kick at goal.

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From a scrum in midfield, Western Province went left to Stravino Jacobs and the strong, fast wing swerved inside what defence there was and scored. 15-3 after 17 minutes. After this, the floodgates opened.

By half-time, strong centre Dawid Kellerman with excellent vision had scored two tries and Western Province led 36-10.

The Pumas got to 10 when Western Province seemed about the score.

Western Province kicked a penalty out for a five-metre line-out. They mauled and moved across field closer to the line. In attempting to ground the ball, they lost it forward, and Mthetwa picked it up. He ran a little and then hoofed the ball, straight down the field where Western Province, so intent on scoring a try, had no defenders. Mthetwa raced after his kick.

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Jacobs came speeding across in cover. Jacobs got to the ball first but could not control it. Mthetwa fly kicked ahead, got a favourable bounce and scored his 100-metre try under the posts. That made the score 22-10 but it did not herald a new dawn for the Pumas from Mpumalanga where the sun rises.

In the second half, Western Province doubled their score while the Pumas remained scoreless, contained by the sureness of the Western Province defence and their own wonky handling. There was not much kicking in the game. In the first half, it was 22 minutes before the Pumas kicked in open play and for Western Province, it took 46 minutes before they kicked.

It is true the Pumas started the second half kicking more often but to no profit at all and they gave it up. The last Puma kick was down towards the Western Province 22 on Western Province’s right. They countered with a great run buy wing Tiaan Pretorius who have an excellent pass to No.8 Evan Roos and the massive man forged ahead. Tackled, he stretched out and scored his second try of the match.

Strong Romuald Ntumba of Milnerton High showed some deft footwork as he surged over for a try at the posts. Hooker Jason Alexander was at the back of a maul that surged over the line to make the score 67-0 and three minutes later tall Juan Mostert beat four defenders with nifty footwork to finish off the scoring.

Thus ended the first day of the 55th Craven Week, a day of high scored in which the winners scored 237 points, the losers 69. The smallest points difference was 21 points, the biggest the 62 points scored in this match.

Scorers:

For Western Province:
Tries: Dawid Kellerman 4, Juan Mostert 2, Evan Roos 2, Romuald Ntumba, Jason Alexander, Stravino Jacobs
Cons: Darren Hendricks 7
Pen: Darren Hendricks

For Pumas:
Try: Sphe Mthetwa
Con: Conraad Visser
Pen: Conraad Visser

Teams:

Western Province: 1 Robert Rodgers, 2 Jason Alexander, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 4 Juan Beukes, 5 Adrian Alberts, 6 Justin Miller, 7 Mihlali Mgolodela, 8 Evan Roos, 9 Bobby Alexander, 10 Juan Mostert, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 12 Brendan Venter, 13 Dawid Kellerman, 14 Thoubaan Gabriels, 15 Kade Wolhuter, 16 Jean-Jacques Kotze, 17 Luthando Woji, 18 Robert Bester, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Romeo Mtumba, 21 William Rose, 22 Tiaan Pretorius, 23 Darren Hendricks.

Pumas: 1 Banele Mthenjane, 2 Jason Cornelius, 3 Wian Otto, 4 Isak Swanepoel, 5 Euwan Pretorius, 6 Rowane Skosana, 7 Juandre Odendaal, 8 Brandon Potgieter, 9 Riandre van der Merwe, 10 Coenraad Visser, 11 Tsepo Malumane, 12 Ricardo Schonefeldt, 13 Sphe Mthethwa, 14 Nathi Kubaye, 15 Martin Venter, 16 Chyle van Zyl, 17 Nkosinathi Mthetwa, 18 Estian Schroeder, 19 Jackson Madiba, 20 Mfihla Phakathi, 21 Jacques McGuire, 22 Teboho Mosia, 23 Unathi Poyo.

Golden Lions 44-25 Eastern Province

The Golden Lions’ superior workrate saw them pull away from Eastern Province in the second half to record a 44-25 victory on the opening day of the 2018 Craven Week in Paarl.

The lead exchanged hands on a number of occasions in the first half but the Golden Lions’ held on for a six-point lead at the break, only to add a further 20 points to EP’s five, saw them claim the 14-point victory.

Eastern Province’s Juandre Liebenberg slotted two penalties in the opening eight minutes to hand his side a 6-0 lead but the Golden Lions hit back with an Izak Esterhuizen try to reduce the deficit to 5-6 after 11 minutes. The Golden Lions’ forwards went to work and Karel Zowitsky muscled his way over the line. Declan Raubenheimer’s conversion handed the Lions a 12-6 lead after 17 minutes.

The lead changed hands once again in the 21st minute when Dumisa Ngcivana crashed over from close range and Juandre Liebenberg converted to take a 13-12 lead. The Golden Lions took the lead once again in the 26th minute when loose forward Franco Schutte bashed his way over the line. Raubenheimer added the extras for a 19-13 lead.

A well-executed five-metre line-out set-play saw EP regain the lead two minutes later as Ryben Dupont was forced over the line. Liebenberg’s conversion making it 20-19. The Golden Lions regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when scrumhalf Zihan Coetzee sniped around the fringe to dot down under the uprights. Raubenheimer’s conversion ensured a 26-20 lead at the break.

Emmanuel Tshituka extended the Golden Lions’ lead to 31-20 in the 41st minute when he raced away down the touchline to score in the corner. Muzilikazi Manyike stretched the lead to 34-20 in the 47th minute when he slotted a penalty.

Manyike added his name to the try-scorers list in the 58th minute as the Golden Lions stretched their lead to 39-20 but Basie Malesu hit back almost immediately for EP to reduce the deficit to 25-39. Edward White grabbed the final try – converted by Raubenheimer – of the match to seal the win.

Scorers:

For Golden Lions:
Tries: Izak Esterhuizen, Karel Zowitsky, Franco Schutte, Zihan Coetzee, Emmanuel Tshituka, Muzilikazi Manyike, Edward White
Cons: Declan Raubenheimer 4
Pen: Muzilikazi Manyike

For Eastern Province:
Tries: Dumisa Ngcivana, Ryben Dupont, Basie Malesu
Cons: Juandre Liebenberg 2
Pens: Juandre Liebenberg 2

Teams:

Golden Lions: 1 Sibusiso Shuze, 2 Morne Brandon, 3 Ruben Westraad, 4 Edward White, 5 Evan Roode, 6 Tristan Dullisear, 7 Franco Schutte, 8 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 9 Zihan Coetzee, 10 Declan Raubenheimer, 11 Tokollo Molotsi, 12 Boitumelo Tsatsane, 13 Muzilikazi Manyike, 14 Hugo Monteiro, 15 Santino Swanepoel, 16 Karel Zowitsky, 17 Jason Cloete, 18 Sibusiso Shongwe, 19 Emmanuel Tshituka, 20 Izak Esterhuizen, 21 Kabelo Mokhethi, 22 Henco Abraham, 23 Sipho Vayise.

Eastern Province: 1 Basie Malesu, 2 Corne Slabbert, 3 Bame Malesu, 4 Dumisa Ngcivana, 5 Laken Gray, 6 Hendrik du Toit, 7 Christian Roebert, 8 Regardt Ferreira, 9 Juandre Liebenberg, 10 Ryben Dupont, 11 Octavian Muller, 12 Joshua Oosthuysen, 13 Charles Flemming, 14 Lennox Holster, 15 Liyema Matyolweni, 16 Enrique Franks, 17 Christopher Poole, 18 Zukisa Sali, 19 Wiehann Pretorius, 20 Kelvin Kanenungo, 21 Jaco Nell, 22 Monray Potgieter, 23 Claude Jacobs.

Border 68-17 Limpopo Blue Bulls

Four second-half tries by fullback Sibabalwe Xamlashe helped Border secure an emphatic 68-17 victory over the Limpopo Blue Bulls in a one-sided encounter at the 2018 Craven Week.

Centre Mnombo Zwelindaba and wing Jarrod Ramsay grabbed first-half doubles each, while scrumhalf Thomas Bursey slotted nine conversions in the one-sided affair.

Jarrod Ramsay handed Border the lead in the fourth minute when he raced away to dot down under the uprights and with Thomas Bursey’s conversion, they took a 7-0 lead. Mnombo Zwelindaba grabbed two tries in three minutes, one converted, as Border stretched their lead to 19-0 after 17 minutes.

There was no stopping Border as Sakhekile Dingile grabbed his side’s third on 20 minutes. Bursey popped over the conversion to ensure a 26-0 lead. Nolan Kemp made it four tries in 25 minutes for Border and with Bursey’s conversion, Border stretched their lead to 33-0.

Limpopo finally got themselves on the scoreboard in the 30th minute when Anthony Brand stretched over the line but Ramsay his back for Border with his second of the game two minutes later. Bursey’s conversion took the lead to 40-5. Erik Snyman dotted down for Limpopo on the stroke of half-time to salvage some pride. Reece Wynne popped over the conversion to trail 12-40 at half-time.

Limpopo bagged the first points of the second half when Ofense Maubane benefitted from a defensive error to reduce the deficit to 17-40 after 43 minutes. Border were reduced to 14-men in the 51st minute when lock Uzile Tele was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.

Limpopo had Jan Cronje sent to the sin bin two minutes later and Sibabalwe Xamlashe took full advantage as he ran in four tries. Bursey goaled all the conversions to ensure a 68-17 victory.

Scorers:

For Border:
Tries: Jarrod Ramsay 2, Mnombo Zwelindaba 2, Sakhekile Dingile, Nolan Kemp, Sibabalwe Xamlashe 4
Cons: Thomas Bursey 9

For Limpopo Blue Bulls:
Tries: Anthony Brand, Erik Snyman, Ofense Maubane
Cons: Reece Wynne

Yellow cards: Uzile Tele (Border, foul play – high tackle, 51); Jan Cronje (Limpopo Blue Bulls, 53)

Teams:

Border: 1 Nolan Kemp, 2 Jacques Goosen, 3 Masivuye Mafenyana, 4 Uzile Tele, 5 Ridge Snelling, 6 Troy Mynhardt, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 8 Kwezi Dlamini, 9 Thomas Bursey, 10 Avuyile Mabece, 11 Sakhekile Dingile, 12 Mnombo Zwelindaba, 13 Mntungwa Mapantsela, 14 Jarrod Ramsay, 15 Sibabalwe Xamlashe, 16 Akalinikeli Dlakavu, 17 Andre Nel, 18 Kesivan Naidoo, 19 Raiden Maters, 20 Tomson Akioyame, 21 Jordan van Rensburg, 22 Likhaya Tengimfene, 23 Sibulele Mali.

Limpopo Blue Bulls: 1 Xongani Ngobeni, 2 Erik Snyman, 3 Petrus Potgieter, 4 Dewan Deysel, 5 Harrie Hesling, 6 Jan Cronje, 7 Thapelo Ramoshaba, 8 Phillip Apea-Adu, 9 Baphiwe Fani, 10 Reece Wynne, 11 Shima Mplepo, 12 Lucian Simpson, 13 Christiaan Smit, 14 William Thulare, 15 Jason Mulder, 16 Shaun Mulder, 17 Markus Kotze, 18 Dimpho Mphalele, 19 Anthony Buys, 20 Siphiwe Tjale, 21 Ofense Maubane, 22 Anthony Brand, 23 Tshimiswa Nemavhola.

Griffons 51-17 Blue Bulls XV

Griffons centre Keith van Aswegen and scrumhalf Georgen Kiewiet bagged four of their side’s eight tries to cruise to a 51-17 victory over the Blue Bulls XV in the opening match of the 2018 Craven Week.

 

Hooker Eduan Swart bagged a brace of his own for the Bulls XV but it was not enough to stop a rampant Griffons side who ran in four second half tries to extend a 15-5 half-time lead into a comfortable victory.

The Griffons got the scoring going with a Ruben Liebenberg penalty before extending that lead after 21 minutes through scrumhalf Georgen Kiewiet. His pass put wing JP de Kock through a gap and ran a good supporting line to gather the offload and dot down to hand his side an 8-0 lead.

The Blue Bulls XV hit back five minutes later when hooker Eduan Swart benefited from a five-metre line-out to crash through and dot down to cut the deficit to 5-8. A Leonard Jacobs converted try ensured the Griffons took a 15-5 lead into the break but not before Blue Bulls XV’s George Oosthuizen was sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle.

Griffons picked up where they left off and got the second half scoring with a Keith van Aswegen try. Liebenberg popped over the easy conversion for a 22-5 lead after 39 minutes. Biopelo Kgatlhanye hit back two minutes later for the Bulls XV when he ran a brilliant inside line. Flyhalf Kenan Wessels made no mistake with the conversion to reduce the deficit to 12-22 after 43 minutes.

Van Aswegen showed tremendous speed and power a minute later when he bulldozed his way through the Bulls XV’s defence to score his second of the game. Liebenberg’s conversion took the lead to 29-12.

Swart barged his way over the Griffons try line from close range in the 47th minute to bag his brace and bring his team back in the contest at 17-29. A brilliant break by Keketso Morabe got the Griffons on the front foot and after two brilliant offloads, JP de Kock went over in the corner to stretch his side’s lead to 34-17 after 51 minutes.

The Griffons continued their scoring momentum when flyhalf Liebenberg rounded-off a flowing move to dot down in the corner. He failed to add the extras though but the lead was extended to 39-17 after 55 minutes. Kiewiet maintained the Griffons’ stranglehold on the match when he bagged his second try to ensure a 44-17 lead after 63 minutes.

Fullback Frederick du Plessis scored the final try of the game and Liebenberg’s conversion took his team’s tally to over the 50-point mark.

Scorers:

For the Griffons:
Tries: Georgen Kiewiet 2, Leonard Jacobs, Keith van Aswegen 2, JP de Kock, Ruben Liebenberg, Frederick du Plessis
Cons: Ruben Liebenberg 4
Pen: Ruben Liebenberg

For the Blue Bulls XV:
Tries: Eduan Swart 2, Biopelo Kgatlhanye
Con: Kenan Wessels

Yellow card: George Oosthuizen (foul play – tip tackle, 35)

Teams:

Griffons: 1 Johan Pretorius, 2 Edward Wiggins, 3 Jan Crous, 4 Tyron Combrinck, 5 Hussayn Banzi, 6 Ricardo Matsabu, 7 Christiaan Steyn, 8 Keketso Morabe, 9 Georgen Kiewiet, 10 Ruben Liebenberg, 11 Leonard Jacobs, 12 Johannes Scholtz, 13 Mike van der Nest, 14 JP de Kock, 15 Frederick du Plessis, 16 Martley Baymen, 17 Marius van der Schyff, 18 Franco-Lee Ceaser, 19 Rian Olivier, 20 Quan Meyer, 21 Marchall Andrews, 22 Keith van Aswegen, 23 Morne Maastriet.

Blue Bulls XV: 1 Jaco Britz, 2 Enrique Coutriers, 3 Gerhard Viljoen, 4 Miller Simon, 5 Gerhard van der Bijl, 6 Khanya Jada, 7 Adolph Visser, 8 George Oosthuizen, 9 Divan Roelofse, 10 Kenan Wessels, 11 Biopelo Kgatlhanye, 12 Ruan Oosthuizen, 13 Stephin Alberts, 14 Bongani Ndlovu, 15 Dieter Crafford, 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Warren Nkobane, 18 Nolan Pienaar, 19 Mvenya Siseko, 20 Junior Snyman, 21 Geraldo Flusk, 22 Ronaldo Daniels, 23 Wesley Damons.

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