Craven Week, Day Two
It was a lovely day in Kimberley on Tuesday for Day Two of the 2011 Craven Week – warm and still, and it produced an epic battle between KwaZulu-Natal and Western Province. Predicted to be a great contest, it did not disappoint.
Results, Day Two:
Border vs Griquas Country Districts, 33-12
KwaZulu-Natal vs Western Province, 23-21
Golden Lions vs Eastern Province, 39-13
Griffons vs Limpopo, 22-16
Zimbabwe vs Border Country Districts, 68-3
Fixtures, Day Three – Wednesday, 13 July:
10.00: Eastern Province Country Districts vs Leopards
11.40: Griquas vs Namibia
13.10: Pumas vs Boland
14.40: Valke vs South Western Districts
16.10: Free State vs Blue Bulls
All the Day Two reports from Kimberley:
Zimbabwe vs Border Country Districts, 68-3
The start of the game was bizarre on Day 1 we had the mass of reds when Valke played Eastern Province Country Districts.
Today there was the confusion of stripes when Zimbabwe played Border Country Districts till commonsense prevailed and after 12 minutes the match was stopped so that Zimbabwe could change into Griqua jerseys whose white stripe was thinner. With a whole spectrum of colours available one would have thought there was no need for colour clashes.
It was in fact a one-sided match as the Young Sables overwhelmed their opponents in every aspect of the game and really should have won by more had it not be for a the sideways running of their backs.
Two penalties by Luke Masasire opened the scoring and from the kick-off after the second penalty goal the flyhalf Masasire hoisted a high kick. Chasing Preston Bryant caught the ball and fed Takudzwa Chieza who raced some 55 metres to score under the posts. 13-0.
Flank scored two tries, the first when he beat four defenders with a strong right-handed hand-off, the second when he tapped a penalty. to make the half-time score 28-0. Zimbabwe were well served by their nippy scrumhalf Robbie Sergeant.
Border Country Districts spent the half defending with only one moment of attack when flyhalf Jason van der Merwe broke sharply sand then took a return pass to carry on running. But it was a flash in the pan.
Zimbabwe opened the second half with a flowing try in the left corner by left wing Brian Ndudzo. 35-0. A break by Bryant and a great run by fullback James Forrester that led to Chieza’s second try. After that it was almost a case of who runs scores though when the final whistle went the Country Districts side were actually held up over the line.
The scorers:
For Zimbabwe:
Tries: Takudzwa Chieza 2, Tapiwa Tsomondo 3, Brian Ndudzo, Daniel Rorke 2, Preston Bryant, Robrert Sergeant
Cons: Luke Masasire 6
Pens: Masasire 3
For Border Country Districts:
Pen: Devandré Sissing
The teams:
Border Country Districts: 15 Devandré Sissing, 14 Sibulele Luningo, 13 Yolisa Mkumatela, 12 Buzwe Mpotulo (captain), 11 Loyiso Mnwana, 10 Jason van der Merwe, 9 Anele Mgqukuza, 8 Siphelele Njobeni, 7 Dwanyne Gafney, 6 Gavin Huddon-Davies, 5 Nkosinathi Dila, 4 Mvuyisi Kondlo, 3 Shawn Oswald Abbott, 2 Jason Viviers, 1 Luzuko Tyali.
Replacements: 16 Robin Johnson, 17 Thabo Ngcem, 18 LInamandla Mpolase, 19 Ntsika Nyalambisa, 20 Chris Dyantyi, 21 Lungile Yamba, 22 Siyavuya Ntaba.
Zimbabwe: 15 James Forrester, 14 Sean Zeederberg, 13 Takudzwa Chieza, 12 Preston Bryant, 11 Tari Ndudzo, 10 Luke Masasire, 9 Robert Sargeant, 8 Garath Meikle, 7 Rock Rorke, 6 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 5 Rob Zee, 4 Matthew Lawson, 3 Joshua Smallbones, 2 Rees Surtees, 1 Kudakwashe Makuvire.
Reoplacemnents: 16 Andries Petrus van Heerden, 17 Junior Hlahla, 18 Kumbirai Makanza, 19 Jacko Bruk-Jackson, 20 Tatenda Zinyemba, 21 Andrew Wilkinson, 22 Sam Musiyarira.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam, Petrus Janse van Rensburg
Television match official: Rodney Bonaparte
Griffons vs Limpopo, 22-16
The tsunami of tries of the first match turned to a drought in the first half of the second. The half-time score was just 3-all: a penalty by François van Biljon of the Griffons, who went off injured not long afterwards, and Jacobus Marais of Limpopo.
The Griffons, whose fullback Nathen Luiters was full of running, had better opportunities but the boys from Far North were determined on defence.
There were four tries in the livelier second half, three of them by the bigger Griffons who could have won more easily had their goal-kicking been better. Limpopo kicked their goals and were just a point behind going into the last few minutes, but then Ruan Janse van Rensburg powered over. Even then there was some time left but when they had a scrum feed Limpopo were penalised and the match ended.
All of the tries in the match were scored by sturdy forwards, including the Limpopo try by Jan-Hendrik Truter who burst free from a ruck, swerved past the fullback and scored.
The scorers:
For Griffons:
Tries: Frans Gerber, Marco Klopper, Ruan Jane van Rensburg
Cons: Kallie Erasmus 2
Pen: Francois van Biljon
For Limpopo:
Try: Jan-Hendrik Truter
Con: Kobus Marais
Pen: Marais
The teams:
Griffons: 15 Nathan Luiters, 14 Rubin Botha, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Jacobus Enslin, 11 Leonard van der Walt, 10 David van Biljon, 9 Kallie Erasmus, 8 Frans Gerber, 7 Ruan Janse van Rensburg, 6 Adnil Kleinbooi, 5 Leonard van der Walt, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 Gustav Potgieter, 2 Marco (captain), 1 Jean Volkwyn.
Replacements: 16 Rynard Snyman, 17 John Lonergan, 18 Henco van der Westhuizen, 19 Jason Bloemstein, 20 Lilitha Kambula, 21 Bredan October, 22 Luzanne Williams.
Limpopo: 15 Donovan Goosen, 14 Manuel Pinto, 13 Juan Edmund Smit, 12 Kefentse Mahlo, 11 Nhlanhla Mlondobozi, 10 Jacobus Marais, 9 Divan Retief, 8 Roy-Ramon Auret (captain), 7 Theo van Niekerk, 6 Madala Ndinisa, 5 Ntlhari Shikwambana, 4 Funani Mabala, 3 Arend Bannink, 2 Jan-Hendrik Truter, 1 Tiaan Gerber.
Replaceements: 16 Trevor Nkwamba, 17 Juandre du Toit, 18 Anton du Toit, 19 Arrie van der Berg , 20 Harold Vorster , 21 Rendani Luvhimba, 22 Viljoen Dreyer.
Referee: Mlungiseleli Mdashe
Assistant referees: Dilbert November, Local
Television match official: Andy Slater
Golden Lions vs Eastern Province, 39-13
The Golden Lions were just far too strong for the willing Eastern Province team who were starved of possession as they ran into really tough defence and were almost lucky to get even one try. The result was a big surprise as the Golden Lions had performed poorly in its warm-up matches.
Eastern Province actually scored first through a penalty by Wayne Gardner in the second minute of the match but soon Jaco van der Walt levelled the scores and Burger Odendaal came in close and powered through for a try under the posts.
Gardner dropped a goal but when Tshepo Mookie took a pass from Odendaal and cut inside two covering defenders the Golden Lions led 15-6 at the break.
Three tries took the score to 34-6 before the television match official advised the referee that Stephan Zaaiman had scored a try as Eastern Province bashed at the line.
Still the Golden Lions had the last say when big Ruan Steenkamp, their captain, ran some 40 metres with two hand-offs to score in the left corner.
The scorers:
For Golden Lions:
Tries: Daniel Bope, Ruhann Kruger, Tshepo Mooki, Burger Odendaal 2, Ruan Steenkamp
Con: Jaco van der Walt 3
Pen: Van der Walt
For Eastern Province:
Try: Stephan Zaaiman
Con: Wayne Gardner
Pen: Gardner
DG: Gardner
The teams:
Golden Lions: 15 C-Than Moos, 14 Sifiso Shabangu, 13 Charlton Afrika, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Tshepo Mooki, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ruhann Kruger, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Christiaan Massyn, 6 Daniel Bope, 5 Philip du Preez, 4 Sabath Mmatli, 3 Dirk Kotzé, 2 Theunis Reynolds, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Eugene le Maitre, 17 Jaco Victor, 18 Jan Hendrik Stander, 19 Tumelo Moloi , 20 Shaun Conradie , 21 Chad de Klerk, 22 Senzo Shabalala.
Eastern Province: 15 Gary Loest, 14 Selvyn Davids, 13 Zuko Ndlela, 12 Byron Westcott, 11 Neo Mehlwana, 10 Wayne Gardner, 9 Johannes Nel, 8 Tau Mokonyane, 7 Stephan Zaayman, 6 Justin (captain), 5 Roche van Hall, 4 Marius le Roux, 3 Vurile Sofisa, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Jan-Frederik Enslin.
Replacements: 16 Jonathan Ford, 17 Matthew Moore, 18 Madlenkosi Sam, 19 Loxolo Koza, 20 Henrico Koester, 21 Jean-Claude Pittaway, 22 Phillip Solomons.
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assistant referees: Rodney Bonaparte, Stephan Geldenhuys
Television match official: Francois Groenewald
KwaZulu-Natal vs Western Province, 23-21
It was a thriller in the end though it need not have been. In fact, KwaZulu-Natal could have lost it, which would have been a farce. With seconds left to play KZN went off-side at their own kick and Western Province opted for the long kick at goal, which was a long way short.
Before that KwaZulu-Natal seemed to be sitting pretty at 20-7, getting the majority of possession and looking much more likely to score tries. But then the Western Province side came back with two tries to be just two points behind.
Their last kick was taken by Handré Pollard. It was a kick in hope rather than out of conviction and it is sad that a player had kicked so well should fail at the final hurdle. The weakest part of the KwaZulu-Natal game was their goal-kicking. Had it been up to standard they would not have needed to say their prayers at the end. They would have been well ahead.
Western Province led 7-5 at a the break – a fortunate position as KwaZulu-Natal had missed a conversion from in front and at least two, gilt-edged chances to score tries. And as the half went on KwaZulu-Natal got increasingly on top. Western Province’s poor performance in the line-outs helped KZN enormously and continued to do so throughout the match even when Western Province shrunk their efforts to No.2.
Still it was an early line-out that produced the first try of the match. Western Province won a five-metre line-out and mauled till captain Sikumbuzo Notshe flopped over. Three minutes later KwaZulu-Natal scored from a scrum, as Robert du Preez did a little dummy and swept past his opposite number for a try under the posts. 7-5 after 8 minutes.
In the first half fullback Mbembe Payi had two great runs which should have produced tries. One run started with an intercept well inside the KwaZulu Natal half and it was only a miraculous effort by Cheslin Kolbe that prevented the try.
The KwaZulu-Natal try that gave them the lead was brilliant. From a scrum Robert du Preez threw a long and perfect pass to centre Tyler Fisher who ran straight onto it and raced powerfully for 50 metres to score. 12-7.
Back came KZN, hammering at the Western Province line whose defence, especially by smaller men was brave and effective.
A penalty by Siyabonga Tom stretched the lead and then came a gift-wrapped try. Robert du Preez kicked high. The Western Province wing Dalen Goliath let the ball go straight through his arms. It bounced to Tom who slipped a little pass to hooker Jacques Taylor on his outside and Taylor set off for the try. 20-7.
Then Kyle Lombard scored a brilliant try as he dummied Robert du Preez and beat three defenders to score.
Tom made it 23-14 with six minutes left but Lombaard broke again and got close. Over and over Western Province bashed at the KwaZulu-Natal line till the television match official advised that Craig Corbett had scored a try. 23-21 with just over two minutes to play – an exciting ending.
The scorers:
For KwaZulu-Natal:
Tries: Robert du Preez, Tyler Fisher, Jacques Taylor
Con: Siyabonga Tom
Pens: Tom 2
For Western Province:
Tries: Sikumbuzo Notshe, Kyle Lombard, Craig Corbett
Cons: Handré Pollard 3
The teams:
Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Jean-Paul Lewis, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Frederik Nel, 8 Tarquin Carlsson, 7 Sikumbuzo Notshe (captain), 6 Ramone Samuels, 5 Clyde Davids, 4 Sebastian Ferreira, 3 Jacobus Swanepoel, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Tshepo Motale.
Replacements: 16 Graig Corbett, 17 Jacobus van der Merwe, 18 Ryno van der Merwe, 19 Andreas Dercksen, 20 Andre Warner, 21 Timothy Swiel, 22 Michal Haznar.
KwaZulu Natal: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Lwazi Sithole, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Dean Moolman, 11 Siyabonga Tom, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Stefan Ungerer (captain), 8 Abraham Swart, 7 Jean-Lue du Preez, 6 Sibulele Nanto, 5 Johan Klingenberg, 4 Daniel du Preez, 3 Matthew Worrall-Clare, 2 Jacques Taylor, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Cullen Collopy, 17 Monwabisi Pina, 18 Jakobus Horn, 19 Jackson Buthelezi, 20 Brendan Cope, 21 Sandile Kubeka, 22 Nkululeko Marwana.
Referee: Dilbert November
Assistant referees: Andy Slater, Mlungiseleli Mdashe
Television match official: Lusanda Jam
Border vs Griquas Country Districts, 33-12
Border were much bigger but the Griquas Country Districts terriers made them play for their victory whose size was probably flattering as the Country Districts side had chances which they only just failed to take where the big, organised, deliberate Border side took its opportunities.
They also had the two outstanding players on the field – eighthman Johan Meyer and inside centre Josh Stander who was actually playing out of position. They were decisive in the victory. Apart from scoring three of the tries between them they also had a hand in much else that was positive in the Border game.
It took Border just over a minute to get their first try when Achumile Mashalaba opened up the defence and Emihle Baneti danced over under the posts. The second try started with Meyer bursting ahead and sending Stander away through a gap and the centre pout Cameron Opperman over under the posts. Then Border went on pick-‘n-drive till Meyer picked up and powered over. 21-0
But the Country Districts side were not set to lie down and a good run down the right by Gershwun Adams to set up a try near the posts by powerful Gabriël Liebenberg. That made the half-time score 21-7.
Meyer forced his way through two tacklers to score in the left corner (26-12) before Griquas Country Districts attacked with great energy bashing at the Border line before going wide left where Dolf Burden had an easy run-in for the try.
The Men from the Orange River had another golden chance to score but instead it was Border who broke away from their line close to the Country Districts line. A high tackle gave them a five-metre line-out and Stander forced his way over.
The scorers:
For Border:
Tries: Emihle Baneti, Johan Meyer 2, Cameron Opperman, Josh Stander
Cons: Joshua van Rooyen 4
For Griquas Country Districts:
Tries: Dolf Burden, G Liebenberg
Con: H Share
The teams:
Griquas Country Districts: 15 Peter-John Walters, 14 Gershwun Adams, 13 Eswyn Heyns, 12 Dawid Burden, 11 Innocent Ngatajosi, 10 Herman Share, 9 Curtis Cloete, 8 Eslie Horn, 7 Heinrich Neels, 6 Jacobus Schoeman, 5 Christiaan Steenkamp, 4 Martin Gerber, 3 Gabriël Liebenberg (captain), 2 Jacobus Conradie, 1 Andries Burger.
Replacements: 16 Jan Louw, 17 Andre Esterhuyse, 18 Pieter Lategan, 19 Sergio Jones, 20 Ajay Bowen, 21 Adriaan Uys, 22 Dirbusco Louw.
Border: 15 Joshua van Rooyen, 14 Milani Mqhayi, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Joshua Stander, 11 Emihle Baneti, 10 Achumile Mashalaba, 9 Cameron Opperman, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Siyasanga Makohliso, 6 Siphesihle Punguzwa, 5 Andrew Love, 4 Jason Orpen, 3 Ryan Germishuys, 2 Siphatho Qinisile (captain), 1 Yakha Qinela.
Replacements: 16 Maliviwe Simanga, 17 Neil Fourie, 18 Jason-Paul Bucholtz, 19 Frederik Lubbe, 20 Juan-Phillip Smith, 21 Justin Haynes, 22 Dylan de Wilzen.
