Craven Week: EP CD trounce Zim

A Gevanhier Blom hat-trick inspired EP Country Districts to stage a comeback against Zimbabwe and trounce Zimbabwe 51-20 on Day Four.

Zimbabwe got off to a flying start, scoring three quick tries to take a substantial lead before Blom opened the scoring for the Eastern Cape side and proved to be the catalyst in a remarkable performance.

Things got off to an enterprising start as both teams made their intentions clear from the offset. EP CD found themselves on the attack on the halfway line but Zimbabwe managed to turn the ball over and launch a counter-attack.

The ball made its way to the right touchline and found Russel Dinha who easily beat the last defender to grab the opening score after five minutes. That lead would be doubled three minutes later when Tinotenda Vheriwa got his name on the scoreboard after busting through three tackles on his over the line.

Zimbabwe kept their foot on the gas and crossed the try line for a third time through scrumhalf Ernest Mudzengerere after numerous build-up phases.

The momentum of the match then shifted the way of EP CD as they grabbed two quick tries though Grant Dixie, who broke through four tacklers to power his way over the line, and Gevanhier Blom – who showed tremendous pace to beat his marker. Geoffrey Dakin managed to slot a conversion to reduce the deficit to just three points.

Zimbabwe managed to grab their fourth try of the match in the 22nd minute through Stuart Marriott-Dodington to stretch the lead eight points, however, ill-discipline on defence allowed Dakin to slot a penalty from 30 metres as Zimbabwe went into the half-time break with a 20-15 lead.

EP CD found reward soon after the restart when Blom pounced on a loose ball inside Zimbabwe's 22 and stepped his way through six defenders to bag a brace. Dakin's conversion ensured EP CD took the lead for the first time in the encounter.

The match went into a bit of a lull from that point before Zimbabwe's ill-discipline on defence saw them concede a kickable penalty. Dakin made no mistake with the kick before EP CD scored the try of the match.

Dixie went on a bustling run down the left touchline and managed to shrug off defenders at will. He was eventually stopped but not before he handed a brilliant offload to Joshua Nieuwoudt who cantered in for the try. Dakin easily added the extra points to extend their lead to 12 points.

Zimbabwe found themselves with a numerical advantage after 53 minutes when Herman du Plessis was shown a yellow card for a professional foul at the breakdown. However, they found themselves even further behind when Blom once again displayed his finishing ability to secure his hat-trick in the 60th minute.

That lead was stretched to 24 points in the 60th minute when Chulu Chutu ripped the ball in a tackle on his 10 metre line before showing a clean pair of heels to get his first try of the match. The scoring concluded with a Dixie brace in the 69th minute and Dakin's fifth successful conversion.

Man of the Match: Gevanhier Blom

Scorers:

For Zimbabwe:

Tries: Dinha, Vheriwa, Mudzengerere, Marriott-Dodington

For Eastern Province Country Districts:

Tries: Dixie 2, Blom 3, Nieuwoudt, Chutu

Cons: Dakin 5

Pens: Dakin 2

Yellow card: Herman du Plessis (professional foul; slowing down the ball – 53)

Teams:

Zimbabwe: 15 Tarisai Mapfumo, 14 Sam Phiri, 13 Jordan Zietsman, 12 Shingirai Katsvere, 11 Tinotenda Vheriwa, 10 Ben Meredith, 9 Campbell Nyakudya, 8 Aiden Burnett, 7 Cuan Zeederberg, 6 Stuart Marriott-Dodington, 5 Tinashe Muchena, 4 Levi Fargnoli, 3 Sam Garnett, 2 Brian Muntanga, 1 Ackim Sibanda.

Replacements: 16 Tino Msasanure, 17 Kevin Chisango, 18 Liam Kenny, 19 Cleopas Kundiona, 20 Ernest Mudzengerere, 21 Martin Mongongo, 22 Russel Dinha.

Eastern Province Country Districts: 15 Athenkosi Halom, 14 Gevanhier Blom, 13 Sibabalwe Mzanywa, 12 Joshua Nieuwoudt, 11 Xolile Mdlokovana, 10 Geoffrey Dakin, 9 Xander Stotter, 8 Pieter Swanepoel, 7 Luyolo Tshongweni, 6 Herman du Plessis, 5 Jason Lizamore, 4 Janse Roux, 3 MC van Damme, 2 Michiel Uys,

1 Thembinkosi Mangwana.

Replacements: 16 Wihan Ferreira, 17 Ewan Pieters, 18 Mike van Brede, 19 Renier Pretorius, 20 Khanyisa Tshuni, 21 Grant Dixie, 22 Chulu Chutu.

Referee: Vusimuzi Msibi

Assistant referees: Renier Vermeulen, Oregopotse Rametsi

TMO: Sindile Ngcese