Craven Week: Griquas CD snatch win

A late comeback saw Griquas Country Districts open their 2015 Craven Week campaign with a 17-12 win over Zimbabwe on Day Two in Stellenbosch.

Griquas CD started the game like a house on fire with solid defence and penetrating the Zimbabwe defence the first chance they got with some good interplay between backs and forwards in the first two minutes.

The game then descended into a slow scrappy affair with both teams unable to put a decent string of phases together leaving the game scoreless after ten minutes. The scrum was also a problem area, particularly for Zimbabwe, with the referee penalising them on numerous occasions for not holding their own against a much bigger Griquas CD pack.

However, It was the Zimbabweans who opened the scoring in the 21st minute with flyhalf Benjamin Meredith cutting through the Griquas CD defence after some sustained pressure in the Northern Cape team's 22.  

Griquas CD tried desperately to get a score before half-time, but handling errors at crucial times let them down. They were also unable to take advantage of their powerful scrum to give them some go forward ball. It was the Zimbabweans that almost had the last say in the half when Sam Phiri lost the ball forward a metre from the tryline after a good tackle. Zimbabwe took a surprising 7-0 lead into the break.

Griquas CD were the better team at the start of the second half, breaking through some inefficient tackling by Zimbabwe. However, Griquas CD's line-out continued to let them down as they tried to create an attacking platform from the numerous penalties they were awarded.

Zimbabwe played second fiddle in terms of possession and territory as they did for much of the first half, but somehow still held on to their lead ten minutes into the second half with Griquas CD's handling turning out to be a major cause for concern for their coaching staff.

After some sustained pressure on the Zimbabwe tryline, Griquas CD finally put some points on the board when hooker Dolf Zandberg scrambled his way over for a try. Zimbabwe still had the lead however, after a missed conversion. 

Just when Griquas CD thought they were back in the game, Zimbabwe hit back with a try of their own in the 51st minute after fullback Tarisai Mapfumo gathered a well waited grubber to score in the corner for a 12-5 lead.

With ten minutes to go it was Zimbabwe looking the more likely to score with some great counter-attacking rugby. When they did have the ball, the Northern Cape side were stopped in their tracks with some great defensive play.

With just under five minutes to go Griquas CD were again back in the game after replacement David du Toit stretched over for the try, which was converted to bring the scores levelled.

The game was then effectively won after flank Dian Dry picked up a loose pass and sprinted all but 50m to score his team's third try for a five point lead with just under two minutes to play. Griquas CD held onto their slender lead in the end for the win.

Man of the match: Dian Dry

Scorers:

For Griquas CD:

Tries: Zandberg, Du Toit, Dry

Con: Du Plessis

For Zimbabwe:

Tries: Meredith, Mapfumo

Con: Meredith

Teams:

Griquas CD: 15 Willa Delie, 14 Jacques Page, 13 Juniel Cloete, 12 Adri du Plessis, 11 Marcel Van der Westhuizen, 10 Renier Fortuin, 9 Etienne Le Roux, 8 Reinhard Hayes, 7 Cobus Wiese (captain), 6 Dian Dry, 5 Adriaan Burger, 4 Jason Pietersen, 3 Heinrich Fourie, 2 Dolf Zandberg, 1 Wynand Terblanche. 

Replacements: 16 Talie Dick, 17    David Du Toit, 18 Stefan Hanekom, 19 Erik Jordaan, 20 Denvill Joseph, 21 Mpho Molaolwa, 22 Xavier Cloete.

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.

Referee: Jaco Pretorius

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Ricus van der Hoven

TMO: Archie Sehlako