Craven Week: Griquas impress
A hat-trick by flank Janco Cloete helped Griquas to an impressive 28-17 victory over the Leopards on Day Two of the 2015 Under-18 Craven Week.
The game got off to a blistering start with both teams spreading the ball wide. Griquas had an early advantage after the Leopards were reduced to 14 men, however, flyhalf Gert Nortjie could not put his team in the lead from the kicking tee.
Griquas continued to put the Leopards under pressure with some big strong runners, but their final pass let them down in the red zone. The team from the North West also did not help their own cause trying to run the ball when the better option would have been to kick for territory.
When the Leopards made their first venture inside the Griquas 22 they came away with points with bog lock Jacobus Dreyer going over for the try in the 12th minute after a powerful driving maul.
The Leopards dominance at ruck time started to pay when they were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute, however Andre Kock could not convert, which would have put them two scores in front.
Griquas slowly started to get back into the game and were rewarded when Janco Cloete stretched over for a try after a wonderful break in the midfield. Nortjie converted to give his team a 7-5 lead after 21 minutes. Griquas scored their second a few minutes later when Cloete again to his opportunity, this time from a driving maul to sprint in for try.
The Leopards were not to be outdone and scored their second try after an intercept in midfield put them on the front foot before the ball found its way to outside centre Marthinus Vermeulen who bulldozed his way over for the score. They kept up their momentum towards the close of the half with captain Edmund Rheeder scoring a third to give his team a 17-14 lead.
Nortjie had a chance to put his team level at half-time, but the flyhalf fluffed his giving the Leopards the lead at the break.
Griquas applied early pressure in the second half, but were unable to find that killer blow while in the Leopards 22. Nortjie thought he was in for his team's third before the try was disallowed as he was held in the tackle 5m short of the tryline.
There was no let up from the boys from Kimberley and they were finally reward with a try after some good work by Rian Kotze at the breakdown. Nortjie converted to give his team a four point lead.
Both teams continued to play enterprising rugby without threating the score line, although Nortjie had a chance to put his team seven points clear in the 54th minute with a penalty, which went wide.
With ten minutes to go it was still anyone's game, with Griquas in particular coming close to scoring on a number of occasions. The Northern Cape side then all but sealed the game in the 63rd minute when Cloete completed his hat-trick from a driving maul.
The two sides contributed to an entertaining ending with their fleet footed backs. Griquas turned out comfortable winners in the end as the Leopards ran out of time to stage a comeback.
Man of the match: Janco Cloete
Scorers:
For Leopards:
Tries: Dreyer, Vermeulen, Rheeder
Con: Kock
For Griquas:
Tries: Cloete 3, Kotze
Cons: Nortjie 4
Teams:
For Leopards: 15 Francois Pelser, 14 Dane Booysen, 13 Marthinus Vermeulen, 12 Johannes Pelser, 11 Yamkela Nyembe, 10 Andre Kock, 9 Christopher Coetzee, 8 Edmund Rheeder (captain), 7 Johan Dettman, 6 Jacobus Dreyer, 5 Gladwin Mabasa, 4 Christopher Kemm, 3 Douglas Bruce-Smith, 2 Johannes Joubert, 1 Tshepo Ratshikana.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Visagie, 17 Marthinus De Villiers, 18 Kgololosego Magano, 19 Rebono Kai, 20 Ethan Ballot, 21 Lionel George, 22 Katleho Thabanchu.
For Griquas: 15 Keaton Gordon, 14 De-An Ackermann, 13 Justin Pietersen, 12 Daniello Huyster, 11 Cameron Huffke, 10 Gert Nortje, 9 JP Roets, 8 Johan Joubert, 7 Rian Kotze, 6 Janco Cloete, 5 Bernard Jansen, 4 Lihan Viljoen, 3 Stefan Smit, 2 Phemelo Seleke, 1 Wilhelm Rosenstrauch.
Replacements: 16 Anton van Romburgh, 17 Simbulele Mnweba, 18 Abram Venter, 19 Corne van der Merwe, 20 Heinrich Loxton, 21 Sergio Kasper, 22 Jacques Beukes.
Referee: Renier Vermeulen
Assistant referees: Vusimuzi Msibi, Fernando Uithaler
TMO: Ricus van der Hoven
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