Craven Week: KZN snatch victory

KwaZulu-Natal came away 18-16 victors in an ebb and flow encounter over the Golden Lions in Stellenbosch on day two of the Craven Week.

Both teams struggled to establish their dominance throughout out the game as errors maintained a stop-start game, but it was KwaZulu-Natal who out-scored the Golden Lions two tries to one and snatched the game at the death.

It was a composed start by both teams as they enjoyed some equal possession, but the Golden Lions were first on the board after Mthi Simelane converted a long-ranged penalty kick after missing one moments before.

The Golden Lions secured territorial advantage in the first ten minutes of the game but they were dealt an early blow when flyhalf and playmaker Xander Kruger went off injured. 

KwaZulu-Natal(KZN) got out of their half with a break from hooker Matt Wiseman as he burst down the field. Golden Lions were penalised and KZN made them pay with a kick to the corner and a successful line-out drive – Mulalo Sadiki the man who finished off the maul with the try. Flyhalf Bader Pretorius converted the kick from the corner as the KZN side took the lead in the game.

Pretorius moments later was penalised for a ruck infringement and Simelane took the opportunity with both hands as he narrowed the score line with another long-ranged penalty-kick. 

KZN began to find their feet and strung some quality phases together showing great skill in a first-half that was strewn with penalties resulting in a stop-start affair. 

Golden Lions were penalised at scrum-time on 26 minutes and it gave a chance for Pretorius to extend KZN's lead and the flyhalf did just that as the score went to 10 points to six in favour of KZN.

KZN were punished for illegal hands in the ruck and their ill-disciplined defensive line-speed on countless occasions and this allowed the Golden Lions to make their way into the KZN red zone. The Golden Lions pushed at the KZN line and eventually Tiaan van der Merwe powered his way over the line for a try. Simelane duly converted the kick as the Golden Lions took the lead. 

The score was 13-10 in favour of the Golden Lions as both teams head into the sheds for half-time.

Golden Lions got off to an electric start in the second-half with a bust down the midfield straight from the kick-off. The end result was a penalty which Simelane converted to extend the lead.

Pretorius cancelled out the Golden Lions three points with a penalty of his own moments later. 

The KZN flyhalf had another two opportunities at poles but his first kick to level the scores sailed wide of the uprights, while the second long-ranged attempt also flew wide. 

The second-half was a real see-saw battle as both sides looked to assert their dominance however numerous penalties from the Golden Lions and KZN hampered their ambitions. 

KZN hit the corner from a penalty and formed another quality rolling maul which Golden Lions flank Henro Liebenberg illegally defended and he was shown a yellow card. 

The Golden Lions managed to survive the onslaught on their line and a relieving penalty gave them breathing space as they kicked for touch. 

With 10 minutes to play the game eventually began to open up and the Golden Lions could have wrapped up the game after MJ Pelser countered well shrugging off a tackle and putting a well-weighted kick for Simelane but the outside centre couldn't hang on with an open try-line.

KZN had it all to do with two minutes to go from their own 22 metre line. Wiseman came away with the ball on the blindside and he drew two defenders and released right wing Xolisa Guma who showed a clean pair of heels and stepped the last defender to steal the game at the death for KZN.

Man of the match: Bader Pretorius

Scorers:

For KwaZulu-Natal:

Tries: Sadiki, Guma

Con: Pretorius

Pens: Pretorius 2

For Golden Lions:

Try: Van der Merwe

Con: Simelane

Pens: Simelane 3

Teams:

KwaZulu-Natal: 15 Victor Foster, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Matthew Kriel, 12 James Tedder, 11 Tonny Mahlangu, 10 Bader Pretorius, 9 Matthew Dahl (captain), 8 Marco Palvie, 7 Mulalo Sadiki, 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 5 Jordan Sesink Clee, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Khuthuzani Mchunu, 2 Matt Wiseman, 1 Christopher Klopper.

Replacements: 16 Anele Songca, 17 Hendrik Prinsloo, 18 Andrew Peverelle, 19 Devon Muller, 20 Ryan van der Westhuizen, 21 Kudzaishe Munangi, 22 Jerome Bossr.

Golden Lions: 15 Ivan Smit, 14 Lwazi Monakali, 13 Mthi Simelane, 12 MJ Pelser, 11 Ntobeko Mkhwanazi, 10 Xander Kruger, 9 Elrico Swartz, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Mvovo Dayimani, 6 Henro Liebenberg, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 JP Swart, 2 Tiaan Van der Merwe, 1 Ricky Nwagbara.

Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Thomas Meyer, 19 Moses Mthembo, 20 Franco Tiedt, 21 Vuyo Shongwe, 22 Michael Tambwe.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Assistant referees: Renier Vermeulen, Archie Sehlako

TMO: Sindile Ngcese