Craven Week Results, Day Four

The weather again was sunny and dry in Kimberley for Day Four of the 2011 Craven Week – an exciting day, nothing more exciting than the last action of the last match between the Lions and KZN.

Results, Day Four:

Griquas Country Districts vs Border Country Districts, 33-16
Limpopo vs Zimbabwe, 81-7
Griffons vs EP, 31-16
Western Province vs Border, 42-26
Golden Lions vs KwaZulu-Natal, 19-18

All the Day Four reports from Kimberley:

Griquas Country Districts vs Border Country Districts, 33-16

The bulky Border Country Districts started well enough, were on top and scored first when some Griqua Country Districts fumbling under pressure gave Linamandla Mpolase a try.

But after that the Orange River side got on top.

Their try by centre Dolf Burden lifted their spirits and they soon had a second when big prop Gawie Liebenberg tapped a penalty and powered through five defenders to score. The Griquas led 14-7 at half-time.

In the second half, the Border side again seemed more energetic and two penalties by fullback Devandré Sissing took the score to 14-13. But then the Griqua side got going again.

The TMO could not determine whether or not André Esterhuyse had scored a try but a cut-back from the subsequent scrum produced a try for Eswyn Heyns who moved to centre when Herman Share came on. A dummy and dart from close in gave Ajay Bowen a try as Griquas took complete control of the match and the Border side suffered several injuries and scrums became uncontested.

A yellow card and being penalised frequently did not help the Border cause. But Border had the very last say when Lungile Yamba dropped a long goal.

The scorers:

For Griquas Country Districts:
Tries: Dolf Burden, Gabriël Liebenberg, Eswyn Heyns, Ajay Bowen, André Esterhuyse
Cons: Peter-John Walters 2, Herman Share 2

For Border Country Districts:
Try: Linamandla Mpolase
Con: Devandré Sissing
Pens: Sissing 2
DG: Lungile Yamba

The teams:

Griquas Country Districts: 15 Curtis Cloete, 14 Gershwun Adams, 13 Peter-John Walters, 12 Dolf Burden, 11 Innocent Ngatajosi, 10 Eswyn Heyns, 9 Ajay Bowen, 8 Eslie Horn, 7 Jan Louw, 6 Jacobus Schoeman, 5 Christiaan Steenkamp, 4 Martin Gerber, 3 Gawie Liebenberg (captain), 2 Jacobus Conradie, 1 André Esterhuyse.
Replacements: 16 Heinrich Neels, 17 Andries Burger, 18 Pieter Lategan, 19 Sergio Jones, 20 Herman Share, 21 Adriaan Uys, 22 Dirbusco Louw.

Border Country Districts. 15 Devandré Sissing, 14 Siyavuya Ntaba, 13 Yolisa Mkumatela, 12 Buzwe Mpotulo (captain), 11 Loyiso Mnwana, 10 Lungile Yamba, 9 Chris Dyantyi, 8 Siphelele Njobeni, 7 Ntsika Nyalambisa, 6 Gavin Huddon-Davies, 5 Robin Johnson, 4 Mvuyisi Kondlo, 3 Thabo Ngcem, 2 LInamandla Mpolase, 1 Luzuko Tyali.
Replacements: 16 Jason Viviers, 17 Shawn Abbott, 18 Nkosinathi Dila, 19 Dwanyne Gafney, 20Anele Mgqukuza , 21 Jason van der Merwe, 22 Sibulele Luningo.

Referee: Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Daniel van Heerden, Rudolph van Heerden
Television match official: Dilbert November

Limpopo vs Zimbabwe, 81-7

This became awful. What Zimbabwe did to Border Country Districts on Tuesday, Limpopo paid back with interest on Thursday.

The side from north of the Limpopo won 68-3 on Tuesday but were completely outplayed by the sharp, skilful side from the other side of the Limpopo.

It may have been that Limpopo, who just lost to the Griffons on Tuesday, played their first choice side on Thursday whereas Zimbabwe played six replacements. Zimbabwe tried to get first-choice players back but by that time the horse had well and truly belted.

At half-time men from the top of South Africa led 39-0.

When Limpopo had scored 11 tries and led 74-0, the Zimbabweans put together an attack down the right that went wide left for a try by captain Garath Meikle which James Forrester converted from touch.

The fact of the matter is that Zimbabwe were beaten by an exciting side.

The scorers:

For Limpopo:
Tries: Madala Ndinisa 2, Nhlanhla Mlondobozi 2, Viljoen Dreyer 2, Anton du Toit 2, Royes Auret, Kobus Marais, Juan Smit, Harold Vorster
Cons: Kobus Marais 9
Pen: Marais

For Zimbabwe:
Try: Garath Meikle
Con: James Forrester

The teams:

Limpopo: 15 Rendani Luvhimba, 14 Viljoen Dreyer, 13 Juan Smit, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Nhlanhla Mlondobozi, 10 Jacobus Marais, 9 Kefentse Mahlo, 8 Arrie van der Berg, 7 Roy-Ramon Auret (captain), 6 Madala Ndinisa, 5 Ntlhari Shikwambana, 4 Anton du Toit, 3 Arend Bannink, 2 Trevor Nkwamba, 1 Juandre du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Jan Truter, 17 Tiaan Gerber, 18 Funani Mabala, 19 Theo van Niekerk, 20 Divan Retief, 21 Donovan Goosen, 22 Manuel Pinto.

Zimbabwe: 15 James Forrester, 14 Sean Zeederberg, 13 Takudzwa Chieza, 12 Andrew Wilkinson, 11 Tari Ndudzo, 10 Sam Musiyarira, 9 Preston Bryant, 8 Garath Meikle, 7 Rock Rorke, 6 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 5 Rob Zee, 4 Kumbirai Makanza, 3 Junior Hlahla, 2 Rees Surtees, 1 Andries van Heerden.
Replacements: 16 Kudakwashe Makuvire, 17 Joshua Smallbones, 18 Matthew Lawson, 19 Jacko Bruk-Jackson, 20 Robert Sargeant , 21 Tatenda Zinyemba, 22 Luke Masasire.

Referee: Rodney Bonaparte
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam, Gerrie de Bruin
Television match official: Mlungiseleli Mdashe

Griffons vs Eastern Province, 31-16

The Griffons won their second match at the 2011 Craven Week, while Eastern Province suffered their second defeat.

There was a stage in the game when Eastern Province looked as if they would win but they wilted under the physical onslaught of the bigger Griffons. The Griffons managed the big victory despite a penalty count that was overwhelmingly against them – 18 penalties against them at the tackle alone.

Eastern Province scored first with a penalty but then there was a try apiece – one by Jaco Enslin for the Griffons and a brilliant one by Jean-Claude Pittaway who raced down the tight and swerved inside to score. But a sharp try under the posts by the outstanding scrumhalf Kallie Erasmus gave the men from the goldfields a 17-13 lead at the break.

In the second half it was the strength and sharpness of the Griffons that produced the tries that stretched their lead, the first when Brendon Oktober burst through a maul, the second after a brilliant break by Enslin who gave inside to Kirsten Heyns who scored.

The scorers:

For Griffons:
Tries: Jaco Enslin, Kallie Erasmus, Brendon Oktober, Kirsten Heyns
Cons: Erasmus, Enslin 2
Pen: Enslin

For Eastern Province:
Tries: Jean Claude Pitteway
Cons: Selwyn Davids
Pens: Davids 2

The teams:

Eastern Province: 15 Wayne Gardner, 14 Selwyn Davids, 13 Jean Claude Pitteway, 12 Byron Westcott, 11 Phillip Solomon, 10 Gary Loest, 9 Enrico Koester, 8 Luxolo Koza, 7 Stephan Zaaiman, 6 Justin Benn (captain), 5 Roche van Hall, 4 Mncedisi Dlwengu, 3 Matthew Moore, 2 Jonathan Ford, 1 Fikile Sofisa.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17Jan Enslin, 18 Marius le Roux, 19 Tebogo Mokonenyane, 20 Francois Nel, 21 Siviwe Bisset, 22 Neo Mehlwana.

Griffons: 15 Nathen Luiters, 14 Brendon Oktober, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Jaco Enslin, 11 Renaldo Abrahams, 10 Luzanne Williams, 9 Kallie Erasmus, 8 Reinhardt Snyman, 7 Ruan Janse van Rensburg, 6 Lilitha Kambule, 5 Jason Bloemstein, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 Henco van der Westhuizen, 2 Marco Klopper (captain), 1 John-Otto Lonergan.
Replacements: 16 Frans Gerber, 17 Jean Volkwyn, 18 Gustav Potgieter, 19 Leonard van der Walt, 20 Adnil Kleinbooi, 21 Ruben Botha, 22 Francois van Biljon.

Referee: François Groenewald
Assistant referees: Dilbert November, Reynard de Bruin
Television match official: Stephan Geldenhuys

Western Province vs Border, 42-26

What a difference! On Tuesday Western Province were diffident and clumsy. On Thursday they were confident and skilful, playing that forgotten rugby delight called Western Province rugby.

In days of yore Western Province would play the ball to the wings and then start playing. That is what happened in the first half against Border. Both wings were involved. Left wing JP Lewis got a try and right wing Dalen Goliath got within five metres of the try-line four times, the fourth to produce a pop pass to Tim Swiel, who scored a brilliant team try. Gone was bash-‘n-bang.

In that first half Western Province scored five tries to lead 34-0.

The second half was a seachange as Joshua Stander came on for Border and the game changed. It was Border’s turn to score tries. They got two and would have had a third had massive Ryan Germishuys not lost the ball in trying to score. In this half Border took over possession of the ball. Their big men got more and more into the game.

So much more into the game that they scored four successive tries before Western Province got their only try of the half. One of the Border tries was a gift. They got a bit of a shove onto a Western Province scrum five metres from their line, Western Province dropped the ball back over the line where Siphesihle Punguzwa scored.

The lesson from the match was probably that it is wise to choose your best flyhalf.

The scorers:

For Western Province:
Tries: JP Lewis, André Warner, Ryno van der Merwe, Jaco van der Merwe, Tim Swiel, Tshepo Motale
Cons: Swiel 2
Pens: Swiel 2

For Border:
Try: Dylan De Wilzen, Sphomulele Msutwana, Siphesihle Punguzwa, Milani Mqayi
Cons: Joshua Stander 3

The teams:

Border: 15 Joshua van Rooyen, 14 Milani Mqayi, 13 Sphomulele Msutwana, 12 Dylan De Wilzen, 11 Emihle Baneti, 10 Justin Haynes, 9 JP Smith, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Siyasanga Makohliso, 6 Siphesihle Punguzwa, 5 Andrew Love, 4 Jason Orpen, 3 Ryan Germishuys, 2 Maliviwe Simanga, 1 Yakha Qinela.
Replacements: 16 Siphatho Qinisile, 17 Fourie, 18 Jason Bucholtz, 19 Freddy Lubbe, 20 Cameron Opperman, 21 Achumile Mashalaba, 22 Josh Stander.

Western Province: 15 Chelsin Kolbe, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Michal Hazner, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 André Warner, 8 Andreas Derckson, 7 Sikumbuzo Notshe, 6 Ramone Samuels, 5 Ryno van der Merwe, 4 Sebastian Ferreira, 3 Jaco van der Merwe, 2 Craig Corbett, 1 Tshepo Motali.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Entienne Swanepoel, 18 Clyde Davids, 19 Tarquin Carlson, 20 J Nel, 21 Handre Pollard, 22 Justin Gedult.

Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assistant referees: Mlungiseleli Mdashe, Rodney Bonaparte
Television match official: Rudolph van Heerden

Golden Lions vs KwaZulu-Natal, 19-18

It was a thriller!

It took the last kick of the match, after the final siren had sounded, to produce a one-point winner, this after KwaZulu-Natal had come from behind to lead the Golden Lions by two points in an intense match. Then, siren gone, the Golden Lions attacking with all the muscle and sinew they could manage and KZN defending with frantic determination, the referee penalised KwaZulu-Natal.

It was a kick far out but straight in front. Calmly Jaco van der Walt took the tee, lined it up – and the kick never looked like missing as it bisected the posts. The Golden Lions hugged and jumped about in glee, leaving KwaZulu-Natal with only disappointed sportsmanship as their option.

KwaZulu-Natal scored two tries to one. They scored the opening try as they came left with sweet handling till Siyabonga Tom cam inside off a scissors to score. Three Van der Walt penalties gave the Gautengers the lead. An exciting try extended it. KZN dropped the ball and fullback C-Than Moos picked it up and raced nearly 80 metres for a try at the posts. That made the half-time score 16-9.

KwaZulu-Natal had much the better of the second half, confining the Golden Lions to just that decisive penalty. KZN nudged up with a penalty by Tom and then a powerful try by Tyler Fisher who bashed his way through five defenders. That made it 16-15 to the Lions.

With fewer than 10 minutes to go, Tom had a penalty some 35 metres out and not far from touch but his kick soared home. That made it 18-16 to KwaZulu-Natal, not quite enough.

The scorers:

For Golden Lions:
Tries: C-Than Moos
Cons: Jaco van der Walt
Pens: Van der Walt 4

For KwaZulu-Natal:
Tries: Siyabonga Tom, Tyler Fisher
Con: Tom
Pens: Tom 2

The teams:

Golden Lions: 15 C-Than Moos, 14 Chad de Klerk, 13 Shaun Conradie, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Senzo Thabalala, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ruhan Kruger, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Chris Massyn, 6 Tumelo Moloi, 5 Phillip du Preez, 4 Jannie Stander, 3 Dirk Kotze, 2 Eugene le Maitre, 1 Dillon Smith.
Replacements: 16 Theunis Reynolds, 17 Jaco Victor, 18 Sabatha Mmlathi, 19 Daniel Bope, 20 Sifiso Shabangu, 21Charlton Africa, 22 Tshepo Mookie.

KwaZulu-Natal: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Nkululeko Marwana, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Sandile Khubeka, 11 Siyabonga Tom, 10 Brendan Cope, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Carel Swart, 7 Jean-Lue du Preez, 6 Jackson Buthelezi, 5 Ferdinand Horn, 4 Dan du Preez, 3 Sanele Pina, 2 Cullen Collopy, 1 Neil Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Jacques Taylor, 17 Matthew Worral-Claire, 18 Johan Klingenberg, 19 Sibulele Nanto, 20 Robert du Preez, 21 Dean Moolman, 22 Lwazi Sithole.

Referee: Daniel Van Heerden
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Francois Groenewald
Television match official: Lusanda Jam