Craven Week Results, Day Three
The wind was back in Kimberley for the third day of the 2011 Craven Week at GWK Park. The final match, between the Free State and the Blue Bulls, was a match of top quality.
Results, Day Three:
Free State vs Blue Bulls, 14-11
Eastern Province Country Districts vs Leopards, 40-10
Griquas vs Namibia, 53-3
Pumas vs Boland, 51-26
Valke vs South Western Districts, 39-23
All the Day Three reports from Kimberley:
Eastern Province CD vs Leopards, 40-10
It was an unfortunate match in which the Leopards were regularly found guilty of dangerous tackles.
In the first half this earned a yellow card for one player and then a red card for another and the second started with two dangerous tackles by the reckless men from the North West who spent most of the match on the defensive.
The Leopards had the wind in the first half but the Eastern Province side did all the attacking. The attacking was mainly through their bulky forwards as the passing by their backs was destructive. They did get over in a heap once but were held up and then the TMO advised against a possible try by James Moore. The Leopards backs were more effective but they had little ball.
Adriaan Esterhuizen opened the scoring for the Leopards with a penalty but the Eastern Province CD could have gone into a big lead had their goalkicking been normal. Ntsiki Mlamleni goaled one to level the score. Two kicks in the second half gave Eastern Province CD a 9-3 lead.
Then the Leopards came back. They eschewed two simple kicks at goal and strong Sias Koen tapped, charged and scored to give his side an unlikely lead.
Then two grave errors by the Leopards gave the Eastern Province CD two tries – one from a knock-on and one when lock Mazel Kiewiets charged down a kick and scored. That made the score 23-10. Their third try was a result of kick and chase.
Leopards came back again and bashed till Sias Koen powered through five defenders for an astonishing try. Eastern Province CD answered with a soaring drop by Willem Venter. Then a long break by Moore made a try for Juandré Fourie in the left corner. Venter converted from touch. The change of kicker certainly worked.
The scorers:
For Eastern Province Country Districts:
Tries: Mazel Kiewiets, Renaldo Meyer, Ntsiki Mlamleni
Cons: Willem Venter 4
Pens: Mlamleni 3
DG: Venter
For Leopards:
Tries: Sias Koen 2
Cons: Adriaan Esterhuizen 2
Pen: Esterhuizen
The teams:
Eastern Province Country Districts: 15 Ntsiki Mlamleni, 14 Juandré Fourie, 13 James Moore, 12 Lood de Jager, 11 Renaldo Meyer, 10 Willem Venter (vice-captain), 9 Nicholas Poone, 8 J Oosthuizen, 7 Nico Stuurman, 6 Richard van Straaten (captain), 5 Mazel Kiewiets, 4 Henfred Linde, 3 Edgar Fletcher, 2 Tyrone Rankin, 1 Dean Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Cornelius van Zyl, 17 Sean Koeberg, 18 Christiaan Steyn, 19 Ayabonga Gantweni, 20 Colin Goosen, 21 Athinkosi Mankosi, 22 Zubin Baartman.
Leopards: 15 Adriaan Esterhuizen, 14 Pakamani Maganga, 13 Jacobus Groenewald, 12 Ryno Pienaar, 11 Hendrik Marais, 10 Bouke Tack, 9 Jan de Kock, 8 Sias Koen, 7 Claude Tshidibi, 6 Petrus Bredell, 5 Kyle Brock, 4 Wynand Bosman, 3 Melchior Terblanche, 2 Francois Annandale, 1 Reginald Standers.
Replacemnts: 16 Jonathan de Melim, 17 Jacobus Myburgh, 18 Lian Stander, 19 Moena Monese, 20 Hermanus Smith, 21 Misile Barnes, 22 Gontse Shwabane.
Referee: Dilbert November
Assistant referees: Gerrie de Bruin, Lusanda Jam
Griquas vs Namibia, 53-3
Griquas played at speed and took their chances, a combination too great for the willing Namibians who were probably done short by the final score as their game lifted as they made substitutions and gradually got back to their top side.
Twice Namibia were within an ace of scoring, once when the TMO noticed that John Schickerling had lost the ball in trying to ground it for a try.
Quick, slick interpassing paid off for Griquas throughout and created their first try by centre DJ Minnie, son of the Abri who coaches the Griqua senior side. Kobus du Plessis, whose goalkicking was exceptional, converted to make it 7-0 after four minutes.
Griquas attacked again and two long passes gave Vuyani Maqiuna an easy run-in for a try and fullback Granville Adams took a sweet pass from Minnie to canter in. That, with penalties, made the score 23-0 before Lou Rickerts kicked a penalty.
On the stroke of half-time Rickerts suffered a painful knee injury and was stretchered off.
Great footwork and acceleration gave Adams a second try and then there were tries by forwards Herman Scholtz, from a five-metre line-out, and Adriaan Smit who peeled from a line-out then raced and handed off to get past five defenders and scored. Chunky, lively scrumhalf Curtley Kiewiets scored the last try with a swanky try.
The scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: DJ Minnie, Vuyani Maqiuna, Granville Adams 2, Herman Scholtz, Adriaan Smit, Curtley Kiewiets
Cons: Kobus du Plessis
Pens: Du Plessis 3
For Namibia:
Pen: Lou Rickerts
The teams:
Griquas: 15 Granville Adams, 14 Heinrich van der Walt, 13 DJ Minnie, 12 Len le Roux, 11 Vuyani Maqiuna, 10 Kobus du Plessis, 9 Curtley Kiewiets, 8 Jaco Buys (captain), 7 Christiaan de Haast, 6 Graham de Reuck, 5 Pikkie Nortjé, 4 LP Potgieter, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Jean McLean, 1 Boetie Makhetlo.
Replacements: 16 Emile Jansen, 17 Human Oerson, 18 Adriaan Smit, 19 Herman Scholtz, 20 Zane le Roux, 21 Elrico Fielies, 22 Charlton Koopman.
Namibia: 15 Ethan Beukes, 14 Pieter Cronje, 13 Divan Visser, 12 Daniel Arries (captain), 11 Donavan Kandjii, 10 Lou Rickerts, 9 Ashton Nash, 8 John Schickerling, 7 Nicolaas Nortje, 6 Dian Wiese, 5 Brandon Kuzatjike, 4 Janco Venter, 3 Hermanus Vermaak, 2 Charles Smit, 1 Quintin Esterhuizen.
Replacements: 16 Gert Lotter, 17 Gert-David Orlam, 18 Frans van Staden, 19 Jean-Pierre Grobler, 20 Carel Thomas, 21 Zhivago Groenewald, 22 Denver Murorua.
Referee: Mlungiseli Mdashe
Assistant referees: Daniel van Heerden, Local
Television match official: François Groenewald
Pumas vs Boland, 51-26
It was a game blown to smithereens. Apart from other stoppages there were 30 penalties. That there was as much rugby as there was is probably a feat.
The points’ difference is huge but it really was only five tries to four. It was three tries each at half-time and already a huge lead for the Pumas. The difference was the metronomic boot of scrumhalf Kobus Wolmarans, his boot fuelled by numerous penalties conceded by Boland.
Boland’s nippy backs played against the Puma muscle – and the boot of Kobus Wolmarans.
Boland scored the first try when Jacques Rossouw broke and popped a pass inside to Anzo Stubbs who scored. When massive Jacques du Plessis kept several Bolanders busy till he slipped a pass to the impressive Werner Kok, the centre raced over for a try. Gina Mpumulelo brilliantly caught one-handed a pass behind him and scored.
Gilmore Hector cut in past three defenders to score for Boland and then there was the best pass of the week so far when Stubbs got the ball under pressure and threw a wonderful, long, looping pass to flyhalf Ashlon David who gave to Jason Kriel who powered over for a try.
In the second half Boland did themselves no favours when they were on the attack. They seemed about to score when they passed to Kobus Wolmarans and Kwagga Smith scored at the other end. They attacked flat out as the Pumas were being penalised.
Boland tapped, dived and were penalised. Instead the Pumas scored down the other end when Phumlani Radebe forced his way over. Boland’s last try had jam on it as Kriel footed through a lost ball, chased and grabbed the kind pass to score.
The scorers:
For Pumas:
Tries: Werner Kok, Gina Mpumulelo, Wandile Nkosi, Kwagga Smith, Phumlani Radebe
Cons: Kobus Wolmarans 4
Pens: Wolmarans 6
For Boland:
Tries: Anzo Stubbs, Gilmore Hector, Jason Kriel 2
Cons: Ashlon Davids 2, Stubbs
The teams:
Boland: 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Arno Fortuin, 13 Gilmore Hector, 12 Anzo Stubbs, 11 Jason Kriel, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Eben de Bod, 8 Clinton Ruiters, 7 Pieter de Wet, 6 Nicolin Carelse, 5 Gerhard de Wet, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Steven Robbeson, 2 Riaan Mostert, 1 Ryal Neethling.
Replacements: 16 Xander Kuys, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Petrus Uys, 19 Ludio Williams, 20 Marno Hart, 21 Kobus Putter, 22 Ryno Conradie.
Mpumalanga Pumas: 15 Neil Meyer, 14 Wandile Nkosi, 13 Phumlani Radebe, 12 Werner Kok, 11Gina Mpumulelo, 10 Gysie du Plessis, 9 Kobus Wolmarans, 8 Neil Bekker, 7 Reinhardt Griesel, 6 Kwagga Smit, 5 Jacques du Plessis, 4 Allen Wayen, 3 Ivan Gouws, 2 Chris Boshoff, 1 Ruan Raath.
Replacements: 16 JP Schonfeld, 17 Jan Visser, 18 Hamish Herd, 19 Markus Janse van Rensburg, 20 Lunga Matsinye, 21 Tyrone Pienaar, 22 Anele Blaauw.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Reynard de Bruin, Dilberth November
Television match official: Rodney Bonaparte
Valke vs South Western Districts, 39-23
An astonishing three tries in five minutes clinched the victory for the men from the East Rand.
South Western Districts had taken the lead at 23-20 and had their tails up, when suddenly the Valke came soaring back – partly with penalties to give them impetus. They were held up from a five-metre line-out but a penalty gave them the chance to try again. Practice made perfect because they scored, Ruan Grové getting the touchdown and they were to do it again in this rapid-fire burst of scoring, this time with Adrian Oosthuizen getting the touch down. In between Grové, a three-quarter playing flank, broke away from a turned over tackle and raced away for a try at the posts. They scored 19 points in five minutes.
Feel for South Western Districts, for they were brave in the contest with bigger and stronger players, making the best of minority possession.
The Valke led 14-9 at the break after tries by Tiaan Benade and big Jacques Nel.
A great try by Michael Bernardt who handed off his immediate opponent and then beat three in his run to the line brought the score to 17-16. South Western Districts were determined and probably thought they had won the match when they attacked with fury and hooker Brianton Booysen scored a try which Du Toit Hills of the efficient boot converted. That put South Western Districts ahead 23-20 and they were back on the attack but had reckoned without that profitable five minutes for the Valke.
There were some refereeing oddities in the match – a referee in the same colours as South Western Districts, time-out to consult the TMO about foul play, which came to nothing, and the introduction of an extra command at scrum time – Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage, Yes.
The scorers:
For the Valke:
Tries: Tiaan Benade, Jacques Nel, Ruan Grove 2, Adrian Oosthuizen
Cons: Warren Potgieter 2, Armandt Peens 2
Pens: Potgieter 2
For South Western Districts:
Tries: Michael Bernardt, Brianton Booysen
Cons: Du Toit Hills 2
Pens: Hills 3
The teams:
Valke: 15 Warren Potgieter, 14 Mbuso Fakude, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Frederick Roodt, 11 Tiaan Ramat, 10 Armandt Peens, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Andrew van Tonder (captain), 7 Johan van Tonder, 6 Ruan Grove, 5 Tiaan Benade, 4 Thomas Esterhuizen, 3 Jacobus Cronje, 2 Adrian Oosthuizen, 1 Stefan Steenberg.
Replacements. 16 Petrus van Jaarsveldt, 17 Themba Mlangeni, 18 Ashley Sibisibi, 19 Pontsho Madiba, 20 Keanu Roman, 21 Lecheko Mokoena, 22 David Oosthuizen.
South Western Districts: 15 Kerwin Appollis, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Tertius Kruger, 12 Michael Bernardt, 11 Ethan Williams, 10 Du Toit Hills, 9 Kurshwill Williams, 8 Christopher Richardson, 7 Francois van der Vyver (captain), 6 Leclue Barnard, 5 Jurgens Schoeman, 4 David Malan, 3 Dewald Dekker, 2 Brianton Booysen, 1 Marthinus Oosthuizen.
Replacements. 16 John Schmitt, 17 Bradley Jumaats, 18 Marco Theron, 19 Blaine James, 20 Ryno Wepener, 21 Ganfried May, 22 Curtley Brinkhuis.
Referee: Rudolph van Heerden
Assistant referees: Francois Groenewald, Mlungiseleli Mdashe
Television match official: Gerrie de Bruin
Free State vs Blue Bulls, 14-11
The Blue Bulls did everything possible to win the match, and didn’t. They won the scrums hands down, they won the line-outs, they had possession but they were destroyed on the rocks of the proud Free State defence. There was little to choose between the sides.
The first half was a tough struggle for supremacy and was 3-3 till the Free State made a mistake at the back of a line-out and flank Thabo Mabuza snatched up the ball just inside his half and sprinted to the line. 8-3.
The Blue Bulls attacked again and again, bashing at the Free State line but there was a sign on the line – NON PASSERON – they will not pass. They did not pass.
Rugby is about attack and defence. Win the defence and they lose the attack – and you have won a part of rugby. The Blue Bulls gave up trying to score tries and settled for a penalty but then the Free State came out of prison to enjoy freedom.
First Jannie Strümpher kicked a penalty to make it 11-9. Then he missed a long penalty and it turned out to be a happy miss. The kick was short and the Blue Bulls failed to kick it out. The Free State came back on counter-attack at speed till Jan Serfontein slipped between two massive tight forwards and scored.
It was still not over and, with time up, Tredoux was wide from in front but at a distance.
The scorers:
For Free State:
Try: Jan Serfontein
Pens: Arrie Vosloo 2, Jannie Strümpher
For Blue Bulls:
Try: Thabo Mabuza
Pens: Faf Tredoux 2
The teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Sean Robinson, 14 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 13 Caswell Khoza, 12 Janco Gunter, 11 Marcus Kleinbooi, 10 Francois Tredoux, 9 Carlo Engelbrecht, 8 Roelof Smit, 7 Sikhumbuzo Mabuza, 6 De Wet Meyer (captain), 5 Christiaan de Bruin, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Morne du Plessis, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements.16 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Duren Fillies, 19 Patrick Mathe, 20 Irven Domingo, 21 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Olua Omba.
Free State: 15 Wihan Lombard, 14 Francois Pretorius, 13 Dries Swanepoel (captain), 12 Jan Lodewyk Serfontein, 11 Ruwellyn Miguel Isbell, 10 Pieter Jordaan, 9 Arrie Vosloo, 8 Jacob Immelman, 7 Leneve Damens, 6 Henco Greyling, 5 Gerhardus Olivier, 4 Mosoeu Maruping, 3 Johann Fouche, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Kwena Moremi.
Replacements. 16 Frans Jordaan, 17 Philip Botha, 18 Hendrik-Schalk Theron, 19 Thuso Chalatsi, 20 Mualaba Mukendi, 21 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 22 Jannie Strümpher.
Referee: Lusanda Jam
Assistant referees: Rodney Bonaparte, Stephan Geldenhuys
Television match official: Daniel van Heerden
