EP out-muscle Griquas CD
Eastern Province bounced back from their loss on Day 1 with a commanding 40-20 win over Griquas Country Districts in the second game of the third day of the 2009 Craven Week in East London.
EP signalled their superiority early on, pushing hard on the Griquas line with impressive ball retention from the big pack. Their endeavours were to no avail at first as the Northern Cape boys held on.
But the resistance didn’t last long as colossal EP eighthman Siyamthanda Kolisi crossed over after a breakaway movement from his side. The massive loose forward from Grey High was immense throughout the game. His pace and skill belie his enormous frame and the ease with which he shrugged off countless hapless defenders was a sight to behold.
The EP pack were far too strong for their counterparts and would consistently make ground by bashing through the middle. Griquas toiled manfully against bigger and faster opponents and produced some good moments in what was a generally disjointed match.
The game never reached great heights in terms of quality, but their were a few moments of individual brilliance in between long periods of scrappy play from both sides. Most of the brilliance came from Kolisi, who lead his team’s charge with numerous busts through and over the Griquas CD defence.
He grabbed his second with a typically destructive run, sidestepping one man and carrying two with him as he crossed over. Griquas hit back with a well-worked try by left wing Jacob Human, but the result was never in doubt.
EP centre Nicolas Holton also secured a brace; running a great angle for his first before finishing off a move for an easy second. Two other further scores sealed the win, while Griquas added two themselves in a more competitive second half display.
Scorers:
For EP:
Tries: Kolisi 2, Erasmus, Holton 2, Lombard
Cons: Botha 5
For Griquas CD:
Tries: Human,Knoetze, Cornellisen
Con: Le Roux
Pen: Le Roux
Squads:
Eastern Province: 15 Christiaan Schietekat (Framesby), 14 Dillon Hopshire (Die Brandwag), 13 Mbulelo Kama (Solomon Mhlanga), 12 Nicholas Holton (Grey), 11 Johan Louwrens (Daniël Pienaar), 10 Franz Botha (Die Brandwag), 9 Clinton Felix (Framesby), 8 Siya Kolisi (Grey), 7 Renier Erasmus Grey) (captain), 6 Edward van der Westhuizen (Nico Malan), 5 Rynier Bernardo (Framesby), 4 Louis Fourie (Pearson), 3 Phillip Nel (Otto du Plessis), 2 Michael van Vuuren (Grey), Emile Klaassen (Die Brandwag), 16 Ruan Roberts (Daniël Pienaar), 17 Asanda Modise (Newton), 18 Clinton Saunders (Pearson), 19 Heinrich Leonard (Die Brandwag), 20 Kyle van Zyl (Nico Malan), 21 Luxolo Daku (Victoria Park), 22 Duane Adams (Despatch).
Griquas Country Districts: 15 B le Roux (Upington),14 L Howley (Upington), 13 J Myburg (Duineveld) ,12 T Knoetze (Danielskuil) ,11 JD Human (Duineveld),10 D du Plessis (Duineveld), 9 M Ferreira (Upington), 8 J Barnard (Upington), 7 A van Wyk (Duineveld), 6 S Cornellissen (Danielskuil), 5 D Hough (Duineveld), 4 L Stadler (Duineveld), 3 BJ Koortzen (Upington), 2 D Smit (Duineveld), 1 J Makoetlane (Upington), 16 J v/d Merwe (Upington), 17 C Kotze (Danielskuil), 18 B du Plessis (Kalahari), 19 N Barnard (Upington), 20 N Barnard (Upington), 21 G Louw (Duineveld), 22 K Verret (Kalahari)
Referee: Delbirth Juliun November
By Tim Human
