Griffons punish fiery EPCD

The Griffons secured a 33-15 victory over an EP Country Districts side that received two yellow cards in their Craven Week clash on Wednesday.

Having outscored their opponents by five tries to two in a scrappy encounter, the Griffons maintained their unbeaten start to the competition.

The Eastern Cape side made a spirited start to the game and drew first blood through the boot of inside centre Cameron Hertz. The Griffons were thrown off their game early on by their determined opponents and were forced into making a number of basic errors.

EP Country Districts were struck a blow when loosehead prop Chuma Mboxwana was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements at the breakdown.

Both teams were battling to build continuity in a fairly scrappy affair which saw a number of early turnovers and breakdown penalties to halt momentum on either side.

The Griffons eventually took advantage of their extra man as a flowing passing movement put outside centre Siya Ngxesha in space on the outside, and the midfielder finished well to put his team 7-3 up.

EP Country Districts were down to 13 men soon afterwards when a dangerous tackle from Hertz on Griffons wing Jonathan April saw him shown a yellow card as well.

Ngxesha got over for his second try before long as the pressure on the EP Country Districts finally told and Johan van Zyl's conversion took the Griffons' lead out to 14-3.

The floodgates had opened by that stage and a storming run from lock Erik Knoetze after a line-out put captain Francois Stemmet over for another try.

That gave them a commanding 19-3 lead at half-time, leaving EP Country Districts with plenty to do in the second half to get back into the game.

The Eastern Cape side came out firing after the break and ran hard at the Griffons defence, with a break from flyhalf Joshua Shelly putting left wing Kwezi Ansah over in the corner but he was forced into touch just short of the line.

However, they did not have to wait long for their first try, with a searing run from right wing Davron Cameron set up fullback Tiaan Von Solms for the try which reduced the deficit to 19-10.

The Griffons hit back immediately as an intercept from Ngxesha set up his centre partner Johann Vermaak for the try which restored their 16-point lead.

Despite the Griffons camping out in opposition territory, they could not make their territorial advantage count as a few basic erros let them down. Instead it was EP Country Districts to score next when a set move from a scrum saw Cameron race over for a deserved try.

However, the Griffons would have the final say as Vermaak cruised over in the corner for his second try to seal EP Country Districts' fate.

Man of the match: Griffons centre Siya Ngxesha was the stand-out performer, not just for his two tries but his work around the park along with centre partner Johann Vermaak who got two tries of his own.

The scorers:

For EP Country Districts:

Tries: Von Solms, Cameron

Con: Hertz

Pen: Hertz

For Griffons:

Tries: Ngxesha 2, Stemmet, Vermaak 2

Cons: Van Zyl 4

Yellow cards: Chuma Mboxwana (EP Country Districts, 15 mins – Repeated infringements) Cameron Herts (EP Country Districts, 26 mins – Dangerous tackle)

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Ezrick Alexander, 14 Mlumzana Nkala, 13 Siya Ngxesha, 12 Johann Vermaak, 11 Jonathan April, 10 Johan van Zyl, 9 Jason Olivier, 8 Nathan Kemp, 7 Francois Stemmet, 6 Juan- Pierre Kalp, 5 Erik Knoetze, 4 Wesley McMaster, 3 Adam van Wyk, 2 Harold Hills, 1 Stephanus Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Itumeleng Fortein, 17 Neo Mohapi, 18 Niel van Rensburg, 19 Henry Searle, 20 Jaywinn Juries, 21 Luan James, 22 Kobus Kleyn.

EP Country Districts: 15 Tiaan Von Solms, 14 Davron Cameron, 13 Josiah Twum-Boafo, 12 Cameron Hertz, 11 Kwezi Ansah, 10 Joshua Shelly, 9 Craig Williams, 8 Luigi van Jaarsveld, 7 Evert Potgieter, 6 Ryan Calitz, 5 Phillip Crouse, 4 Hannes Viljoen, 3 MC Van Damme, 2 Arno Le Roux, 1 Chuma Mboxwana.

Replacements: 16 JP Barkhuizen, 17 Xandre Vos, 18 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 19 Ethan September, 20 Erwin Ittershagen-Strauss, 21 Fabio Mapaling, 22 Bradley Christian.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Rodney Bonaparte

TMO: Jason Jaftha/Eduan Nel