Griffons run to victory
In the first match of the fourth day of the 46th Craven Week, the Griffons beat the South African Learners with Special Educational Needs 36-13, and thoroughly deserved the victory as they ran and ran.
Much of their success was based on great work by their loose trio Jacques Steyn, Cloete Wessels and Lomon van der Merwe. They were well served at scrumhalf by Arend Corbett and Michael du Plessis and a strong runner in Mvula Mochesela.
The LSEN side did not stop trying and had an impressive player in sturdy centre Pieter de Wet.
LSEN had the wind at their backs and scored first when fullback Eben Deysel goaled a penalty after a long period of attack by the LSEN. 3-0 after 7 minutes.
Griffons answered quickly when quick ball sent Mochesela, playing at outside centre, ran around a forward to score. scrumhalf Corbett did well to convert. 7-3 to Griffons.
When Deysel was short with a long, long penalty attempt, Steyn was close and then busy prop PW Botha powered over. Corbett again converted. 14-3.
LSEN were not done. Flyhalf Gerhardus Wendt kicked towards the touchline on his right and Marcus Ground got away from his marker in the chase after the bouncing ball. The right wing stretched to gather in the ball and run round to the posts for the try. Deysel converted. 14-10.
That was the half-time score but still Griffons looked the better side and in the second half they had the benefit of the strong wind, back again after a day off on Wednesday.
Steyn scored the first try of the second half with a strong thrust and then Andries Kruger got the second, a grand try as the Griffons sped down the left and then went wide right for a comfortable run-in for Kruger. 24-10.
Cloete had a powerful run and then Griffons put the ball through many phases before powerful Steyn burst past three to score close in. Corbett converted. 31-10.
After three penalties against the Griffons in quick succession Deysel kicked a penalty. The LSEN’s best chance to score after that came from an intercept by Ground but he was caught.
The siren went, LSEN were penalised and the Griffons tapped. Botha bashed and then the Griffons went wide right where Mochesela forced a gap and then popped a pass to unmarked to Siviwe Booi who scored.
Scorers:
For Griffons:
Tries: Mochesela, Botha, Steyn 2, Kruger, Booi
Cons: Corbett 4
For LSEN:
Try: Ground
Con: Deysel
Pens: Deysel 2
Teams
Griffons: 15 Niel Neethling (Voortrekker), 14 Mvula Mochesela (Ficksburg), 13 Andries Kruger (AHS Kroonstad) , 12 Helgard Raubenheimer (Vrede), 11 Jonè Jansen (Gimnasium), 10 Ryno Venter (Hentie Cilliers), 9 Michael du Plessis (Goudveld), 8 Jacques Steyn (Goudveld), 7 Cloete Wessels (AHS Kroonstad), 6 Lomon van der Merwe (Voortrekker), 5 Pieter Griesel (AHS Kroonstad), 4 Jaco Taljaard (Wessel Maree), 3 PW Botha (Ficksburg), 2 Lenro Vergotinni (AHS Kroonstad), 1 Janno van Niekerk (Voortrekker), 16 Sello Mati (Goudveld), 17 Tumelo Nkopane (HTS), 18 Pierre Botes (Vrede), 19 Mandla Refilu (Marquard), 20 Arend Corbett (Voortrekker), 21 Simon Marcus (Wessel Maree), 22 Siviwe Booi (HTS)
SA LSEN: 15 Morné Southey (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 14 Luciano Macelli (Atlantis VS, Atlantis), 13 Silvin Pietersen (Weskus, Saldanha), 12 Pieter de Wet (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 11 Christiaan Kotze (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 10 Gerhardus Wendt (Jan Kriel, Bellville), 9 Allan Britz (Randeor, Alberton), 8 Hendrik Louwrens (Die Anker, Vanderbijlpark), 7 Rohanne Botha (Belvedere, Benoni), 6 Ewald Smith (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 5 Albert Taylor (Westcliff, Bellville), 4 Gerrit Malan (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 3 Pieter Grobler (Protea, Springs), 2 Daniel Botha (Prestasie, Germiston), 1 Stephanus Wessels (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 16 Jashwill Fredericks (Westcliff, Bellville), 17 Juan Hartzenberg (Kempton Panorama, Kempton Park), 18 Reghardt Burger (Jan Kriel, Kuilsrivier), 19 Freginald Africa (Nuwe Hoop, Worcester), 20 Tershwin Thantsie Westcliff, Bellville), 21 Lorenzo Jacobs (Paarl V/S, Paarl), 22 Eben Deysel (Fakkel, Sasolburg)
Referee: Richard Ingram
