Griquas CD edge Namibia at the death

Griquas Country Districts scored in the closing minutes to earn a 13-11 win over Namibia, despite defending for much of the opening match of the 2009 Craven Week in East London.

Braam Le Roux slotted an early penalty for Griquas Country Districts for a 3-0 lead. Namibia’s response was immediate, with Rinrongeree Kauuovo crossing the line to give his side the lead. The ball was moved quickly through the hands to the Windhoek Hoërskool speedster, who beat one defender to score.

Both teams showed good ambition with the ball in hand, but often the attack was too lateral to be effective. The players looked to move the ball at every opportunity but both sides were guilty of drifting crossfield rather than threatening the advantage line.

Namibia controlled the vast majority the possession in the first half, but were unable to convert their opportunites and only led 5-3 going into the break.

Griquas CD started the second half well and their players started to show improved commitment going forward. The backline started to attack with greater impetus and structure. Le Roux slotted a good penalty into the breeze to earn his team a slender one point advantage.

The game was a stop-start affair; a combination of basic errors and a whistle-happy referee spoiling the game as a spectacle. The two sets of players could not be faulted for their enthusiasm, but the skills on show left something to be desired.

The lack of cohesion in both teams was obvious, but could be expected from the teams made up of players from different schools in the first match of the tournament.

Namibia started to control the ball once more, but were struggling to capitalise; flyhalf Zirk Coetzee and centre Johan Deysel combining to miss four attempts at goal. The kicking tee was then handed to burly front row forward François Potgieter for his side’s next attempt. The prop from Gobabis Gimnasium has an easy, rhythmical kicking style and slotted two penalties in the closing ten minutes to earn his team a 11-6 lead with a little over five minutes remaining.

But Griquas CD showed tremendous fighting spirit and got themselves in a handy position in Namibia’s half. The ball was kept among their strong pack of forwards and they rumbled towards the goal line. Prop Barend Koortzen forced his way over to level the scores with a kick to come. Braam Le Roux capped off a faultless kicking display to earn his team a 13-11 lead; a lead that would remain until the final whistle.

Griquas CD would be delighted with a win in a match that they did most of the defending, while Namibia will bemoan a combination of poor finishing and errant goalkicking that cost them the victory.

Scorers:

For Namibia:
Tries: Kauuovo
Pens: François Potgieter 2

For Griquas CD:
Tries: Koortzen
Cons: Le Roux
Pens: Le Roux 2

Squads:

Namibia: 15 Daniel Bock (Walvisbaai Hoërskool), 14 Malcolm Moor (Windhoek Gimnasium), 13 William Jacobs (Windhoek Hoërskool), 12 Johan Deysel (Windhoek Hoërskool), 11 Nandi Karuuombe (Jan Mohr), 10 Zirk Coetzee (Windhoek Hoërskool), 9 Pieter Janse van Vuuren (Windhoek Hoërskool), 8 Royal Otto (Tsumeb Gimnasium), 7 Dirk Basson (Windhoek Hoërskool), 6 Jaco Wiese (Windhoek Hoërskool), 5 Paul Willemse (Tsumeb Gimnasium), 4 Norman Campbell (SS Otjiwarongo), 3 François Pretorius (SS Otjiwarongo), 2 Niel van Vuuren (Windhoek Hoërskool), 1 Sholto Olivier (Windhoek Hoërskool), 16 Rathony Becker (Windhoek HTS), 17 François Potgieter (Gobabis Gimnasium), 18 Munee Tjiueza (Windhoek Hoërskool), 19 Glen Mouton (Walvisbaai Hoërskool), 20 Jeremy Strong (Walvisbaai Hoërskool),21 Wesley Fisch (PK de Villiers), 22 Rinrongeree Kauuovo (Windhoek Hoërskool)

Griquas Country Districts: Braam le Roux (Upington),Lance Howley (Upington), Johan Myburg (Duineveld), Tinus Knoetze (Danielskuil), JD Human (Duineveld), Dolf du Plessis (Duineveld),  Marnus Ferreira (Upington),  Jacobus Barnard (Upington),  David Muller (Upington),  Stripp Cornellissen (Danielskuil), Drico Hough (Duineveld), Lothar Stadler (Duineveld), Barend Koortzen (Upington), Deon Smit (Duineveld), Johanne Makoetlane (Upington),  Joa van der Merwe (Upington), Calvin Kotze (Danielskuil), Bryton du Plessis (Kalahari), JD Goeiman, (Upington) Nico Barnard (Upington), Gavin Louw (Duineveld), Kevin Verret (Kalahari), Michael Maritz (Duineveld)

Date: Monday, July 13
Venue: Border Rugby Union Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 10.00 (08 .00 GMT)
Referee: Francois Groenewald

By Tim Human