Griquas CD win seven-try thriller

Griquas CD came back from an early 13-point deficit to defeat Zimbabwe 26-20 in a thrilling encounter to get Day Three of the 2014 Craven Week underway.

The youngsters from the Northern Cape showed guts, determination and a never-say-die attitude to overcome a powerful Zimbabwean side.

Zimbabwe dominated the early stages of the game and got onto the scoreboard as early as the 4th minute through Stephen Bhasera, who powered his way through three defenders for the first five-pointer of the game.

Daniel Nyamugama extended the lead in the seventh minute when he latched onto a pass from Brian Muntanga, who pounced on a ball which popped out the side of the scrum.

Griquas CD was struggling to get into the game and a lack of disclipline inside their 22 cost them a penalty in the 17th minute. Shaun Snyder made no mistake in adding the three points after failing to convert two previous attempts.

This seemed to have sparked Griquas CD into life as the momentum shifted their way. They were rewarded in the 22nd minute when Jacobus Wiese scored his side's first try of the match to reduce the deficit. Flyhalf Coenie Lamprecht made no mistake in adding the extra two points.

The game started to get a bit loose and several handling errors were creeping in.

Zimbabwe regained their 13-point lead in the 29th minute when Brian Muntanga charged down a Lamprecht kick on Giquas CD's 22. He showed quick acceleration to gather the ball and brush off a defender for an easy score under the uprights. Snyder added his second conversion of the match.

Griquas refused to give up and, with the final play of the first half, reduced Zimbabwe's lead to six points when Lamprecht finished off a set move from an attacking scrum which he converted.

Zimbabwe led 20-14 at halftime.

Griquas CD came out firing in the opening moments of the second half and were rewarded for their effort in the 39th minute as a scamble in the Zimbabwean try zone led to Dillon Magerman being awarded a try. Lamprecht failed to convert the try and Zimbabwe held onto a 20-19 lead.  

The match became very physical with neither team giving an inch. Griquas CD kept the pressure on the Zimbabwean defence but the foreigners stood firm to protect their lead.

It was a tense final 10 minutes as Griquas CD threw everything they had at the Zimbabwean defence. Zimbabwe could have wrapped up the game in the 63rd minute when Nyamugama made a surging run down the left side of the field. Tarisai Mapfumo continued the attack but, unfortunately, Tawanda Ngosi couldn't hold onto the pass and the chance came to nothing.

Griquas CD made the Zimbabweans pay for that missed chance in the 68th minute when Denvill Joseph displayed his pace to cross the try-line and hand this side the lead for the first time in the game. Lamprecht slotted his third conversion of the game to hand the CD side a come-from-behind 26-20 victory.

Man of the Match: Brian Muntanga showed confidence with ball in hand and ran at the Griquas defence whenever he had the chance. Daniel Nyamugama put in a consistent performance and proved to be a thorn in Griquas CD's side. However, Jacobus Wiese got the nod ahead of the Zimbabweans after putting in a huge effort for the Griquas CD side both in attack and defence.

The scorers:

For Zimbabwe:

Tries: Bhasera, Nyamugama, Muntanga

Cons: Snyder

Pens: Snyder

For Griquas CD:

Tries: Wiese, Lamprecht, Magerman, Joseph

Cons: Lamprecht 3

Pens:

Teams:

Zimbabwe: 15 Tarisai Mapfumo, 14 Tawanda Ngosi, 13 Dean McRoberts, 12 Tapiwa Mazorodze, 11 Brian Mhuriyengwe, 10 Angus Bruce, 9 Ngoni Zinyama, 8 Daniel Nyamugama, 7 Cole Bond, 6 Brian Muntanga, 5 Bradley Mangenje, 4 Eli Snyman, 3 Stephen Bhasera, 2 Bradley Crause, 1 Ackim Sibanda.

Replacements: 16 Lebongang Ngwenya, 17 Justin Mendelsohn, 18 Jeff Makoni, 19 Tinashe Gonese, 20 Campbell Nyakudya, 21 Shaun Snyder, 22 Matthew Ushewokunze.

Griquas CD: 15 Ronaldo Theron, 14 Nazeem van Wyk, 13 Ettiene Kruger, 12 Dillon Magerman, 11 Denvill Joseph, 10 Coenie Lamprecht, 9 Andre Share, 8 Reinhard Hayes, 7 Erik Jordaan,  6 Garth Young, 5 Ryno Karstens, 4 Jacobus Wiese, 3 Wynand Terblanche, 2 Gert Nel, 1 Sergio Boer.

Replacements: 16 Erlu Jonck, 17 David Du Toit, 18 Stefan Hanekom, 19 Dian Dry, 20 Joe-Lythen Willemse, 21 Marcel Van der Westhuizen, 22 Elmo Jantjies.

Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza

Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Jaco Pretorius

TMO: Jason Jaftha/Oregopotse Rametsi