KZN stutter to beat depleted Academy
On the fourth day of the Craven Week again a side played most of the game with a man short and KwaZulu Natal beat SA Academy 23-0, but it was not a convincing win.
For 40 minutes of the match the SA Academy played with 14 men after Heimar Williams had been red-carded for a “tip tackle”. One could not but feel sympathetic towards the 14 men. The SA Academy had more than held their own against the wind till Williams went off and when he went off the score was only 3-0. But the second half belonged entirely to KwaZulu Natal as the 14 men had to play Spartans at Thermopylae and defend for all they were worth. Eventually they were put to the sword but came out of the battle with honour.
Remarkably KwaZulu Natal were over the line four times without scoring. Twice they lost the ball and twice they were held up. This happened more through brave defence than ill fortune.
Early on, into the strong wind, the SA Academy looked the better said. There was a great run from William Small-Smith who gave to Ayanda Foley who was tackled out at the corner. Then flyhalf Errol Jaggers had a good run. But KwaZulu Natal scored first when points’ machine Frederik Zeilinger kicked a penalty goal.
Williams tackled dangerously and Zeilinger made it 6-0. Straight afterwards KwaZulu Natal attacked again and burly Emil Schwartz powered down the left wing to score in the corner.
That was the half-time score.
In the second half KwaZulu Natal had a plethora of possession and numerous penalties to fuel them but their plan seemed only to pass the ball the Schwartz and then to bash when they were close.
From a five-metre scrum, KwaZulu Natal packed 3-3-1 where the laws for Under-19 players require scrums to pack 3-4 when a player is off. François broke off the back of the scrum, threw a dummy and powered over. 16-0.
Kleinhans was close again when he lost the ball over the line as the KwaZulu Natal siege tightened.
Schwartz had a strong run down the left but his inside pass was knocked on. Then he ran for the corner and lost the ball as he was tackled.
Kieran Goss, the SA Academy fullback, relived some pressure when he broke out but the relief was temporary as KwaZulu Natal came back. From a line-out KwaZulu Natal attacked but was held-up. This led to two five-metre scrums.
Lindokuhle Shabalala and three five-metre penalties followed before, after the final siren, Cameron Lindsay was able to place the ball for a try which was converted.
Scorers:
For KwaZulu Natal:
Tries: Schwartz, Kleinhans, Lindsay
Con: Zeilinger
Pens: Zeilinger 2
Teams:
KwaZulu Natal: John-Roy Jenkinson (Glenwood), Senzo Mtshali (Glenwood), Nicholas Schonert (Maritzburg College), Frederick Schnetler (Glenwood), Cameron Lindsay (Michaelhouse), Francois Kleinhans (Glenwood), Brendon Groenewald (Glenwood), Siseko Jafta (St Charles), Michael Nolden (Hilton), Frederik Zeilinga (Glenwood), Emil Schwartz (Hilton), Patrick Howard (Michaelhouse), Kayde Fisher (Westville), Andile Dlamini (St Charles), Orefile Nakin (Michaelhouse), Ruan Grobler (Glenwood), Shane van der Schyff (Glenwood), Zwela Zondi (St Charles), Siphiwe Mafareka (Hilton), KM Bastew (Maritzburg College), Lindokuhle Shabalala (Ladysmith), Mzwandile Mbuyazi (Glenwood).
SA Academy: 15 Shandré Claasen (Vredendal, Boland), 14 Ushimen Pateni (Pearson, Eastern Province), 13 William Small-Smith (Grey College, Free State), Heimar Williams (Grey College, Free State), 11 Ayanda Foley (Victoria Park, Eastern Province), 10 Errol Jagger (Paul Roos, Western Province), 9 François de Klerk (Waterkloof, Blue Bulls), 8 Quinton Kruger (Waterkloof, Blue Bulls), 7 Cornell du Preez (Framesby, Eastern Province), 6 Kobus Porter (Noordheuwel, Golden Lions – captain), 5 Schalk van Heerden (Waterkloof, Blue Bulls), 4 James Meechum (Monument, Golden Lions, 3 Piet Stemmet (Paul Roos, Western Province), 2 Wikus Louwrens (Oakdale, South Western Districts), 1 Kelvin du Bruyn (Paul Roos, Western Province), 16 Katlego Kgama (St Stithians, Golden Lions), 17 Zolani Faku (Grey High, Eastern Province), 18 Lidokuhle Neyembe (Grey College, Free State), 19 Khaya Majola (Westville, KwaZulu Natal), 20 Thabiso Zwane (Piet Retief, Pumas), 21 Heinrich Arendse (Scottsdene, Western Province), 22 Kieran Goss (Wynberg, Western Province).
Referee: Ben Crous
