WP get Home in Craven Week

Last year Western Province beat Eastern Province a record 95-0 in the last match.

This time they won 27-20 – a much, much better contest, a lively match. The result could have changed right up to the final whistle.

The Golden Lions had the better of scrums, the Western Province of the line-outs. But there was far greater rhythm to Western Province's play, as one would expect with their outstanding backs.

Both sides showed determination and so the match went for the full 60 minutes with growing excitement. Both sides defended heroically, Golden Lions more often.

Western Province were first to attack. From a line-out they bashed and Huge Salmaan Moerat was over the line but PJ Jacobs held him up. Western Province bashed some more but a knock-on gave the Golden Lions a defensive scrum. Back the ball went to Tyrone Green in his in-goal but Deon Carstens charged his kick. That gave Western Province a five-metre scrum but multitalented Wandisile Simelane latched onto a knock-on and kicked clear.

Two penalty goals opened the score, the first by Gianni Lombaard of Western Province for a tackle offence, the second by Simelane also for a tackle offence. 3-3 after 11 minutes

Western Province won a  Golden Lions line-out and Fullback Gianni Lombaard kicked a long kick that rolled out for a line-out five metres from the Golden Lions line. Golden Lions threw in but Western Province won the ball and Western Province went wide. Damian Willemse  gave to Lombard who gave to Manny Sass who scored in the right corner. From touch Lombaard converted. 10-3 after 16 minutes.

Three minutes later Lombaard goaled his second penalty. 13-3.

Again Golden Lions won the ball back from the kick-off. They went through phases and suddenly flyhalf Tyrone Green broke, beat the fullback and scored under the posts. Simelane converted. 13-10 after 22 minutes.

From the scrum in midfield, Western Province went right and Lombaard came into the line at great speed. He broke and then the ball went left where Muller Uys cut through for the try at the posts. 20-10 after 20 minutes.

That was the half-time score but not before the best individual run of the match.

David Cary of the Golden Lions caught a kick, avoided pressure somehow and then sped down the field as defenders fell off him. From him the ball went right to Simelane and Tatenda Mujawo but the Western Province defence kept them out.

The second half looked well regulated till Damian Willemse, the star Western Province flyhalf, passed to his left and tall Cristen van Niekerk intercepted and ran through empty acres till the cover defence closed in. He gave to Tatenda Mujawo on his right who was over at the posts as Daniel Jooste and Mike Mavovana tackled him. 20-17 after 36 minutes.

The last try of the match was made possible by classic passing, waist high and in front till big eighthman Khanya Ncusane was over in the right corner. Lombard converted. 27-17.

The last score of the 2016 Craven Week was a penalty goal by Simelane which made the score 27-20 with 10 minutes to play.

The last noteworthy act was a bit of magical footwork by Damian Willemse jinking right and left.

The curtain came down on a great week for which Kearsney College deserves great plaudits.

Scorers:

For Western Province:

Tries: Manuel Rass, Muller Uys , Khanya Ncusane

Cons: Gianni Lombard     3

Pens: Gianni Lombard 2

For Golden Lions:

Tries: Tyrone Green, Tatenda Mujawo

Cons: Wandisile Simelane 2

Pens: Wandisile Simelane 2

Teams

Western Province: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Mike Mavovana, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Muller du Plessis, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Deon Carstens, 8 Khanya Ncusane, 7 Muller Uys, 6 Athi Magwala, 5 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Johan Neethling, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Reece Bezuidenhout

Replacements: 16 Liam Larkan, 17 Tristan Leitch, 18 André Booysen, 19 Jessie Johnson, 20 Charl Serdyn, 21 Vusile Dlepu, 22 Lubelo Scott, 23 Quan Eymann

Golden Lions: 15 Chuiner van Rooyen,  14 Tatenda Mujawo, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Kalvin Mills, 11 David Cary, 10 Tyrone Green, 9 Tinus Combrinck, 8 PJ Jacobs, 7 Tiaan Scholtz, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 Cristen van Niekerk, 4 Christopher Havenga, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Pieter Botha (captain), 1 Nathan McBeth

Replacements: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Mpilo Mabuza, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 20 Enrico Liut, 21 MJ Pelser, 22 Maxwill van Louw, 23 Kennedy Mpeku

Referee: Ruhan Meiring

Assistant referees: Egon Seconds, Sindile Ngcese

Television match official: Joey Klaaste-Salmans