Zim slaughter Limpopo's bulls
Zimbabwean talisman Brendon Mandivenga stacked up 16 points as they demolished the Limpopo Blue Bulls 43-5 on day two of the 50th Craven Week.
A good start from Zimbabwe meant that they had an early chance to tahe the lead through a penalty and Brendon Mandivenga stepped up and knocked it over. Zimbabwe were in a 3-0 lead after three minutes.
The kick from Zimbabwe led to a lack of communication from the Limpopo players at the back and they get tangled up and the ball pops up straight into Tawanda Ngosi's hands and he jogs in the try. The conversion from Madivanenga was good and Zimbabwe opened a 10-0 lead nine minutes before half-time.
An incredible driving maul from Zimbabwe four minutes before the break led to a try for the captain Daniel Moolman and his side were ahead 15-0 a couple minutes short of the break.
At the half-time break the Zimbabweans managed to take their opportunities better than the Limpopo side and had a solid 15-0 lead at the change of ends.
A beautiful counter-attack from the Zimbabweans saw the ball get outwide to the speedster on the wing – Brandon Boshi – who outstriped the defence and scored the try. The conversion was successful and Zimbabwe opened up a solid 22-0 lead 15 minutes into the second-half.
Zimbabwe are all over Limpopo now and they turn the ball over and kick through. Limpopo, again, cannot deal with the ball and it falls to the Zimbabweans. Mandivenga is the final recipient of the ball and he scored scored under the posts. He converted his own try and that means Zimbabwe had an insurmountable 29-0 lead.
The kick-return from Zimbabwe is brilliant from Zimbabwe and wing Jabulani Mutukwa shredded the defence and ran in a terrific 80-metre solo try. Mandivenga added the extra two to extend the score to 36-0.
Zimbabwe went over for their sixth try four minutes from time as another good burst through from Mandivenga and set up a ruck. A pick-and-go from Edo Chikwezvero is good and he scored the try. Mandivenga added the conversion and the score was 43-0.
It was scant consilation deep in the second-half when Juandre Rolls was given some space on the outside and went over for the try in the right-hand corner. JP Van Wyk's conversion attempt went wide. 43-5 to Zimbabwe just before full-time.
Man of the match: Can only be Brendon Mandivenga. He showed his all-round skill and was the standout player in what was a convincing win for Zimbabwe. He was vital in the majority of the build-up in the Zimbabwean tries.
The scorers:
For Limpopo:
Try: Rolls
For Zimbabwe:
Tries: Ngosi, Moolman, Boshi, Mandivenga, Mutukwa, Chikwezvero
Cons: Mandivenga 4
Pen: Mandivenga
The teams:
Limpopo Blue Bulls: 15 Surprise Ngaka Mathabela, 14 Arno Marinus van Staden, 13 Adrian Maebane, 12 Matjikinyane Molapo, 11 Saudevandre A. Rolls, 10 Andries Abraham Bosman Bruwer, 9 Theodorus Daniel Maree, 8 Mlungisi Floyd Ntimane, 7 Richard Jady Coetzee, 6 Mosesile Molaotheo Mahlo Mahlo, 5 Christopher Durow, 4 Nico Bezuidenhout, 3 Henton Minnaar, 2 Mohlanye Kleinboy Mmitji Mametsa, 1 Kgetho Malesela Emmanuel Mabokela.
Replacements: 16 James Raymond Pieterse, 17 Mogau Makgati Lawrence Mabokela, 18 Erick van Niekerk, 19 Armand Naude, 20 Wiaan Cornelesen, 21 Jean – Pierre van Wyk, 22 Arno Dawid Maree.
Zimbabwe: 15 Jabulani Samson Mutukwa, 14 Brandon Shane Boshi, 13 Brendon Fungai Mandivenga, 12 Justin Michael Zietsman, 11 Tawanda Gabriel Rukudzo Ngosi, 10 Rukudzo Bandanga Gona, 9 Andrew Maynard Dollar, 8 Ivan Ronald Bawden, 7 Nicholas John Burnett, 6 Barend Daniel Moolman, 5 Tinashe Martin Gonese, 4 Glynne Jason Rorke, 3 Edo Tanaka Chikwezvero, 2 Thabani Kundai Mujeni, 1 Stephen Courtney Makanaka Bhasera.
Replacements: 16 Alexander Bart Zwart, 17 Tapiwa Jullian Muringani, 18 Tafadzwa Taurai Jeffry Kufazvinei, 19 Philangezwi Munyaradzi Mudambanuki, 20 Tinashe Gwisai, 21 Munyaradzi Nicholas Mashaya, 22 Thomas Hunter Chadwick.
