Craven Week Results - Day 2
Again it was a wonderful day in Stell;enbosch for the 44th Craven Week amidst the mountains and vineyards and the town with its university buildings and the muscular oaks of winter.
Zimbabwe vs Border Couhntry Districts, 11-6
It was a scrappy match between the black rhinos and hyenas. Zimbabwe were much bigger and dominated the scrums and the mauls, but the smaller Country Districts side was adept at winning the ball at the tackle, grabbing any scraps of loose ball and tackling. As the match went on the Zimbabweans dominated possession and territory more and more but the Eastern Cape side conceded just one try and that off their own mistake.
Life was made harder for the Country Districts when Albert Stanley became the second player in the sin bin in this year's week - again for an infringement at the tackle/ruck - one of many again.
The goal-kicking was not marvellous but Raymond de Jong managed one in the first half which Jason Kaschula equalled.
Kaschula kicked a second in the second half and this time it was De Jong's turn to join level.
While Stanley was missing, Zimbabwe put lots of pressure on the Country districts and an attempted clearance from near his dead-ball line by Kaschula. His kick went infield towards his right and the Zimbabweans latched onto it with zeal sending De Jong for the corner. He handed off two would-be tacklers and scored in the left corner.
Zimbabwe dominated the rest of the match but could not scored against the resilient Border boys.
Scorers
For Zimababwe
Triy: De Jong
Pens: De Jong 2
For Border Country Districts
Pens: Kaschula 2
Teams
Border Country Districts: 15 Odwa Mdlana, 14 Onga Luthuli, 13 Situthezi, 12 Jason Kaschula, 11 Siyabonga Mdzanga, 10 Alungile Jita, 9 Malibongwe Cokoto, 8 Thembelani Bholi , 7 Alton Dlanaye, 6 Mpumelelo Raziya, 5 Albert Stanley, 4 Mdolo, 3 Thabiso Mngomezulu, 2 Saziso Jali, 1 Dianaye.
Replacements: 16 Sanele Nxele, 17 Siphumle Nongoma, 18 Phikolomzi Bizana, 19 Sibusiso Makhedi, 20 Sandiso Ndzo, 21 Daka, 22 Boysie Malikeni
Zimbabwe: 15 Raymond de Jong, 14 Tafadzwa Seremani, 13 Robert Lee-Webb, 12 Johannes Rushwaya, 11 Rangarirai Zembe, 10 Danny Robertson, 9 Lloyd Swift, 8 Kyle Jarvis, 7 Graham Lawler , 6 Michael Todd, 5 Ronnie Chihota, 4 Antonio Machado, 3 David Ross-Andersen, 2 Reginald Bryant, 1 James Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Brendon Chapman, 17 Andrea Blagojevic, 18 Gareth Loubser, 19 Khulani Nkala, 20 Jason Graham, 21 Richard Morgan, 22 Dante Mama
Referee: Stephan Breytenbach (Pumas)
Limpopo vs Namibia, 34-5
The Limpopo forwards were too strong for the Namibians and as the game went on their control became greater. In the first half the Nambians were threatening and early in the second half they scored a try but they lacked the strength and pace of the men from the Far North who eventually won easily.
For the second time this week Danie Craven must have turned in his grave on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. On Monday there was a team kicking a penalty at goal when well ahead and time near an end. Today Limpopo led 31-5 with four minutes to play and they kicked a long penalty goal. That is hardly the festival rugby the Grand Old Man envisaged for Craven Week.
Early in the match there was a sharp, rapid run down the right wing by Alec Mhlanga. It was a foretaste. The meal came when Limpopo won a Namibian line-out in their own half and spun the ball to Mhlanga out on the wing and he took off, cutting inside, beating five opponents in a 51-metre run to the line. Flyhalf Morne Archer converted.
Their second try in the first half came just before half-time when Archer went right, did a wrap-around and sent speedy fullback Nhlanganiso Sibanda racing away on an overlap. 12-0.
That was the score at half-time, not that Namibia had not had moments of their own. Right at the start of the second half they won a line-out, mauled and drove over the line for a try by flank Theuns Jacobs.
Limpopo also got a try from a line-out with lots of cleverness. The lock peeled and played back inside to a prop who burst through. Ntando Nyakane carried on bursting they broke into a gallop and scored with a acrobatic drive. It was a splendid try. Archer converted.
Fullback Sibanda nearly botched the next try. He went on his own with a man free outside of him and was dumped near the line but centre Johan Engelbrecht was on hand to gather and plunge over for the try. 26-5.
Limpopo came straight back on the attack and battered at the Namibian line before releasing the ball to the left where Mhlanga beat three defenders for his second try.Namibia were not done and actually got over the line but were called back. Instead Archer kicked a meaningless penalty to end the scoring.
Scorers
For Limpopo
Tries: Mhlanga 2, Sibanda, Nyakane, Engelbrecht
Cons: Archer 3
Pen: Archer
For Namibia
Try: Jacobs
Teams
Limpopo: 15 Nhlanganiso Sibanda, 14 Alec Mhlanga, 13 Mauritz Pohl, 12 Johan Engelbrecht, 11 Mabe, 10 Morne Archer, 9 Bierman Smit, 8 Regardt Kleingeld, 7 Rinus Riekert, 6 Duvenhage, 5 Andrew Fraser, 4 Rendani Ramovha , 3 AJ Janse van Rensburg, 2 Arno de Beer, 1 Ntando Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Oscar Mthembi, 17 Du Preez, 18 Grant Shai, 19 Scheepers Lubbe, 20 Casio De Sousa, 21 Sello Sekwela, 22 Dion Maboko
Namibia: 15 Robert Herridge, 14 Cedric Haruseb, 13 Dane van Zyl, 12 Danjamin de Bruin, 11 Lezaan Alcock , 10 Yarman Cloete, 9 Emile Buitendach, 8 Rozando Botes, 7 Theuns Jacobs, 6 Waldo Schaeffer, 5 Barend Janse van Rensburg, 4 Dimitri Redofia, 3 Erik Burger, 2 Theo Coetzee, 1 .
Replacements: 16 Oliver Strauss, 17 Lourens du Toit, 18 Willem Burger, 19 Charl Freygang, 20 Cameron Britz, 21 Charlton Brussel, 22 Llewellyn Pieterse
Referee: Sazi Katiya (Border)
Valke vs Griquas, 13-12
There was nearly a dream ending to this match as the smaller, livelier Griqua side attacked the bigger Valke again and again. They had the satisfaction of scoring two tries to one but lost the match by a point. Had their goal-kicking been up to standard they would have won handsomely and they had the opportunity to win the match at the death.
The Valke's try was a strange affair. They got bad ball from a scrum and there was their scrumhalf De Wet le Roux, scrambling from the ball. He went back towards the forwards and suddenly he went, lowslung like a mongoose, through the forwards and away over the 22 for the try at the posts - Valke's only try in the match. They got two penalties through Dewald Nel to lead 13-0 at the break.
In the second half the Valke did not score a point. Their best bits of play were pick-'n-drive by their big forwards. On the other hand Griquas had many opportunities to score tries and did so twice. On other occasions they were stopped by the Valke defence and hurled back by penalties.
Eventually they battered and bashed unto eighthman Byron Booysen forced his way over under the posts. Andrew van Wyk got this one over.
Back came Griquas. They were over the line but held up. From the five-metre scrum Booysen again charged at the line but was stopped just short - and Griquas were penalised. The Valke kicked into touch and won the match.
Scorers
For Valke:
Try: Le Roux
Con: Nel
Pens: Nel 2
For Griqualand West:
Tries: Zwieglaar, Booysen
Con: Engelbrecht
Teams
Griqualand West: 15 Andrew van Wyk, 14 Luthando Noko, 13 Hennie Cloete, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Elias Laubscher, 10 Hano van der Walt, 9 Joe van Niekerk, 8 Byron Booysen, 7 Jamie Zwiegelaar, 6 Angus Leukus, 5 Jaen van Deventer, 4 Johan Steenkamp, 3 Jaco van der Westhuizen , 2 Wessel Lourens, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements (from): Donovan Klaasen, Dane Rhode, Hein Stasch, Janneman Jordaan, (Winston Booysen, Jesse-Marc Rhode, Girthwinn Uithaler
Valke: 15 Roland Syphus, 14 Whelan Fortuin, 13 Jabu Radebe, 12 Rudolph Prinsloo, 11 Given Mkwena, 10 Dewald Nel, 9 De Wet le Roux, 8 Anton van Deventer, 7 Pietie Lubbe, 6 Nhlanhla Vilakazi , 5 Junior Gama, 4 Gavin Annandale, 3 , 2 Juan-Pierre van Rooyen, 1 Morne Mellet.
Replacements (from): Frank Bester, Noel Gazide, Refiloe Khoza, Thando Mpapele, Justin Peyper, Boris van Jaarsveld , Pieter van Schaik, Tesner Williams
Referee: Silulami Pityoi (Western Province)
Pumas vs Border,
It started sedately enough with the Pumas looking good but the Border not looking outclassed either. It was a tall,, slender centre from Standerton who made the difference - Bongi Luvuno who ran with grace, speed and direction.
Marnitz Boshof kicked two penalties and then a brilliant grubber by flyhalf Bradley Kretzmann sat up perfectly for tall Logan Basson who scored the first try of the match. 6-5. Nobody would have guessed the sudden break-out of tries that would follow - like spring flowers in the Cape.
Luvuno made their first try as he broke and strode down the field before giving a perfectly timed pass to fast fullback Corne Janse van Vuuren. Luvuno set the next try in motion as well as he helped Chris Botha, a strong centre, over for the first of his hat-trick of tries. Boshof converted. 18-5 in no time at all.
As half-time approached Kretzmann goaled a penalty and immediately the Pumas came roaring back. The Pumas scored almost immediately afterwards when tall Deon Helberg raced 60 metres to score near the posts. That made it 25-5 at half-time, and there was much more to come.
Border kicked off. At each kick-off by Border the Pumas seemed to find extra speed and boost. They scored from this one as Luvuno grabbed a grubber and put Helberg in for his second. 32-8 and they raced back from the next kick-off as well, and a dummy and a short pass sent Botha in for number two. 39-8 after 39 minutes.
Luvuno picked up a loose bball to score the next try in the corner, which Boshof converted. 46-8.
Bless Border, They were not so downhearted that they could not play and their splendid fullback Kholo Ramashala got the next try.
But the rampant Pumas went rampaging again when the Border scrumhalf kicked a gift to Clive Mpila who ran 51 metres to score a try with the regulation conversion by Boshof. 53-13.
When Border attacked they were able to give their captain Sihle Mtwa a short pass and he wrestled his way over for a try under the posts. 53-20. And they scored again when they took the ball through many attacking phases and great handling to give Okuhlo Joyi enough of an overlap for the try. Kretzmann converted from touch. 53-27.
But, deservedly, the Pumas had the last say. They tapped a penalty and went left where Botha forced his way through a gap and ran the 20 metres to score his hat-trick try, which Boshof converted from a long way out. 53-27.
It was a feast of rugby.
Scorers
For Pumas
Tries: Botha 3, Helberg 2, Janse van Vuuren, Luviunop, Mpila
Cons: Boshof 7
Pens: Boshof 2
For Border
Tries: Basson, Ramashala, Mtwa, Johi
Cons: Krestmann 2
Pens: Ktretzmann
Teams
: 15 Kholo Ramashala, 14 Okuhlo Joyi, 13 Simthembile Cakwe, 12 Jarred Hettema, 11 Logan Basson, 10 Bradley Kretzmann, 9 Craig Shone, 8 Tim Kwizera, 7 Sihle Mtwa, 6 Geoffrey Wood, 5 Wynand Wagenaar, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Robert Macfarlane, 2 Everhard van Pletzen, 1 Daylin Berndt.
Replacements: 16 Peter Smith, 17 Juan Bekker, 18 Bulelani Mbuqe, 19 R Potgieter, 20 Sinovuyo Nyoka, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 B Zwane
Pumas: 15 Corne Janse van Vuuren, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Bongi Luvuno, 12 Chris Botha, 11 Clive Mpila, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Valentine Thabede, 8 Hendrik la Grange, 7 Sandile Masango, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marco-Pierre van Eeden, 4 Meiring De Clerq, 3 , 2 Werner Bekker, 1 .
Replacements: 16 Sibi Masina, 17 Henco Dickason, 18 Wimpie van der Walt, 19 Neo Maliehe, 20 Christiaan Lombard, 21 Howard Mnisi, 22 Sammy Gqoli,
Referee: Petri Bosch (Border)
Free State vs Blue Bulls, 39-17
As the Pumas-Border match had been a step up, so this one was another step up, perhaps just because it was for a long time more of a contest, but in the end it was the Grey-fuelled Free State side that had too much case for the men from Pretoria.
Forget gas, they had too much skill, confidence and cohesion - and what a wonderful performance the second half turned out to be.
The big Blue Bulls actually led at half-time, 10-7. That was hardly a harbinger of the hiding they were to get.
Free State scored first when the Ebersohn twins performed their magic, Robert breaking and passing to Josias for a try by Pieter Labuschagne. Josias converted. But then Francois Brummer kicked a penalty and then the Blue Bulls had an attacking line-out which they mauled, split and sent burly hooker Eduan Neeb over. Brummer converted from far out.
The Blue Bulls scored from the maul but in fact Free State were much better at it than they were. They drove mauls a long way down the field before the Blue Bulls tested the referee's patience by collapsing them.
One such collapse gave Josias a chance to level the scores. Then he put Free State ahead - and then the floodgates opened.
First of all fullback Wilton Pietersen raced down the left and played inside to speeding Mayibuye Ndwandwa who scored. 18-10 to Free State.
Then Robert cut back on a splendid angle to race through a gap to score a try at the posts with an eccentric dive. Josias converted.
Free State tapped a penalty and Ndwandwa played inside to Pietersen this time for yet another try. Josias converted and Free State were winning an astonishing 32-10.
The Blue Bulls then put pressure on the Free State line and Simphiwe Ntinkulu gave his centre Yondela Stampu a short pass for a try under the bar.
When Robert hoisted a huge up-and-under the Free Staters chased, grabbed a Blue Bull and then the ball and Hadley Smith was over in the left. Josias converted. That ended the match, a most satisfactory one for the great Free State side.
It did not help the Blue Bulls' cause that their captain Francois Brummer was sin-binned.
Scorers
For Free State
Tries: Labuschagne, R Ebersohn, Ndwanda, Pietersen, Smith
Cons: J Ebersohn 4
Pens: J Ebersohn 2
For Blue Bulls
Tries: Neeb, Stampu
Cons: Brummer 2
Pen: Brummer
Teams
: 15 Gerhard van der Merwe, 14 Mpho Matau, 13 Yondela Stampu, 12 Simphiwe Ntinkulu, 11 Omphile Marothodi, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Daniel Faassen, 8 Robin Coetzee, 7 Oswin Mentoor, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Nel, 3 Petrus Vorster, 2 Eduan Neeb, 1 Brendan Kruger.
Replacements: 16 Tumelo Thage, 17 Mark Hennig, 18 Mlungisi Bali, 19 Tendayi Chikukwa, 20 Nicolaas van Zyl, 21 Jaco Oosthuizen, 22 JP van der Merwe
: 15 Wilton Pietersen, 14 Mayibuye Ndwandwa, 13 Egan Gysman, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Hadley Smith, 10 Josias Ebersohn, 9 Sakkie Muller, 8 Andries Theisinger, 7 Roelof Pienaar, 6 Johan Prinsloo, 5 Pieter Labuschagne, 4 Tumelo Moholo, 3 Coenrad Oosthuizen, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Richard Harris.
Replacements: 16 Moekoa Bolofo, 17 James Hallewell, 18 Jannie Geldenhuys, 19 Johannes Mpande, 20 Thamsanqa Mcinga, 21 Johan van Schalkwyk, 22 Mkhwanazi
Referee: Marius Bonthuys