Craven Week Results - final day
Free State are the Kings of Craven Week 2007 after the thrashing they gave Western Province in the main match on the final day.
There was simply no doubt of their class.
Apart from the shock of the size of Free State's victory there was also a victory for Border Country Districts over their more fancied compatriots.
Results of 14 July
South Western Districts vs Griffons, 24-14
Blue Bulls KwaZulu Natal, 27-24
Griquas v Eastern Province, 46-27
Boland vs Leopards, 31-14
Free State vs Western Province, 52-3
Golden Lions vs Pumas, 16-7
Valke vs Limpopo, 20-5
Border Country Districts vs Border, 30-19
Zimbabwe vs Namibia, 22-18
Free State vs Western Province, 52-3
Free State were magnificent. They played with such confidnce, skill and flair. Their interplay was magnificent and the varied lines of running which always had a ball-carrier going straight ahead. They had some problems in the scrums till they brought on burly Coenie Oosthuizen to shore up their front row. For the rest they won everything, especially the loose where they won numerous turn-overs.
There were 16 -players from Grey College in the Free State side. Clearly this year's Grey team is a special one.
The men who did the most damage for Free State were the Ebersohn twins - Robert and Josias, sons of Tiaan, a great Western Province and Matie centre.
Western Province did some things well but however close they came to the Free State line they never threatened to win. The only one of their players whose reputation did not take a bad denting was their captain Nicholas Koster who stood head and shoulders above the rest of his side who were made to look clumsy. They did well in the scrums but not in the line-outs and certainly not at the tackle/ruck. They had several opportunities to score tries but not the nous or the skill to capitalise on opportunities.
Free State came from behind to win! It was not a long way behind - just a penalty by Jurgen Visser which gave his side a 3-0 win. This was after a good run by Koster which should have led to a try but Johann Sadie neglected the man free on his left.
After classy work by Sias Ebersohn that got the Free State to the line, lock Pieter Labuschagne forced his way over in the corner. Sias Ebersohn converted as he did all seven tries. It had taken the Free State a quarter of an hour to get into the lead. They just kept building on it. Western Province would attack and Free State score. By the time Free State scored Western Province had missed three chances to score.
From a sloppy line-out Labuschagne grabbed the bouncing ball, weaved and passed inside to Sias Ebersohn who scored the second try.
From the kick-off Free State went racing down the right with ardent flank Roelof Pienaar making great ground, Free State were actually over but the TMO's advice was that Koster had managed to hold Johan Prinsloo up off the ground and save the try.
The third try came when Robert Ebersohn broke and played inside to Sias Ebersohn who scored his second try. 21-3.
Egan Gysman made the running for the fourth try and Wilton Pietersen was close. Back the ball came quickly and a pop pass put hooker Frank Herne over under the bar to make the half-time score 28-3.
Koster managed three great runs in the early part of the second half but support was poor and it was Free State who ended a long period of Western Province attack with a try for Johan van Schalkwyk from a line-out.
Western Province actually got over the line twice from tap penalties. On the first occasion the TMO advised that Koster had not grounded the ball in a bilingual reply: "Die ball is nie geground nie."
With less than ten minutes to go and leading 35-3 Free State kicked a penalty kick at goal from in front of the posts and 15 metres from the Western Province line. This has been a sad feature of the 2007 Craven Week - such a tawdry, unimaginative thing to do. Anyway, it made the score 38-3.
After that Robert Ebersohn scored a try and then Mkhwanazi did some clever stepping to give Tumelo Moholo a straight run for a try under the posts. The conversion ended the match.
The match was a great relief from much that had happened during the week. For one thing the scrums stayed up and for another there were fewer penalties and greater continuity as a result.
Scorers
For For Free State
Tries: Labuschagne, J Ebersohn 2, Herne, Van Schalkwyk, R Ebersohn, Bolofo
Cons: J Ebersohn 7
Pen: J Ebersohn
For Western Province
Pen: Visser
Teams
Free State: 15 Wilton Pietersen, 14 Mayibuye Ndwandwa, 13 Egan Gysman, 12 Robert Ebersohn (captain), 11 Hadley Smith, 10 Josias Ebersohn, 9 Sakkie Muller, 8 Andries Theisinger, 7 Roelof Pienaar, 6 Johan Prinsloo, 5 Pieter Labuschagne, 4 Jannie Geldenhuys, 3 James Hallewell, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Richard Harris.
Replacements: 16 Moekoa Bolofo, 17 Coenrad Oosthuizen, 18 Tumelo Moholo, 19 Johannes Mpande, 20 Thamsanqa Mcinga, 21 Johan van Schalkwyk, 22 Mkhwanazi
Western Province: 15 Leigh Bruinders, 14 Tythan Adams, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Johann Sadie, 11 Julian Karolus, 10 Jurgen Visser, 9 Morne Laubscher, 8 Nicholas Koster (captain), 7 Marnitz Jacobs, 6 Groenewald, 5 Yaasir Hartzenberg, 4 Gideon Myburgh, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Frankle Beukes.
Replacements: 16 Werner Greef, 17 Kieran James, 18 Shaun MCountry Districtsonald, 19 Waldo Prinsloo, 20 Dylan Petersen, 21 Justin McKay, 22 Ralphton Minnaar
Referee: Petrie Bosch
Golden Lions vs Pumas, 16-7
The Pumas threw away a multitude of chances to go down 16-7 against the Golden Lions. The team from Mpumalanga did everything except get the ball over the Golden Lions tryline. Despite dominating for most of the match, they trailed 3-0 at half-time with Golden Lions flyhalf Justin Botha kicking a penalty after a rare foray into the Pumas 22 metre area.
The Pumas threw away three straightforward try scoring chances in the first half, mostly because of poor decision-making and handling. Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff also missed a penalty shortly before the break.
Shortly after the break Boshoff spurned another chance to level the scores when he missed a straight-forward penalty. The Pumas were eventually rewarded when centre Bongi Luvuno rounded off after a patient build up and Boshoff converted to put them 7-3 in front.
The score seemed to stun the Golden Lions in action and they responded almost immediately, holding onto the ball well to put centre Yazeed Johnson in for the try. Botha converted to restore the Golden Lions three-point cushion.
The Golden Lions went further ahead with a well-taken drop by Botha in the 52nd minute and he added a penalty late in the game to seal the win.
In between, the Pumas had spurned three more chances to reclaim the lead, twice stepping into touch during the try scoring move and once knocking on. It was a disappointing end for the Pumas, who played some entertaining rugby during the week.
Scorers
For
Triy: Johnson
Con: Botha
Pens: Botha
Drops: Botha 2
Blue Bulls vs KwaZulu Natal, 27-24
The Blue Bulls reversed a 24-3 half-time deficit to score a hard-earned 27-24 win over KwaZulu Natal.
A spirited second half performance by the Bulls, in which they enjoyed the better possession and put their bigger pack to good use, saw them produce tries by lock Cornell Hess, flank Oswin Mentoor and eighthman Tendayi Chikukwa with fullback Gerhard van den Heever adding three conversions and a penalty to secure the win.
KwaZulu Natal started the match at frenetic pace and within 20 minutes had raced into a 17-0 lead via tries by wing Mnqobi Mkhize, fullback Patrick Lambie and flank Grenville Easthorpe and a conversion by Lambie.
The Blue Bulls replied with a penalty by fullback van der Heever before KwaZulu Natal added a fourth try, by centre Murray de Bruin and converted by Lambie, for a 24-3 half-time lead. The Blue Bulls managed to get their hands on the ball more in the second half and they put in to good effect to produce three well-worked tries.
Zimbabwe vs Namibia , 22-18
Zimbabwe won the battle between South Africa's two neighbours, beating Namibia 22-18 to end the week unbeaten. In their matches earlier in the week, Zimbabwe won 11-6 over Border Country Districts and 27-5 over Border.
Zimbabwe deserved the win after playing some solid rugby in a close contest. They led 15-13 at the break after tries by flyhalf Danny Robertson and flank Michael Todd as well as a conversion and penalty by fullback Raymond de Jong.
Namibia's first half points came via a tries by wing Llewelyn Pieterse and flank Tehunis Jacobs and a penalty by flyhalf Charlton Brussel.
Zimbabwe extended their lead after the break with a try by wing Rangarirai Zembe, converted by de Jong and Namibia scored a consolation try in the 41st minute as Zimbabwe held on to end off a successful week of rugby.
Scorers
For Zimbabwe
Tries: Robertson, Todd, Zembe
Cons: De Jong 2
Pens: De Jong
For Namibia
Tries: Pieterse, Jacobs, AN Other
Pen: Brussel
Border Country Districts vs Border, 30-19
Border Country Districts scored a surprise 30-19 win over their provincial counterparts Border to register their first win of the tournament. It was Border's third defeat and ended a dismal week for both teams from East London.
Border Country Districts led 17-7 at the break. Their points came via tries by fullback Jason Kaschula (2), wing Boysie Malikeni and scrumhalf Malibongwe Cokoto, two penalties by Kaschula and two conversions by flyhalf Alungile Jita.
Border scored three tries, by flyhalf Bradley Kretzmann, scrumhalf Craig Shone and wing Logan Basson with centre Jarryd Hettema kicking two conversions.
Scorers
For Border Country Districts
Tries: Kaschula 2, Malikeni, Cokotho
Cons: Jita 2
Pens: Kaschula 2
For Border
Tries: Kretzmann, Shone, Basson
Cons: Hettema 2
Griquas vs Eastern Province (13) 27
Griquas put in a strong second half performance to score a deserved 46-27 win over Eastern Province.
It was Griquas first win at the week after narrow losses earlier to the Valke and Limpopo. Eastern Province won only one of their three matches.
Griquas led 15-13 at the break after a tight first half but in the end they ran in seven tries to three for a comprehensive victory. Griquas tries were scored by flank Jan Swiegelaar (2), fullback Andrew van Wyk, centre Gabriel Engelbrecht, scrumhalf Joe van Niekerk, lock Jean-Pierre van Deventer and replacement scrumhalf Jesse Rhode. Engelbrecht added a penalty and three conversions and wing Elias Laubscher kicked one conversion.
Eastern Province's points came from tries by centre Cameron Jacobs, and wings Riaan Arends and Johan Engelbrecth, with flyhalf Louis Kruger converting all three and adding two penalties.
Scorers
For Griquas
Tries: Engelbrecht, J Rhode, Van Deventer, Van Niekerk, Van Wyk, Zwiegelaar 2
Cons: Engelbrecht 3, E Laubscher
Pen: Engelbrecht
For
Tries: Arends, Engelbrecht, Jacobs
Cons: Kruger 3
Pens: Kruger 2
Boland vs Leopards, 31-14
Boland came from behind to record a 31-14 win over the Leopards in their final match. It was their first win of the Week after they suffered earlier defeats by the Golden Lions and the Griffons. It was the Leopards' third consecutive defeat.
Boland scored five tries to one with left wing Sampie Mastriet (2), right wing Danie Roux, eighthman Chris Blom and replacement fullback Cheswill Olivier crossing the Leopards line. Flyhalf Kenwinn Wiener kicked one conversion and replacement fullback Louw Heunis kicked two conversions.
The Leopards, who led 9-5 at the break, scored via a try by lock Janus Beukes and three penalties by centre Luan Steenkamp.
Scorers
For Boland
Tries: Matriet 2, Roux, Blom, Olivier
Cons: Wiener, Heunis 2
For Leopards
Try: Beukes
Pens: Steenkamp 3
South Western Districts vs Griffons, 24-14
South Western Districts came back from 14-7 down at the break to score a deserved 24-14 win over the Griffons in their final match. It was their second win of the tournament and a first defeat for the Griffons.
South Western Districts scored three tries to two with lock Garrick Matthee (2) and eighthman Christiaan Stander breaching the Griffons line. Flyhalf Gerhard Nortier kicked three conversions and a penalty.
The Griffons tries were scored by scrumhalf Johan van Vollenhoven and wing Virgil Russel, both of which were converted by flyhalf Wynand Pienaar.
Scorers
For South Western Districts
Tries: Mathee 2, Stander
Cons: Nortier 3
Pen: Nortier
For Griffons
Tries: Van Vollenhoven, Russel
Cons: Pienaar 2
Valke vs Limpopo, 20-5
After two losses earlier in the week, the Valke ended the week with a 20-5 win over Limpopo, who had won their earlier two encounters.
The Valke led 13-5 at the break in a tough encounter. Their points came from tries by fullback Roland Syphus, and scrumhalf De Wet Le Roux, a conversion by Le Roux and a conversion and two penalties by flyhalf Dewald Nel.
Lock Rendani Ramovha scored Limpopo's only points.
Scorers
For Valke
Tries: Syphus, Le Roux
Cons: Le Roux, Nel
Pens: Nel 2
For Limpopo
Try: Ramovha