Boland edge out Griffons in thriller
Boland grabbed a nailbiting 36-34 win over the Griffons to end an exciting third day's play in the 2010 Craven Week in Welkom.
Having won a thrilling match earlier in the week - on Day One - the Griffons found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline this time, despite scoring a try on full-time.
Flyhalf Ryno Venter missed a tricky conversion, which would have drawn the scores level, but it would be churlish to blame the young man for his team's defeat.
Both teams scored five tries in an exciting finale to a good day's action, with Boland right-wing Ruan van Rooy grabbing a double and scrumhalf Jean Eksteen dotting down twice for the home side.
The Griffons led 15-12 at the break, with the lead changing hands throughout this fast-paced match, but Boland - who went down early in the second half - took control between the 45th and 63rd minutes and picked up tries by Ashlon Davids (replacement back), Wiaan Liebenberg (No.7 flank) and speedster Van Rooy (for his second) to put them ahead.
The home side refused to roll over and simply take defeat lying down, but their late try was not enough to prevent the Bolanders from picking up a second win.
* The Griffons beat Eastern Province Country Districts 28-25 on Monday, whilst Boland smashed the Limpopo Blue Bulls 41-11 - also on Day One.
The scorers:
For Boland:
Tries: Ashlon Davids, Jacques Rossouw, Ruan van Rooy 2, Wiaan Liebenberg
Cons: Jacques Rossouw 4
Pen: Jacques Rossouw
For the Griffons:
Tries: Jacobus Enslin, Jean Eksteen 2, Niel Neethling, Ryno Venter
Cons: Ryno Venter 3
Pen: Ryno Venter
The teams:
Boland: 15 Jacques Rossouw (Piketberg), 14 Ruan van Rooy (Dirkie Uys), 13 Jevandre van Schoor (Klein Nederburg), 12 Branwin Marais (Weston), 11 Leroy Bitterhout (Klein Nederburg), 10 Gerbrandt Roets (HTS Drostdy), 9 Robin Andrews (New Orleans), 8 Malherbe van Wyk (Hugenote), 7 Wiaan Liebenberg (HTS Drostdy), 6 Glandon du Plessis (New Orleans), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Swartland), 4 Carlon Carolissen (Klein Nederburg), 3 Visser Jonck (Lutzville), 2 Jaco Visagie (Augsburg Gym), 1 Julian Swarts (Schoonspruit).
16 Danie Cillié (Piketberg), 17 Andrew Beerwinkel (Porterville), 18 Eduaan Coetzee (Vredenburg), 19 Anchor van Wyk (Vredendal), 20 Godlen Masimla (Hugenote), 21 Ashlon Davids (Schoonspruit), 22 Maree Kotze (Hugenote).
Griffons: Carlyle Abrahams (Harmony Sports), Jaco Arendse (Harmony Sports), Jason Bloemstein (Harmony Sports), Juan-Pierre Botes (Vrede), André Coetzee (Hoërskool Kroonstad), Jean Rene Eksteen (Hoërskool Kroonstad), Jacobus Enslin (Hoërskool Kroonstad), John Human (Hoërskool Kroonstad), Lushiano James (Harmony Sports), Lilitha Kambula (Harmony Sports), Everhardus Laing (AHS), Paul Lehoko (Harmony Sports), Simon Marcus (Wessel Maree), Daniel Neethling (Voortrekker), Mario Noordman (Harmony Sports), Buran Parks (Harmony Sports), Rewaan Rodgers (Harmony Sports), Petrus van der Westhuizen (Welkom Gim), Rudi van Niekerk (Welkom Gim), Riaan van Zyl (Voortrekker), Ryno Venter (Hentie Cilliers), Barend Wessels (AHS).