Griquas bag scrappy win over Limpopo
CRAVEN WEEK REPORT: Griquas got their 2019 Craven Week off to a good start when they edged the Limpopo Blue Bulls 35-24 in a match riddled with errors and poor discipline.
A total of nine tries was scored during the 70-minute encounter, however, a total of 4 yellow cards - 2 of which resulting in a red card - was shown, with Limpopo receiving three of them.
Griquas piled on early pressure and nearly took the lead in the opening minutes but good defence by Limpopo saw them stifle the attack. Griquas maintained that pressure as Limpopo struggled to get themselves going, however, Griquas failed to add any points.
The task became steeper in the 11th minute for Limpopo, as Renzo du Plessis was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. The extra man proved valuable to Griquas in the 14th minute when an individual piece of brilliance broke the deadlock. Fullback Elzandro Fredericks received the ball on Limpopo's 10-metre line, cut in-field, beat four defenders and raced away to score under the uprights. Steph Boshoff popped over the conversion to ensure a 7-0 lead.
Limpopo grew in confidence as the half progressed and came close to getting on the board in the 20th minute when Kgothatso Sono dotted down, however, the TMO intervened and judged that there had been a knock-on in the lead-up.
The match went into a bit of a lull from that point as both sides looked to swing the momentum their way. Limpopo was once again reduced to 14 men when flyhalf Divan van Zyl received a yellow card for foul play in the 29th minute. Griquas looked to make immediate use of the extra man as they ran hard lines from the resulting penalty but Limpopo's defence in their red zone was exceptional - as it was for the majority of the first half - to keep Griquas at bay.
Limpopo looked dangerous on attack in the final few minutes of the first half but found themselves conceding another try as Keanu Windvogel showed how dangerous he is. The centre picked up a loose ball, backed his speed and raced away to grab his side's second try of the match. Boshoff added the extras to ensure a 14-0 lead at the break.
Limpopo emerged with renewed vigour in the second half and got themselves on the board in the 40th minute when Johannes du Toit benefited from a solid scrum on Griquas' 22. Jan-Hendrik Cronje picked the ball up at the base of the scrum and passed it to Du Toit, who could not be stopped a few metres from the line to trail 5-14.
Back came Griquas though as a quickly taken penalty inside Limpopo's 22 resulted in Niel Swartz bashing his way through from close range. Corne du Plessis took over the kicking duties to slot the conversion and ensure a 21-5 lead after 44 minutes. Six minutes later and Griquas had their fourth try as Quintin Immelman rounded off a flowing attack as they piled on the pressure. Du Plessis slotted his second conversion to stretch the lead to 28-5.
Griquas were then reduced to 14 men when Rudolph Steinman saw yellow for a neck roll and Limpopo took immediate advantage of the extra man. Jan-Hendrik Cronje showed sheer power by taking three would-be defenders with him over the line from close range. Brandon Cronje's conversion reduced the deficit to 12-28.
Limpopo was dealt a huge blow in the 58th minute when Van Zyl was shown a second yellow card, resulting in a red card. However, it would be Limpopo who added to their score as Renzo du Plessis scored a length-of-the-field solo try, having received the ball on his try line before bursting through a gap and charging his way down the field. B Cronje's conversion was good to take the score to 19-28 after 61 minutes.
Griquas hit back from the restart though when Boshoff picked up a loose ball, broke through the first line of defence and handed the ball to Sello Maketlo, who dotted down to increase his side's lead to 35-19. Back came Limpopo though as a Griquas clearance kick was charged down, collected by Matome Molebogeng who then muscled his way over the line for the final points of the match,
Scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: Fredericks, Windvogel, Swartz, Immelman, Maketlo
Cons: Boshoff 2, du Plessis 3
For Limpopo Blue Bulls:
Tries: Du Toit, J Cronje, Du Plessis, Molebogeng
Cons: B Cronje 2
Yellow cards: Renzo du Plessis (Limpopo Blue Bulls, 11 mins - foul play, dangerous tackle); Divan van Zyl (Limpopo Blue Bulls, 29 mins - foul play, elbow to the neck); Rudolph Steinman (Griquas, 52 mins - dangerous play, neck roll); Divan van Zyl (Limpopo Blue Bulls, 58 mins - cynical foul, intentional knock on)
Red card: Divan van Zyl (Limpopo Blue Bulls, 58 mins - two yellow cards)
Teams:
Griquas: 1 Anrich Rosenstrauch, 2 Louis Vermeulen, 3 Rudolph Steinman, 4 Herman Visser, 5 Niel Swartz, 6 Sello Maketlo, 7 Quintin Immelman, 8 Stefan Swart, 9 Alnino Lorten, 10 Steph Boshoff, 11 Nolan Diergaardt, 12 Revan Muller, 13 Keanu Windvogel, 14 Jacquin van Wyk, 15 Elizandro Fredericks, 16 Devin Steenkamp, 17 Tlotlo Mokomelo, 18 Pollie Agenbag, 19 Jessy Thomas, 20 Bradley Human, 21 D Jacobs, 22 Corne du Plessis.
Limpopo Blue Bulls: 1 Khutso Terwey, 2 Diaan Coetzee, 3 Henco Swart, 4 Makhekhaya Malunjwa, 5 Johannes Els, 6 Johannes du Toit, 7 Renzo du Plessis, 8 Jan-Hendrik Cronje, 9 Kgothatso Sono, 10 Divan van Zyl, 11 Eduaniq Harmse, 12 Franco Broodryk, 13 Taylor du Plessis, 14 Sean Roulston, 15 Brandon Cronje (captain), 16 Alshandro Kock, 17 Matome Molebogeng, 18 Marvelous Mashimbye, 19 Jurgen van Houwald, 20 Siphiwe Tjale, 21 Jandré Moos, 22 Jody du Preez, 23 Tshimiswa Nemavhola.
Referee: Rauridh Campbell (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison, Anelda Coetzee
TMO: Paul Larter (Scotland)