Griquas demolished Zimbabwe

The opening minutes really looked promising as Zimbabwe moved the ball among the backline inside the Griquas' half.

But with six minutes on the clock, the talented Cameron Hufke's chipkick got his team inside the opposition's half. And just before ten minutes had gone Griquas took the lead with an Anton van Romburg try. A driving maul from a line-out sent the hooker over the line. The conversion was pushed wide, and the score remained 5-0.

After 12 minutes of play it started to get really loose with both teams opting to run in the great weather conditions.

Within 15 minutes the Griquas second try came in similar fashion to number one. This time Rian Kotze went over the line. Cameron Hufke added the extras, 12-0.

Griquas gradually edged their opposition as the first half progress.

A great run by Dean Ackerman almost cumulated into try, but a two-men tackle by the Peter Davis and Tapiwa Marimira prevented the third try for now.

To add to Zimbabwe woes, Matthew McNab was sent to the naughty boy chair.

From a scrum Griquas reshuffled to sends Cameron Hufke down in the corner for another one. Hufke converted his own try with a perfect kick from the touchline, 19-0.

With five minutes to go of the first half, Zimbabwe tried to finish strong. The Griquas retain the ball from Tapiwa Marimira's grubber. Dean Ackerman made a break, with a handoff offloads. Cameron Hufke slipped pass defenders and puts on the gas for his second try. Hufke converted his own try.

Griquas took an 26-0 lead to the change rooms.

It came as no surprise when Griquas were the first to score. Dean Ackermann, much as he did in the first half, brokethrough the Zimbabwe defence and burst over for a try between the poles, making it easy for Hufke to add the two pointer. 33-0.  

40 minutes into the match Zimbabwe finally replied as Matthew McNab scored their try. The big man has really been a star for his team, 33-5.

Minutes later Hufke could not resist as he saw an opportunity to score his third try. The wing made more than 50 metres as  defenders struggle to tame him, 38-5.

In this Hufke-and-Ackermann show the centre went down to score at exactly the same place as his teammate scored. Ackermann made a break and it was his power that made him so dangerous every time he had space in the opposition's' half. This time Hufke added the extra two from the touchline. 45-5.  

In the most magnanimous manner Ackermann with acres of space popped the ballt to Ashwill Botha who recorded the half century on the board. Hufke added the extras and it was 52-5 on the 57th minutes.

Hitting the hour mark it was clear that Zimbabwe were in for the longest ten minutes. Rian Kotze scored his second try. Hufke on on target slotted over his seventh successful kick. 59-5.

With five minutes to go Cameron Hufke could not stop scoring tries, as he broke away with Ackermann as supportive runner to score his fourth try.  

In the dying minutes of the match, Ashwill Botha and Gladwin Nieuwenhuizen added the last two tries as a result of nice interchanging play amongst the backline.

Zimbabwe simply had no reply, as the game ended 78-5 to Griquas.

The scorers:

For Griquas:

Tries: Anton van Romburg, Rian Kotze 2, Cameron Hufke 4, Dean Ackerman 2, Ashwill Botha 2, Chadwyn November, Rian Kotze 2, Gladwin Nieuwenhuizen

Cons: Cameron Hufke 9

For Zimbabwe:

Try: Matthew McNab

Yellow Card: Matthew McNab 0n the 21st minute.

Teams:

Griquas: Andre du Toit, Anton Romburgh, Byrom du Plooy, Rian Kotze, Bernard Jansen, Japheth Muzaza, Jacques Ackerman, Niel Coetzee, Chadwin November, Cameron Hufke, Ruan Schultz, Dean Ackermann, Gladwin Botha, Aswill Botha, Justin Murphy, Willem Coetzer, Edwill Speelman, Heinrich Klopper, Chadd Adams, Dehan du Plessis, Willem du Plessis, Edmund Brand.

Zimbabwe: Martin Mangongo, Rangarirai Mariwa, Rodney Sachiti, Matthew McNab, Tapiwa Marimira, Benjamin Meredith,  Connor MacMillan,  Tendekai Chigwendere , Tichaona Hwangwa , Stuart Dodington , Daniel Hutchings ,Tonderai Chiwambutsa , Cleopas Kundiona ,  Tinashe Chaza ,Samuel Garnett, Marcus Nichole ,  Simbarashe Maringira ,  Desmond Annandale , Travis Landing ,  Godfrey Magaramombe ,  Jeremy Munyeza ,  Nqobisile Ncube ,  Peter Davis

Referee: Ricus van den Hoven

Assistant referees: Pieters Maritz, Vusi Msibi

TMO: Lourens van der Merwe