Province have played in the main game of the Coca-Cola Craven Week for the last three years in a row and they came into the game as favourites. They did not count on a spirited performance by the KwaZulu-Natallers, who bounced back from an early WP goal to score three tries in a row and go into a 20-7 lead shortly after half time.
Province then clawed their way back into the game and closed the gap to 23-14 with eight minutes to go. They were then controversially awarded a try by the TMO, after a protracted delay, and they had a chance to sneak a win when they were awarded a penalty on the halfway line and wide out.The kick fell short, however, and it was the KwaZulu-Natal side whooping with joy at the end.
Jacques Taylor, Robert Du Preez and Tyler Fisher scored tries for KZN, with Siybonga Tom adding two penalties and a conversion. Province’s tries were scored by Craig Corbett, Kyle Lombard and Sikambuzo Nokwe. Handre Pollard kicked three conversions.
The Golden Lions had a dream start to their week, comprehensively out playing the highly-rated Eastern Province side, winning 39-13. They scored six tries to one, playing the sort of attractive running rugby that could well see them go all the way to the main game of this year’s Coca-Cola Craven Week.
The Golden Lions tries were scored by Burger Odendaal (two), Tshepo Mooke, Ruhan Kruger and Sabath Mmathi and Stoney Steenkamp. Jaco Van der Westhuizen kicked a penalty and three conversions.
EP’s lone try was by Marius Le Roux. Wayne Gardner kicked a penalty and a conversion and dropped a goal for them.
In other action on day two the Border Country District side went down 68-3 to Zimbabwe. They conceded nine tries in the process and, once again, the merits of including them in a tournament of this standard has to be questioned.
Tapiwa Tsomondo scored a hat-trick of tries for Zimbabwe, with Rick Rorke getting two and Preston, Bryant, Robert Sargeant, Takudzwa Chieza and Tarisai Tdunzo scoring one each. Border’s only score was a penalty by Devandre Sissing.
The Griffons beat Limpopo 22-16 in the second game of the day. The game was a tight affair which never rose to any great heights and Griffons probably deserved the win because they made better use of the opportunities that came their way.
The Griffons’ tries were scored by David Van Biljon, Frans Gerber, Marco Klopper and Ruhan Van Rensburg. Kallie Erasmus converted two of them.
For Limpopo Jan Truter scored a try and Jacobus Marais kicked three penalties and a conversion.
In the final game of the day Border beat the Griquas Country Districts team 33-12.
Emihle Baneti, Johan Meyer (two), Cameron Opperman and Joshua Stander scored tries for Border. Johan Van Rooyen kicked four conversions.
For the Griquas Country side Gawie Liebenberg and Dolf Burden scored tries and Herman Share slotted a conversion.
Wednesday’s big game is between Free State and the Blue Bulls. They were the most impressive sides on the first day and the winner of their game will certainly have an inside track towards Saturday’s final game.
Tuesday’s Results - Zimbabwe 68 Border Country 3, Griffons 22 Limpopo 16, Golden Lions 39 Eastern Province 13, KwaZulu-Natal 23 Western Province 21, Border 33 Griquas Country 12.
Wednesday’s Fixtures - 10am Leopards v Eastern Province Country, 11.40am Griquas v Namibia, 1.10pm Pumas v Boland, 2.40pm Valke v SWD, 4.10pm Free State v Blue Bulls.
Of the 40 years of its existence, Coca-Cola has been part of the week for the past 26, a statistic the company is proud of. “Coca-Cola sponsors tournaments at the highest level and we are fully aware that no country can be successful without a strong development programme in place and Coca-Cola has played a major role in finding Springboks. More than 90 percent of the current squad have competed in one of the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks,” said Zayd Abrahams, Head of Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola South Africa.
Abrahams said further: “But the four weeks we are involved with, namely the Coca-Cola U13, Academy, Under 16 and Under 18 weeks are also about living for a difference and living a healthy lifestyle. These are the messages we also promote throughout each tournament.”
No comments:
Post a Comment