For the second year in a row, Western Province won the final match at the Craven Week. This year’s was different.
Last year Western Province beat Eastern Province a record 95-0 in the last match.
This time they won 27-20 – a much, much better contest, a lively match. The result could have changed right up to the final whistle.
The Golden Lions had the better of scrums, the Western Province of the line-outs. But there was far greater rhythm to Western Province’s play, as one would expect with their outstanding backs.
Both sides showed determination and so the match went for the full 60 minutes with growing excitement. Both sides defended heroically, Golden Lions more often.
Western Province were first to attack. From a line-out they bashed and Huge Salmaan Moerat was over the line but PJ Jacobs held him up. Western Province bashed some more but a knock-on gave the Golden Lions a defensive scrum. Back the ball went to Tyrone Green in his in-goal but Deon Carstens charged his kick. That gave Western Province a five-metre scrum but multitalented Wandisile Simelane latched onto a knock-on and kicked clear.
Two penalty goals opened the score, the first by Gianni Lombaard of Western Province for a tackle offence, the second by Simelane also for a tackle offence. 3-3 after 11 minutes
Western Province won a Golden Lions line-out and Fullback Gianni Lombaard kicked a long kick that rolled out for a line-out five metres from the Golden Lions line. Golden Lions threw in but Western Province won the ball and Western Province went wide. Damian Willemse gave to Lombard who gave to Manny Sass who scored in the right corner. From touch Lombaard converted. 10-3 after 16 minutes.
Three minutes later Lombaard goaled his second penalty. 13-3.
Again Golden Lions won the ball back from the kick-off. They went through phases and suddenly flyhalf Tyrone Green broke, beat the fullback and scored under the posts. Simelane converted. 13-10 after 22 minutes.
From the scrum in midfield, Western Province went right and Lombaard came into the line at great speed. He broke and then the ball went left where Muller Uys cut through for the try at the posts. 20-10 after 20 minutes.
That was the half-time score but not before the best individual run of the match.
David Cary of the Golden Lions caught a kick, avoided pressure somehow and then sped down the field as defenders fell off him. From him the ball went right to Simelane and Tatenda Mujawo but the Western Province defence kept them out.
The second half looked well regulated till Damian Willemse, the star Western Province flyhalf, passed to his left and tall Cristen van Niekerk intercepted and ran through empty acres till the cover defence closed in. He gave to Tatenda Mujawo on his right who was over at the posts as Daniel Jooste and Mike Mavovana tackled him. 20-17 after 36 minutes.
The last try of the match was made possible by classic passing, waist high and in front till big eighthman Khanya Ncusane was over in the right corner. Lombard converted. 27-17.
The last score of the 2016 Craven Week was a penalty goal by Simelane which made the score 27-20 with 10 minutes to play.
The last noteworthy act was a bit of magical footwork by Damian Willemse jinking right and left.
The curtain came down on a great week for which Kearsney College deserves great plaudits.
Scorers:
For Western Province:
Tries: Manuel Rass, Muller Uys , Khanya Ncusane
Cons: Gianni Lombard 3
Pens: Gianni Lombard 2
For Golden Lions:
Tries: Tyrone Green, Tatenda Mujawo
Cons: Wandisile Simelane 2
Pens: Wandisile Simelane 2
Teams
Western Province: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Mike Mavovana, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Muller du Plessis, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Deon Carstens, 8 Khanya Ncusane, 7 Muller Uys, 6 Athi Magwala, 5 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Johan Neethling, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Reece Bezuidenhout
Replacements: 16 Liam Larkan, 17 Tristan Leitch, 18 André Booysen, 19 Jessie Johnson, 20 Charl Serdyn, 21 Vusile Dlepu, 22 Lubelo Scott, 23 Quan Eymann
Golden Lions: 15 Chuiner van Rooyen, 14 Tatenda Mujawo, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Kalvin Mills, 11 David Cary, 10 Tyrone Green, 9 Tinus Combrinck, 8 PJ Jacobs, 7 Tiaan Scholtz, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 Cristen van Niekerk, 4 Christopher Havenga, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Pieter Botha (captain), 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Mpilo Mabuza, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 20 Enrico Liut, 21 MJ Pelser, 22 Maxwill van Louw, 23 Kennedy Mpeku
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds, Sindile Ngcese
Television match official: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
The 2016 Craven Week’s Results
Craven Week
Final Day
Blue Bulls vs Free State, 74-8
Border vs Boland. 64-26
Griqualand West Country Districts vs Border Country Districts, 29-8
Griqualand West vs Valke, 43-19
Leopards vs Griffons, 36-24
Limpopo vs Eastern Province Country Districts, 35-5
Namibia vs Zimbabwe, 34-3
Pumas vs KwaZulu Natal, 26-23
South Western Districts vs Eastern Province, 64-12
Results, First Four Days
Monday
KwaZulu Natal vs Eastern Province, 36-22
Namibia vs Griqualand West, 54-36
Pumas vs Griffons, 31-29
Western Province vs Boland, 41-20
Zimbabwe vs Griqualand West Country Districts, 16-9
Tuesday
Blue Bulls vs Border, 48-15
Free State vs Valke, 68-26
Golden Lions vs South Western Districts, 59-26
Leopards vs Eastern Province Country Districts, 26-24
Limpopo vs Border Country Districts, 38-3
Wednesday
Eastern Province vs Boland, 37-33
Griffons vs Griqualand West Country Districts, 34-32
Griqualand West vs Zimbabwe, 78-5
Pumas vs Namibia, 51-15
Western Province vs KwaZulu Natal, 60-5
Thursday
Eastern Province Country Districts vs Border Country Districts, 62-5
Free State vs Leopards, 56-14
Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls, 41-14
South Western Districts vs Border, 21-19
Valke vs Limpopo, 43-24
Academy Week
Final Day
Boland vs Pumas, 39-3
Eastern Province Country Districts vs Blue Valke, 18-13
Eastern Province vs Namibia, 17-15
Free State vs KwaZulu Natal Country Districts, 44-10
Golden Lions vs KwaZulu Natal, 29-12
Griffons vs Leopards, 36-26
Griqualand West Country Districts vs Border Country Districts, 24-7
Griqualand West vs Red Valke, 34-12
Limpopo vs Griffons Country Districts, 60-14
Pumas Country Districts vs SA LSEN, 17-15
South Western Districts vs Border, 24-10
Western Province vs Blue Bulls, 23-12
Results, First Four Days
Monday
Border vs Griqualand West Country Districts, 28-13
Golden Lions vs Pumas, 30-11
Griffons Country Districts vs Eastern Province Country Districts, 19-15
KwaZulu Natal vs Griffons, 47-44
SA LSEN vs Valke Country Districts, 15-8
Western Province vs South Western Districts, 47-0
Tuesday
Blue Bulls vs Eastern Province, 57-15
Boland vs Free State, 20-14
Leopards vs Limpopo, 53-31
Namibia vs Red Valke, 34-15
Pumas Country Districts vs Border Country Districts, 46-7
KwaZulu Natal Country Districts vs Griqualand West, 63-35
Wednesday
Blue Valke vs Griqualand West Country Districts, 36-24
KwaZulu Natal vs Border, 40-25
Pumas vs Griffons, 41-27
SA LSEN vs Griffons Country Districts, 38-26
South Western Districts vs Eastern Province Country Districts, 30-15
Western Province vs Golden Lions, 31-29
Thursday
Blue Bulls vs Leopards, 77-7
Boland vs Namibia, 37-28
Eastern Province vs Red Valke, 21-21
Free State vs Limpopo, 62-21
Griqualand West vs Border Country Districts, 43-8
KwaZulu Natal Country Districts vs Pumas Country Districts, 32-27
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