More thrashings for Border teams at Craven Week
THE Border teams were again on the receiving end of Craven Week thrashings, while Free State showed the value of superior conditioning in the face of a ferocious opponent.
The Golden Lions and Western Province served up a mini test match in what should have been the showcase game of day three.
Golden Lions 13 – 13 Western Province
The draw was a fair result‚ even though both sides benefited from generous officiating.
Lions’ tries by David Cary and Santino Swanepoel were cancelled out by tries from Thaakir Abrahams and Angelo Davids.
But the Lions fought back superbly and were unfortunate not to get scrum penalties as Keagan Glade and Nkosikhona Masuku took turns in owning the scrums.
In the end it was down to the goalkickers to salvage a positive result for the teams.
Free State 63 – 41 Pumas
Free State had to withstand a strong Pumas onslaught with two tries in the last five minutes to pull away to a deserved victory.
After the Cheetahs took an early 21-3 lead‚ the Pumas fought back to within a point. However‚ Free State had better structure‚ speed and conditioning.
In the last 10 minutes, Free State made sure they wrapped up the game as the Pumas lost their shape in chasing the win.
Limpopo Blue Bulls 59 – 41 Border
A combined five tries, from Siphamandla Matsinya and Jason Raubenheimer, were not enough to keep the Limpopo Blue Bulls at bay.
Border were let down by some atrocious tackling and indifferent use of first-phase ball to let the Bulls take a 35-20 half-time lead.
Border were better in the second half but they were still outscored as the Blue Bulls’ superior conditioning and fitness shone through.
Boland 32 – 21 Griquas Country Districts
After their 80-point hammering at the hands of Free State on day one‚ Boland bounced back in the most evenly matched game of the day.
It was five tries against three as Griquas battled to deal with Boland’s pace and verve.
Rune Lucas and Johannes Geldenhuys were the standout players for Boland with their three combined tries.
Boland’s 27-7 half-time lead was always going to be too much for Griquas to overhaul.
Griffons 80 – 5 Border Country Districts. If it were not for the Griffons not taking their conversions in the second half‚ it could have been an ugly cricket score.
To their credit‚ Country Districts were able to score one through Lelethu Mpepo but it was a long morning with 14 tries conceded by the Border side.
The majority of them came in the first half where 53 points were tallied up by the Griffons without reply from Border.
The Griffons played with less structure in the second half but the combined nine tries from Qamani Kota‚ Triumph Baloyi and Verlyn van Vollenhoven ensured the rout. – TimesLIVE