Lots of handling errors, knock ons and penalties (19 at my count) made for a frustrating stop start game as Eastern Province Country Districts went down to the Griffons 33-28 in the third game of the day at the Coca Cola Craven Week taking place at the Neslson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 12 July 2012.
From their kickoff the Griffons had something to prove after their loss to the Pumas (48-24) on Tuesday which they set out to do by dominating possession and territory in the first half with Sechaba Matsoele scoring in the first 5 minutes and the Griffons winning 7 of the 12 penalties and to close the 1st half with a Dillon Afrika try and a 19-6 lead.
Throughout the 1st half Eastern Province Country Districts played a very scrappy and loose game, seeming rattled and unable to gain momentum. The frustration showed amongst the forwards who were slow to come back in support. Desperate measures from a few committed players resulted in penalty after penalty for the Griffons.
By contrast the 2nd half went mostly EP’s way with EP CD’s Christ Steyn scoring in the first two minutes.
A return to a kicking game by EP CD was a mistake as David Tippens from the Griffons crashed over for a try three minutes later. And that was one of the last times the Griffons ventured into the EP CD half for the rest of the game.
It took 15 minutes for EP CD to settle down, be awarded a penalty within sight of Griffons tryline, only to kick for a lineout. Some shocking handling mistakes handed the Griffons the scrum down. More shocking handling but EP CD number 12, Emelio Koeberg scored and Jason Vers was succesful with the conversion to take the score to 26-18.
With 14 minutes left on the clock EP CD allowed the Griffons to capitalise on EP mistakes and number 11, David Tippens scored with Francois van Biljon converting: 33-18.
Once again dominating possession and territory in the Griffons 22 EP CD just couldn’t penetrate succesfully but the balance of probablilities was on their side as after a deluge of tactical and handling errors that actually went in their favour EP CD’s Glen van Pletzen crashed over in the North West Corner for another try.
Five minutes later and on the death of the match Percy Mabitsela scored for EP CD making the final score a credible 33-28 to the Griffons.
Man of the Match was David Tippens from Griffons.
Scoreres
- Griffons (19) 33: Tries – David Tippens (2), Dillon Afrika, Sechaba Matsoele; Conversions – David Francois van Biljon (2); Penalties – David Francois van Biljon (3)
- EP CD (6) 28: Tries – Chris Steyn, Emelio Koeberg, Glen van Pletzen, Tshepo Percy Mabitsela; Conversion – Jason Vers; Penalty – Jason Vers
Photo by Carl Fourie / Gallo Images
Photo by Carl Fourie / Gallo Images
Alan Straton
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