Griffons produce major upset during opening day of Academy Week
The first day of the Academy Week is underway at Jeppe in Johannesburg, and there have already been some tight games and big upsets.
Watch all the games live on SuperSport Schools – Register now
The Griffons pulled off a big upset against the Free State (25-24).
The Bloemfontein-based side started strong and were 12-0 up after six minutes but the Griffons, managed expertly by two boys from Hoërskool Trio, Byron Biennas (flyhalf) and their captain, Barend Pelser (centre), were able to stem the flow of points early on.
The Griffons ended the half with the momentum having shifted in their favour, scoring two more tries through Kamohelo Mokoena, their lively winger from Welkom Gimnasium, and Kaneng Komane, their Fullback from Voortrekker, after Biennas’ earlier try to go into the break tied at 19-all.
In the second half, the Griffons’ loose forwards rushing around the rucks caused endless problems for the Free State, which piled on the pressure as the boys seemed to be making more unforced errors, not capitalizing on their opportunities and allowing Biennas to keep punishing them off the kicking tee.
The only try in the second half, scored by Rorisang Masoeu (winger) from Grey College, saw the Free State regain the lead, but they were unable to build a buffer and the Griffons remained within striking range for the trusty boot of their star flyhalf, which allowed him to slot a late penalty and steal a famous win for his team.
Biennas scored 15 points on the day with a try, two conversions and two penalties and he was unmissable for the Griffons.
Mokoena also looked exciting and will be one to keep an eye on during the rest of the week.
For the Free State, three of their Grey-College players, their big prop, Daniel Kruger, and the centre pairing of Hayden Tolmay and Martin Botha played well, but this was not the result that they would have wanted to kick off their week.
At the same time, in George, the Free State Craven Week team lost to Eastern Province 26-23 in another massive upset.
The Eastern Province also made Western Province sweat during their game, but WP managed to hold on to a 48-42 lead to secure the win.
Fourteen tries were scored in this action-packed match, with WP’s centre from Paarl Gimnasium, Hennie Otto, scoring a brace and their flyhalf from Boland Landbou, Retagen van Rooi, also getting over the line and converting four of their tries.
James Nero (winger) from Hoërskool Durbanville looked strong when carrying the ball for Western Province and Van Rooi also stood out for his contributions.
Eastern Province played really well to keep the game as close as it was, and the efforts of Kaiden Titus (winger) from Grey High and Ewald Mattheus (hooker) were noticeable as they pushed Western Province up to the very last moments.
Logan Muller (flyhalf) from Framesby and Amazing Vheriwa (hooker) from Kingswood also had a marked impact on the game when they came on for EP after halftime.
Ethan Malgas (scrumhalf) from Van Kervel had a dream game for the LSEN XV in their 35-34 victory over Border Country Districts.
The industrious little scrummy scored two tries, two conversions and three penalties for 23 points, making him the top scorer of the day so far.
The Griquas had to rely on the long-range kicking abilities of Simon Liversage, their centre from Diamantveld, who converted four penalties in their 36-29 win over an energetic Zimbabwe.
Scorers:
Griffons 25 (19) – Tries: Byron Biennas, Kamohelo Mokoena, Kaneng Komane. Conversions: Biennas (2). Penalties: Biennas (2). Free State 24 (19) – Tries: Theko Montjane, Erich Visser, Martin Botha, Rorisang Masoeu. Conversions: Dailen Geldenhuys (2).
Western Province 48 (24) – Tries: Hennie Otto (2), Riyaad Bam, James Nero, Luke Swatz, Aden da Costa, Retagan van Rooi, Ethan Wilson. Conversions: Van Rooi (4). Eastern Province 42 (18) – Tries: Ewald Mattheus, Azakhanye Ncula, Amazing Vheriwa, Virgel Grootboom, Johannes van Zyl, Caleb Friskin. Conversions: Logan Muller (2), Praise Mtsila. Penalties: Mtsila (2).
Pumas 26 (7) – Tries: Heino Meiring, Wandisa Mthobeni, Landulwazi Nkosi, Ian Wood. Conversions: Timothy Ntshangase (3). SWD 22 (5) – Tries: Gustav van der Merwe, Kerwin Scott, Waylon Kortjie. Conversions: Luca Potgieter (2). Penalty: Potgieter
LSEN XV 35 (22) – Tries: Ethan Malgas (2), Ethan Vaaltyn, G-Jay Fortuin. Conversions: Malgas (2), Oarabile Tlhatlhedi. Penalties: Malgas (3). Border Country Districts 34 (3) – Tries: Jordan Peters, Xelelo Xelelo, Ngqiqo Magadla, Luyelwanda Mfengu. Conversions: Esona Xashimba (4). Penalties: Xashimba (2).
Valke 28 (13) – Tries: Ryan Smith (2), Riekus van der Merwe, Cameron van Wyk, Martin van Wyngaardt. Penalty: Smith. Namibia 27 (17) – Tries: Jurgen Meyer, Petrus Tromp, Xavier Mouton, Johannes Rossouw. Conversions: Rossouw, Tromp. Penalty: Tromp.
Griquas 36 (21) – Tries: Ethan van Zyl, Abdul Fisher, Tumi Muzaza. Conversions: Ruwin Isaks (3). Penalties: Simon Liversage (4). Zimbabwe 29 (17) – Tries: Shammah Jackson (2), Imma Magutakuona, Stefan Kruger, Ethan Chaponda. Conversions: Tino Rusike, Brennan Watt.
