Last minute Mapoore try sets up Eastern Province vs Lions showdown
A last-minute try by Julian Mapoore secured a sweet 25-24 victory for Eastern Province over Western Province on Wednesday at the Academy Week in Johannesburg.
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Western Province had been favoured, along with the Golden Lions, to reach the unofficial main match of the week. Eastern Province had other ideas, however, breaking Province’s hearts to claim a place in Friday’s main event.
The Golden Lions, as expected, made light work of the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks with a second-half blitzkrieg powering them to a comprehensive 35-3 win in the feature match on day two.
Eastern Province fought hard for a deserved victory after a see-saw battle during which the Cape sides exchanged the lead a number of times.
The EP midfield combination of inside centre Christaan van der Merwe and outside centre Cole Hilpert was outstanding, while flyhalf Marcus Williams slotted four penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking for his side.
Up front, lock Tyrese Brouers set an outstanding example with his exceptionally high work rate. His efforts on defence, in particular, caught the eye. He was also a physical presence on attack and that earned the second-rower the Player of the Match award.
His opposite number, Kody Neill, was equally impressive. Just like Brouers, he kept defenders busy with his barrelling runs, which set up the Province backline with good go-forward ball.
Despite the quality possession, the Western Province backs struggle somewhat with the massive pressure asserted by their opponents. Right wing Jordan Steenkamp broke through for two tries, though, which almost proved enough to see the blue and white stripes to victory.
James Kobrowisky, the Golden Lions’ lively flank, played a massive role in helping his side advance to the final for a second year in succession. He was all over the park and made life difficult for the Sharks at ruck time.
He’s not a big flank, but he showcased remarkable strength with the ball in hand. Twice he dived over for tries as the Lions crossed for five five-pointers in all. His performance also lit a fire under the rest of the Lions’ pack, who provided their backs with quick ball.
Flyhalf Recce Gerber, the Player of the Match in the Lions’ big win over the Free State on day one, enjoyed another stellar outing. His vision and feel for the game have gone from strength to strength as his confidence has increased. He kicked well, too, slotting two conversions and two long-range penalties.
A try-scoring fest on the Jake White Field went the way of the Blue Bulls. The side from north of the Jukskei River downed Boland 55-31, running in eight tries to five.
It was a day the Bulls’ and Affies’ hooker Stephan Pretorius will remember. Playing with tremendous energy, he was everywhere on the field and that effort brough him a remarkable four tries.
Boland’s fightback just after the break had the Bulls’ coaching box worried for a while. Irlo Liebenberg, the Capetonians’ left wing, ran in a brace, which ignited a spark among the rest of Boland’s elusive backs, but the Bulls had their measure, and they outlasted their opponents from down south.
The Golden Lions’ young guns, the Lions XV, continued to impress. They bagged a first victory after a narrow two-point loss to the Blue Bulls in their first outing, beating Zimbabwe 31-12.
They won’t, however, be too happy with their second-half performance. After leading 31-0 at the break, they took their foot off the pedal and allowed South Africa’s northern neighbours to score two tries without reply.
The focus next shifts to Friday, the last day of the Academy Week, which, apart from the unofficial final, features some interesting match-ups, including a north-south derby between the Blue Bulls and Western Province in the curtain raiser to the main match.
SCORERS
Eastern Province 25 (9) – Tries: Christiaan van der Merwe, Julian Mapoore. Penalties: Marcus Williams (4). Cameron Doyle. Western Province 24 (12) – Tries: Jordan Steenkamp (2), Keagan Wood, Henry Rudder. Conversions: Chandler Green (2).
Golden Lions 35 (8) – Tries: James Kobrowisky (2), Recce Gerber, Jeandre Uithaler, Ty Ax. Conversions: Gerber (2). Penalties: Gerber (2). Sharks 3 (3) – Penalty: Stefan Moolman.
Blue Bulls 55 (29) – Tries: Stephan Pretorius (4), Tshepiso Shikhibana, Thinus Oosthuizen, Petrus Rautenbach, Malcolm George. Conversions: Ruben Groenewald (6). Boland 31 (12) – Tries: Irlo Liebenberg (2), Lungi Mothibe, Jacques de Klerk, Tertius Wantenaar. Conversions: Liebenberg (2). Stefan van der Merwe.
Golden Lions XV 28 (18) – Tries: Thoks Mallane, Sam Bruwer, CJ Felkers, Andy Maarman. Conversions: Andrew Jackson (4). Penalty: Jackson. Zimbabwe 12 (0).
FRIDAY FIXTURES
Collard Field: 08:30 – Namibia vs Zimbabwe; 09:45 – Sharks vs Griffons; 11:00 – Blue Bulls vs Western Province; 12:15 – Golden Lions vs Eastern Province.
Jake White Field: 08:30 – Boland vs Leopards; 09:45 – Griquas vs Valke; 11:00 – Free State vs Golden Lions XV.
Top Right Field: 08:30 – South Western Districts vs Border Country Districts; 09:45 – Limpopo Blue Bulls vs LSEN XV; 11:00 – Border vs Pumas.
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