The Limpopo Blue Bulls overcame Border 17-12 on Friday to end the Academy Week as the only side to finish undefeated on the B Field at the Bergsig LSEN School in Kariega.
Scrumhalf Mario Opperman and loose forward replacement Mare Pieterse crossed for tries, while fullback Ryno Mienie converted both tries and added a penalty for a personal haul of seven points.
Border had their moments, and hooker Tiaan Frazer and left-wing Edward Malinzi scored tries. For the most part, though, they struggled to capitalise on their opportunities.
Eighthman Victor Greef, who impressed throughout the week with his strong ball carrying, bagged a brace to help Griquas to a tight 21-19 triumph over the Leopards.
In a thrilling contest, there was little to separate the sides. Leopards’ eighthman, Gerrit Koen, was also a force to be reckoned with. He broke through for a try, too.
After trailing 5-17 at the break, Zimbabwe came from behind to score a 25-17 win over Namibia.
Fullback Rukudzo Mayida landed a conversion and a penalty for the Zimbabweans, while Namibian tighthead prop, Gert Pretorius, gave the opposition a hard time with his powerful carries and scored both of his team’s tries.
Scrumhalf Theuns van Rensburg was one of the top goal-kickers over the three days of matches. On Friday, he tallied 13 points from two conversions and three penalties for the Griffons in their 23-13 win over the Valke.
Loose forward Barend Britz and utility back Darius Job both came off the bench to score a try each for the Northern Free Staters.
Scrumhalf Gavin Armoed and flyhalf Zaynodeen Bennie kept the attack flowing for the LSEN XV in their 21-10 victory over Border Country Districts (Border CD). Both scored a try, and Bennie converted his own five-pointer.
Openside flank Lithemba Mnukwa was the sole try scorer for Border CD, while inside centre Akhaukhanyo Tshaka added the other five points with a penalty and conversion.
Scorers:
Zimbabwe 25 (5) – Tries: Sean Takaindisa, Zivai Makunike, Ethan Zou. Conversions: Rukudzo Mayida, Marcus Eckard. Penalties: Mayida, Eckard. Namibia 17 (17) – Tries: Gert Pretorius (2). Conversions: Johann Jankowitz (2). Penalty: Jankowitz.
LSEN XV 21 (14) – Tries: Chandley Jacobs, Gavin Armoed, Zaynodeen Bennie. Conversions: Yusuf Hannibal (2), Bennie. Border Country Districts (Border CD) 10 (3) – Try: Lithemba Mnukwa. Conversion: Akhaukhanyo Tshaka. Penalty: Tshaka.
Griffons 23 (9) – Tries: Barend Britz, Darius Job. Conversions: Theuns van Rensburg (2). Penalties: Van Rensburg (3). Valke 13 (10) – Try: Luca du Plooy. Conversion: Chester Maccamel. Penalties: Maccamel (2).
Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (17) – Tries: Mario Opperman, Mare Pieterse. Conversions: Ryno Mienie (2). Penalty: Mienie. Border 12 (7) – Tries: Edward Malinzi, Tiaan Frazer. Conversion: Bongolwethu Nyakaza.
Griquas 21 (14) – Tries: Victor Greef (2), Phenyo Moleleki. Conversions: Ezlin Swartz (3). Leopards 19 (12) – Tries: Gerrit Koen, Conrad Plaatjies, Lethabo Rebanone. Conversions: Aldin Baadjies (2).
