In warm overcast conditions at GWK Park Kimberley, GWK Griquas got the match underway and immediately a scrum was called in the middle of the field as Griquas were in front of the ball. Only in the 7th minute did the first points show on the scoreboard, when Griquas received a penalty 15 in from touchand 26 meters out, which Naas Olivier had no problem with, 3-0. Griquas however kept the scoreboard rolling when Albertus Buckle barged his way over for an excellent try in the 13th minute, converted by Olivier, 10-nil. Lions came back in the 18th minute, when Jody Rose slotted a penalty 15 meters in from the far side touchline, to narrow the score to 10-3. But 3 minutes later, Lions got another penalty, six meters in from far touch, well slotted by Rose to close the score to 10-6. On the half hour, a lapse in the Griqua defence gave Lions a full backline movement, ending in winger, Bernado Botha, scoring in the far corner, unconverted, putting the visitors one point in the lead, 11-10. With about 2 minutes left to half time, Griquas were awarded a penalty, 28 meters out, which Olivier had no problem with, edging the home side back into the lead, 13-11. Griquas missed a number of chances, which could have seen them further ahead, but they wasted them, unfortunately.
Lions kicked off after the halftime break and Lions were awarded a penalty in the 4th minute, but missed, and Griquas received one a minute later, which Olivier kicked. Two minutes later, however, Lions returned the compliment with a penalty for hands in, taking the score to Griquas 16, Lions 14, but a minute later, Griquas went ahead, via another Olivier penalty, stretching the score to 19-14. Apart from a missed long range penalty by Jody Rose in the 15th minute of the second half, the next points to add to the scoreboard came only in the 36th minute did Lion’s Bernardo Botha run in his second try of the match, in the near corner, very well converted by Rose to give the visitors a two point edge, 21-19. With a minute left in the match, Naas Olivier broke to score under the posts, converted by himself to clinch the win for the home team, 26-21. Not an entertaining game for the spectators, but never the less a win for GWK Griquas.
Point Scorers:
GWK Griquas; Tries Albertus Buckle, Naas Olivier. Conversions Naas Olivier 2, Penalties Olivier 4. Total 26.
Golden Lions; Tries Bernardo Botha 2, Conversions Jody Rose, Penalties Rose 3. Total 21
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