Windhoek Draught Griquas at Home to DHL Western Province
Windhoek Draught Griquas played host to the DHL Western Province outfit at the Windhoek Draught Park on Friday 2 June 2023 in a must win game for both teams, to qualify for the quarter finals. The host team played in their pink jerseys in aid of cancer.
The visitors got the match underway with the visitors putting on the pressure early in the game. The first points came from a pushover try in the 4th minute of the match scored by Marcel Theunissen, well converted by Jurie Mathee, 7 nil to the visitors. However Griquas fought back and scored a pushover try of their own, from a lineout, by Dylan Sjoblom, very well converted by George Whitehead, to even the score 7 all. Province replied with a runaway try soon after scored by Paul de Wet, in the far corner, the conversion going wide, 12-7. The match settled down into an even affair with both sides playing into each others half, until eventually Province succeeded in scoring a pushover try, by Marcel Theunissen, his second, under the posts converted by Mathee taking the visitors’ score to 19-7. Griquas came back 4 minutes later on the halftime hooter with a brilliant try, by centre Jay-Cee Nel, converted by Whitehead taking the halftime score to 19-14.
The home side started of the second half, playing with the wind, the little there was with Griquas flyhalf, Lubabalo Dobela, running in another brilliant try from a backline movement, very well converted by George Whitehead, taking the home side into the lead for the first time in the match 21-19. The visitors came back with force, but the home side’s defences held out, but discipline let them down. .However the visitors scored a pushover try from a lineout 15 meters in from the nearside touchline,scored by Willie Engelbrecht, converted by Mathee taking their score to 26. But the hosts came back with a pushover try of their own, by Sean Swart, from a lineout 6 meters fro the nearside touchline, converted by Whitehead taking the home team back into the lead 28-26, and a bonus point for 4 tries. Griquas were not quite finished yet when they scored a runaway try after a good break by Sango Xamlashe, to score near the posts for Whitehead to convert and increase the score to 35-26. Province then succeeded with penalty by Mathee taking their score closer to Griqua;s 35-29. With a minute left in the match Griquas received a penalty, in a kickable position, which Whitehead succeeded with, making the final score to 38-29 and at full points victory by the home side. Griquas really came back in the second half, showing what they are actually made of. Well done KWAAAS.
SCORERS:
WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS:Tries – Dylan Sjoblom, Jay-Cee Nel, Lubabalo Dobela, Sean Swart and Sango Xamlashe. Conversions: George Whitehead (5). Penalty: George Whitehead.
DHL WESTERN PROVINCE:Tries – Marcel Theunissen (2), Paul de Wet and Willie Engelbrecht. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (3). Penalty: Jurie Matthee