The SA U18 "A" team were made to work hard for a 20-03 win over a game and physical Georgia in the U18 International Series.
The first fifteen minutes were error-ridden and scoreless until Georgia used a penalty in front of the poles of South Africa to convert a penalty to open the scoring for the visitors. Despite SA "A"'s attempting to bully their visitors' Georgia's defence held until the final ten minutes of the first half when Luan Giliomee converted two penalties to give SA "A" the edge going into the second half leading 06-03.
The first fifteen minutes of the first half was an arm wrestle with Georgia maybe just the dominant team. A converted penalty by Luan Giliomee was quickly followed by a Luan Giliomee kick pass, which was controlled by fullback Dylan Miller to score the first try of the match. With twenty minutes to play SA "A" led 13-03.
With five minutes still to play Brooklyn Newman sliced the Geirgian defence in half to score SA U18 "A''s second try to extend their lead to 20-03, which was also the final score.
The SA U18 squad will return home following the withdrawal of the French team.
In the first match of the day, Ireland had to work hard to beat England 42-28 despite leading 21-07 at the halftime break.
Fixtures Friday 16 August 2024:
13:30 Georgia vs England
15:30 South Africa vs Ireland
Scorers:
South Africa "A": Tries: Dylan Miller, Brooklyn Newman. Conversions: Luan Giliomee (2). Penalties: Luan Giliomee (2).
Georgia: Penalty: SIRBILADZE Gigi.
U18 South Africa "A": 1 Oliver Reid, 2 Liam Wyk, 3 Dave Cruzz, 4 AJ Meyer, 5 Ruan Viviers, 6 Briint Davids, 7 Risima Khosa, Gcina Puzi, 9 Hendre Schoeman, 10 , 11 Junaide Stuart, 12 Zingce Simka, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 14 Ntsako Ndhlovu, 15 Dylan Miller. Replacements: 16 Xabiso Mkiva, 17 Jordan Jooste, 18 Luqobo Makwedini, 19 Aden De Costa, 20 Heinrich Theron, 21 Brooklyn Newman, 22 Viaan Mentoor, 23 Alzeadon Felix, 24 Sipho Nonyalela, 25 Kurt Coetzee, 26 Andre Poulten.
Georgia: 1 CHELIDZE Dachi, 2 ARCHVADZE David, 3 TURASHVILI Giorgi, 4 BARAMIA Davit, 5 MEPARISHVILI Giorgi, 6 GABUNIA Luka, 7 ARDZENADZE Giorgi, 8 ZAZADZE Giorgi, 9 DZODZUASHVILI Temuri, 10 SIRBILADZE Gigi, 11 ARAVIASHVILI Daviti, 12 SALDADZE Leonide, 13 KIPSHIDZE Giga, 14 KHALVASHI Nikolozi, 15 SHARVASHIDZE Saba. Replacements: 16 SHVELIDZE Anri, 17 OLKISHVILI Nikolozi, 18 KUMARITOVI Nikoloz, 19 CHKHORTOLIA Nikolozi, 20 SAGINADZE Luka, 21 USHVERIDZE Goga, 22 TVAURI Luka, 23 SOSELIA Givi, 24 BARBAKADZE Daviti, 25 BASIALAI Ioane, 26 SHIOSHVILI Mikheili.