OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kimberley | Wednesday 9.00am.
ENGLAND overcome strong home resistance after their own slow start and romped home 55-16 against Griqualand West on Tuesday.
Flyhalf Ali Hepher converted all seven England tries and added two penalties in a flawless kicking display for a personal haul of 20 points.
England’s superior fitness and organisation told in the final half-hour as they ran in six unanswered tries. But the score had been 10-10 at halftime and they had trailed 16-10 after the interval.
After Hepher’s opening penalty, captain Janneman Brand scored the home side’s solitary try from a close range scrum. Leon van den Heever stretched the lead to seven points with the first of his three penalty kicks but England always carried the greater threat.
Joe Worsley collected the first of his two tries shortly before the interval to put his side on level terms although England were handicapped by the loss of Hepher to the sin-bin for a professional foul.
Two Van den Heever penalties in the first 10 minutes of the second half saw England trail once again, but a try for lock Steve Borthwick opened the floodgates.
Centres Will Greenwood and Leon Lloyd (twice) crossed in the space of six minutes to put the game beyond doubt. The impressive Worsley and wing Steve Hanley added the finishing touches.
Meanwhile, England loose forward Ben Clarke has been forced out of the tour because of a rib cartilage injury, which he injured in the match.
”Clarkey was in contention for a test place but he’s out now. Everyone else is fit,” said England manager Clive Woodward.
Left wing Ben Cohen played only 40 minutes as he remains on standby to replace Dan Luger should he fail to recover from a lingering groin injury.
British Lion Will Greenwood could be closer to a recall after a fine game in the centre.
”We needed Will to put pressure on Mike Catt and he did that,” said Woodward.
The second and final Test is scheduled for Bloemfontein on Saturday. South Africa lead 1-0. — Reuters