Bulldogs trounce Namibian team

Speedy Border Bulldogs wing Makazole Mapimpi wrote himself into the record books on Saturday when he grabbed his second four-try haul of the season.

And while the entire Bulldogs team should be commended for their part in the record breaking 76-18 win over Namibian side, the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias, in a Currie Cup qualifier at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, Mapimpi was undoubtedly the star of the show.

“Drex”, as he is affectionately known, becomes the first Border player to score four tries twice in one season having already touched down four times against the Cell C Sharks on April 15 while helping his team to a 37- 32 win.

Border Rugby’s commercial and marketing manager Akhona Mgijima confirmed that this is the first time during the current Currie Cup era that a player has achieved this feat twice. He also said it was Border’s highest score during the current format.

In another milestone, the Bulldogs ran in 12 tries in one match for the first time in their history.

The victory, Border’s fifth this season, also makes this their best season for five years.

Mapimpi was thrilled with his feat, saying it was good for his ambitions of competing at Super Rugby level in the near future.

The unassuming Mapimpi who turns 26 later this month, is among the most explosive wings in the Currie Cup and definitely the quickest in the Border fold.

Mapimpi confessed that he never imagined himself  making headlines as a professional rugby player after only been introduced to the sport in 2004.

“I am excited that I am where I am today having never imagined such while growing up in Tsholomnqa,” he said from Namibia yesterday.

“I am pleased with how things have been going for me this season because it gives me great hope that achieving my dream of elevating to Super Rugby will be realised soon. But I will take it one day at a time without putting too much pressure on myself.”

Mapimpi was not the only Bulldog to shine as replacements Sonwabiso Mqalo and Athenkosi Khethani also raised their hands by each scoring a brace.

According to a SA Rugby match report, it was the home side who started brightly. Fullback Riaan van Zyl slotted a penalty as early as the third minute but the visitors gained the lead when Mapimpi dashed over for his first try.

Van Zyl reduced the deficit to just one point with his second penalty but Mapimpi was over for his second score midway through the first half as the Bulldogs gained a 12-6 lead with fullback Logan Basson missing the conversion from the touchline.

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, tighthead prop Johannes Jonker rumbled over for the third try which Basson converted. The home side scored their first try on the stroke of half-time when flyhalf Mahco Prinsloo sliced his way through the defence to score with Van Zyl converting.

The floodgates then opened in the first 10 minutes of the second stanza, with the visitors running in three tries through Basson, Mapimpi and Mqalo to extend their slender six-point half-time lead to 25 points.

Namibia found some purchase when they scored their second try midway through the second period when right wing Phillip Nashikaku dived over in the corner for an unconverted score.

Khethani rumbled over for his first try before the home side’s left wing, Russell van Wyk, was shown a yellow card by referee Egon Seconds. With the Welwitschias down to 14 men, the Bulldogs were able to run in a further three tries with Mqalo and Khethani registering their second tries while left wing Michael Makase scoring his team’s 10th try. The visitors finished off the game in style with replacement flyhalf Nkululeko Ndlovu diving over the line and Mapimpi scoring his fourth try on the stroke of full time.