Golden Lions fullback Ivan Smit was named U18 Craven Week Hero of the Day for his resilience in his side's 28-19 loss to SWD.
The Lions had a dismal first half on Thursday and went into the break 14-0 down with SWD scoring two converted tries by winger Bradley Kiewitz and flyhalf Christo Hamman. But Smit showed his class by opening the second stanza with a try to give the Lions a glimmer of hope. SWD hit back with two more converted tries before Smit's never-say-die attitude payed off once again as he rounded off the match by completing his brace with a self-converted try.
“It's a pity about the two intercept tries that we conceded, we were in the game and that threw our chances away,' Smit told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Rugby is a team sport, so if one person puts up their hand it doesn't work the way you want it to.'
'This experience teaches us to always fight until the end of the game. Against KZN the game was just about finished, but one pass and a good run and they won. Now in this game the interceptions brought us down.
'We're trying to stay positive. We don't believe in the saying that you're only as good as your last game, we're going to keep going and play each game as if it's our last.'
The Lions have suffered two successive defeats at this year's U18 Craven Week so far, but the endeavour and ability of Smit deserves to be celebrated.
Photo: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images
