Craven Week Hero of the Day (Day 2)

KwaZulu-Natal winger Xolisa Guma was named U18 Craven Week Hero of the Day after his side fought back to beat the Golden Lions 18-16.

Both sides scored a first-half try with a penalty giving the Lions a 13-10 lead at the break. The teams then exchanged penalties, before Guma, a Grade 11 pupil at Maritzburg College, made his mark.

The tall, lean winger received the ball on the halfway line, gassed away from the first defender, before unleashing a brutal step to get past his opposite wing, just inside the touchline. The cross-field defence couldn’t get to him in time and he scored in the corner.

'It was a really humbling experience,' Goma told SARugbymag.co.za. 'Last night my friends were joking around, saying “Goma in the corner” and when I got the ball I just backed myself. My family was sitting in the stands, so it was a very special moment for me. It's the greatest try I've ever scored. But the credit must go to God, my teammates and the coaching staff, because we worked really hard for this victory.

'This is one of the greatest sides KZN has had at Craven Week,' he added, 'but we're just going to make sure we're mentally and physically prepared for the next game. We need to look at where we can improve, continue to play well and keep our feet on the ground. You're never bigger than the game.'

Photo: Petri Oeschger/Gallo Images