Leopards hot streak continues
The Griffons also picked up an away win by beating the Border Bulldogs comfortably while the SWD Eagles notched up their second win of the season at home in George.
The Boland Cavaliers struggled to match the physicality of the visiting Leopards and they lost 47-12 at Boland Park, in Wellington on Saturday after trailing 21-5 at half-time.
Border Bulldogs offered stiff resistance in a low-scoring first half in their Friday evening clash in East London against the Griffons, but some enterprising play by the Griffons in the second stanza eventually saw the visitors return home with a comfortable 31-16 win.
At Outeniqua Park in George, a last gasp try by left wing Alshaun Bock and 16 points from fullback Leighton Eksteen steered the SWD Eagles to a 21-17 success over the Falcons on Friday evening.
SWD Eagles 21-17 Falcons
The Falcons remain in second place on the log with 19 points from seven starts after they suffered their third loss of the competition.
They fought back to down Border last week in East London, but this week it was the Eagles who hunted them successfully at the picturesque ground in George.
The hosts also had the agony of having their first player sent off this year when right wing Clinton Wagman was shown a straight red card.
With the visitors leading 17-14 and time almost up on the clock, Bock finished off a fine counter-attacking move to hand the Garden Route boys just their second win this season.
Fullback Eksteen sparkled by scoring 16 points through a try, a conversion and three penalties.
The scorers:
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Bock, Eksteen
Con: Eksteen
Pens: Eksteen 3
For Falcons:
Tries: Olivier, Verwey, Hendricks
Con: Kotze
Teams:
SWD Eagles: 15 Leighton Eksteen, 14 Clinton Wagman, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Johan Steyn, 8 Lyndon Hartnick, 7 Davon Raubenheimer (captain), 6 Wayne Khan, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Grant le Roux, 3 Pieter Stemmet, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 Juandre Digue.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Haupt, 17 Layle Delo, 18 Schalk Oelofse, 19 Dean Hopp, 20 Buran Parks, 21 Dillin Snel, 22 Daniel Roberts.
Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Kyle Hendricks, 13 Christopher Bosch, 12 Willie Odendaal, 11 Grant Janke, 10 Anrich Richter, 9 Jaco Snyman, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Jacques Verwey, 6 JP Mostert (captain), 5 Isak Deetlefs, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Andries Schutte.
Replacements: 16 Barend Steyn, 17 Thulani Ngidi, 18 Jacques Alberts, 19 Reg Muller, 20 Johan Pretorius, 21 Andrew van Wyk, 22 Arno Poley.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Tahla Ntshakaza, Jabian Jeftha
Border Bulldogs 16-31 Griffons
The cold and breezy conditions made it difficult for both teams to get going in the first half and the Griffons just did enough to edge the home team 12-3 at the break.
The Griffons eventually sealed a comfortable away win by scoring five tries to two in the end.
Border were always threatening on the counter-attack in the early stages of the second half, which kept the small but enthusiastic crowd on their toes.
The visitors’ defence held firm and they had the momentum in the last quarter, which resulted in three tries.
The scorers:
For Border Bulldogs:
Tries: Mpafi, Rararala
Pens: Banda, Basson
For Griffons:
Tries: Maruping, Steyn, Klopper, Brandt Mboto
Cons: Du Toit, Scheepers 2
Teams:
Border Bulldogs: 15 Logan Basson, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Sipho Nofemele, 10 Masixole Banda, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Billy Dutton, 7 Siya Mdaka (captain), 6 Onke Dubase, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Yanga Xakalashe.
Replacements: 16 Mbeko Kota, 17 Blake Kyd, 18 Siyamthanda Ngande, 19 Nkosi Nofuma, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Thembani Mkokeli, 22 Oliver Zono.
Griffons: 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Franna du Toit, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Vincent Maruping, 6 Martin Sithole, 5 Marco Kruger, 4 Chris Ehlers, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Marco Klopper, 1 Rudi Britz.
Replacements: 16 Hennie Venter, 17 Daniel van der Merwe, 18 Ockert van Zyl, 19 Frans Sisita, 20 Sinovuyo Nyoka, 21 Wynand Pienaar, 22 Tertius Maarman.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Sindile Ngcese, Fernando Uithaler
Boland Cavaliers 12-47 Leopards
Boland were unable to match the physicality of the visiting Leopards in the only Saturday afternoon clash at Wellington. The Leopards stretched their unbeaten run to seven games and the runaway log leaders have the maximum 35 points.
Former Springbok Sevens wing Danwel Demas opened the scoring for the Cavaliers, but then the Leopards kicked into action to score 21 unanswered points. Fullback Ryno Smith, centre Meel Engelbrecht and wing Tyler Fisher all scored before the break to give the Leopards a deserved lead.
The Cavaliers swopped their jerseys and came out in an all-white strip after halftime, but their changed strip had little effect on their play and it was the Leopards who continued with their forward dominance.
Flank Loftus Morrison sealed the bonus-point for the visitors but the home team kept faith in their running approach and it finally paid off when flank Chaney Willemse went over for their second try. The Leopards captain Juan Language, as well as replacements Wilmar Arnoldi and Lucian Cupido each dotted down before the final whistle.
The scorers:
For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Demas, Willemse
Con: Zana
For Leopards:
Tries: Smith, Engelbrecht, Fisher, Morrison, Language, Arnoldi, Cupido
Cons: Engelbrecht 6
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Jos Malherbe, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Senan Van Der Merwe, 10 Warren Seals, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Chaney Willemse, 6 Freginald Africa, 5 Gavin Annandale (captain), 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Keenan Abrahams, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Deacon Chowles.
Replacements: 16 JC Genade, 17 Herman Bailey, 18 Yves Bashiya, 19 Kenan Cronje, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Adriaan Carelse, 22 Arno Fortuin.
Leopards: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Damian Engledoe, 13 Adrian Vermeulen, 12 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 11 Tyler Fisher, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Juan Language (captain), 5 Francois Robertse, 4 Sthembiso Mhlongo, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Bart le Roux, 18 Robert Kruger, 19 Jaco Jordaan, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Johnny Welthagen, 22 Lucian Cupido.
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Sindile Ngcese, Renier Vermeulen
First Division standings (Under played, won, points)
1. Leopards (7, 7, 35)
2. Griffons (7, 4, 21)
3. Falcons (7, 4, 19)
4. SWD Eagles (7, 2, 13)
5. Boland (7, 2, 13)
6. Border (7, 1, 6)
