Big wins for Leopards and Falcons
They defeated the Griffons 64-34 in meeting in Potchefstroom at the weekend.
In Kempton Park, Johannesburg, the Falcons delivered an equally impressive try-feast as they ran in 12 tries to complete a comprehensive 72-12 win over the Boland Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, the educated boot of South Western District Eagles flyhalf Leighton Eksteen was the difference between the two sides in their clash against the Border Bulldogs in East London.
Eksteen contributed 16 points with the boot in their 31-19 victory.
After eight rounds it is the Leopards in front with a maximum haul of 40 points, 16 points clear of the Falcons (24), who in turn have two more than the Griffons (22). SWD (17), Boland (13) and Border (6) complete the standings.
Leopards (17) 64 Griffons (13) 34
Flyhalf Schalk Hugo and wing Tyler Fischer both ran in two tries as the Leopards racked up nine tries thanks to an impressive second half spell.
They lead just 17-13 at the break, but good attacking play in the second stanza clinched a comfortable win for the hosts in Potchefstroom.
Prop Johan Smith scored first for the Leopards and he was followed by Fischer who scored the first of his brace while centre Adriaan Engelbrecht added the rest with his boot. Flyhalf Franna du Toit kept Griffons within range with his books and No 8 Martin Sithole dotted down for a converted try.
The Leopards turned on the heat after the restart, which resulted in five tries in a menacing 20-minute spell. Engelbrecht missed just one of the five conversions to bring his total contribution to 17 points.
Flank Juan Language ran in the last of the hosts' nine tries to finish a dominant performance.
Scorers:
Leopards:
Tries: Smith, Fischer 2, Hugo 2, Le Roux, Engledoe, Engelbrecht, Language, Smith
Cons: Engelbrecht 7, Dorfling
Pen: Engelbrecht
Griffons:
Tries: Sithole, Mboto, Pienaar, Mkhafu
Cons: Du Toit 3, Pienaar
Pens: Du Toit 2
Teams:
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 Robert Kruger, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Bart le Roux, 18 Sthembiso Mhlongo, 19 Jaco Jordaan, 20 Tiaan Dorfling, 21 Rowayne Beukman, 22 Lucian Cupido.
Griffons: 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel (captain), 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Franna du Toit, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Martin Sithole, 7 Marco Kruger, 6 Vincent Maruping, 5 Ockert van Zyl, 4 Chris Ehlers, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Daniel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Marco Klopper, 17 Gerard Baard, 18 Jan Breedt, 19 Wilmar Groenewald, 20 Sinovuyo Nyoka, 21 Wynand Pienaar, 22 Tertius Maarman.
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistant referees: Renier Vermeulen, Pieter Maritz
Falcons (31) 76 Boland Cavaliers (5) 12
The Falcons clinched their bonus point within 20 minutes and scored five tries in the opening half at the Barnard Stadium.
Outside centre Christopher Bosch opened the scoring and he was followed by left wing Ettienne Taljaard for the first of his brace. Flyhalf Anrich Richter joined the try feast and fullback Juan Kotze added two conversions. Lock Shane Kirkwood secured the bonus point halfway through the first half after a driving maul in the corner.
Hooker Clemen Lewis barged his way over in the corner for Boland's sole try reply.
Prop Andries Schutte, Taljaard, scrumhalf Johan Pretorius and centre Andries Truter added four more tries in the second half for the hosts.
Boland captain and lock, Gavin Annandale, was yellow carded and replacement No.8 Theuns Botha scored their only second half try.
Scorers
Falcons:
Tries: Taljaard 2, Kirkwood 2, Schutte, Truter, Richter, Bosch, Pretorius, Mostert, Van Wyk, Muir
Cons: Kotze 8
Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Lewis, Botha
Con: Seals
Teams:
Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Kyle Hendricks, 13 Christopher Bosch, 12 Andries Truter, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Anrich Richter, 9 Johan Pretorius, 8 Reg Muller, 7 Jacques Verwey, 6 JP Mostert (captain), 5 Jacques Alberts, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Thulani Ngidi, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Andries Schutte.
Replacements: 16 Barend Steyn, 17 Dandre van der Westhuizen, 18 Isak Deetlefs, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Jaco Snyman, 21 Andrew van Wyk, 22 Willie Odendaal.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Jos Malherbe, 12 Hennie Daniller, 11 Senan van der Merwe, 10 Warren Seals, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Kenan Cronje, 6 Chaney Willemse, 5 Gavin Annandale (captain), 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Keenan Abrahams, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Deacon Chowles.
Replacements: 16 Ashton Constant, 17 Herman Bailey, 18 Yves Bashiya, 19 Theuns Botha, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Adriaan Carelse, 22 Gerrit van Wyk.
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Ruhan Meiring
Border Bulldogs (5) 19 SWD Eagles (13) 31
The boot of SWD flyhalf Leighton Eksteen was the difference between the two sides this entertaining match in East London on Friday. Eksteen slotted four penalties and two conversions.
In contrast, Border fullback Masixole Banda missed a penalty and a conversion.
He did however scored try in the second half.
SWD playmaker Eksteen dictated matters and he missed only one kick out of seven, a difficult one from the left touchline in the dying seconds of the game.
Scorers:
Border Bulldogs:
Tries: Mxunyelwa, Kebe, Banda
Cons: Banda 2
SWD Eagles:
Tries: Bock, Skosana 2
Cons: Eksteen 2
Pens: Eksteen 4
Teams:
Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 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 Siya November, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Sethu Tom, 22 Logan Basson.
SWD Eagles: 15 Daniel Roberts, 14 Carlo Radebe, 13 Luzuko Vulindlu, 12 Martin du Toit, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Leighton Eksteen, 9 Dillin Snel, 8 Christo du Plessis, 7 Davon Raubenheimer (captain), 6 Buran Parks, 5 Grant le Roux, 4 Peet van der Walt, 3 Dean Hopp, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Juandre Digue.
Replacements: 16 Layle Delo, 17 Pieter Stemmet, 18 Lyndon Hartnick, 19 Wayne Khan, 20 Johan Steyn, 21 Thomas Kean, 22 Brian Skosana.
Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Francois Pretorius, Renier Vermeulen
Standings (includes points accumulated in Currie Cup qualifying competition – under headings games played, won and points): Leopards 8 8 40, Falcons 8 5 24, Griffons 8 4 4 22, SWD Eagles 8 3 17, Boland 8 2 13, Border 8 1 6.
Source: SARU
