First Div: Potch and Welkom semis

The Leopards and Griffons booked home semifinals in the national First Division with one pool fixture remaining.

The Falcons and SWD Eagles will be forced to shrug off the Boland Cavaliers next week for the remaining semifinal spots.

The Leopards thumped the Border Bulldogs 34-19 in East London in their penultimate pool clash to remain in the top spot on the log standings.

The Griffons, meanwhile, suffered a shock 36-27 defeat against the Falcons in Kempton Park, but the SWD Eagles’ 35-24 defeat against the Boland Cavaliers in George allowed the Welkom side to remain in a comfortable position to secure the other home semifinal.

Only one round of pool matches remains with the Falcons and SWD Eagles occupying third and fourth place respectively on the log with 25 points.

The Boland Cavaliers, however, trail by five points, meaning a bonus-point victory in their match against the Border Bulldogs next week – should either of the other teams suffer a defeat without a bonus point – could see them displace one of the sides into top four.

Border Bulldogs 19-34 Leopards

The Leopards were in scintillating form in their clash against the Border Bulldogs as they scored five first-half tries to stamp their authority early on in the clash.

Such was the effectiveness of their attack they scored their first two tries in the opening nine minutes, and had their four-try bonus point in the 21st minute.

The Border Bulldogs, however, did well to shut out the log-leaders in the minutes leading into half time, and they also managed to score two tries in the first half to remain the match.

The hosts’ vastly improved second-half defensive effort paid off significantly as they limited the Leopards to only five second-half points, but they also managed to add only one more five-pointer by wing Makazole Maphimpi to their tally, which forced them to settle for a 34-19 defeat.

The Scorers:

For Border Bulldogs:

Tries: Maphimpi, Van Wyk 2

Cons: Banda 2

For the Leopards:

Tries: Jacobs 2, Pretorius, Deysel, Welgemoed, Smith

Cons: Pretorius 2

Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Makazole Maphimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Rynardt van Wyk, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Wayne Lemley, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Yanga Xakalashe, 18 Nkosi Nofuma, 19 Athenkosi Manentsa, 20 Mario Noordman, 21 Oliver Zono, 22 Joe Seerane.

Leopards: 15 Ryno Smith, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Sergio Torrens, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Adri Jacobs, 10 André Pretorius (captain), 9 Dillon Smit, 8 PJ Uys, 7 Henro-Pierre Swart, 6 Rhyk Welgemoed, 5 Danie Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 JC Oberholzer, 1 Johan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Vermaak, 17 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 18 Schalk Van Heerden, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Vian van der Watt, 21 Warren Gilbert, 22 Kobus de Kock

SWD Eagles 24-35 Boland Cavaliers

The Boland Cavaliers produced their best display of the season against SWD as they cruised to a 17-0 lead in the first 30 minutes.

But a late try by SWD flyhalf Leighton Eksteen and penalty by centre Elric van Vuuren allowed them to reduce the gap to 17-10 at the break.

A few tight exchanges followed in the second half after which SWD broke through for their second try to level the scores at 17-17. But back-to-back tries by Boland to seal their bonus point and two penalties by fullback Eric Zana pushed them into a comfortable position to seal the victory.

The hosts, however, fought until the end and earned a consolation try by lock Mzwanele Zito in the dying minutes to reduce the deficit to 35-24.  

The scorers:

For Boland Cavaliers:

Tries: Jordaan, Williams, Demas 2

Cons: Zana 3

Pens: Zana 3

DG: Zana.

For SWD Eagles:

Tries: Eksteen, Skosana, Zito

Cons: Van Vuuren 3

Pen: Van Vuuren

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Cheswin Williams, 13 Christopher Bosch, 12 Albert Trytsman, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Earl Lewis, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Ryno Coetzee, 6 Franzel September (captain), 5 Yves Bashiya, 4 Gavin Annandale, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Khwezi Mkhafu.

Replacements: 16 Ulrich Pretorius, 17 Ashton Constant, 18 Jason-Collin Fraser, 19 Dumisane Meslane, 20 Jovelian de Koker, 21 Morne Hugo, 22 Chevandre van Schoor.

SWD Eagles: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 Hentzwill Pedro, 13 Brian Skosana, 12 Elric van Vuuren, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Leighton Eksteen, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Christo Du Plessis, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Alwyn Bester, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Grant le Roux, 3 Grant Kemp, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Roy Godfrey (captain).

Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Layle Delo, 18 Lyndon Hartnick, 19 Marcel Groenewald, 20 Janneman Stander, 21 Ashwin Scott, 22 Clinton Wagman.

Falcons 36-27 Griffons

The clash between the Falcons and Griffons was hard-fought with the visitors having the first say with an early try, but the Falcons hit back with a try of their own minutes later.

Flyhalf Jaun Kotze and his Griffons counterpart Franna du Toit exchanged penalties a few minutes later. But a try by the Falcons shortly before half time as the visitors were reduced to 14 men, allowed them to edge their way into a 13-10 lead.

The second half was equally entertaining as the Falcons stretched their lead early on with third try, but two more tries by Griffons wing Tertius Maarman to complete his hat-trick and few more penalties exchanged by the flyhalves, forced the visitors into the lead.

Their hopes of a victory, however, were dashed by a late try by Falcons No.8 Friedle Olivier and Kotze’s fourth penalty in the last 11 minutes.

The Scorers:

For the Falcons:

Tries: Kirkwood, Dippenaar, Hendricks, Olivier

Cons: Kotze 2

Pens: Kotze 4

For Griffons:

Tries: Maarman 3

Cons: Du Toit 2, Strydom

Pen: Du Toit 2

Falcons: 15 Kyle Hendricks, 14 Dirk Dippenaar, 13 Andrew van Wyk, 12 Dewald Pretorius, 11 Coert Cronje, 10 Jaun Kotze, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Jacques Verwey (captain), 6 Brian Shabangu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Dandre van der Westhuizen.

Replacements: 16 Bruce Muller, 17 Thulani Ngidi, 18 Jacques Alberts, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Jaco Snyman, 21 Clinton Ryno Swart, 22 Arno Poley.

Griffons: 15 Wynand Pienaar, 14 Tertius Maarman, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Aubrey McDonald, 10 Franna du Toit, 9 Andre van der Walt, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Erik le Roux, 6 Martin Sithole, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Gerard Baard.

Replacements: 16 Hannes Snyman, 17 Franco van der Merwe, 18 Jan Breedt, 19 Willmar Groenewald, 20 Oshwill Nortje, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Colin Herbert.

First Division log (Under played, won, points)

1. Leopards (9, 7, 37)

2. Griffons (9, 6, 31)

3. Falcons (9, 5, 25)

4. SWD Eagles (9, 5, 25)

5. Boland Cavaliers (9, 3, 20)

6. Border Bulldogs (9, 1, 8)