First Division set for a thrilling end

The First Division pool stages looks set for a thrilling finish in the next two weeks, as the battle for the top spot on the log table and the last semifinal place continues.

In an exciting weekend of matches, the Griffons defeated log-leaders the Leopards 37-31 in Welkom, the Falcons beat the Boland Cavaliers 32-25 in Wellington and the SWD Eagles registered a 31-22 victory against the Border Bulldogs in George.

These results allowed the Griffons to reduce the gap between themselves and the Leopards on the log table to only one point, with two pool matches remaining.

The Falcons and Boland Cavaliers will also continue their tussle for the last semifinal spot as only five points currently separate the teams, meaning one may lose out marginally on a semifinal berth.

Boland Cavaliers 25-32 Falcons

The Falcons started their clash against the Boland Cavaliers with a bang as they earned three tries in the first 20 minutes and another shortly before half time to secure their four-try bonus point in the first half.

In return the Boland Cavaliers, who were reduced to 14 men in the 18th minute after fullback Eric Zana received a yellow card, scored two tries while flyhalf Morne Hugo kicked a penalty to leave them trailing 27-15 at the break.

The hosts bounced back strongly in the second half as they tightened up their defence and stepped up their attack and they earned the rewards with back-to-back tries by Victor Kruger and another by Zana to reduce the deficit to two points with seven minutes to play.

Their hopes of a possible late victory, however, were dashed as Falcons replacement hooker Bruce Muller crossed the tryline with two minutes to go to seal a 32-25 victory.

Scorers:

Boland Cavaliers:

Tries: Trytsman, Zana 2, Kruger

Con: Hugo

Pen: Hugo

Falcons:

Tries: Penalty Try, Muller, Verwey, Hendricks 2

Cons: Kotze 2

Pen: Kotze

Teams:

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Christian Rust, 13 Cheswin Williams, 12 Albert Trytsman, 11 Chevandre van Schoor, 10 Morne Hugo, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Jason-Collin Fraser, 6 Dumisane Meslane, 5 Victor Kruger (captain), 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Khwezi Mkhafu.

Replacements: 16 Ulrich Pretorius, 17 Ashton Constant, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Franzel September, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Earl Lewis, 22 Edwin Sass.

Falcons: 15 Kyle Hendricks, 14 Coert Cronje, 13 Andrew van Wyk, 12 Willie Odendaal, 11 Arno Poley, 10 Jaun Kotze, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Ernst Ladendorf, 7 Jacques Verwey (captain), 6 Juan-Pierre Jonck, 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 Wayne Gardner, 22 Dewald Pretorius.

Griffons 37-31 Leopards

The top-of-the-table clash between the Griffons and Leopards proved to be a try festival as the teams ran in a total of nine tries in a thrilling encounter.

The first half was close as the teams tried hard to stamp their authority.

The hosts opened up the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty, and soon after scrumhalf Boela Abrahams snuck through for his team’s first try.

Both teams scored tries in the second quarter, which handed the Griffons a 15-7 lead.

But the flood gates opened in the second half as the teams found their rhythm and used their try-scoring chances well, with Abrahams opening up the scoring once again.

Three back-to-back tries by the Leopards allowed them to force their way back into the match and secure their bonus point.

The Griffons, however, fought until the end and earned two more tries in the last five minutes to finish the match with an impressive five tries.

Scorers:

Griffons:

Tries: McDonald, Abrahams 2, Mbotho, Pienaar

Cons: Du Toit 2, Strydom

Pens: Du Toit, Strydom

Leopards:

Tries: Swart, Deysel, Welgemoed, Mahuza

Cons: Pretorius 4

Pen: Pretorius

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Tertius Maarman, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Aubrey McDonald, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Armandt Koster, 6 Martin Sithole, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Chris Ehlers, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Gerard Baard.

Replacements: 16 Hannes Snyman, 17 Franco van der Merwe, 18 Jan Breedt, 19 Erik le Roux, 20 Andre van der Walt, 21 Franna du Toit, 22 Wynand Pienaar.

Leopards: 15 Kobus de Kock, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 George Tossel, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Luther Obi, 10 André Pretorius (captain), 9 Vian van der Watt, 8 Morne Hanekom, 7 Henro-Pierre Swart, 6 Rhyk Welgemoed, 5 Francois Robertse, 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 Percy Williams, 21 Ryno Smith, 22 Sergio Torrens.

SWD Eagles 31-22 Border Bulldogs

The SWD Eagles got off to a firing start against the Border Bulldogs in George with the team crossing the tryline four times in the first-half for their bonus point and a morale-boosting 26-14 lead at the break.

Border, however, showed their fighting spirit and earned two converted tries for their efforts.

The visitors built on this early in the second half with centre Lundi Ralarala scoring their third try, which fullback Masixole Banda supported with a penalty.

But the Eagles managed to shut them out for the rest of the match, while fullback Daniel Roberts scored his second try of the match shortly after to earn the Eagles a bonus point 31-22 victory.

Scorers:

SWD Eagles:

Tries: Bock, Parks, Roberts 2, Kelly

Cons: Van Vuuren 3

Border Bulldogs:

Tries: Mgwadleka, Ralarala, Maphimpi

Cons: Banda 2

Pen: Banda

Teams:

SWD Eagles: 15 Daniel Roberts, 14 Clinton Wagman, 13 Elric van Vuuren, 12 Gerrit Smith, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Leighton Eksteen, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Christo Du Plessis, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Buran Parks, 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 Ashley Buys, 19 Peet van der Walt, 20 Alwyn Bester, 21 Ashwin Scott, 22 Brian Skosana.

Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Makazole Maphimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 11 Joe Seerane, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Rynardt van Wyk, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Onke Dubase, 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 Hansie Graaff, 22 Ruan Jacobs.

First Division table (under headings matches played, won and points):

Leopards 8 6 32

Griffons 8 6 31

SWD Eagles 8 5 25

Falcons 8 4 20

Boland Cavaliers 8 2 15

Border Bulldogs 8 1 8