Hat-tricks abound in Vodacom Cup

 

A further four players – Enver Brandt (Free State XV), Anrich Richter (Falcons), Stephan de Wit and Kobus de Kock (both Golden Lions) – each scored a brace of tries, three of them in one match. 

 

The Golden Lions, who were too strong for the Falcons in Kempton Park this weekend (48-26), are the only unbeaten team left in the North Section of the competition, but the Pumas and Blue Bulls are not far behind on the log.

 

The Blue Bulls had to work very hard to beat the Pumas in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon (20-18), while the Griffons got their first win of the season in Windhoek on Friday, beating the Welwitschias in a high-scoring affair (32-28).

 

In the South Section, Western Province top the standings followed by defending champions, Griquas, both of whom recorded good wins this weekend against the Sharks in Cape Town (32-12) and SWD Eagles in George (19-12) respectively.

 

The EP Kings won a hard-fought Eastern Cape derby in East London on Friday evening (27-17) and the Free State XV were far too good for the Boland Cavaliers in Bloemfontein on Saturday (52-15).

 

 

The Eastern Province Kings beat the Border Bulldogs 27-17 in a scrappy match played at a wet Buffalo City Municipality Stadium in East London on Friday. 

 

Border skipper Blake Kyd celebrated his 50th match for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs played in new colours, red and yellow, instead of their usual chocolate brown, highlighting the union’s fight against drug-taking in the region.

 

EP Kings flank Paul Schoeman scored three tries for the victors, who went back to Port Elizabeth with a well-earned bonus-point in the bag.

 

 

Tries: Kebe, Nofemele

Cons: Banda, Zono 

Pen: Banda

 

Tries: Schoeman 3, Kerrod

Cons: Van Aswegen, Van Breda

Pen: Van Aswegen

 

 

Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Oliver Zono, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Onke Dubase, 7 Nkosi Nofuma, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Billy Dutton, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Yanga Xakalashe, 18 Lindokuhle Welemu, 19 Ayabonga Nomboyo, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Lester Mgwadleka, 22 Sipho Nofemele.

 

EP Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Hansie Graaff, 12 Shane Gates (captain), 11 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 10 Gary Van Aswegen, 9 Kevin Luiters, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Mthetheleli Fuzani, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Charles Marais.

Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Cornell Hess, 19 Stefan Willemse, 20 Jaco Grobler, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Ronnie Cooke.

 

 

Griquas recorded their second victory in this year’s competition by beating the SWD Eagles 19-12 in a closely contested affair at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday evening.

 

After beating the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth last week, Griquas headed west down the N2 to George to face an Eagles side that gained good momentum from their victory over the Free State XV the week before.

 

Jaco Nepgen scored the only try of the match, which was largely dominated by kicking boots of Elric van Vuuren and Gouws Prinsloo.

 

 

Pens: Van Vuuren 4

 

Try: Nepgen

Cons: Prinsloo

Pens: Prinsloo 4

 

 

SWD Eagles: 15 Elric van Vuuren, 14 Clinton Wagman, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Gerrit Smith, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Johan Steyn, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Christo Du Plessis (captain), 6 Buran Parks, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 Layle Delo.

Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Nemo Roelofse, 18 Alwyn Bester, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Janneman Stander, 21 Leighton Eksteen, 22 Daniel Roberts.

 

Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Jonathan Francke, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jaco Nepgen (captain), 4 Hugo Kloppers, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Steph Roberts.

Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Wiseman Kamanga, 18 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 19 Burger Schoeman, 20 Abraham Griesel, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Jacquin Jansen.

 

 

Namibia’s Welwitschias earned their first two league points despite their narrow defeat against the Griffons in the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Friday night.

 

The visitors from Northern Free State scored a 32-28 win after the home team led 21-18 at half-time for a full-house of five league points. The Welwitschias earned a bonus point for scoring four tries, and another for losing within seven points.

 

 

Tries: Van Wyk, Nel 3 

Con: Kaizemi

Pens: Kaizemi 2

 

Tries: Marais, Sithole, Groenewald, Pienaar

Cons: Strydom 3 

Pens: Strydom 2

 

 

Welwitschias: 15 Justin Nel, 14 Russell van Wyk, 13 Johann Tromp, 12 Darryl de la Harpe (captain), 11 Tuna Amutenya, 10 Shaun Kaizemi, 9 Eneill Buitendag, 8 Rezando Botes, 7 Stef Botha, 6 Thomasau Forbes, 5 Morne Blom, 4 Nico Esterhuyse, 3 Shaun Du Preez, 2 Dian Wiese, 1 Quintin Esterhuizen.

Replacements: 16 Rathony Becker, 17 Petri Burger, 18 Ulrich Engels, 19 Roderique Victor, 20 Jacques Nell, 21 Arthur Bouwer, 22 Henrique Olivier.

 

Griffons: 15 Wynand Pienaar, 14 Sheldon Erasmus, 13 Norman Nelson, 12 Bren Marais, 11 Tertius Maarman, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Erik le Roux, 6 Martin Sithole, 5 Chris Ehlers, 4 Jan Breedt, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Daniel van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Gnäde, 17 Rudi Britz, 18 Dirk Grobbelaar, 19 Willmar Groenewald, 20 Oshwill Nortje, 21 Colin Herbert, 22 Shaun Nieuwenhuyzen.

 

 

The Blue Bulls narrowly beat the Pumas 20-18 at Loftus Versfeld in their North Section match on Saturday.

 

The home team opened their account when Blitzbok Jamba Ulengo crossed the tryline in the fourth minute. His effort was the result of a Pumas chip kick collected by Blue Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant who passed it to the wing. Ulengo evaded three tackles and sprinted 50 metres to score. Flyhalf Kobus Marais added the extras.

 

The match then seemed to dissipate into a series of unforced errors with neither team managing to assert any dominance. Pumas flyhalf Justin van Staden nailed the Blue Bulls for their ill-discipline with three penalty goals before the visitors’ hooker Jacques Momberg was yellow carded for a high tackle. The teams went into the break with the Pumas leading 7-9.

 

 

Tries: Ulengo, September

Cons: Marais 2 

Pens: Marais 2

 

Pens: Van Staden 4, Roos 2

 

 

Blue Bulls: 15 Kefentse Mahlo, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Marquit September, 12 Warrick Gelant, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Kobus Marais, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Nardus van der Walt, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Marvin Orie (captain), 4 RG Snyman, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Arno van Wyk, 1 Genis Du Toit. 

Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Basil Short, 18 Nqubeko Zulu, 19 Carel Swart, 20 JP Smith, 21 Kurt Webster, 22 Jade Stighling.

 

Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Bernardo Botha, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Reynier van Rooyen, 8 Jason-Collin Fraser, 7 Lambert Groenewald, 6 Brian Shabangu, 5 Eduan Van Der Walt (captain), 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Drew van Coller, 2 Jacques Momberg, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements: 16 Francois Du Toit, 17 DJ Terblanche, 18 Jannie Stander, 19 Uzair Cassiem, 20 Sinovuyo Nyoka, 21 JC Roos, 22 Jerome Pretorius.

 

 

Western Province claimed the bragging rights against the Sharks XV in a fiercely contested coastal derby win of 32-12 (halftime 22-7) held at the City Park Stadium, Cape Town on Saturday.

 

The visitors were flying high after a comprehensive 53-0 victory last week while WP had also earned a bonus point in a bruising encounter against the neighbouring Boland Cavaliers.

 

The home team outscored their visitors by four tries to two, with one of those going to 2013 U18 Craven Week Player of the Tournament, Grant Hermanus.

 

 

Tries: Smid, Louw, Notshe, Hermanus

Cons: Du Plessis 3 

Pens: Du Plessis 2

 

Tries: Majola, Marwana

Con: Cronje

 

 

Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 EW Viljoen, 13 Patrick Howard, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Tshotsho Mbovane, 10 Jean-Luc Du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Sikhumbuszo Notshe, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Michael Willemse (captain), 1 Sithembiso Sithole.

Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Frans van Wyk, 18 Luke van der Smit, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Ryno Eksteen, 22 Mat Turner.

 

Sharks XV: 15 Jaco van Tonder, 14 Alcino Izaacs, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Sizo Maseko, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 John-Charles Astle, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Franco Marais (captain), 1 Matt Stevens.

Replacements: 16 Johan Erasmus, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Sias Koen, 19 Ayron Schramm, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Paul Perez, 22 Khulu Marwana.

 

 

The Boland Cavaliers suffered their second loss in a row, going down 15-52 to the Free State XV in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

 

Boland now find themselves at the root of the Southern Section log. For the Free State it’s a good comeback after being beaten by the SWD Eagles last week in George.

 

 

Tries: Van Wyk, Venter, Johannes, April, Strydom, Brandt 2, Oosthuizen

Cons: Van Wyk 5, Stevens

 

Tries: Rust, Zana

Con: Rust

Pen: Zana

 

 

Free State XV: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Enver Brandt, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Alvin Brandt, 10 Noel Marx, 9 Louis Venter, 8 Vincent Jobo, 7 Zingisa April, 6 Reuben Johannes, 5 Devin Oosthuizen, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Louwrens Strydom, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Kevin Stevens.

Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Van Zyl Botha, 18 Armand du Preez, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Reinhardt Erwee, 21 Sino Ganto, 22 Lorenzo Gordon.

 

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana (captain), 14 Harlon Klaasen, 13 Kenwinn Wiener, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Arno Fortuin, 10 Christian Rust, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Chaney Willemse, 6 Freginald Africa, 5 Yves Bashiya, 4 Roderick Dalton, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Schalk Jooste, 1 Henri Boshoff.

Replacements: 16 Nicol du Plessis, 17 Stephanus Wessels, 18 Gareth Cilliers, 19 Andre Coetzee, 20 Tiaan Ramat, 21 Senan Van Der Merwe, 22 Wilneth Engelbrecht.

 

 

The Golden Lions continued their impressive unbeaten Vodacom Cup run on Saturday by beating the Falcons 48-26 in a North Section clash at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.

 

The Golden Lions’ first-half blitz, highlighted by five superb tries, set the tone in this match as they built up a 41-7 lead at the break.

 

The Falcons' tendency to start sedately in the Vodacom Cup was exposed by the visitors’ explosive three-quarters and their industrious loose trio in the opening 40 minutes.

 

 

Tries: De Wit 2, De Kock 2, Lerm, Marx

Cons: Davids 5, Potgieter

Pens: Davids 2

 

Tries: Richter 2, Alberts, Poley

Cons: Juan Kotze 3

 

 

Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Coert Cronje, 13 Grant Janke, 12 Andrew van Wyk, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Chanley Williams, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Ernst Ladendorf, 7 Jacques Verwey (captain), 6 Andrew van Tonder, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Jacques Alberts, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Andries Schutte.

Replacements: 16 Katlego Kgame, 17 Thulani Ngidi, 18 Shane Kirkwood, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Johan Pretorius, 21 Arno Poley, 22 Kyle Hendricks.

 

Golden Lions: 15 Damian Engledoe, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Kobus de Kock, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Ricky Schroeder (captain), 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 4 Jean-Pierre Du Preez, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Clinton Theron, 18 Lourens Erasmus, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Warren Potgieter, 22 Cameron Rooi

 

North section log (Played, won, points)

 

1. Golden Lions (4, 4, 19)

2. Pumas (4, 3, 16)

3. Blue Bulls (4, 3, 14)

4. Leopards (3, 2, 10)

5. Griffons (2, 1, 5)

6. Falcons (3, 0, 3)

7. Welwitschias (3, 0, 2)

8. Limpopo Blue Bulls (3, 0, 0)

 

South section log (Played, won, points)

 

1. Western Province (2, 2, 10)

2. Griquas (2, 2, 8)

3. Sharks XV (2, 1, 5)

4. Free State (2, 1, 5)

5. SWD Eagles (2, 1, 5)

6. EP Kings (2, 1, 5)

7. Boland Cavaliers (2, 0, 0)

8. Border Bulldogs (2, 0, 0)