Leopards and Griffons set the pace
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The Leopards and Griffons this weekend maintained their lead at the top of the log in the First Division this weekend as they registered valuable bonus-point victories to work their way into comfortable positions for possible home semifinals.
The Falcons, meanwhile, created the upset of the weekend as they defeated the SWD Eagles 24-19 in Kempton Park, which propelled them into the top four on the standings.
The Leopards bounced back from their first defeat of the season last week by thumping the Boland Cavaliers 54-32 in Potchefstroom to maintain their four-point lead on the log, while the Griffons registered a 37-32 victory against the Border Bulldogs in Welkom.
With three rounds of matches remaining, the Leopards and Griffons are in pole position to secure home semifinals, while all of the teams, with the exception of the Border Bulldogs, still have a realistic chance of qualifying for the play-off rounds.
Falcons 24-19 SWD Eagles
The Falcons staged a dramatic comeback from 13-6 down at half-time to topple the SWD Eagles for an invaluable home win in Kempton Park.
The Eagles took advantage of their point-scoring chances in the first half as centre Elric van Vuuren kicked two penalties in the first 19 minutes which was followed by a try by wing Alshaun Bock in the 23rd minute.
In reply, the hosts scored two penalties by flyhalf Juan Kotze, which left them trailing at the break.
The second half proved to be an arm-wrestle as both teams battled to breach the defence and again settled for penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The Falcons, however, managed to dig deep in the last 10 minutes and breached the visitors' defence twice to secure a morale-boosting 24-19 victory.
Scorers:
For Falcons
Tries: Muller, Cronje
Con: Kotze
Pens: Kotze 4
For SWD Eagles
Try: Bock
Con: Van Vuuren
Pens: Van Vuuren 4
Teams:
Falcons: 15 Wayne Gardner, 14 Arno Poley, 13 Andrew van Wyk, 12 Willie Odendaal,11 Kyle Hendricks, 10 Jaun Kotze, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Andrew van Tonder, 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 JP Mostert, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Sinovuyo Nyoka, 21 Coert Cronje, 22 Dewald Pretorius.
SWD Eagles: 15 Daniel Roberts, 14 Clinton Wagman, 13 Elric van Vuuren, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Leighton Eksteen, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Christo Du Plessis, 7 Alwyn Bester, 6 Buran Parks, 5 Peet van der Walt, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Grant Kemp, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Roy Godfrey (Captain).
Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Dexter Fahey, 18 Mzwanele Zito, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Mzo Dyantyi, 21 Gerrit Smith, 22 Brian Skosana.
Griffons 37-32 Border Bulldogs
In Welkom, the Griffons and Border Bulldogs were involved in a tight tussle from the outset as both teams threw everything at each other.
A total of nine tries were scored in the match, but it was the five tries by the Griffons to four by the visitors that earned them the victory.
The hosts signalled their intentions early on as centre Japie Nel scored in the opening minute and they followed with another five-pointer nine minutes later.
Border, however, fought back and scored back-to-back tries, and this pattern continued for the remainder of the match.
The Griffons had a narrow two-point lead at the break and managed to remain in control despite the visitors' determined efforts to create an upset.
Scorers:
For Griffons
Tries: McDonald, Nel 2, Van der Hoogt, Steyn
Cons: Du Toit, Strydom
Pens: Strydom 2
For Border Bulldogs
Tries: Mgwadleka, Ralarala, Banda, Van Wyk.
Cons: Graaff, Banda 2
Pens: Graaff, Banda
Teams:
Griffons: 15 Tertius Maarman, 14 Aubrey McDonald, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (Captain), 7 Martin Sithole, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Chris Ehlers, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Hannes Snyman, 1 Daniel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 PW Botha, 18 Armandt Koster, 19 Dirk Grobbelaar, 20 Andre van der Walt, 21 Franna du Toit, 22 Wynand Pienaar.
Border Bulldogs: 15 Hansie Graaff, 14 Makazole Maphimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 11 Lindani Ndlela, 10 Masixole Banda, 9 Ntando Kebe (Captain), 8 Rynardt van Wyk, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Anthonie Gronum, 4 Wayne Lemley, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Yanga Xakalashe.
Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Wandile Putuma, 19 Nkosi Nofuma, 20 Onke Dubase, 21 Mario Noordman, 22 Joe Seerane.
Leopards 54-32 Boland Cavaliers 32
The Leopards were in fine form against the Boland Cavaliers at Olen Park in Potchefstroom as they scored an impressive eight tries to rack up their 54 points.
Centre Hoffman Maritz earned a hat-trick, while flank Johan Deysel and centre George Tossel each scored two tries to add to one by hooker Jacques Vermaak. Flyhalf and captain André Pretorius contributed seven conversions.
The Cavaliers, however, also showed off their attacking skills and earned a four-try bonus point for their efforts.
The first half was hard fought as the teams attacked with intent and earned their rewards, with the Leopards scoring three tries to two by the visitors for a 26-18 lead.
Two tries in two minutes by the Leopards early in the second half pushed them into a position to control proceedings, but the Cavaliers refused to give up and scored two more tries.
However, the Leopards' eighth five-pointer in the dying minutes allowed them to breach the 50-point mark and secure a convincing victory.
Scorers:
For Leopards
Tries: Tossel 2, Maritz 3, Vermaak, Deysel 2
Cons: Pretorius 7
For Boland Cavaliers
Tries: Rust, De Koker, Lawson, Kruger
Cons: Zana 2, Hugo
Pens: Hugo 2
Teams:
Leopards: 15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Lucien Cupido, 13 Hoffman Maritz, 12 George Tossel, 11 Rowayne Beukman, 10 André Pretorius (Captain), 9 Vian van der Watt, 8 Morne Hanekom, 7 Henro-Pierre Swart, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Danie Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 18 Schalk Van Heerden, 19 Rhyk Welgemoed, 20 Percy Williams, 21 Kobus de Kock, 22 Johan Deysel.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Christian Rust, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Richard Lawson, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Earl Cassidy Lewis, 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 Francois Hanekom, 2 Ulrich Pretorius,1 Khwezi Mkhafu.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Martin Dreyer, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Ryno Coetzee, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Eric Zana, 22 Christopher Bosch.
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