Vodacom Cup: WP, Lions set pace

 

Two of the Golden Lions, Pumas and Blue Bulls will host quarterfinals this year, with the two teams from Gauteng in the inside lane as they have one game in hand.

 

The Pumas finished their pool obligations with a solid 28-22 win over the Falcons in Nelspruit on Friday and the Golden Lions trounced the Leopards XV by 63-10 in Johannesburg on Saturday.

 

One of the Griffons, who recorded a good 40-28 win over the Limpopo Blue Bulls in Welkom on Saturday, Leopards XV and Falcons will probably take the remaining place in the playoffs in their section, but mathematically the Welwitschias and Limpopo Blue Bulls can also still sneak in.

 

Western Province, who beat Griquas by 21-14 in a re-play of the 2012 final in Kimberley on Saturday, are now the only unbeaten team left in the South Section. 

 

The Free State XV and SWD Eagles both recorded good away victories this weekend, over the Border Bulldogs in East London (14-10) and the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth (31-10) respectively. 

 

The teams from Bloemfontein and George looking like the likely candidates to progress to the quarterfinals, although the Sharks’ big win over the Boland Cavaliers in Empangeni (52-12) means they can’t be written off yet.

 

 

The Border Bulldogs produced a much-improved display in a hard-fought Vodacom Cup match against the Toyota Free State XV on a crisp, cool evening at Buffalo City Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday, but still went down 14-10 to their visitors from Bloemfontein.

 

Although the Bulldogs lost their fifth match in a row, they can certainly hold their heads up high as all facets of their game improved beyond recognition.

 

It was a rip-roaring match with plenty of action, and Border's lineout work, hard tackling and willingness to throw out long passes drew plenty of applause from the noisy crowd in attendance.

 

 

Try: Welemu

Con: Banda 

Pen: Banda

 

Try: Petersen 

Pen: Marais 3

 

 

Border Bulldog: 15 Masixole Banda. 14 Sipho Nofemele, 13 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Oliver Zono, 9 Bangi Kobese, 8 Nkosi Nofuma, 7 Siya Mdaka (captain), 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Ludwe Booi, 1 Yanga Xakalashe.

Replacements: 16 Mihlali Mpafi, 17 Blake Kyd, 18 Siyamthanda Ngande, 19 Ayabonga Nomboyo, 20 Athenkosi Manentsa, 21 Ntando Kebe, 22 Thembani Mkokeli.

 

Free State XV: 15 Enver Brandt, 14 Gerrie Labuschagne, 13 Nicolaas Lee, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Thato Ngoza, 7 Zingisa April, 6 Reuben Johannes, 5 Armand du Preez, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Louwrens Strydom, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Rudolph Botha.

Replacement: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 18 Johann Grundlingh, 19 Joseph Dweba, 20 Renier Botha, 21 Sino Ganto, 22 Alvin Brandt.

 

Referee: Rodney Bonaparte

 

 

The Pumas secured their place in the top four of the North Section in the Vodacom Cup after beating the Falcons 28-22 in a tight match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.

 

It was the Lowvelders’ final pool match and they will now have to wait and see if they will host a play-off match as they can’t finish lower than third or higher than second.

 

The hosts missed out on the try-scoring bonus point, but still find themselves in the top four in the North Section, while the East Randers will look at the game as one that could have been won, as they lead 15-13 at halftime after producing some impressive play in the first 40 minutes.

 

 

Tries: Botha, Bell, Van Rooyen

Cons: Roos 2

Pens: Roos 3

 

Tries: Richter 2, Olivier

Cons: Kotze 2

Pen: Kotze

 

 

Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Bernardo Botha, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 JC Roos, 9 Johan Herbst, 8 Jason-Collin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Frikkie Spies, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Drew van Coller, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements: 16 Marnus Schoeman, 17 Sabelo Nhlapo, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Brian Shabangu, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Jerome Pretorius.

 

Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Coert Cronje, 13 Grant Janke, 12 Willie Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Chanley Williams, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Ernst Ladendorf, 6 JP Mostert (captain), 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Marlyn Williams, 3 Thulani Ngidi, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Andries Schutte.

Replacements: 16 Devlin Hope, 17 Katlego Kgame, 18 Jacques Alberts, 19 Andrew van Tonder, 20 Johan Pretorius, 21 Andrew van Wyk, 22 Kyle Hendricks.

 

Referee: Archie Sehlako

 

 

The SWD Eagles strengthened their bid for a Vodacom Cup quarterfinal berth with a superb 31-10 victory over the Eastern Province Kings in a South Section clash at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on Saturday.

 

The Eagles will be thrilled with the win secured against their more-fancied neighbours. By contrast, the Kings will need some serious improvement if they are to have any hope of competing against Currie Cup opposition this season.

 

They were out-muscled, albeit mainly in the first half, and their tactical kicking was downright poor. Their defence also let them down on occasions. But the Eagles were full value for the win and deserved the four points on the road.

 

 

Tries: Obi, Kerrod.

 

Tries: Bock, Wagman, Kelly

Cons: Van Vuuren, Smith

Pens: Van Vuuren 3, Smith

 

 

EP Kings:15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 13 Hansie Graaff, 12 Tim Whitehead (captain), 11 Luther Obi, 10 Gary Van Aswegen, 9 Jaco Grobler, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Mthetheleli Fuzani, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Abongile Mnyaka, 18 Cameron Lindsay, 19 Stefan Willemse, 20 Dylon Frylinck, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Ronnie Cooke.

 

Eagles: 15 Elric van Vuuren, 14 Hentzwill Pedro, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Gerrit Smith, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Davon Raubenheimer (captain), 6 Janneman Stander, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Marius Fourie.

Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Raoul Larson, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Andisa Ntsila, 20 Buran Parks, 21 Leighton Eksteen, 22 Ashwin Scott.

 

Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza

 

 

Western Province are now the only unbeaten team remaining in the South Section of the Vodacom Cup thanks to a hard-fought 21-14 win over Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

 

With this victory, WP kept intact a proud record by not losing to the five-time champions since 2002.

 

The match, played at Diamantveld High School, only kicked into life in the last couple of minutes with tries by WP outside centre Kyle Lombard and a brilliant individual effort by replacement hooker Martin Bezuidenhout for Griquas to ensure a nail-biting last five minutes, with WP leading 18-14.

 

But yet another penalty at the scrum for WP enabled flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis, son of former Springbok and WP wing, Carel, to kick his third penalty for a 21-14 win.

 

 

Try: Bezuidenhout

Pens: Gouws Prinsloo 3.

 

Tries: Viljoen, Lombard

Con: Jean-Luc du Plessis

Pens: Du Plessis

 

 

Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ntabeni Dukisa, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Jonathan Francke, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer (captain), 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Luxolo Koza.

Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 18 Stephan Malan, 19 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 20 Jovan Cookson, 21 Clinton Swart, 22 Ederies Arendse.

 

Western Province: 15 Garth April, 14 Tshotsho Mbovane, 13 Kyle Lombard, 12 Robert du Preez, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Jean-Luc Du Plessis, 9 SP Ferreira, 8 Rayn Smid

7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Luke van der Smit, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.

Replacements: 16 Charlton van Jaarsveld, 17 Wilco Louw, 18 Deacon Chowles, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Justin Benn, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 William Ndayara.

 

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

 

 

The Sharks XV are back on the winning track after running in eight tries for a 52-12 thumping of the Boland Cavaliers in a Vodacom Cup South Section match at Empangeni on Saturday.

 

The Cavaliers began the match in emphatic fashion as flank Freginald Africa scored the first try of the match straight after the kick-off, but the home team struck back five minutes later to level the scores at five-all with their first touch-down through flank Khaya Majola.

 

Thereafter the Sharks XV took control and brought up the 50-point mark with former Springbok winger Tonderai Chavhanga crossing the line for the home side’s eighth try. 

 

Boland never gave up though and crossed the line for a consolation try through centre Edwin Sass four minutes from time.

 

 

Tries: Potgieter 2,  Louw 2, White, Majola, Chavhanga, Fisher

Cons: Wright 3, Kubeka 3

 

Tries: Sass, Africa

Con: Rust

 

 

Sharks XV: 15 Alcino Izaacs, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Neil Maritz, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Charles Mayeza, 10 Innocent Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer (captain), 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.

Replacements: 16 Chris De Beer, 17 Mthunzi Moloi, 18 Daniel du Preez, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Marius Louw, 22 Tyler Fisher.

 

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Ryno Conradie, 14 Harlon Klaasen, 13 Wilneth Engelbrecht, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Arno Fortuin, 10 Eric Zana, 9 Tiaan Ramat, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Andre Coetzee, 6 Gareth Cilliers, 5 Gavin Annandale (captain), 4 Yves Bashiya, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Schalk Jooste.

Replacements: 16 Kelvin Fikster, 17 Stephanus Wessels, 18 Roderick Dalton, 19 Nicol du Plessis, 20 Granville Adams, 21 Duwayne Smart, 22 Jos Malherbe.

 

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe

 

 

The Golden Lions moved back to the top of the Vodacom Cup North Section log after beating the Leopards XV 63-10 at Ellis Park on Saturday, after leading by 14-10 at the break.

 

The Leopards XV started the match wanting to prove something and were a constant nuisance to the Golden Lions, who struggled to establish themselves in the first 20 minutes. 

 

However, the momentum shifted in the second half with the home team running in seven more tries as they started to string phases together which proved very difficult for the Leopards XV to defend.

 

 

Tries: Van der Merwe 2, Davids, Venter 2, Pretorius, Samuels, Richards

Cons: Van der Walt 7

Pens: Van der Walt 3

 

Tries: Language, Arnoldi

 

 

Lions: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ricky Schroeder (captain), 8 Jano Venter, 7 Fabian Booysen, 6 Ruaan Lerm, 5 Jean-Pierre Du Preez, 4 Bobby De Wee, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Mark Pretorius, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Lourens Erasmus, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Stokkies Hanekom, 22 Damian Engledoe.

 

Leopards: 15 Sergio Torrens, 14 Jaco Hayward, 13 Adri Jacobs, 12 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 11 Reohn van Zyl, 10 Kobus du Plessis, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Juan Language (captain), 7 PJ Uys, 6 Jaco Jordaan, 5 Francois Robertse, 4 Andries van Blerk, 3 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 1 Devon Martinus.

Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Cayle Denner, 18 Molotsi Bouwer, 19 Jaco Buys, 20 Percy Williams, 21 Warren Gilbert, 22 Alvino Montjies.

 

Referee: Jaco Pretorius

 

 

A hat-trick of tries by the enterprising flank, Martin Sithole, and a brace by the centre Vuyo Mbotho set up a 40-28 win for the Griffons in their North Section Vodacom Cup clash against the Limpopo Blue Bulls in Welkom on Saturday afternoon.

 

However, the home team had to dig deep in the second half after the visitors took the lead by 17-12 at halftime, thanks to a try in the 38th minute by their hard-working flank, Dwayne Pienaar. 

 

A hailstorm after halftime forced the players off the field for 10 minutes, which might have affected the focus and intensity of the Limpopo Blue Bulls. While the home team flourished late in the match with four superb second half tries, the visitors from Polokwane withered in the cold and wet.

 

 

Tries: Sithole 3, Mbotho 2, Pienaar

Cons: Du Toit 5

 

Tries: Boonzaaier, Beswick, Gordon

Cons: Beswick 2

Pens: Beswick 3

 

 

Griffons: 15 Wynand Pienaar, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Bren Marais, 11 Tertius Maarman, 10 Franna du Toit, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Erik le Roux, 6 Martin Sithole, 5 Chris Ehlers, 4 Johan van der Hoogt, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Rudi Britz.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Gnäde, 17 PW Botha, 18 Jan Breedt, 19 Daniel van der Merwe, 20 Frans Sisita, 21 Oshwill Nortje, 22 Colin Herbert.

 

Limpopo Blue Bulls: 15 Kobus Kotze, 14 Jurgen Lochner, 13 Andries Truter, 12 JP du Plessis, 11 Dean van Heteren, 10 Anton Beswick, 9 Kyran Odendaal, 8 Willem Engelbrecht, 7 Pieter Matthews, 6 Dwayne Pienaar, 5 Isak Deetlefs, 4 Tinus van Wyk (captain), 3 Anton Krynauw, 2 Banie Boonzaaier, 1 Heinrich Els.

Replacements: 16 Frederik Botha, 17 Cornelius Greeff, 18 Damiel Hart, 19 Marnus Erasmus, 20 Sheldon van den Berg, 21 Theunis Kruger, 22 Dean Gordon.

 

Referee: Ricus van der Hoven

 

 

North Section: Golden Lions 6 6 28; Pumas 7 5 24; Blue Bulls 6 5 24; Griffons 5 2 10 ; Leopards XV 5 2 10; Falcons 5 1 9; Welwitschias 5 1 6; Limpopo Blue Bulls 5 0 1.

 

South Section: Western Province 5 5 23; Griquas 5 4 19; Free State XV 5 4 19; SWD Eagles 5 3 15; Sharks XV 5 2 10; EP Kings 5 1 8; ; Boland Cavaliers 5 1 5; Border Bulldogs 5 0 0.

 

 

85 – JC Roos (Pumas – two tries, 18 conversions, 13 penalties)

55 – Kobus Marais (Blue Bulls – one try, 13 conversions, eight penalties)

52 – Elric van Vuuren (Eagles – nine conversions, 12 penalties)

52 – Gouws Prinsloo (Griquas – 11 conversions, 10 penalties)

50 – Ashlon Davids (Golden Lions – two try, 14 conversions, four penalties )