Eagles soar to new heights under Heyneke Meyer

WRAP: The SWD Eagles underlined their semifinal credentials in the penultimate round of the Currie Cup First Division league action with a commanding 87-17 victory over the Border Bulldogs at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday, while Eastern Province moved into the top two with one round to go until the play-offs.

Heyneke Meyer’s side led 40-5 at half-time of their clash and eventually totally outplayed Border, while EP boosted their push for home a semifinal place with a composed 22-12 win over the Griffons in Gqeberha.

In the third match of the weekend, the Leopards recorded a thrilling 48-45 triumph over the Valke in Potchefstroom to keep alive their outside chance of reaching the semifinals.

The result of the penultimate round sees unbeaten SWD firmly in first place on 20 points. They are followed by EP, who scored their third win of the competition, on 15, with the Valke in third on 13, followed by the defending champion Griffons (11), Leopards (10) and Border (0).

Playing at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday, hosts SWD ran in 13 tries to three, striking early through Tiaan Drotskie and Rosco Syster before Masande Mtshali and Nico Leonard helped them take control.

Sakhe Dingile replied for Border before the break, while Dillan Kromhout’s second-half brace gave the visitors reward for their effort. SWD finished strongly as Rune Lucas, Kyle Cyster, Ulrich Stander, Aidan Christians and Niel Beukes added to the tally.

Syster completed a hat-trick, Lucas and Leonard scored doubles, Divan du Toit kicked seven conversions and Fred Zeilinga added four. Yellow cards were shown to SWD prop Ntokozo Hlope and Border replacement Sphamandla Soti.

In Gqeberha, EP boosted their push for home semifinal with a composed 22-12 win over the Griffons, after leading 10-7 at half-time.

Maxwell Klaasen opened the scoring with a penalty goal, but the Griffons responded through Rian Olivier’s try, converted by Adriaan Carelse, to edge them ahead.

CJ Velleman crossed for Eastern Province midway through the first half and Klaasen’s conversion restored the home side’s advantage at the break.

The Griffons struck again early in the second half through Chad Tshimanga, but the missed conversion left the contest finely balanced. EP finished stronger as Liyema Matyolweni scored on the hour, before Lwandile Mapuko added the decisive try in the closing stages.

In Saturday’s third and final clash staged at Olen Park in Potch, the Leopards secured a thrilling 48-45 victory over the Valke in an action-packed clash.

In a high-scoring encounter, the Valke held a slender 26-24 advantage at the break after tries from Ilunga Mukendi, Zeilinga Strydom, Sikho Nanto, and Ezrick Alexander. The Leopards stayed in touch during the first half through scores from Ghudian Van Reenen, Daimon O’Connell, Siniothando Tshontsyi, and Naiden Jaarts.

The visitors suffered a temporary blow when scrumhalf Wernich Aucamp was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute.

The second half was just as explosive. Jandre Burger and Indiphile Tyeda crossed the whitewash for the hosts, before Kelvin Kanenungo’s late brace and a Zander van der Merwe try for the Valke set up a tense finish.

The Leopards sealed the deal, though, when Gcino Mdletshe scored a converted try in the 77th minute.

In next weekend’s last round of league action to be staged on Saturday, July 11, SWD and EP meet in a top-of-the-table clash in George; the Bulldogs host the Leopards in East London, while the Valke are at home in Kempton Park against the Griffons.

The scores and scorers:

SWD Eagles 87-17 Border Bulldogs

For SWD:
Tries: Rosco Syster 3, Nico Leonard 2, Rune Lucas 2, Tiaan Drotskie, Masande Mtshali, Kyle Cyster, Ulrich Stander, Aidan Christians, Niel Beukes
Cons: Divan du Toit 7, Fred Zeilinga 4

For Border:
Tries: Dillan Kromhout 2, Sakhe Dingile
Con: Isiphe Mbini

Eastern Province 22-12 Griffons

For EP:
Tries: CJ Velleman, Liyema Matyolweni, Lwandile Mapuko
Cons: Maxwell Klaasen 2
Pen: Klaasen

For Griffons:
Tries: Rian Olivier, Chad Tshimanga
Con: Adriaan Carelse

Leopards 48-45 Valke

For Leopards:
Tries: Ghudian van Reenen, Daimon O’Connell, Siniothando Tshontsyi, Naiden Jaarts, Jandre Burger, Indiphile Tyeda, Gcino Mdletshe
Cons: Burger 5
Pen: Burger

For Valke:
Tries: Ilunga Mukendi, Zeilinga Strydom, Sikho Nanto, Ezrick Alexander, Zander van der Merwe, Kelvin Kanenungo 2
Cons: Stalmeester 5