Falcons, Leopards & EP set the tone in First Division

WRAP: The Falcons, Leopards and Eastern Province were on the winning side in the opening round of the First Division, which took place on Saturday.

The East Randers raced into a 22-7 lead at the break, but then had to withstand a spirited second-half fightback from the Griffons to win their opening First Division clash by 36-26 in Welkom.

The men from North-West kicked off their campaign with a comprehensive 47-20 victory over Border in Potchefstroom, while EP defeated their western neighbours, the SWD Eagles, by 36-31 in Gqeberha.

Playing in Welkom, the Falcons eventually outscored their Northern Free State hosts by five tries to four to secure an important away win.

Right wing Ezrick Alexander went over for two tries, while Keagan Fortune (flyhalf) scored one try, four conversions and a penalty goal for a personal contribution of 16 points for the team in the scarlet red jerseys.

 

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The Griffons came storming back with two tries late in the game, but the Valke showed nerves of steel to repel the fightback for a big away win successfully.

In Potchefstroom, the Leopards led 21-13 at the halfway stage on their way to outscoring the Bulldogs by seven tries to two. Scrumhalf Chadd Adams scored two of the seven tries, while Shaun Baxter succeeded with six conversions. Border flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen succeeded with two conversions and two penalty goals.

The Eastern Province came out on top by 36-31 in their derby clash with the SWD Eagles, played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where the hosts had a 26-12 halftime advantage. Both sides managed to score five tries, but EP’s kickers had a better day with the boot, with Jayden Bantom landing a crucial drop-goal.

Hooker Deon Plaatjies went over for two maul tries for EP, while Oliver Zono (flyhalf) slotted four conversions. Marlo Weich (fullback) and Roshwin Abrahams (replacement outside back) each scored and try and a conversion for the Bulldogs.

In next week’s round two fixtures, Border host the Eagles in East London on Friday evening; the Griffons entertain EP in Welkom on Saturday, while the Falcons are home to Leopards at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.

The results and scorers:

Leopards 47 Border 20

The scorers:

For Leopards:
Tries: Chadd Adams 2, Armin Posthumus, Lwandile Mapuko, Jason Alexander, Brandon Keevy, Hanro Potgieter.
Cons: Shaun Baxter 6

For Border:
Tries: Kamvelihle Fatyela, Soso Xakalashe.
Cons: Maxwell Klaasen 2
Pens: Klaasen 2

Leopards: 

Border: 15 Aphiwe Sidiloyi, 14 Mbasa Nkonki, 13 Ryan Maree, 12 Hlumelo Zitha, 11 Sakhekile Dingile, 10 Maxwell Klaasen, 9 Hlumelo Pantyo, 8 Soso Xakalashe, 7 Ntokozo Vidima, 6 Oyisa Balekile, 5 Caleb Radcliffe, 4 Camagu Dlisani, 3 Hlumelo Nondonga, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela (captain), 1 Sibusiso Lali.
Replacements: Mangaliso Zixesha, Luxolo Koza, Siphetho Manakaza, Ayabonga Nomboya, Ayabulela Zono, Abdur Ismail, Sonwabiso Mqalo, Awonke Sondishe

Referee: Zoe Naude

Griffons 26 Falcons 36

The scorers:

For Griffons:
Tries: Duan Pretorius, Simon Westraadt, Kyle Cyster, Willem van den Hever.
Cons: Andrew Kota 3

For Falcons:
Tries: Ezrick Alexander 2, Kayden Kiewit, Keagan Fortune, Wernich Aucamp.
Cons: Fortune 4
Pen: Fortune.

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Chris Hollis, 11 Zamani Kota, 10 Duan Pretorius (captain), 9 Richman Gora, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 matthew Gray, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Edwin Nxumalo, 2 Willem van den Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Lungisile Mbiko, 21 Jared Kruger, 22 Fazeel Robertson, 23 Quan Eymann

Falcons: TBC

Referee: Griffin Colby

Eastern Province 36 SWD Eagles 31

For Eastern Province:
Tries: Deon Plaatjies 2, Johannes Huisamen, Rodney Damons, Jayden Bantom.
Cons: Oliver Zono 4
Drop goal: Bantom.

For Eagles:
Tries: Stephan Leonard, JP Duvenage, Marlo Weich, Roshwin Abrahams, Clive Kruger.
Cons: Weich, Abrahams, Marco Fuhri.

Teams:

Eastern Province: 15 Jayden Bantom, 14 Davian Swanepoel, 13 Sherwin Slater, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Rodney Damons, 10 Oliver Zondo, 9 Shirwin Cupido, 8 AthiManentsa, 7 Laken Gray, 6 Diego Williams, 5 Hannes Huisamen, 4 Stefan Willemse (captain), 3 Duncan du Buisson, 2 Deon Plaatjies, 1 Zukisa Sali
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Andile Ngonyama, 18 Endinako Kuse, 19 Matthew Sekele, 20 Ruan Claassen, 21 Wayne Ngubane, 22 Chadwyn November, 23 Ayabonga Oliphant

SWD Eagles: 15 Marlo Weich, 14 Rosco Syster, 13 Edwin Sass, 12 Marquit September, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 JP Duvenage, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Leighton van Wyk, 7 Dian Basson, 6 Damon Royle (captain), 5 Ian Alexander, 4 Azola Mati, 3 Hlomla Zondani, 2 Stephan Leonard, 1 Tandolwetu Matolengwe
Replacements: 16 Marco Fuhri, 17 Cole Haggard, 18 Cecil Rittels, 19 Michael Cloete, 20 Anroy Roelfse, 21 Keegan Schaefer, 22 Clive Kruger, 23 Roshwin Abrahams

Referee: Lulutho Matomela