Falcons soar in South Africa

ROUND TWO WRAP: The Falcons registered their second successive victory in the First Division when they defeated the Leopards 50-24 in Kempton Park on Saturday afternoon, meaning that, after two rounds, the East Randers are the only unbeaten side left in the competition.

On Friday, Border lost their home clash 29-33 to the SWD Eagles, despite leading comfortably 26-12 at the halfway stage in East London, and the Griffons gained their first win of the campaign as the downed Eastern Province 66-32 in their clash staged in Welkom in the other Saturday fixture.

The weekend’s results saw the Falcons consolidate their top spot on the six-team log, with a perfect 10 points from their two matches to date.

The Eagles moved into second spot as they climbed to seven points following their hard-earned win over a tenacious Border. The Griffons, Leopards and EP all have six points from one win in two games, while Border have two points but are still searching for their first win.

Falcons No.8 Zingisa April helped himself to three of his team’s eight tries at the Barnard Stadium, with the East Rand-side already 40-7 ahead at the break against the Leopards. Playmaker Keagan Fortune added four conversions. Shaun Baxter converted two of the Leopard’s four tries.

Griffons hooker Willem van den Hever grabbed four tries as the men from the Northern Free State outplayed EP in Welkom, with the hosts scoring nine tries to their visitors’ four tries in the end.

Versatile outside back Andrew Kota converted eight of the nine Griffons tries and succeeded with a penalty goal for a personal tally of 19 points via the kicking boot. Oliver Zono (flyhalf) slotted three conversions and two penalty goals for EP.

Border raced into a halfway lead of 14 points but they could not maintain their momentum and defensive discipline as the Eagles stormed back in the second half to clinch this thrilling encounter at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Friday.

Kamvelihle Fatyela (hooker) scored twice for the Bulldogs who looked menacing in the opening spell, while pivot Maxwell Klaasen kicked three conversions and a penalty goal. For SWD, reserve hooker Marco Fuhri went over twice, as did outside centre Clive Kruger, while Marlo Weich also scored a try and three conversions.

In next weekend’s third round games, Border host log leaders the Falcons in East London, and SWD welcome the Griffons to George, with both games taking place on Friday. The remaining fixture of the round will be played in Potchefstroom on Saturday, when the Leopards entertain EP.

See below for Round Two’s scores and scorers!

Falcons 50-24 Leopards

The scorers:

For Falcons:
Tries: Zingisa April 3, Waqar Solaan, Blaine Golden, Sergio Stalmeester, Mosolwa Mafuma, Adrian Joubert
Cons: Keagan Fortune 4, Mbembe Payi

Leopards:
Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi, Jason Jansen, Brandon Keevy, Gcino Mdletshe
Cons: Shaun Baxter 2

Referee: Lulutho Matomela

Griffons 66-32 Eastern Province

For Griffons:
Tries: Willem van den Heever 4, Buhle Nojekwa, Kabelo Mokoena, Ngia Selengbe, Richman Gora, Joshua Paris
Cons: Andrew Kota 8, Kyle Cyster
Pen: Kota

For EP:
Tries: Johannes Huisamen, Sherwin Slater, Rodney Damons, Andile Ngonyama
Cons: Oliver Zono 3
Pens: Zono 2

Griffons: 15 Qamani Kota, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Ngia Selengbe, 12 Chris Hollis, 11 Quan Eymann, 10 Kyle Cyster, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Ulrich Stander, 7 Calla Pienaar, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 Matthew Gray, 4 Lungisile Mbiko, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Willem van den Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Simon Westraadt, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Jared Kruger, 22 Fazeel Robertson, 23 Kabelo Makoena.

Referee: Caleb Hibbert

Border Bulldogs 29-33 SWD Eagles

For Border:
Tries: Kamvelihle Fatyela 2, Soso Xakalashe, Camagu Dlisani
Cons: Maxwell Klaasen 3
Pen: Klaasen

For Eagles:
Tries: Marco Fuhri 2, Clive Kruger 2, Marlo Weich
Cons: Weich 3, Sachin Toring

Eagles: 15 Roshwin Abrahams, 14 Rosco Syster, 13 Clive Kruger, 12 Marquit September, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 JP Duvenhage, 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 Stefaan Grundlingh, 19 Michael Cloete, 20 Anroy Roelofse, 21 Keegan Schaefer, 22 Edwin Sass, 23 Marlo Weich.

Referee: Daniel Canhenga