Griquas retain Currie Cup title after thrilling final victory over Pumas

MATCH REPORT: Griquas are back-to-back Currie Cup champions after clinching the title in a fiercely contested final against the Pumas in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.

The Peacock Blues grabbed the 23-16 victory after the lead changed hands a few times.

George Whitehead was the star of the show, playing in his 150th game and he walked away with the Man of the Match award.

After the game went back and forth between both sides in the first three minutes, Puma flyhalf Clinton Swart found touch deep inside the Griquas’ half of the field.

Griquas secured possession from the lineout, and after a penalty for offside against the visitors, George Whitehead cleared to relieve pressure.

Winning a penalty advantage from the scrum, Griquas pounced, and it looked like Bobby Alexander dotted the ball down, but the replay indicated there was no downward pressure.

So far, all the pressure had come from the hosts.

Multiple mistakes by the Pumas offered Whitehead his first shot at goal, and the veteran flyhalf sent it through the uprights to put the first points on the board.

The lineout contest was fierce; however, the Pumas’ handling let them down time and again.

The first quarter belonged to Griquas, playing all the rugby in the Pumas’ half of the field.

Against the run of play, JC Nell produced a crucial intercept that sparked the Pumas’ first try of the match, with Darren Adonis finishing the move. Clinton Swart added the conversion as the visitors moved into a 7-3 lead.

A 50:22 kick by Thomas Bursey followed, and the Pumas seemed to have found their rhythm; however, Griquas stole the lineout ball, and Whitehead cleared their lines with a ridiculous monster of a kick.

Griquas’ forwards were rumbling forward, making their way to the try line.

Mnombo Zwelendaba was the one to cross the whitewash, converted by Whitehead for Griquas to grab the lead once more by three points.

But a high tackle by a Griqua player handed Swart another shot at goal, which he slotted comfortably to draw the score at 10-10.

Both sides were playing the territorial game, with the Pumas attacking inside the Griquas’ 22 and forcing an error. Swart sent the penalty kick straight through the uprights and the visitors were ahead ten minutes before halftime.

From the kick-off, Griquas advanced to 10 meters out, and Sako Makato went to the try, but knocked it on over the tryline.

Minutes later, play was stretched to the other side, and then another ball was dropped over the tryline as JJ Scheepers thought he was ending the first half, and it remained a three-point game.
The first half was packed with drama, featuring two blown try-scoring opportunities and a missed drop-goal attempt from Clinton Swart. The Pumas also battled at the lineout, an area that could prove costly if they fail to fix it after the break.

The second 40 got underway, and after some end-to-end play, the Pumas had possession close to the halfway line.

They battled to keep the ball, and the hosts grappled the ball back, sending Makata on a run down the opposite touchline.

However, the Pumas wrestled back possession and launched phase after phase.

But possession changed hands again, and Whitehead sent a massive relieving kick downfield.

Another brilliant run by Makata through the middle had the crowd cheering, but another knock-on ended the perfect scoring opportunity.

After some helter-skelter stuff, Griquas came away with a penalty in front of the poles and there was no doubt what Whitehead would do, and he sent it through to draw 13-13.

The Pumas got right back to attack mode, and Scheepers almost managed to cross but was held up.

As the hour mark approached, the contest was finely poised, with everything still to play for and no clear favourite in sight.

The game was firmly in the balance, with either the Pumas or Griquas still able to walk away with the title.

When another shot at goal presented itself, Whitehead showed no hesitation. Despite lining up the penalty from inside his own half, he calmly and confidently split the uprights to put Griquas back in front by 16-13.

A minute later, Swart had the chance to level the scores once again. He made no mistake from the tee, and the final was locked at 16-16.

However, Griquas’ pivot magician shot a 50:22, setting up his side for the last dance with seven minutes to go.

They set the rolling maul, and they were mauling, and the Pumas reloaded, but they got the try.

Leading 23-16, Griquas had two minutes to keep possession and run down the clock.

The Pumas shot themselves in the foot by being offside with one last opportunity to regain the ball.

Liam Koen found touch, but the Pumas snatched it in the lineout. They had one last chance, but a wild pass ended over the touchline.

Scorers:

For Griquas:
Tries: Zwelendaba, Uys
Cons: Whitehead 2
Pens: Whitehead 3

For Pumas:
Tries: Adonis
Cons: Swart
Pens: Swart 2

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Carl van der Merwe, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Liam Koen, 23 Connor Mahoney

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 Sango Xamashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Andre Goedhals, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Zukisa Sali, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Stephan Krugel, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Thabo Ndimande, 22 Tino Swanepoel, 23 Russwill Fredericks

Referee: Morné Ferreira