CC qualifiers: Griquas cling to lead
Griquas maintained their slender one point lead in the Currie Cup qualifying race, thanks to their 57-33 win over the Falcons in Kempton Park on Saturday.
The Leopards have kept themselves in the hunt by beating Boland Cavaliers 61-17 in Potchefstroom.
Heading into the final round of matches next week, the Griquas and Leopards are the only teams in contention for the qualifying spot to the Premier Division.
Griquas are in front on 21 points, with the Leopards nipping at their heels on 20.
The Griffons put in a powerful second half performance to beat the Border Bulldogs 43-20, despite trailing by five points at the break. The win lifted them from the basement to fourth on the log while SWD Eagles, who were not in action over the weekend, slipped to last place.
Leopards 61-10 Boland Cavaliers
Dillon Smit and Ryno Smith both scored a brace of tries as the Leopards cruised to a comprehensive win over the Boland Cavaliers at Profert Olen Park in Potchefstroom.
Scrumhalf Smit and fullback Smith were responsible for four of the Leopards' nine tries while centre Adriaan Engelbrecht ended with 16 points as he kicked eight conversions. The Leopards were quick off the mark and raced to a 26-0 lead in as many minutes.
Smit, Ashlon Davids, Smith and Tyler Fisher scored for the hosts while Boland's Danwel Demas replied with their only try of the first half. After the break it was one-way traffic as the Leopards added to their score through tries from Adriaan Vermeulen, Sizo Maseko, Smith and Damian Engeldoe.
Boland only managed a converted try through fullback Eric Zana.
Scorers:
For The Leopards:
Tries: Smit 2, Davids, Smith 2, Fisher, Vermeulen, Maseko, Engeldoe
Cons: Engelbrecht 8
For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Fortuin, Demas, Zana
Con: Rust
Teams:
Leopards: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Damian Engledoe, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 11 Adrian Vermeulen, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Juan Language (captain), 5 Sthembiso Mhlongo, 4 Robert Kruger, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 18 Molotsi Bouwer, 19 Jaco Jordaan, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Sizo Maseko, 22 Rowayne Beukman.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Wilneth Engelbrecht, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Arno Fortuin, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Yves Bashiya, 6 Nicolai Lubbe, 5 Gavin Annandale (captain), 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 SP Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Keenan Abrahams, 18 Entienne Swanepoel, 19 Theuns Botha, 20 Ryno Conradie, 21 Senan Van Der Merwe, 22 Christian Rust.
Falcons 33-57 Griquas
The Kimberley-based side scored nine tries, and the bonus point means they maintain their slender advantage over the Leopards. Falcons wing Kyle Hendricks was outstanding for the home side and scored four tries, including a hat-trick in the second half when the visitors stormed back from a 7-33 deficit.
AJ Coertzen, Carel Greeff, Tian Meyer and Jonathan Francke all scored for Griquas in a one-sided first half, while Gouws Prinsloo kicked the conversions. Hendricks' converted try was the only reply from the Falcons.
Griquas continued their try onslaught in the second stanza, with Ntabeni Dukisa, Clinton Swart, Hugo Kloppers and Greeff each dotting down put the game beyond the Falcons' reach. Hendricks, who impressed all afternoon for the home side, ran in three tries as Griquas took their foot off the gas in the latter stages.
Scorers:
For The Falcons:
Tries: Hendricks 4, Poley
Cons: Kotze 4
For Griquas:
Tries: Coertzen 2, Greeff 2, Meyer, Kloppers, Francke, Swart, Dukisa
Cons: Prinsloo 6
Teams:
Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Kyle Hendricks, 13 Andrew van Wyk, 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Coert Cronje, 10 Anrich Richter, 9 Willie Odendaal, 8 Andrew van Tonder, 7 Jacques Verwey, 6 JP Mostert (captain), 5 Jacques Alberts, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Thulani Ngidi, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Nico Pretorius.
Replacements: 16 Dandre van der Westhuizen, 17 Andries Schutte, 18 Isak Deetlefs, 19 Ernst Ladendorf, 20 Jaco Snyman, 21 Grant Janke, 22 Arno Poley.
Griquas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Jonathan Francke, 13 Clinton Swart, 12 Ntabeni Dukisa, 11 Riaan Viljoen, 10 Tian Meyer (captain), 9 Carel Greeff, 8 Nardus van der Walt, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Hugo Kloppers, 5 Hilton Lobberts, 4 Stephan Kotze, 3 AJ Le Roux, 2 Steph Roberts, 1 Jono Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Gouws Prinsloo, 17 Martin Bezuidenhout, 18 Danie Mienie, 19 Jonathan Adendorf, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Michael van der Spuy, 22 Rocco Jansen.
Griffons 43-20 Border Bulldogs
Nicky Steyn and Japie Nel both scored two tries each as the Griffons delivered a strong second half performance to beat the Border Bulldogs 43-20 at the Pelatona Projects Stadium in Welkom.
Steyn and Nel were responsible for four of the Griffons' six tries as the home team claimed just their second win of campaign to move off the bottom of the table. The result was academic as both teams are out of the running for promotion. The first half was a tight affair which saw the Griffons battling their way to a nine-point lead.
Tertius Maarman and Steyn scored tries for Griffons and Franna du Toit slotted the extra points. Border fullback Logan Basson kicked two penalties in the first half action.
Griffons were in command in the second half which started on a good note for them when Steyn crashed over for his second try just after the restart. Border managed a penalty try but Griffons secured the win thanks to tries from Enver Brandt and two efforts from Nel.
Scorers:
For the Griffons:
Tries: Maarman, Steyn 2, Brandt, Nel 2
Cons: du Toit 2, Strydom 3
Pen: du Toit
For Border Bulldogs:
Tries: Penalty try, Mapimpi
Cons: Mkokeli, Zono
Pens: Logan Basson 2
Teams:
Griffons: 15 Tertius Maarman, 14 Alvin Brandt, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Franna du Toit, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Marco Kruger, 6 Freddy Ngoza, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Rudi Britz, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Gerard Baard.
Replacements: 16 Chase Morison, 17 Heinrich Roelfse, 18 Chris Ehlers, 19 Armandt Koster, 20 Oshwill Nortje, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Dewald Pretorius.
Border Bulldogs: 15 Logan Basson, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Oliver Zono, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Nkosi Nofuma, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Yanga Xakalashe, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).
Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 18 Billy Dutton, 19 Athenkosi Manentsa, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Thembani Mkokeli, 22 Sipho Nofemele.
Standings:
(under matches played, won and points)
Griquas 5 4 21
Leopards 5 4 20
Cavaliers 6 2 13
Griffons 5 2 10
Border 5 2 10
Falcons 5 2 9
SWD 5 1 8
