CC qualifiers: Griquas into top flight
Griquas qualified for Currie Cup Premier Division after they got the better of SWD Eagles winning 41-21 in the final round of qualifying in Kimberley on Saturday.
With the Leopards having won their encounter against the Border Bulldogs by 33-8 with a bonus point earlier in cold and wet conditions in East London, the Griquas knew that they would have to win and score four tries to finished top of the log. Luckily for the home side the weather played along and the threatening rain stayed away.
In weekend's first fixture, the Falcons turned in a strong first-half performance as they came out on top of the Griffons in a high-scoring 57-41 [half-time 33-15] victory in their Currie Cup qualifier at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Friday.
Left wing Coert Cronje and outside centre Grant Janke both scored a brace of tries for the hosts while fullback Jaun Kotze ended with 17 points after scoring a try and kicking six conversions.
Griquas vs SWD Eagles, 41-21
The Griquas took 41 minutes to kick into action as they trailed 12-14 at half-time and with 18 minutes remaining had a slender lead of 26-21.
But two tries by the home team in the final six minutes wrapped up affairs and ensured Kimberley will once again host the top teams in this year's Currie Cup Premier Division.
When the winning team scored the crucial fourth try in the 48th minute, a second one by loose forward Carel Greeff increased the lead to 26-14. But then they crawled into their shell and simply tried to hang onto their lead. The Eagles, who had nothing to gain from the match, edged their way back to a five point deficit [21-26] which turned out to be a wake-up call for the Griquas.
The team from the Northern Cape, who also finished top after last year's qualifying round, will now play DHL Western Province in Kimberley in the opening round of the Premier League in twee weeks’ time.
They recovered well from their first round shock loss to the Bulldogs [20-13], winning all their remaining matches with a full house of points.
Scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: Greeff 2, Van der Spuy, Dukisa, Coertzen, Bezuidenhout
Cons: Prinsloo 4
Pen: Prinsloo
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Smith, Vulindlu
Con: Smith
Pens: Smith 3
Teams:
Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 AJ Coertzen, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Jonathan Adendorf, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Danie Mienie.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Stephan Kotze, 18 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Nardus van der Walt, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Ederies Arendse.
SWD Eagles: 15 Leighton Eksteen, 14 Carlo Radebe, 13 Luzuko Vulindlu, 12 Martin du Toit, 11 Kirsten Heyns, 10 Gerrit Smith, 9 Johan Steyn, 8 Christo Du Plessis, 7 Davon Raubenheimer (captain), 6 Buran Parks, 5 Grant le Roux, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Juandre Digue.
Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Dean Hopp, 18 Layle Delo, 19 Alwyn Bester, 20 Lyndon Hartnick, 21 Dillin Snel, 22 Daniel Roberts.
Leopards vs Border Bulldogs, 33-8
The heavy, cold wind made conditions very difficult for both sides, and when the teams changed ends with the Leopards up 14-5, and the Bulldogs playing with the strong wind at the backs, home fans were confident that their team could force a win, but it was not to be.
With the visitors' forwards attacking well, the Leopards prop Johan Smith went over twice and halfway through the second half it was all over for the Bulldogs.
There was a glimpse of hope when utility back Logan Basson kicked over a penalty for Border in the 28th minute to make the score 26-8, but then some weak defensive work by Border saw Leopards hooker Wium Fourie barge over a few minutes later to put the game completely out of Border's reach.
Border fullback Masixolo Banda had a good game for the home side, but just before half-time, he was caught napping behind his line when taking his eye off the ball and the resultant hack went to flyhalf Adriaan Engelbrech who sent flank Loftus Morrison in for the Leopard’s second try.
Earlier Border left wing Michael Makase had broken through and went over on the far left side after two minutes but Banda missed the conversion and five minutes later Leopards scrumhalf, from a maul only five metres from the Bulldogs' line, broke free along the touchline and scored in the right hand corner.
Scorers:
For Border :
Try: Makase
Pen: Basson.
For Leopards:
Tries: Venter, Morrison, Smith 2, Fourie
Cons: Engelbrecht 4
Teams:
Border: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Sipho Nofemele, 13 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Bangi Kobese, 8 Onke Dubase, 7 Siya Mdaka (captain), 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Yanga Xakalashe.
Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Blake Kyd, 18 Billy Dutton, 19 Athenkosi Manentsa, 20 Ntando Kebe, 21 Lundi Ralarala, 22 Logan Basson.
Leopards: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Damian Engledoe, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 11 Adrian Vermeulen, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Hanco Venter, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Juan Language (captain), 5 Sthembiso Mhlongo, 4 Robert Kruger, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Wian Fourie, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 17 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 18 Molotsi Bouwer, 19 Jaco Jordaan, 20 Malherbe Swart, 21 Sizo Maseko, 22 Rowayne Beukman.
Falcons vs Griffons, 57-41
The first half was a topsy-turvy affair with both teams scoring a lot of points quickly.
The Falcons raced into a 21-0 lead after 15 minutes after tries from Cronje, scrumhalf Anrich Richter and Janke.
The Griffons fought back to narrow the gap to 21-15 after 34 minutes thanks to a converted try from Alvin Brandt a try from left wing Enver Brandt and a penalty from flyhalf Louis Strydom.
But the Griffons ended the half on a high thanks to Cronje's second try and an unconverted score from flank Ernst Ladendorf.
The second half saw both teams continue with their free-scoring ways with the Falcons adding tries from Kotze, Janke, right wing Kyle Hendricks and Friedle Olivier while the Griffons responded with tries from Van der Hoogt (2), No.8 Nicky Steyn and Alvin Brandt.
Scorers:
For Falcons:
Tries: Kotze, Janke 2, Olivier, Richter, Ladendorf, Cronje 2
Cons: Kotze 6
For Griffons:
Tries: Brandt, Van der Hoogt 2, Brandt 2, Steyn
Cons: Louis Strydom 4
Pen: Strydom
Teams:
Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Kyle Hendricks, 13 Grant Janke, 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Coert Cronje, 10 Anrich Richter, 9 Jaco Snyman, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Ernst Ladendorf, 6 JP Mostert (captain), 5 Jacques Alberts, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Thulani Ngidi, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Andries Schutte.
Replacements: 16 Dandre van der Westhuizen, 17 Nico Pretorius, 18 Isak Deetlefs, 19 Jacques Verwey, 20 Jaco Oosthuizen, 21 Etienne Taljaard, 22 Arno Poley.
Griffons: 15 Tertius Maarman, 14 Alvin Brandt, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Marco Kruger, 6 Freddy Ngoza, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Rudi Britz.
Replacements: 16 Chase Morison, 17 Daniel van der Merwe, 18 Chris Ehlers, 19 Frans Sisita, 20 Oshwill Nortje, 21 Wynand Pienaar, 22 Dewald Pretorius.
Standings:
(under matches played, won and points)
Griquas 6 5 26
Leopards 6 5 25
Falcons 6 3 14
Boland 6 2 13
Griffons 6 2 11
Border 6 2 10
SWD 6 1 8
