Griquas fighting for survival

 

The Kimberley side went down 36-12 to Western Province at Newlands on Saturday, leaving them in seventh position with just three games left before the play-offs.

 

With two home games against the Golden Lions and EP Kings followed by a trip to Loftus Versfeld, Fourie said that the goal is to guarantee their place in the competition next year.

 

"We are out of the race for the top four now, it is now a survival game and we need to finish in the top six to play in the Currie Cup next year without qualifying again," he said.

 

The Griquas coach was left frustrated after a horror start to the game saw them surrender a massive deficit from which they never recovered.

 

"We lost the game in the first 25 minutes, too many penalties against us, two good driving mauls from Province and that took us completely out of the game.

 

"I think we fought back really well and we were a bit unlucky not to score before half-time but that first 25 minutes was crucial," he said.

 

Fourie said that a lack of possession meant that his team struggled to impose themselves on the hosts.

 

"We didn't have much possession so we couldn't kick it, if you don't have the ball then you can't play and you can't execute your kicking game either.

 

"In the second half we tried to hang on to possession and it worked a bit better for us but in the first half we were really starved of possession," he said.