Leopards clawing at Griquas' heels

 

The hosts were in superb form as they ran in 10 tries to four on their way to a great victory.

 

The bonus-point win saw the Leopards move in to second place on the log and just a point behind the Griquas.

 

The Boland Cavaliers dented the Falcons’s chances of securing promotion with an emphatic 35-20 victory in their qualifier at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday.

 

The score line flattered the home side somewhat as Juan Kotze scored and converted a try after the final hooter had sounded.

 

The Falcons fullback had a decent afternoon scoring 15 of his sides’ 20 points with a try, two conversions and two penalties.

 

On Friday evening in East London in front of a small but vociferous crowd, the Border Bulldogs played some superb rugby at times against the SWD Eagles, but they let a 23-14 halftime lead slip and were beaten 33-31 by the Eagles. 

 

There was a nail-biting end as fullback Masixole Banda missed a conversion which would have drawn the match. Instead, Border is still winless after four matches.

 

 

 

Flyhalf and former Springbok André Pretorius scored 20 points from 10 conversions while fullback Hoffman Maritz and wings Luther Obi and Sylvian Mahuza all scored two tries each for the home team.

 

Flank Philip de Wet opened the scoring after five minute when he crashed in for a converted try before the Griffons struck back with a penalty from flyhalf Pieter-Steyn de Wet.

 

It was as close as the visitors would get as lock Francois Robertse, Maritz and Obi all scored converted tries for the Leopards in the first half, with only left wing Norman Nelson dotting down for the Griffons.

 

The second period saw much of the same as the Leopards continued to add to their dominance as scrumhalf Dillon Smit, Maritz, Mahuza, replacement forward John-Roy Jenkinson and Obi all scored converted tries. 

 

Nelson grabbed his second try late in the second half while lock Armand Koster and No.8 Nicky Steyn also scored tries for the visitors.

 

 

Tries: De Wet, Robertse, Maritz 2, Obi 2, Smit, Mahuza 2, Jenkinson

Cons: Pretorius 10

 

Tries: Nelson 2, Koster, Steyn

Cons: De Wet

Pen: De Wet

 

 

15 Hoffman Maritz, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 12 George Tossel, 11 Luther Obi, 10 André Pretorius (captain), 9  Dillon Smit, 8 Morne Hanekom, 7 Juan Language, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Francois Robertse, 4 Ruan Venter,3 Nhlanhla Ngcamu, 2 JC Oberholzer, 1 Mashudu Mafela.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Vermaak, 17 John-Roy Jenkinson, 18 Molotsi Bouwer, 19 Henro-Pierre Swart, 20 Percy Williams, 21 Kobus de Kock, 22 Sergio Torrens.

 

Griffons: 15 Tertius Maarman, 14 Vuyo Mbotho, 13 Joubert Engelbrecht, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Erik le Roux, 6 Martin Sithole, 5 Mlungisi Bali, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Daniel van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Hannes Snyman, 17 Kevin Stevens, 18 Werner Lourens, 19 Willmar Groenewald, 20 Oshwill Nortje, 21 Colin Herbert, 22 Wynand Pienaar.

 

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

 

 

The Falcons dominated the first 10 minutes of each half but were unable to make their dominance count while Boland defended stubbornly. 

 

Kotze opened the scoring after eight minutes when Boland were penalised at the ruck.

 

The Cavaliers then grabbed their first try three minutes later after some quick hands from centre Richard Lawson who sent Duwayne Smart over in the corner.

 

Morné Hugo converted from the touchline but then missed an easy penalty shortly afterwards.

 

Boland then sealed an excellent first half with a try from Nathaniel Manuel while Hugo converted, slotted a drop goal and brought the first half to a close with a penalty.

 

After the restart, Falcons wing Coert Cronje rounded off a good backline move by collecting his chip kick to score under the posts.

 

Despite a penalty from Hugo midway through the second half, the Cavaliers ran straight and hard which secured them two more tries through replacement hooker, Ryno Coetzee.

 

Boland were looking to close out the game 35-13 when Hugo kicked his second penalty with just a minute remaining, but the Falcons never gave up after the hooter and Kotze jinxed his way through to score a consolation try.

 

 

Tries: Cronje, Kotze

Cons: Kotze 2

Pens: Kotze 2

 

Tries: Coetzee 2, Smart, Manuel

Cons: Hugo 3

Pens: Hugo 2

DG: Hugo

 

Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Coert Cronje, 13 Andrew van Wyk, 12 Willie Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Ernst Ladendorf, 7 Jacques Verwey, 6 Andrew van Tonder (captain), 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Thulani Ngidi, 2 Chris Richardson, 1 Andries Schutte.

Replacements: 16 Devlin Hope, 17 Peet Vorster, 18 Jacques Alberts, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Jaco Snyman, 21 Kyle Hendricks, 22 Waylon Thompson.

 

Boland: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Nathaniel Manuel, 13 Richard Lawson, 12 Albert Trytsman, 11 Duwayne Smart, 10 Morne Hugo, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Jason-Collin Fraser, 6 Franzel September (captain), 5 John-Charles Astle, 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Francois Hanekom, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Khwezi Mkhafu.

Replacments: 16 Ulrich Pretorius, 17 Ashton Constant, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Ryno Coetzee, 20 Deroy Rhoode, 21 Christopher Bosch

22 Christian Rust.

 

Referee: Lesego Legoete

 

 

In the first half everything seemed to go right for the Bulldogs.

 

They played an expansive game, their defence was good and they attacked at all times, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats throughout a thoroughly entertaining match.

 

Towards the middle of the first half, two runaway tries by Lundi Ralarala and Banda secured 14 points to Border.

 

It gave them a 20-7 lead after Banda had succeeded with two penalties.

 

Eagles skipper Roy Godfrey had scored a try after eight minutes, converted by fullback Elric Vuuren.

 

Just before halftime, SWD flank Shaun Raubenheimer managed to breach the Border defence which Van Vuuren converted.

 

Banda then succeeded with his third penalty after the Eagles were caught offside.

 

Thereafter the Eagles clicked into top gear and ran in three tries – scrumhalf Dwayne Kelly and replacements Kurt Haupt and Daniel Roberts – while Banda replied with a penalty for the home side. 

 

With time running out and Eagles 33-26 in front, Border wing Lindani Ndlela broke away to score in the corner.

 

However, Banda pushed the conversion wide amid groans from the crowd, and a chance to draw went begging. 

 

The hooter sounded moments later, leaving the Bulldogs winless after four games. 

 

 

Tries: Ralarala, Banda, Ndlela. 

Pens: Banda 4

Cons: Banda 2

 

Tries: Godfrey, Raubenheimer, Kelly, Haupt, Roberts

Con: Van Vuuren

Pens: Van Vuuuren 4

 

 

Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Makazole Maphimpi, 11 Lindani Ndlela, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Rynardt van Wyk, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Gareth Krause, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).

Replacements: 16 Johannes Jonker, 17 Yanga Xakalashe, 18 Lindokuhle Welemu, 19 Nkosi Nofuma, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Oliver Zono, 22 Ruan Jacobs.

 

SWD Eagles: 15 Elric van Vuuren, 14 Brian Skosana, 13 Luzuko Vulindlu, 12 Gerrit Smith, 11 Hentzwill Pedro, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Christo Du Plessis, 7 Shaun Raubenheimer, 6 Janneman Stander, 5 Grant le Roux, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Dexter Fahey, 2 Wayne Khan, 1 Roy Godfrey (captain).

Replacements: 16 Kurt Haupt, 17 Grant Kemp, 18 Davon Raubenheimer, 19 Buran Parks, 20 Mzo Dyantyi, 21 Karlo Aspeling, 22 Daniel Roberts.

 

Referee: Jaco Van Heerden