Leopards keep pressure on Griquas

Griquas scored six tries to record a vital bonus-point win over the Falcons in their penultimate Currie Cup qualifying round of matches at the weekend.

The five points recorded in Kimberley allowed the Griquas to maintain their slender one point lead over the charging Leopards, who outplayed Boland 55-23 in an entertaining fixture at Wellington.

Border Bulldogs are still winless after they suffered another home defeat, this time going down 15-41 against the Griffons in East London. The defeat means Border will finish in the last position on the log.

With just one point separating the two top teams, all eyes will now be on the deciding round of fixtures this coming Saturday.

The Leopards face the Border Bulldogs in Potchefstroom, while the Griquas face a more daunting task at Outeniqua Park against the SWD Eagles.

The Griffons and Falcons clash in the other fixture, while Boland have already completed their six matches.

Griquas 40 (21) Falcons 25 (6)

Griquas started at a steady pace, but it was the Falcons who got on the scoreboard first with flyhalf Juan Kotze kicking a drop goal in the early exchanges.

It was not long before the attacks paid off and Griquas flanker Marnus Schoeman scored the first try of the afternoon for the hosts. Flyhalf Francois Brummer converted to give the Kimberley based side a lead of 7-3.

Schoeman was awarded with his second try shortly after, rounding off a good passage of play, with Brummer converting to stretch the lead to 11 points. Kotze replied with a penalty. Griquas lock Willem Serfontein then barged over and Brummer converted (half-time 21-6).

Griquas No.8 Burger Schoeman scored the vital bonus point try just after half-time, which Brummer converted.

However, the Falcons hit back with their first try when winger Riaan Arends dotted down. Kotze, who slotted the conversion, then crossed for the Falcons's second try. Griquas answered with a Tian Meyer (scrumhalf) try after some exciting attacking rugby.

Meyer got his second try in the 56th minute after a well-executed line-out. A lapse in concentration on Griquas side allowed Falcons in for their third try by centre Andrew van Wyk.

Scorers:

Griquas:

Tries: Schoeman 2, Serfontein, Schoeman, Meyer 2

Cons: Brummer 5

Falcons:

Tries: Arends, Kotze, Van Wyk

Cons: Kotze 2

Pen: Kotze

DG: Kotze

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Jacquin Jansen, 14 PJ Vermeulen, 13 Jonathan Francke, 2 Wayne Stevens (captain), 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Burger Schoeman, 7 Carel Greeff, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Stephan Greeff, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Nico Scheepers, 22 Ederies Arendse.

Falcons: 15 Wayne Gardner, 14 Kyle Hendricks, 13 Andrew van Wyk, 12 Willie Odendaal (captain), 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Jaun Kotze, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Ernst Ladendorf, 7 JP Mostert, 6 Juan-Pierre Jonck, 5 Jacques Alberts, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2 Devlin Hope, 1 Andries Schutte.

Replacements: 16 Chris Richardson, 17 Peet Vorster, 18 Jacques Verwey, 19 Andrew van Tonder, 20 Jaco Snyman, 21 Jaco Oosthuizen, 22 Etienne Taljaard.

Referee: Ben Crouse

Boland 23 (9) Leopards 55 (24)

The visitors were again in rampant mood and ran in nine tries to the hosts' two. They secured the all-important bonus point try on the stroke of half-time.

Dillon du Preez, the Leopards' live-wire scrumhalf, gave the visitors the perfect start when he side-stepping past two defenders to score after just six minutes. Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius easily converted.

Flank Juan Language then rounded off a good move for the Leopards after a powerful forward maul. Pretorius converted from the touchline.

Three penalties by Morne Hugo brought the home team back into the game, but the hosts then fell apart with just five minutes remaining in the half. Smit took a quick tap penalty and charged up field before sending fullback Hoffman Maritz over. Junior Bok wing Luther Obi then crashed over to give the Leopards a 15-point lead at half-time.

The second stanza began with a flurry as the Leopards ran riot with three tries inside ten minutes. Mahuza scored his sixth try of the campaign from a floating Pretorius pass. Smit crossed for his second try and Obi also dotted down again after poor defending. Replacement flyhalf Christian Rust finally scored Boland's first try.

The home side were to score again through their captain, Franzel September, but his try was sandwiched in between the Leopards' tries of Language and Kobus de Kock.

Scorers

Boland:

Tries: Rust, September

Cons: Zana 2

Pens: Hugo 3

Leopards:

Tries: Smit 2, Language 2, Maritz, Obi 2, Mahuza, De Kock

Cons: Pretorius 4, Maritz

Teams:

Boland: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Nathaniel Manuel, 13 Cheswin Williams, 12 Albert Trytsman, 11 Earl Cassidy Lewis, 10 Morne Hugo, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Ryno Coetzee, 6 Franzel September (captain), 5 John-Charles Astle, 4 Victor Kruger, 3 Francois Hanekom, 2 Ulrich Pretorius, 1 Khwezi Mkhafu.

Replacements: 16 Kelvin Fikster, 17 Ashton Constant, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Yves Bashiya, 20 Deroy Rhoode, 21 Duwayne Smart, 22 Christian Rust.

Leopards: 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 Henro-Pierre Swart, 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 Rhyk Welgemoed, 20 Percy Williams, 21 Kobus de Kock, 22 Sergio Torrens.

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Border Bulldogs 15 (10) Griffons 41 (29)

Wing Norman Nelson barged over after a strong break by prop Elandre Huggett to put Griffons on the scoreboard.

Flyhalf Pieter de Wet converted and added a penalty a few minutes later. Griffons lock Werner Lourens scored the visitor's second try after good forward play. After 28 minutes Abrahams scored a superb individual try which De Wet converted.

Just before half-time and against the run of play, Border No 8 Rynardt van Wyk scored a fine try with Banda slotting the conversion. Griffons flank Armandt Koster, who had played a storming game, forced his way over and after De Wet had added two points, it left the home team adrift by 19 points at half-time.

The Griffons continued their strong showing in the second half with tries by centre Joubert Horn and fullback Tertius Maarman. Centre Lundi Ralarala scored a consolation try for Border after an excellent break. Border flyhalf Thembani Mkokeli celebrated a rare achievement, reaching his 100th cap in the game.

Scorers:

Border:

Tries: Van Wyk, Ralarala

Con: Banda

Pen: Banda

Griffons:

Tries: Nelson, Lourens, Abrahams, Koster, Horn, Maarman

Cons: De Wet 4

Pen: De Wet

Teams:

Border: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 11 Sipho Nofemele, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Bangi Kobese, 8 Rynardt van Wyk, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Wayne Lemley, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).

Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Siyamthanda Ngande, 18 Lindokuhle Welemu, 19 Athenkosi Manentsa, 20 Mario Noordman, 21 Oliver Zono, 22 Ruan Jacobs.

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

Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 PW Botha, 18 Jan Breedt, 19 Willmar Groenewald, 20 Oshwill Nortje, 21 Colin Herbert, 22 Wynand Pienaar.

Referee: Lesego Legoete

Abbreviated qualifying standings:

1 Griquas 23 points

2 Leopards 22

3 SWD Eagles 15

4 Griffons 13

5 Boland 12

6 Falcons 10

7 Border Bulldogs 2