Currie Cup Qualifiers: Review – Round 3… Griquas move to the TOP

The ORC Griquas ran in 8 tries to beat Leopards 48 / 21 on Saturday in their ABSA Currie Cup qualifier at Profert Olën Park in Potchefstroom. The result moved the Kimberley side to the Top team on the Log standings with 11 point from 3 matches.

The Leopards, who have occupied the Top spot the previous 2 weeks thanks to 2 bonus point wins, slipped down to 2nd while the Border Bulldogs jumped to 3rd following their 2nd win of the campaign.

Border made it 2 from 2 with a 22 / 15 victory over the Boland Cavaliers at the Boland Stadium in Wellington, following their 20 / 13 win over ORC Griquas in East London 3 weeks ago. In the remaining clash the Hino Valke scored 3 tries to register their 1st win in 2 attempts. They beat the SWD Eagles 22 / 15 at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. The SWD Eagles, meanwhile, are winless after 3 outings.

ORC Griquas (36) 48 / 21 (7) Leopards:

The Griquas, who lost their opening match of the campaign to the Border Bulldogs, continued their return to form as they emerged victorious in a match that had featured the Top 2 teams on the Log.

Right wing Riaan Viljoen scored twice for the visitors as the win saw them move to the Top of the Log. Before kick-off the Leopards had occupied the Top spot, however, they were no match for a Griquas side that raced into a 36 / 7 halftime lead.

The visitors made a fast start as they raced into a 24 / 0 lead inside just 23 minutes.

Tries from right wing Riaan Viljoen (2), outside centre Jonathan Francke and in-form No 8 Carel Greeff gave them a huge lead before the home side struck back with a converted try from fullback Rhyno Smith.

However, the Griquas were not done yet and soon hit back with 2 more tries by lock Hilton Lobberts and inside centre Clinton Swart. The visitors continued their dominance in the 2nd half which saw pivot Francois Brummer and flank RJ Liebenberg each dotting down. The Leopards answered with tries from replacements Damian Engeldoe and Loftus Morrison.

Scorers:

Leopards:

• Tries: Rhyno Smith (1), Damian Engeldoe (1), Loftus Morrison (1)
• Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (3)

ORC Griquas:

• Tries: Riaan Viljoen (2), Jonathan Francke (1), Carel Greeff (1), Hilton Lobberts (1), Clinton Swart (1), Francois Brummer (1), RJ Liebenberg (1)
• Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (4)

Border (10) 22 / 15 (3) Boland Cavaliers:

Fullback Masizole Banda scored 17 points as the Border Bulldogs made it 2 from 2 with a 22 / 15 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington. Banda scored a brace of tries while slotting 2 conversions and 2 penalties as Border followed up on their win over ORC Griquas 3 weeks ago.

The result could have been different had Eric Zana not left his kicking boots at home. The Boland fullback, who also struggled with the boot against Griquas last week, missed 4 penalty attempts.

He missed his 1st 2 attempts but succeeded in opening the scoring after 14 minutes to put the hosts in front. However, Boland suffered a setback when hooker Clemen Lewis was Yellow Carded in the 29th minute, which gave the visitors control of the 1st half.

Banda burst through the line for the opening try on the half hour mark, which he converted, and then landed a penalty 5 minutes later as Border took control. Zana had the chance to reduce the deficit but failed with his 3rd attempt as the sides swopped ends with the score 10 / 3 in favour of the visitors.

After the break it took the Bulldogs just 5 minutes to extend their lead when scrumhalf Ntando Kebe showed a burst of speed to break the Boland defence. Banda soon scored his 2nd try following a good movement and his conversion gave Border a lead of 22 / 3.

Boland substitute Adriaan Carelse, on for inside centre Jos Malherbe, scored with just 4 minutes remaining. Flyhalf Christian Rust landed the conversion. Boland secured their losing bonus point when flanker Chaney Willemse crashed over in the corner on the sound of the hooter.

Scorers:

Boland Cavaliers:

• Tries: Adriaan Carelse (1), Chaney Willemse (1)
• Conversions: Christian Rust (1)
• Penalties: Eric Zana (1)

Border Bulldogs:

• Tries: Masixole Banda (2), Ntando Kebe (1)
• Conversions: Masixole Banda (2)
• Penalties: Masixole Banda (1)

Hino Valke (10) 22 / 17 (5) SWD Eagles:

The Hino Valke scored 3 tries as they got their campaign back on track with a thrilling win over the SWD Eagles in Kempton Park.

They left it late though, with wing Coert Cronje crossing in the corner with just 5 minutes of play remaining to snatch victory after the 2 teams were locked at 17 / 17. The home side suffered a heavy loss in their only other outing so far, against the Leopards last week.

The Valke had the better of the possession, the territory and the penalty count and yet found themselves trailing 17 / 10 midway through the 2nd half.

In fact, after they had gone 10 / 0 up with a short range try by No 8 Friedle Oliver and the boot of Juan Kotze, the SWD Eagles went on to score 17 unanswered points either side of halfway, with tries by hooker Wayne Khan, flank Christo du Plessis and fyhalf Gerrit Smith. That was despite playing with 14 men for 20 minutes after Leighton Eksteen and Andisa Ntsila were Yellow Caarded.

However, the pressure of playing with a man short proved too much and from another lineout scrumhalf Johan Pretorius made a neat break to put flyhalf Jaco Oosthuizen away and draw the scores level.

As the SWD Eagles faded, the Valke launched a fine move which ended with Cronje crossing for the winner.

Scorers:

Hino Valke:

• Tries: Friedl Olivier (1), Jaco Oosthuizen (1), Coert Cronje (1)
• Conversions: Juan Kotze (2)
• Penalties: Juan Kotze (1)

SWD Eagles:

• Tries: Wayne Khan (1), Christo du Plessis (1), Gerrit Smith (1)
• Conversion: Elric van Vuuren (1)

Currie Cup Qualifiers Log: