The Xerox Golden Lions, Vodacom Blue Bulls and the DHL Western Province all achieved successive wins in the 2nd Round of the ABSA Currie Cup played over the weekend.

In Durban, the Cell C Sharks opened their account with a win over the Eastern Province Kings, which means the EP Kings, Toyota Free State Cheetahs and the ORC Griquas are still searching for their 1st win after 2 Rounds of Premier Division matches.

At Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg the Xerox Golden Lions survived a bruising battle against the Steval Pumas to win 44 / 27 (halftime 20 / 10) on Friday night. In another Friday evening clash Vodacom Blue Bulls flyhalf Tian Schoeman contributed 21 points to steer his team to a 36 / 12 victory over the ORC Griquas at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Griquas led 12 / 6 at halftime.

DHL Western Province beat the Toyota Free State Cheetahs 9 / 3 in driving rain on Saturday afternoon to hand new coach, John Dobson, his 1st ABSA Currie Cup win at DHL Newlands in Cape Town. In the late Saturday kick-off the Cell C Sharks fought off a determined challenge from the Eastern Province Kings to claim a 33 / 25 (half-time 18 / 10) victory at Growthpoint Kings Park.

The Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions have both collected the maximum 10 Log Points on offer from their 2 outings and the Gauteng rivals are closely followed by defending champions, Western Province, who have 9 Log Points.

Xerox Golden Lions (20) 44 / 27 (10) Steval Pumas:

The Pumas will reflect on their lack of discipline, which resulted in 2 Penalty Tries. However, they displayed a huge amount of fighting spirit and despite trailing 10 / 20 at halftime, they came out with an intent which was more than matched by the Golden Lions. The 2nd half was a points feast while 3 Yellow Cards were also dished out in that period. 2 Of those were shown to the Lions as they withstood a final, desperate assault from the visitors.

However, perhaps more telling was the dismissal of Pumas flyhalf and ace-kicker, JC Roos, for a deliberate knock-down as the Lions stormed through. Not only did that concede a Penalty Try, but it deprived the Pumas of the chance to chip away at the lead as the Lions surrendered penalties under pressure. They went for lineouts and unfortunately came away with nothing from 3 attempts.

Harold Vorster (outside centre), Courtnall Skosan (left wing) and Stokkies Hanekom (replacement centre) each scored a try for the Golden Lions in addition to the 2 Penalty Tries. Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff kicked 5 conversions, a drop goal and 2 penalties for a tally of 19 points with the boot.

Lively Pumas flank Marnus Schoeman dived over for his 3rd try in 2 matches, while Bernado Botha (right wing) and captain Stefan Watermeyer (inside centre) also crossed for a try each. Roos added 3 conversions and 2 penalties with the boot.

Scorers:

Xerox Golden Lions:

• Tries: Harold Vorster (1), Penalty Tries (2), Courtnall Skosan (1), Stokkies Hanekom (1)
• Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (5)
• Drop Goal: Marnitz Boshoff (1)
• Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (2)

Steval Pumas:

• Tries: Marnus Schoeman (1), Bernado Botha (1), Stefan Watermeyer (1)
• Conversions: JC Roos (3)
• Penalties: JC Roos (2)

Vodacom Blue Bulls (6) 36 / 12 (12) ORC Griquas:

The Vodacom Blue Bulls had to fight hard for their victory on Friday evening in Pretoria, which they achieved thanks to a much better 2nd half performance and the 4 tries they scored after the visitors had crossed the line twice in the opening period.

Springbok Sevens flyer Ruhan Nel, moved from centre to right wing for this clash, scored a long-range intercept try while his wing colleague Ntabeni Dukisa swivelled out of a weak tackle to score in the corner with halftime fast approaching. The Blue Bulls had a try by fullback Warrick Gelant disallowed as the last pass was ruled forward.

Replacement prop Dayan van der Westhuizen, a 2014 Junior Springbok, scored an impressive try for the home side while flyhalf Schoeman, Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf) and Jamba Ulengo (wing) completed the bonus-point tally of 4 tries.

Scorers:

Vodacom Blue Bulls:

• Tries: Dayan van der Westhuizen (1), Tian Schoeman (1), Francois Hougaard (1), Jamba Ulengo (1)
• Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2)
• Penalties: Tian Schoeman (4)

ORC Griquas:

• Tries: Ruhan Nel (1), Ntabeni Dukisa (1)
• Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (1)

DHL Western Province (0) 9 / 3 (3) Toyota Free State Cheetahs:

The heavy field and persistent rain made playing conditions difficult for both teams at DHL Newlands. Province had an early try disallowed because of a double movement, after a good build-up.

A Yellow Card to Free State Cheetahs winger Rayno Benjamin in the 32nd minute gave WP the man over on the attack, but they did not take full advantage.

WP had the option to kick at goal on 3 occasions in the 1st half, all of which were within striking distance for flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, but instead they chose to go for the corner.

The Free State Cheetahs went into the break at 3 / 0 up thanks to a Fred Zeilinga penalty.

2 Successful penalty kicks after halftime by Catrakilis handed the home team a slender 6 / 3 lead. A 2nd Yellow Card, this time to replacement loose forward Gerhard Olivier, again left the Free State Cheetahs 1 man short and with a 6 points deficit as Demetri Catrakilis slotted the resulting penalty for what would eventually be the winning score line.

Scorers:

DHL Western Province:

• Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (3)

Toyota Free State Cheetahs:

• Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (1)

Cell C Sharks (18) 33 / 25 (10) Eastern Province Kings:

It was the Cell C Sharks’ 1st victory after their opening day loss away to the Steval Pumas last weekend. The home team managed to stand firm in the closing stages and claimed 5 Log Points, much to the relief of their supporters.

It was a promising effort by the EP Kings and the bonus point they earned for scoring 4 tries will give them much confidence heading into the remainder of the competition.

André Esterhuizen (left wing), Lionel Cronjé (flyhalf), Daniel du Preez (flank) and Paul Jordaan (replacement centre) all scored tries for the home side, with Joe Pietersen (fullback) adding 2 conversions and 2 penalties. George Whitehead (flyhalf), Tim Agaba (No 8), Steven Sykes (lock) and Enrico Acker (scrumhalf) were the EP Kings’ scorers. George Whitehead also kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks:

• Tries: André Esterhuizen (1), Lionel Cronjé (1), Daniel du Preez (1), Paul Jordaan (1)
• Conversions: Joe Pietersen (2)
• Penalties: Joe Pietersen (3)

EP Kings:

• Tries: George Whitehead (1), Tim Agaba (1), Steven Sykes (1), Enrico Acker (1)
• Conversions: George Whitehead (1)
• Penalties: George Whitehead (1)