The Xerox Golden Lions produced their most impressive display of the season when they demolished DHL Western Province 62 / 32 in their ABSA Currie Cup match at Emirates Airline Park on Friday evening in Johannesburg.
The Golden Lions stretched their unbeaten run to 9 games and their prolific form saw them stack up 135 points in their last 2 games. They are 9 Log Points clear of 2nd-placed Vodacom Blue Bulls, who outplayed the Eastern Province Kings by 48 / 27 also on Friday evening in Pretoria.
Although WP suffered their 3rd loss of their campaign against a rampant Golden Lions team, their 30 Log points means they are assured of 3rd place on the standings, irrespective of the outcome of their last Round clash this coming Friday against the EP Kings in Cape Town.
ORC Griquas were no match for the Cell C Sharks in Kimberley on Saturday as the Durban-based side ran in 6 tries for a 45 / 20 victory to move within 2 points of the 4th-placed Toyota Free State Cheetahs on the Log.
The Steval Pumas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs played to a thrilling 37 / 37 draw in their encounter at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday after the visitors led 24 / 16 at halftime.
Currently, the Xerox Golden Lions lead the way on 43 Log points, followed by the Vodacom Blue Bulls on 34, DHL Western Province are 3rd on 30, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs 4th on 21, followed by the Cell C Sharks on 19, Steval Pumas on 16, EP Kings on 12 and ORC Griquas are stone last on 8.
This coming weekend sees the Toyota Free State Cheetahs host the Cell C Sharks in Bloemfontein and the winner of this encounter will play the Xerox Golden Lions in 1 of the Semi-finals in Johannesburg. The Vodacom Blue Bulls just need a win in Nelspruit to set up a home meeting in the semi-finals against DHL Western Province.
Round 10 (last round of league fixtures) are:
Friday 9 October:
- DHL Western Province vs EP Kings (DHL Newlands, 18:00 SA Time)
- Steval Pumas vs Vodacom Blue Bulls (Mbombela Stadium, 18:00 SA Time)
Saturday 10 October:
- Xerox Golden Lions vs ORC Griquas (Emirates Airline Park, 14:00 SA Time)
- Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Cell C Sharks (Free State Stadium, 16:05 SA Time)
Xerox Golden Lions (36) 62 / 32 (20) DHL Western Province:
The Xerox Golden Lions smashed through the 50-point barrier for a 2nd week in a row at Emirates Airline Park, scoring 9 tries in the process against last year’s winner from Cape Town, DHL Western Province.
The Golden Lions gave early warning of their intent with a superb break through the middle, which ended with Marnitz Boshoff slotting his only penalty after 3 minutes, on his way to a personal tally of 18 points from a try, 5 conversions and the penalty. DHL Western Province responded with 2 Robert du Preez penalties. But then the Golden Lions got themselves organised and their precision and pace proved too much for Province.
First No 4 lock Lourens Erasmus scored under the posts after multiple phases in the 11th minute, and on the half hour No 5 lock, Franco Mostert, scored their bonus-point 4th try for a lead of 29 / 6. Flying hooker Malcolm Marx followed next and he in turn, was followed by Boshoff.
DHL WP then hit back, 1st though a Sikhumbuzo Notshe try from a driving maul, and then just before halftime when centre Johnny Kotze dotted down. However, to the delight of the home support, the Golden Lions replied in typical fashion.
1st It was centre Howard Mnisi who wiped out the Notshe try and 5 minutes after the restart Andries Coetzee went over in the corner for the Golden Lions’ 6th try.
More was to follow from wing Anthony Volmink and flank Kwagga Smith. Later Stokkies Hanekom finished another superb move. WP never gave up and Notshe as well as Nic Groom each scored after driving mauls.
Scores:
Xerox Golden Lions:
- Tries: Lourens Erasmus (1), Malcolm Marx (1), Marnitz Boshoff (1), Franco Mostert (1), Howard Mnisi (1), Andries Coetzee (1), Anthony Volmink (1), Kwagga Smith (1), Stokkies Hanekom (1)
- Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (5), Jaco van der Walt (2)
- Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (1)
DHL Western Province:
- Tries: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (2), Johnny Kotze (1), Nic Groom (1)
- Conversions: Robert du Preez (3)
- Penalties: Robert du Preez (2)
Vodacom Blue Bulls (17) 48 / 27 (20) Eastern Province Kings:
The Vodacom Blue Bulls ran in 7 tries to register a comprehensive victory over the EP Kings at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. The EP Kings started strong with fullback Scott van Breda landing a penalty goal before centre Tim Whitehead crossed for the 1st try of the match.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls hit back with 2 tries through captain and flank Lappies Labuschagne and Springbok No 8 Arno Botha. Flyhalf Tian Schoeman converted both tries and landed a penalty goal to give the home side the lead before halftime.
However, the Kings refused to lie down and were rewarded with an Elgar Watts try. Van Breda converted to allow the visitors a slender 20 / 17 lead at halftime.
EP Kings’ replacement hooker Edgar Marutlulle was shown a Yellow Card in the 49th minute and the Blue Bulls used the advantage to allow centre Dries Swanepoel to score from close range. Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard then scored a brilliant solo try moments later and prop Werner Kruger got their 5th try before the EP Kings also lost replacement prop Schalk Ferreira to a Yellow Card.
Replacement flank Ruan Schoeman and lock Jacques du Plessis both dotted down in the final minutes while EP Kings centre JP du Plessis pulled back a consolation try.
Scorers:
Vodacom Blue Bulls:
- Tries: Lappies Labuschagne (1), Arno Botha (1), Dries Swanepoel (1), Francois Hougaard (1), Werner Kruger (1), Ruan Steenkamp (1), Jacques du Plessis (1)
- Conversions: Tian Schoeman (5)
- Penalties: Tian Schoeman (1)
Eastern Province Kings:
- Tries: Tim Whitehead (1), Elgar Watts (1), JP du Plessis (1)
- Conversions: Scott van Breda (3)
- Penalties: Scott van Breda (2)
ORC Griquas (10) 20 / 45 (31) Cell C Sharks:
ORC Griquas were no match for a rampant Cell C Sharks side during their ABSA Currie Cup match at GWK Park in Kimberley on Saturday. The Cell C Sharks secured their 4-try bonus point before halftime already and took a commanding 31 / 10 lead into the break.
Cobus Reinach, Paul Jordaan, Francois Kleinhans and André Esterhuizen were 1st-half try scorers for the Cell C Sharks, while Michael Claassens and S’bura Sithole added a try each in the 2nd half.
Joe Pietersen enjoyed a fine afternoon with the boot as he succeeded with all 6 conversions to go with 1 penalty. Sevens specialists Ruhan Nel (2) and Sandile Ngcobo scored 3 tries amongst them for the ORC Griquas. Clinton Swart converted 2 tries and also slotted a penalty.
Scorers:
ORC Griquas:
- Tries: Ruhan Nel (2), Sandile Ngcobo (1)
- Conversions: Clinton Swart (2)
- Penalties: Clinton Swart (1)
Cell C Sharks:
- Tries: Cobus Reinach (1), Paul Jordaan (1), Francois Kleinhans (1), André Esterhuizen (1), Michael Claassens (1), S’bura Sithole
- Conversions: Joe Pietersen (6)
- Penalties: Joe Pietersen (1)
Steval Pumas (16) 37 / 37 (24) Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
The Steval Pumas played superbly in the 2nd half to wipe out a 24 / 16 deficit. The Free State Cheetahs scored 5 tries through wing Sergeal Petersen, No 8 De Wet Kruger, flank Oupa Mohoje, centre Francois Venter and replacement Freddy Ngoza.
Flyhalf Sias Ebersohn added 3 conversions and a penalty while replacement Niel Marais was also on target with a penalty. The Pumas responded with 4 tries of their own by flank Jaco Bouwer, replacement forwards De-Jay Terblanche, Marnus Schoeman and Rudi Mathee. Flyhalf Justin van Staden was successful with all 4 conversions and 3 penalties.
Both teams picked up 3 Log points – 2 for the draw and 1 for scoring 4 tries or more.
Scorers:
Steval Pumas:
- Tries: Jaco Bouwer (1), De-Jay Terblanche (1), Marnus Schoeman (1), Rudi Mathee (1)
- Conversions: Justin van Staden (4)
- Penalties: Justin van Staden (3)
Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
- Tries: Sergeal Petersen (1), Oupa Mohoje (1), Francois Venter (1), De Wet Kruger (1), Freddie Ngoza (1)
- Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (3)
- Penalties: Sias Ebersohn (1), Niel Marais (1)