The ORC Griquas maintained their slender 1 point lead in the ABSA Currie Cup qualifying race thanks to their 57 / 33 win over the Hino Valke in Kempton Park, Johannesburg on Saturday, while the Leopards stayed in the hunt by beating Boland Cavaliers 61 / 17 in Potchefstroom.
Heading into the final Round of matches next week, the Griquas and Leopards are the only teams in contention for the qualifying spot to the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division. Griquas are in front on 21 points, with the Leopards nipping at their heels on 20 points.
Down Touch Griffons put in a powerful 2nd half performance to beat the Border Bulldogs 43 / 20 despite trailing by 5 points at the break. The win lifted the Griffons from the basement to 4th on the log while SWD Eagles, who were not in action over the weekend, slipped to last place.
ORC Griquas (33) 57 / 33 (7) Hino Valke:
At the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, the Kimberley-based side scored 9 tries and the bonus point means they maintain their slender advantage over the Leopards. Wing Kyle Hendricks was outstanding for the home side and scored 4 tries, including a hat-trick in the 2nd half when the Hino Valke stormed back from a 7 / 33 deficit.
AJ Coertzen (wing, 2), Carel Greeff (No 8), Tian Meyer (scrumhalf) and Jonathan Francke (centre) all scored for Griquas in a 1-sided 1st half, while Gouws Prinsloo (fullback) kicked the conversions. Hendricks’ converted try was the only reply from the Hino Valke. Griquas continued their try onslaught in the 2nd stanza, with Ntabeni Dukisa (wing), Clinton Swart (centre), Hugo Kloppers (lock) and Carel Greeff each dotting down put the game beyond the Valke’s reach. Hendricks, who impressed all afternoon for the home side, ran in 3 tries as Griquas took their foot off the gas in the latter stages.
Scorers:
ORC Griquas:
- Tries: AJ Coertzen (2), Carel Greeff (2), Tian Meyer (1), Hugo Kloppers (1), Jonathan Francke (1), Clinton Swart (1), Ntabeni Dukisa (1)
- Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (6)
Hino Valke:
- Tries: Kyle Hendricks (4), Arno Poley (1)
- Conversions: Juan Kotze (4)
Leopards (33) 61 / 17 (10) Boland Cavaliers:
Dillon Smit (No 9) and Rhyno Smith (No 15) both scored a brace of tries as the Leopards cruised to a comprehensive win over the Boland Cavaliers at Profert Olen Park in Potchefstroom. Scrumhalf Smit and fullback Smith were responsible for 4 of the Leopards’ 9 tries while centre Adriaan Engelbrecht ended with 16 points as he kicked 8 conversions. The Leopards were quick off the mark and they raced to a 26 / 0 lead in as many minutes.
Smit, Ashlon Davids (flyhalf), Smith and Tyler Fisher (centre) scored for the hosts while Boland’s Danwel Demas replied with their only try of the 1st half. After the break it was one-way traffic as the Leopards added to their score through tries from Adriaan Vermeulen (left wing), Sizo Maseko (replacement wing), Smith and Damian Engeldoe (right wing). Boland only managed a converted try through fullback Eric Zana.
Scorers:
Leopards:
- Tries: Dillon Smit (2), Ashlon Davids (1), Rhyno Smith (2), Tyler Fisher (1), Adriaan Vermeulen (1), Sizo Maseko (1), Damian Engeldoe (1)
- Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (8)
Boland Cavaliers:
- Tries: Arno Fortuin (1), Danwel Demas (1), Eric Zana (1)
- Conversions: Christian Rust (1)
Down Touch Griffons (15) 43 / 20 (6) Border Bulldogs:
Nicky Steyn and Japie Nel both scored 2 tries each as the Down Touch Griffons delivered a strong 2nd-half performance to beat the Border Bulldogs 43 / 20 at the Pelatona Projects Stadium in Welkom.
No 8 Steyn and inside centre Nel were responsible for 4 of the Griffons’ 6 tries as the home team claimed just their 2nd win of campaign to move off the bottom of the table. The result was academic because both teams are out of the running for promotion. The 1st half was a tight affair which saw the Griffons battling their way to a 9-point lead.
Fullback Tertius Maarman and Steyn scored tries for the Griffons and Franna du Toit slotted the conversions. Border fullback Logan Basson kicked 2 penalties in the 1st half of action. the Griffons were in command in the 2nd half, which started on a good note for them when Steyn crashed over for his 2nd try just after the restart. Border managed a Penalty Try, but the Griffons secured the win thanks to tries from left wing Enver Brandt and 2 efforts from Nel.
Scorers:
Down Touch Griffons:
- Tries: Tertius Maarman (1), Nicky Steyn (2), Enver Brandt (1), Japie Nel (2)
- Conversions: Franna du Toit (2), Louis Strydom (3)
- Penalties: Franna du Toit (1)
Border Bulldogs:
- Tries: Penalty Try (1), Drex Mapimpi (1)
- Conversions: Thembani Mkokeli (1), Oliver Zono (1)
- Penalties: Logan Basson (2)