Unbeaten Log leaders, the Leopards, and SWD Eagles will play each other in the ABSA Currie Cup First Division final on Thursday in Potchefstroom after both teams won their Semi-finals over the weekend.
Centre Adriaan Engelbrecht kicked 19 points as the Leopards overcame a strong 2nd-half performance from the Hino Valke to complete a 29 / 17 (halftime 17 / 7) victory at Profërt Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday afternoon.
On Saturday in Welkom, the SWD Eagles continued their resurgence with a deserving 47 / 40 (halftime 28 / 25) away victory over the Down Touch Griffons at the HT Pelatona Projects Stadium.
Fullback Leighton Eksteen contributed 27 points with a try, 3 conversions and 6 penalties as the Eagles fullback consolidated his position as the season’s 2nd highest point scorer.
The Eagles will now need to find a way to do something that no other team has managed to do in 11 attempts this season, and that is to beat the prolific Leopards.
Leopards (17) 29 / 17 (7) Hino Valke:
In Potchefstroom, inside centre Engelbrecht succeeded with 2 conversions and 5 penalties as the Leopards tasted victory despite being outscored by 3 tries to 2 against the Valke.
The win means that the Leopards remain unbeaten in the competition this year after they went through the round-robin stage unbeaten and they also avenged their loss to the Valke at the same stage last season.
The Valke, despite being 10 points down at halftime, fought back well to narrow the gap to just 2 points after 58 minutes. However, the Leopards were not to be denied and they secured their win after Engelbrecht slotted his 5th penalty and an intercept try from fullback Rhyno Smith.
The hosts had cruised to a 9-point lead after 14 minutes thanks to 3 Engelbrecht penalties but the Valke struck back with their 1st try through left wing Etienne Taljaard on the half hour.
The home team finished the 1st stanza in control as hooker Cage van der Westhuyzen crashed over for a converted try 4 minutes later before Engelbrecht succeeded with his 4th before the break.
It was the Valke who started the 2nd half strongly and they soon cut the deficit to 2 points thanks to 2 unconverted tries from outside centre Grand Janke and Johan Pretorius. However, the Leopards were not going to be denied by the Valke for the 2nd year in a row and they saw off a late Valke challenge with a late flurry of points.
Scorers:
Leopards:
- Tries: Cage van der Westhuyzen (1), Rhyno Smith (1)
- Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (2)
- Penalties: Adriaan Engelbrecht (5)
Hino Valke:
- Tries: Ettienne Taljaard (1), Grand Janke (1), Johan Pretorius (1)
- Conversions: Juan Kotze (1)
Down Touch Griffons (25) 40 / 47 (28) SWD Eagles:
The Eagles ran rampant in the 1st 6 minutes, opening up a 12 / 0 lead thanks to tries by Eksteen and flanker Wayne Khan. Both sides traded a few penalties before the Griffons landed their 1st try through flanker Martin Sithole, which right wing Nico Scheepers converted.
The visitors extended their lead by 7 points when winger Carlo Radebe scored in the corner but the Griffons hit back immediately to level the scores when fullback Wayne Pienaar dotted down. 6 Minutes later, flyhalf Martin du Toit dashed over the line for the Eagles’ 4th try of the match as the 1st half continued to be a ping-pong affair.
Prop Daniel van der Merwe crashed his way over the line 3 minutes later for an unconverted try to level the scores yet again, but Eksteen landed a penalty on the stroke of halftime with the visitors holding a slender 3-point advantage.
The Griffons scored 1st after the break through flyhalf Franna du Toit as the hosts grabbed the lead for the 1st time. Replacement loose forward Andisa Ntsila grabbed his try shortly before the midway mark of the 2nd half, which Eksteen converted after slotting a penalty earlier to give the visitors a handy 8-point lead.
Scheepers reduced the deficit to 5 points before Eksteen landed 3 penalties to put the game beyond doubt with a 14-point lead and only 5 minutes left. The hosts managed a consolation try through substitute scrumhalf Wilmar Abrahams.
Scorers:
Down Touch Griffons:
- Tries: Daniel van der Merwe (1), Franna du Toit (1), Martin Sithole (1), Willmar Groenewald (1), Willmar Groenewald (1)
- Conversions: Nico Scheepers (3)
- Penalties: Nico Scheepers (3)
SWD Eagles:
- Tries: Andisa Ntsila (1), Carlo Radebe (1), Leighton Eksteen (1), Martin du Toit (1), Wayne Khan (1)
- Conversions: Leighton Eksteen (2)
- Penalties: Leighton Eksteen (6)