Griquas stay alive with Cavaliers win
Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:54
Griquas kept their Currie Cup playoff campaign on track after recording a 31-23 bonus-point win over the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Friday
The visitors scored five tries to two while the bonus point victory moved them to the top of the Currie Cup points table, with 34 points, with all the other major contenders still to play their weekend matches.
Boland, who began the game with just one win from their previous nine matches in this year’s competition, will draw a lot of positives from the match as they lost 80-7 to Griquas earlier in the season.
Boland’s spirit was epitomised by their No.8 Junior Bester, who provided some powerful midfield breaks and his performance was rewarded with a try.
The visitor’s victory was led by Riaan Viljoen, who sparked a number of counter-attacks from fullback while flyhalf Naas Olivier was full of running and he was happy to attack the advantage line when given the opportunity.
The Cavaliers opened the scoring in the third minute when left wing Justin Peach popped over a penalty from in front of the posts after the Griquas’ forwards were penalised for going off their feet at a ruck.
In the early exchanges Boland belied their lowly position on the log as they adopted an expansive game-plan that stretched the Griquas’ defence.
In fact, the home side dominated the first 15 minutes of the game and they stretched their lead to six points when Peach converted his second penalty, in the 13th minute, after Griquas were caught off side.
However, after being under the cosh for 15 minutes Griquas scored the opening try of the contest when Viljoen cut through Boland’s defence before popping an inside pass to centre Barry Geel who dotted down under the posts.
The successful conversion from Olivier helped Griquas take the lead for the first time in the game.
Boland were not disheartened by falling behind and they reclaimed the lead 10 minutes later when Peach goaled his third penalty.
Boland’s lead did not last long though as Olivier slid though a gap before offering up a pop pass to Geel. Geel then unloaded to outside centre Wilmaure Louw who dived over under the posts.
Olivier had little difficulty with the simple conversion attempt as Griquas eased into a 14-9 lead after 29 minutes.
Olivier scored a try himself three minutes later when the impressive scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius intercepted a loose pass on his own 10-metre line. Pretorius set off on a jinking run that carried him deep into Boland territory before he slipped a pass to Olivier with the flyhalf going over in the corner.
The pivot converted his score as Griquas went to the break holding a 21-9 lead.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw both sides battling to gain the upper hand and it was the home side that took their opportunity first as Boland spread the ball wide with No 8 Alwyn Bester being on hand to crash over in the left hand corner.
Peach succeeded with the difficult conversion attempt as Boland cut the lead to five points with 53 minutes of the match played.
But, as in the first half, the score from Boland seemed to energise Griquas and five minutes later they finally scored the bonus point try.
Flank Rohan Kitshoff took a pass from lock Jacques Lombaard on the Cavaliers’ 22-metre line before scampering away to score an unconverted try.
Boland held their own until, with just three minutes to go, Griquas’ left wing Trompie Nontshinga crossed for his team’s fifth try to make the game safe for the visitors.
But Boland had one more trick up their sleeve and, with the hooter having already sounded, replacement loose forward Wendal Wehr took a pass on Griquas’ 10-metre before galloping away to score a fine individual try.
Man of the match: A
number of Boland players stood out on the day, most notably loose-forwards Junior Bester and David Hendricks while Griquas' Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius and Riaan Viljoen were the visitors' standouts. However, Rohan Kitshoff was all over and his all-round display gives him the edge to claim the award.
The Scorers:
For Boland
Tries: Bester, Wehr
Cons: Peach 2
Pens: Peach 3
For Griquas
Tries: Geel, Louw, Olivier, Kitshoff, Nontshinga
Cons: Olivier 3
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Hayden Groepes, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Dandré Gerber, 11 Justin Peach, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Charlie King, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Rito Hlungwane (captain), 6 David Hendricks, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 George Earl, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas,
1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Conrad Burke, 17 Jané du Toit, 18 Wendal Wehr, 19 Zolani Mofu, 20 Denzil Willemse, 21 Dewey Swartbooi, 22 Alvin Hugo.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Trompie Nontshinga, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Cecil-John Kemp, 4 Jacques Lombaard, 3 Albertus Buckle, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Ruaan du Preez, 18 Nolan Clarke, 19 Sean Plaatjies, 20 Dewald Pretorius, 21 Jaco Bekker, 22 Gavin Passens.
Referee: Stuart Berry
With thanks to SA Rugby
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