Unbeaten Griquas stay clear at the top

The Peacock Blues have now won seven consecutive games and with 33 points on the log have seemingly put beyond doubt the fact that they will be playing in this year's Currie Cup competition.

Building on their good momentum from the last couple of weeks, Griquas will now travel to Cape Town for their next encounter against Western Province next Saturday.

The Blue Bulls, still with only a single victory to their name, will lick their wounds before they take on the Leopards at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

The Bulls started well, with flank Roelof Smit crossing the whitewash as early as the 14th minute after Griquas missed an earlier penalty. Bulls fly half Joshua Stander added the extra two points two give the visitors a head start.

Griquas recovered quickly, with centre Jonathan Francke who scored only three minutes later. The conversion by full back Gouws Prinsloo, who did not have the best afternoon with the kicking boot, levelled the scores with 20 minutes in the first half left to play.

Smit continued with his impressive form by scoring the second of his three tries on the afternoon after some good pressure on attack by the Bulls. Stander, who converted all five the Bulls tries, opened the lead to seven points once again.

Winger Ederies Arendse kept his side within striking distance with his try five minutes from halftime, with fly half Andre Swarts, who took over the kicking duties, converting and also kicking a late penalty to give Griquas a hard fought lead of 17-14 at the break.

The hosts came out all guns blazing in the second half, with Francke scoring his second of the afternoon and Swarts converting to leave the Bulls stunned. Another penalty by Stander settled the visitors nerves somewhat and they got back into the game as Smit completed his hat-trick soon thereafter.

A penalty by Swarts meant Griquas kept their noses in front, but two quick tries to the Bulls via flank Renaldo Bothma and full back Duncan Matthews had the hosts in trouble. Their unbeaten record dangling on a string, replacement Clinton Swart and captain and winger AJ Coertzen dug deep and both scored to help snatch victory from the Bulls grasp.

Scorers:

For Griquas:

Tries: Francke 2, Arendse, Swart, Coertzen

Cons: Prinsloo, Swarts 2, Swart

Pens: Swarts 2

Blue Bulls:

Tries: Smit 3, Bothma, Matthews

Cons: Stander 5

Pen: Stander

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 AJ Coertzen (captain), 13 JW Jonker, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Ederies Arendse, 10 Andre Swarts, 9 Tiaan Dorfling, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 Devon Martinus.

Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Stephan Kotze, 19 Jonathan Adendorf, 20 Steven Meiring, 21 Clinton Swart, 22 Eric Zana.

Blue Bulls: 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Divan Rossouw, 13 Alcino Isaacs, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Jade Stighlingh, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Renaldo Bothma, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Aston Fortuin, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Nqobisizwe Mxoli.

Replacements: 16 Jan van der Merwe, 17 Njabulo Gumede, 18 Ruben van Heerden, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Andre Warner, 21 Kurt Webster, 22 Marquit September.

Referee: Lesego Legoete

Griffons 34-23 Border

The Griffons secured a bonus-point 34-23 (half-time 17-16) Provincial tournament victory over the Border Bulldogs in Welkom on Saturday.

The home side put in a strong second half performance in securing five log points which lifted them into sixth position on the qualifying log, outscoring the visitors by four tries to two. But it was the visitors who opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute with the first try of the match.

Flank Siya Mdaka barged his way over from a good position with flyhalf Masixole Banda adding the extra points. But the Griffons hit right back with a penalty through flyhalf George Whitehead before outside centre, Duan Pretorius sliced his way through the Border defence to dot down close to the poles as the home side took the lead. Whitehead converted the try to give the hosts a three-point advantage.

Banda though levelled matters midway through the first half after some sustained pressure resulted in a penalty for the visitors. This did not deter the hosts at all as flank Boela Venter bossed his way over the line for the home side's second five-pointer. Whitehead did not miss a beat with the boot, slotting the conversion to extend the lead to seven points.

Border closed off the first half just a point behind their hosts as Banda slotted two more penalties shortly before the break.

The second stanza though belonged to the home side as they took command of the match with two tries through tighthead prop, Heinrich Roelofse and fullback, Selvyn Davids, to take a commanding 15-point lead heading into the final 20 minutes as Whitehead continued with his accurate kicking.

The Bulldogs did not give up and used their forwards well with No 8 Nkosikhona Nofuma diving over the line for the visitor's second try. Banda converted to leave the men from East London just eight points down and still 19 minutes left on the stadium clock.

Whitehead's accurate boot fell off late on in the game as the flyhalf missed two penalty attempts in trying to kill off the game but eventually made sure of the win when he slotted his second penalty three minutes from time to hand the hosts a much-needed victory.

Scorers

For the Griffons:

Tries: Pretorius, Venter, Roelofse, Davids

Cons: Whitehead 4

Pens: Whitehead 2

Border Bulldogs:

Tries: Mdaka, Nofuma

Cons: Banda 2

Pens: Banda 3

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Selvyn Davids, 14 Warren Williams, 13 Duan Pretorius, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Vuyo MBotho, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Malcolm-Kerr Till, 8 Dirk Groenewald, 7 Boela Venter, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Gavin Annandale (captain), 4 Samora Fihlani, 3 Biggy Roelfse, 2 Niel Rautenbach, 1 Danie van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Hennie Venter, 17 George Marich, 18 Vince Maruping, 19 Martin Sithole, 20 ZIngi April, 21 Louis Venter, 22 Sherwin Slater.

Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lunga Dumezweni, 11 Michael Makasa, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Bangi Kobese, 8 Nkosikhona Nofuma, 7 Siya Mdaka (captain), 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Yanga Xakalashe.

Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Blake Kyd, 18 Athi Khethani, 19 Johannes van Rensburg, 20 Zukisani Tywaleni, 21 Sethu Tom, 22 Siphosenkosi Nofemele.

Referee: Jaco Kotze