Border break their duck
At the same time Griffons and Leopards continued to set the pace in the competition – with three rounds of pool matches remaining.
The Griffons overcame a 22-21 halftime deficit against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington to register a 40-25 victory, despite a hat-trick by Boland winger Charles Mayeza. The victory extended the defending champions’ winning run to four matches and maintained their unbeaten status.
The Griffons scored six tries to four by Boland, while flyhalf Gaun Kotze kept the scoreboard ticking with his accurate goal-kicking, which earned him five conversions over and above his try for a personal total of 15 points.
The Leopards were in fine form against the Welwitschias in Potchefstroom as they outplayed the visitors 78-29 thanks to an impressive 11 tries to two by the visitors.
The Leopards started the clash strongly and built up a 31-12 lead, and they maintained this form after the break to earn their third victory in a row. Leopards No 8 Jeandre Rudolph and centre Bradley Moolman each earned braces, while flyhalf Schalk Hugo scored a try and slotted over 10 conversions and a penalty goal for a personal tally of 28 points.
The Border Bulldogs, meanwhile, registered their first victory of the season as they defeated Eastern Province 40-24 thanks to their six tries to four by the opposition. The first half was closely fought as the East London side took a 14-7 lead, but they did well to convert their chances into points in the second half, which saw them add four tries to their total for the morale-boosting victory.
In George, the SWD Eagles clawed their way back from 6-3 down at the break in a hard-fought encounter against the Falcons to register a narrow 13-9 victory. Only one try was scored in the match compliments of the hosts, whose other points were scored through penalty goals, while the Falcons’s points were compliments of two penalty goals and a drop goal.
Top points scorers after Round Four
Leighton Eksteen (SWD Eagles) – 48
Theuns Kotze (Welwitschias) – 47
Schalk Hugo (Leopards) – 45
Jeandre Rudolph (Leopards) – 40
Gaun Kotze (Griffons) – 38
Top try scorers after Round Four
Jeandre Rudolph (Leopards) – 8
Charles Mayeza (Boland Cavaliers) – 5
Arthur-William Williams (Griffons) – 5
Selvyn Davids (Griffons) – 5
Johan Tromp (Welwitschias) – 5
Round Four results and scorers:
Boland Cavaliers 25 (22) Griffons 40 (21)
Boland Cavaliers
Tries: Chaney Willemse, Charles Mayeza 3
Con: Divan Nel
Pen: Divan Nel
Griffons
Tries: Khwezi Mkhafu, Gaun Kotze, Tertius Maarman, Arthur-William Williams, Vuyo Mbotho, Joubert Engelbrecht
Cons: Gaun Kotze 5
SWD Eagles 13 (3) Falcons 9 (6)
SWD Eagles
Try: Marlo Weich
Con: Leighton Eksteen
Pens: Leighton Eksteen 2
Falcons
Pens: Warren Potgieter, Errol Jaggers
DG: Warren Potgieter
Leopards 78 (31) Welwitschias 29 (12)
Leopards
Tries: Dewald Dekker, Jeandre Rudolph 2, Schalk Hugo, Gene Willemse, Bradley Moolman 2, Jimmy Mpailane, Lungelo Gosa, Francois Jacobs, Dean Gordon
Cons: Schalk Hugo 10
Pen: Schalk Hugo
Welwitschias
Tries: Christo Van der Merwe, Lesley Klim 2, Macho Prinsloo, Francois Wiese
Cons: Macho Prinsloo 2
Eastern Province 24 (7) Border Bulldogs 40 (14)
Eastern Province
Tries: Wynand Grassmann, Siyanda Grey, Sphu Msutwana 2
Cons: Rivan Lemmer, Sonwabo Majola
Border Bulldogs
Tries: Phumlani Blaauw, Billy Dutton, Athenkosi Manentsa, Lelethu Gcilitshane, Sethu Tom, Xolela Payi
Cons: Nkululeko Ndlovu 2, Xolela Payi 3
