In the penultimate round of Currie Cup qualifiers, Griquas ousted the Valke 40-25 in Kimberley, while there were also wins for the Leopards and the Griffons.
Griquas claimed a bonus-point victory against the Valke to maintain their one-point lead over the Leopards on the qualifier log. A brace in the space of four minutes from flank Marnus Schoeman got Griquas underway, while a penalty and a drop goal from flyhalf Juan Kotze put the Valke on the scorecard.
A breakdown infringement resulted in a yellow card for Valke flank JP Mostert and Griquas pounced through lock Willem Serfontein for their third. Flyhalf Francois Brummer added his third successful conversion of the match.
They secured the bonus point with a converted try early in the second half, but a lapse in concentration saw the Valke cross the tryline twice in three minutes through wing Riaan Arends and Kotze. But just as the Valke started to gain momentum, a double by scrumhalf Tian Meyer put Griquas firmly in the ascendency in context of both the match and the qualifier log. Outside centre Andrew van Wyk scored a consolation for the visitors.
In Wellington, the Leopards kept their top-tier Currie Cup ambitions alive with a 55-23 win over a hapless Boland outfit. The Leopards outscored their opponents nine tries to two. Leopards flyhalf André Pretorius had a poor return from the kicking tee, only converting four of their tries, while Boland’s No 10 Morné Hugo kicked three penalties with their fullback Eric Zana also slotting two conversions.
The Griffons put in a convincing performance to beat bottom-placed Border 41-15 in East London. The Griffons scored six tries, and conceded just two to ensure a victorius return to Welkom.
Griquas (40) – Tries: Marnus Schoeman (2), Willem Serfontein, Tian Meyer (2), Burger Schoeman. Conversions: Francois Brummer (5).
Valke (25) – Tries: Riaan Arends, Juan Kotze, Andrew van Wyk. Conversions: Kotze (2). Penalty: Kotze. Drop Goal: Kotze.
Leopards (55) – Tries: Luther Obi (2), Juan Language (2), Dillion Smit (2), Sylvian Mahuza, Kobus de Kock, Hoffman Maritz. Conversions: André Pretorius (4), Maritz.
Boland (23) – Tries: Christian Rust, Franzel September. Conversions: Eric Zana (2). Penalties: Morné Hugo (3).
Griffons (41) – Tries: Tertius Maarman, Norman Nelson, Nicky Steyn, Joubert Horn, Boela Abrahams, Armandt Koster. Conversions: Pieter-Steyn de Wet (4). Penalty: De Wet.
Border (15) – Tries: Rynardt van Wyk, Lundi Ralarala. Conversion: Masixole Banda. Penalty: Banda.
Photo: Gallo Images
