Leopards, Griffons win tricky away fixtures

Sep 6 • General News • 1512 Views • Comments Off on Leopards, Griffons win tricky away fixtures

The Leopards and the Down Touch Griffons won their Absa Currie Cup First Division away fixtures by comfortable margins over the weekend while the SWD Eagles notched up their second win of the season at home in George.

The Boland Cavaliers struggled to match the physicality of the visiting Leopards and they lost 47-12 at Boland Park, in Wellington on Saturday after trailing 21-5 at halftime.

Border Bulldogs offered stiff resistance in a low-scoring first half in their Friday evening clash in East London against the Down Touch Griffons, but some enterprising play by the Griffons in the second stanza eventually saw the visitors return home with a comfortable 31-16 win.

At Outeniqua Park in George, a last gasp try by left wing Alshaun Bock and 16 points from fullback Leighton Eksteen steered the SWD Eagles to a 21-17 success over the Hino Valke on Friday evening.

SWD Eagles (14) 21 Hino Valke (10) 17

The Valke remain in second place on the log with 19 points from seven starts after they suffered their third loss of the competition. They fought back to down Border last week in East London, but this week it was the Eagles who hunted them successfully at the picturesque ground in George.

The hosts also had the agony of having their first player sent off this year when right wing Clinton Wagman was shown a straight red card.

With the visitors leading 17-14 and time almost up on the clock, Bock finished off a fine counter-attacking move to hand the Garden Route boys just their second win this season. Fullback Eksteen sparkled by scoring 16 points through a try, a conversion and three penalties.

Scorers:

SWD Eagles: Tries: Alshaun Bock, Leighton Eksteen; Conversion: Eksteen; Penalties: Eksteen (3).

Hino Valke: Tries: Friedle Olivier, Jacques Verwey, Kyle Hendricks; Conversion: Jaun Kotze.

Border Bulldogs (3) 16 Down Touch Griffons (12) 31

The cold and breezy conditions made it difficult for both teams to get going in the first half and the Griffons just did enough to edge the home team 12-3 at the break. The Griffons eventually sealed a comfortable away win by scoring five tries to two in the end.

Border were always threatening on the counter-attack in the early stages of the second half, which kept the small but enthusiastic crowd on their toes. The visitors’ defence held firm and they had the momentum in the last quarter, which resulted in three tries.

Scorers:

Border Bulldogs: Tries: Mihlali Mpafi, Lundi Rararala; Penalties: Masixole Banda, Logan Basson.

Down Touch Griffons: Tries: Vincent Maruping, Nicky Steyn, Marco Klopper, Enver Brandt Vuyo Mboto; Conversions: Franna du Toit, Nico Scheepers (2).

Boland Cavaliers (5) 12 Leopards (21) 47

Boland were unable to match the physicality of the visiting Leopards in the only Saturday afternoon clash at Wellington. The Leopards stretched their unbeaten run to seven games and the runaway log leaders have the maximum 35 points.

Former Springbok Sevens wing Danwel Demas opened the scoring for the Cavaliers, but then the Leopards kicked into action to score 21 unanswered points. Fullback Ryno Smith, centre Meel Engelbrecht and winger Tyler Fisher all scored before the break to give the Leopards a deserved lead.

The Cavaliers swopped their jerseys and came out in an all-white strip after halftime, but their changed strip had little effect on their play and it was the Leopards who continued with their forward dominance. Flanker Loftus Morrison sealed the bonus-point for the visitors but the home team kept faith in their running approach and it finally paid off when flanker Chaney Willemse went over for their second try. The Leopards captain Juan Language, as well as replacements Wilmar Arnoldi and Lucian Cupido each dotted down before the final whistle.

Scorers:

Boland Cavaliers: Tries: Danwel Demas, Chaney Willemse; Conversion: Eric Zana

Leopards: Tries: Ryno Smith, Meel Engelbrecht, Tyler Fisher, Loftus Morrison, Juan Language, Wilmar Arnoldi, Lucian Cupido; Conversions: Engelbrecht (6).

The Absa Currie Cup First Division log following the weekend’s round seven fixtures:

TEAM	PLAYED	WON	LOST	DREW	POINTS FOR	POINTS AGAINST	POINTS DIFFERENCE	TRIES FOR	TRIES AGAINST	LOSS BONUS	TRIES BONUS	POINTS
Leopards	7	7	0	0	299	112	187	43	14	0	7	35
Down Touch Griffons	7	4	3	0	244	194	50	35	27	1	4	21
Hino Valke	7	4	3	0	180	200	-20	25	24	1	2	19
SWD Eagles	7	2	4	1	154	186	-32	17	24	3	0	13
Boland	7	2	4	1	157	258	-101	21	34	1	2	13
Border	7	1	6	0	118	202	-84	11	29	2	0	6