Absa Currie Cup Review – Week Nine
Jongi Nokwe try captured on camera by Gerhard Steenkamp
At the conclusion of week nine, only points’ differentials separates the Vodacom Western Province, the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and the Vodacom Blue Bulls on the 2010 Absa Currie Cup log. .
All three sides are currently on 28 log points after the defending champions and the Bloemfontein side both recorded crucial victories in this weekend’s action. However only four points now separate the sixth-positioned GWK Griquas and Vodacom WP who are in second place.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls achieved maximum points in Pretoria as they returned to winning ways on Saturday evening following their 40-34 result over The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The Durban side are currently in first position on the log with 36 points.
The hosts outscored the log-leaders with four tries to three in this fixture. Springbok centre Wynand Olivier, Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman and Jaco Engels added tries for the Vodacom Blue Bulls while winger Lwazi Mvovo, centre Stefan Terblanche and lock Alistair Hargreaves ran in five-pointers for The Sharks.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked four penalties and three conversions and Zane Kirchner slotted one penalty for the Pretoria outfit. The Sharks flyhalf Patrick Lambie added five penalties and converted two of his side’s tries to end the game with a personal points haul of 19.
Lambie’s individual performance with the boot for the Durban side ensured that he ended week nine as the leading points’ scorer in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup -132 points. GWK Griquas pivot Naas Olivier is currently in second position with 129 after he notched up 18 points during his side’s 33-28 defeat against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Kimberley on Friday evening.
Winger Joni Nokwe ran in a brace of tries for the Bloemfontein side while No 8 Ashley Johnson added his side’s third. Louis Strydom kicked three penalties and three conversions, while Meyer Bosman also added one penalty. Captain Olivier, Cecil Kemp and Burger Schoeman ran in tries for the GWK Griquas.
Meanwhile in Johannesburg, former SA Under-20 flyhalf Elton Jantjies scored 31 points as the Xerox Lions secured their fifth victory of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup following their 46-28 win over Vodacom WP at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night.
The Xerox Lions pivot scored a try, kicked six penalties and converted all four of his side’s five-pointers as they notched up their fifth win of the season. Michael Killian scored a brace while the Johannesburg side’s other try was scored by Derick Minnie.
Vodacom Western Province, who conceded their third consecutive loss in their 2010 campaign, have now only managed to secure one log point in their last three outings in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
JJ Engelbrecht, Duane Vermeulen and Conrad Hoffmann who recently confirmed that he will be furthering his rugby career in Durban from next year, scored Province’s tries at Coca-Cola Park. Vodacom WP flyhalf Willem de Waal who surrendered his status as the competition’s leading points’ scorer for the first time this season kicked three penalties and two conversions. De Waal is currently in third position on 128 points.
In the other Absa Currie Cup game of the weekend, the Platinum Leopards’ winless run in the 2010 competition continued as they suffered a 27-26 defeat against the Barloworld Toyota Pumas in Potchefstroom on Friday.
Braam Pretorius, who kicked one penalty and two conversions, Shaun Venter, Johan Jackson and Tiaan Meyer were the points’ scorers for the visitors who bagged their third win of the season.
Theo van Wyk and Dumisani Matyeshana ran in tries for the Platinum Leopards, while Clayton Durand kicked four penalties and two conversions. Unfortunately their efforts were not enough to consign their side to their nine consecutive loss of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
Utility back Mayibuye Ndwandwa scored four tries while Johannes Prinsloo scored hat-trick of five-pointers for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs as they comprehensively defeated the Boland Cavaliers 110-10 in Wellington on Friday.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls U21s were also impressive during their 51-31 victory over The Sharks in Pretoria. In the other Absa Under-21 Championship game of the weekend, Vodacom Western Province secured a stunning 55-37 win over the Xerox Lions U21s in Johannesburg on Friday.
Vodacom Western Province continued their undefeated run in the 2010 Absa Under-19 championship following their 47-23 victory over the Xerox Lions in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon.
There were also successful results for the Vodacom Blue Bulls who defeated The Sharks (19-15) in Pretoria on Saturday and the Platinum Leopards who recorded a well-played 47-26 win over the Griffons on Friday.
Scorers: Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Jaco Engels, Wynand Olivier; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Zane Kirchner; Penalties: Potgieter (4). The Sharks – Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Stefan Terblanche, Alistair Hargreaves; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (2); Penalties: Lambie (5).
Scorers: Xerox Lions – Tries: Michael Killian (2), Derick Minnie, Elton Jantjies; Conversions: Jantjies (4); Penalties: Jantjies (6). Vodacom WP 28 – Tries: JJ Engelbrecht, Duane Vermeulen, Conrad Hoffmann; Conversions: Willem de Waal (2); Penalties: De Waal (3).
Scorers: GWK Griquas – Tries: Naas Olivier, Cecil Kemp, Burger Schoeman; Conversions: Olivier (2); Penalties: Olivier (2); Drop goal: Olivier. Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – Tries: Jongi Nokwe (2), Ashley Johnson; Conversions: Louis Strydom (3); Penalties: Strydom (3), Meyer Bosman.
Scorers: Platinum Leopards – Tries: Theo van Wyk, Dumisani Matyeshana; Conversions: Clayton Durand (2); Penalties: Durand (4). Barloworld Toyota Pumas – Tries: Braam Pretorius, Shaun Venter, Johan Jackson, Tiaan Meyer; Conversions: Pretorius (2); Penalty: Pretorius.
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