First win for Griquas as Cheetahs continue to dominate
Tafel Lager Griquas produced the upset of the day in the Currie Cup – proudly supported by Nashua and DirectAxis – on Wednesday as they toppled DHL Western Province for their first victory of the season, while defending champions the Toyota Free State Cheetahs registered their third win in a row.
The men from the Northern Cape kicked off the action on Women’s Day with a 44-34 victory over DHL Western Province in Kimberley, while the Toyota Free State Cheetahs defeated the Steval Pumas 45-34 in Nelspruit. In the final match of the day, the Vodacom Blue Bulls suffered their first defeat as they went down 28-20 against the Cell C Sharks in Pretoria.
Tafel Lager Griquas’ effective goal-kicking proved to be the difference on the scoreboard in their clash against DHL Western Province, as each side scored five tries. The hosts’ five conversions and three penalty goals to the visitors’ three conversions and one penalty handed them the 44-34 victory. The visitors were also made to pay for a number of yellow cards.
A strong first-half showing by the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, meanwhile, paved the way to 45-34 victory against the Steval Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium. The defending champions built up an encouraging 38-10 lead at the break thanks to an impressive attacking display in which they scored six tries – two of which were scored by replacement back Malcolm Jaer – while they limited the Steval Pumas to a try on the stroke of halftime and an early penalty goal.
A strong second-half comeback by the hosts saw them score four tries to only one by the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, but despite this, they still fell short on the scoreboard.
The Cell C Sharks shut out the Vodacom Blue Bulls for a 28-20 bonus point victory at Loftus Versfeld in which the sides remained in close proximity of one another on the scoreboard throughout the match.
The KwaZulu-Natalians took a 13-10 lead at the break, and two more second-half tries pushed their tally to four for their bonus point. In turn the Vodacom Blue Bulls were only able to score twice, while both sides slotted over two penalty goals.
In the A Section of Women’s Interprovincial Competition, meanwhile, the Blue Bulls overpowered the Free State 53-8 at Loftus Versfeld for their first win of the season thanks to an effective display all-around, and in the B Section the Pumas defeated the Limpopo Blue Bulls 27-17 in Nelspruit as they outscored the opposition five tries to three.
Currie Cup Round 4 results and scorers:
Tafel Lager Griquas 44-34 DHL Western Province
Tafel Lager Griquas – Tries: Liam Hendricks, Ederies Arendse, Renier Botha, Tiaan Dorfling, Wendal Wehr. Conversions: Andre Swarts (5). Penalty Goals: Andre Swarts, George Whitehead (2).
DHL Western Province – Tries: Kurt Coleman, Nizaam Carr, Bjorn Basson, Seabelo Senatla, SP Marais. Conversions: Kurt Coleman (2), Damian Willemse. Penalty Goal: Kurt Coleman.
Steval Pumas 34-45 Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Steval Pumas – Tries: Ruwellyn Isbell, Jerome Pretorius, Frankie Herne, Khwezi Mona (2). Conversions: Justin Van Staden (3). Penalty Goal: Justin Van Staden.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Tries: Reniel Hugo, Niell Jordaan, Jacques Du-Toit, Makazole Mapimpi, Ryno Benjamin, Malcolm Jaer (2). Conversions: Niel Marais (3), Clayton Blommetjies (2).
Vodacom Blue Bulls 20-28 Cell C Sharks
Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Ruben van Heerden, Burger Odendaal. Conversions: Tony Jantjies (2). Penalty Goals: Tony Jantjies (2).
Cell C Sharks – Tries: Franco Marais, Sbusiso Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Garth April. Conversion: Garth April. Penalty Goals: Garth April (2).
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
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