Top sides emerge on top in SuperSport Rugby Challenge

Jul 10 • General News • 943 Views • Comments Off on Top sides emerge on top in SuperSport Rugby Challenge

Tafel Lager Griquas will travel to Florida Park in Ravensmead next Sunday to take on DHL Western Province in the final of the inaugural SuperSport Rugby Challenge after both sides kept their winning streak intact in the semifinals of the competition.

The Tafel Lager Griquas beat the Xerox Golden Lions 33-21 at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Sunday and DHL Western Province held on to beat the Vodacom Blue Bulls 28-24 in the second semifinal at the same venue.

The DHL Western Province kept their winning streak going and remains undefeated after ten matches in the campaign, while the Kimberley side continues to improve after losing their opening match of the campaign.

Kick-off times will be confirmed.

They were not favourites, but the Tafel Lager Griquas team delivered a thrilling first half display. They ran in three tries to take a near unassailable 27 point lead and then closed out the came after a strong comeback by their opponents.

The Johannesburg team gave an excellent account of themselves in the second half, scoring three tries themselves. However, their fairy-tale comeback was not to be as the Griquas closed the game out expertly to secure the victory.

The North/South affair did not disappoint either.

It was a titanic battle played at a cold and windy community stadium with around 8000 fans providing support.

The Blue Bulls had the ascendancy in terms of the scrums, possession and territory but it was the unbeaten Province team that held their nerve and scored when it was needed.

Western Province claimed the lead 10 minutes into the second half, but then relinquished their advantage just minutes later. But an unconverted try by Number 8, Jaco Coetzee, was the difference between the sides as Province held out for the final 10 minutes as the Bulls tried in vain to find the winning score.

The final result and points’ scorers are:

Tafel Lager Griquas 33 (27), Xerox Golden Lions 21 (0)

Tafel Lager Griquas – Tries: Ederies Arendse, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Sias Koen. Conversions: George Whitehead (3). Penalties: Whitehead (2), Andre Swarts (2).

Xerox Golden Lions XV – Tries: James Venter, Madosh Tambwe (2). Conversions Shaun Reynolds (3).

DHL Western Province 28 (13), Vodacom Blue Bulls 24 (14)

DHL Western Province – Tries: Luke Stringer, Godlen Masimla, Jaco Coetzee. Conversions: Kurt Coleman (2); Penalties: Coleman (3).

Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Dries Swanepoel, Franco Naude, Dewald Naude. Conversions: Joshua Stander (3). Penalty: Stander.