Vodacom Cup Review – Round One

Feb 27 • National, Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Cup News • 2183 Views • Comments Off on Vodacom Cup Review – Round One

Last year’s Vodacom Cup losing finalists – Toyota Free State Cheetahs – ended round one in first position on the South Section log after they kicked off their 2011 season to the perfect start following their 55-19 win over the Valke at the Free State Rugby Stadium on Friday evening.

Griquas are currently in pole position on the North Section log after they recorded a 42-25 away victory over the Boland Cavaliers in Bredasdorp on Saturday.

All observers were focused on the performance of Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussow who returned to action following a knee injury which ruled him out of action for 11 months. The Bok flanker scored one of the hosts’ eight tries as they comfortably bagged maximum points from this game.

Fullback Riaan Smith was the star performer for the Free State team and added a hat-trick of five-pointers while centre Corne Uys, winger Eddie Fredericks and loose forward Brendon Groenewald were the other try-scorers for the hosts. Flyhalf Louis Strydom kicked six conversions and one penalty.

The Valke scored three tries which were added by Shone van der Walt – who added a brace – and Arno Poley. Dillon Laubscher converted two tries.

The Sharks XVs handed the defending champions –  Vodacom Blue Bulls – their first defeat of the 2011 Vodacom Cup in Durban after they secured a 30-19 victory at the Mr Price Kings Park Stadium on Saturday. The hosts achieved maximum points from this match after they ran in four tries to the one scored by their Pretoria opponents.

Kobus de Kock ran in a brace while Riaan Swanepoel and Mark Richards were the other try-scorers for the Durban team. Guy Cronje kicked two penalties and one conversion. Former SA Under-20 captain CJ Stander scored the Vodacom Blue Bulls’ only five-pointer of the game which was converted by Louis Fouche who also kicked three penalties. The Pretoria team’s other points came thanks to a drop kick by reserve flyhalf JC Roos.

DHL Western Province flyhalf Kurt Coleman kicked a last minute penalty which ensured that his side and the Golden Lions played out an nail-biting 18-18 draw at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

Both teams scored two tries in this closely contested game. Former Platinum Leopards wing Shuaib Samaai and centre Johan Sadie added tries for the hosts while Jannie Boshoff and Edgar Marutlulle ran in tries for the Lions. Coleman who kicked the match-equalising penalty added an earlier conversion while Australian-born DHL Western Province flyhalf Sam Lane chipped in with one penalty.

The Golden Lions’ other points in this match came via the boot of former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius. The Johannesburg pivot kicked a conversion, penalty and drop goal.

The Pampas XV secured their first victory in the Vodacom Cup following their 52-29 victory over the Griffons on Saturday. Eleven tries were scored in this game with the Argentineans running in seven and the “visitors” four.

Agustin Gosio, Gabriel Ascarate, Joaquin Tuculet, Juan Imhoff, Martin Landajo, Matias Cortese and Miguel de Achaval were the try scorers for the Pampas XVs while Nicolas Sanchez (5) and Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias kicked the conversions. Nicolas Sanchez added the penalties.

The Griffons tries were scored by Nicky Steyn, Oshwald Nortje, Shane Hancke and Tertius Maarman. Tiaan van Wyk kicked three conversions and a penalty.

In Port Elizabeth, the EP Kings enjoyed home success at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday after they secured a 47-12 win over Namibia on Friday. Both teams were guilty of committing numerous errors throughout the game despite nine tries being scored during this fixture.

The hosts notched up seven of those five pointers which were made by Milo Nqoro (2), Siyanda Grey, Darren Nell, Barend Pieterse, Morne Hanekom and Monty Dumond who kicked four conversions. Mathew Taylor-Smith added a further two conversions for the EP Kings. Namibia’s points came via two tries which were scored by Heini Bock and PJ van Lill; and a conversion by Chrysander Botha.

There were away victories for North Section teams – Ford Pumas and Platinum Leopards – on Friday. The Witbank team secured a 35-26 victory over the SWD Eagles at the Outeniqua Park while the Leopards bagged a 27-21 win in East London.

The Ford Pumas achieved maximum points from their visit to George after they ran in five tries in this game which saw both sides play some attractive, running rugby. Jaco Bouwer (2), Marius Coetzer, Coenie van Wyk and Ricardo Croy were the try scorers for the visitors. Van Wyk and Croy each added a conversion and a penalty.

The SWD Eagles though secured a bonus point for scoring four tries which were added by Howard Noble, Wensley Scott, Lyndon Hartnick and Dean Hopp. Ambrose Barends kicked two conversions while Deroy Rhoode added his side’s third conversion on the night.

The Platinum Leopards also bagged maximum points from their visit to East London. The Potchefstroom team ran in four tries which were scored by Danie Crous, Dauw Steyn, Walter Venter and Roelof van Heerden. Colin Lloyd added one conversion while Steyn kicked one penalty.

The Border Bulldogs achieved a bonus point for losing within seven of the Platinum Leopards. Ben Venter and Craig Green scored five pointers for the hosts while Byron McGuigan kicked two penalties and a conversion. Dukisa Ntabeni converted one penalty.

Vodacom Cup Round One Results and Scorers:

The Sharks XVs v Vodacom Blue Bulls

30 19

Scorers: Sharks XV – Tries: Riaan Swanepoel, Kobus de Kock (2), Mark Richards; Conversions: Guy Cronje, Fred Zeilinga; Penalties: Cronje (2). Vodacom Blue Bulls – Try: CJ Stander; Conversion: Louis Fouche; Penalties: Fouche (3); Drop goal: JC Roos.

DHL Western Province v Golden Lions

18 18

Scorers: DHL Western Province – Tries: Shuaib Samaai, Johan Sadie; Conversion: Kurt Coleman; Penalties: Sam Lane, Coleman. Golden Lions – Tries: Jannie Boshoff, Edgar Marutlulle; Conversion: Andre Pretorius; Penalty: Pretorius; Drop goal: Pretorius.

Pampas XV v Griffons

52 29

Scorers: Pampas XV – Tries: Agustin Gosio, Gabriel Ascarate, Joaquin Tuculet, Juan Imhoff, Martin Landajo, Matias Cortese, Miguel de Achaval; Conversions: Nicolas Sanchez  (5), Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias; Penalties: Nicolas Sanchez (4). Griffons – Tries: Nicky Steyn, Oshwald Nortje, Shane Hancke, Tertius Maarman; Conversions: Tiaan van Wyk (3); Penalties: Van Wyk.

Boland Cavaliers v Griquas

25 42

Scorers: Boland Cavaliers – Tries: PJ van Zyl, Jonathan Franck, Junior Bester; Conversions: Jacquin Jansen (2); Penalties: Jansen (2). Griquas – Tries: Fabian Juries, Simon Westraadt, Wesley Wilkins, Wilmaure Louw, Mathew Dobson; Conversions: Rudi Vogt (6).

Border Bulldogs v Platinum Leopards

21 27

Scorers: Platinum Leopards – Tries: Danie Crous, Dauw Steyn, Walter Venter, Roelof van Heerden; Conversions: Colin Lloyd (2); Penalties: Steyn. Border Bulldogs – Tries: Ben Venter, Craig Green; Conversion: Byron McGuigan; Penalties: McGuigan (2), Dukisa Ntabeni.

EP Kings v Namibia

47 12

Scorers: EP Kings – Tries: Milo Nqoro (2), Siyanda Grey, Darren Nell, Barend Pieterse, Morne Hanekom, Monty Dumond; Conversions: Dumond (4), Mathew Taylor-Smith (2); Namibia – Tries: Heini Bock, PJ van Lill; Conversion: Chrysander Botha.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs v Valke

55 19

Scorers: Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Tries: Riaan Smit (3), Corné Uys (2), Eddie Fredericks, Heinrich Brussow, Brendon Groenewald; Conversions: Louis Strydom (6); Penalties: Strydom. Valke – Tries: Shone van der Walt (2), Arno Poley; Conversions: Dillon Laubscher (2).

SWD Eagles v Ford Pumas

26 35

Scorers: SWD Eagles – Tries: Howard Noble, Wensley Scott, Lyndon Hartnick, Dean Hopp; Conversions: Ambrose Barends (2), Deroy Rhoode. Ford Pumas – Tries: Jaco Bouwer (2), Marius Coetzer, Coenie van Wyk, Ricardo Croy; Conversions: Van Wyk, Croy. Penalties: Van Wyk, Croy.

Vodacom Cup Round One – Logs:

South Section:

North Section:

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