Leopards stumble in First Division
The national First Division has been thrown wide open after SWD ended the Leopards’ winning streak with a surprise victory in George on Friday.
The Leopards entered their clash against the SWD Eagles with a healthy eight point lead at the top of the log table and, based on their form in the Currie Cup qualifiers, looked set to continue their dominance in the series.
But their winning run ended abruptly on Friday as SWD delivered a fine performance at Outeniqua Park for a 29-21 victory, which reduced the Potchefstroom team’s lead on the log to only four points.
In the other matches, the Border Bulldogs registered their first victory of the season as they defeated the Falcons 19-14 in East London and the Griffons continued to make their presence felt with a 27-19 victory against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.
Border Bulldogs 19-14 Falcons
The Border Bulldogs took full advantage of the Falcons' indiscipline and an early yellow card in the first half in wet and cold conditions in East London on Friday, with fullback Masixole Banda slotting over three penalties in the first 21 minutes for a 9-0 lead.
Their efforts on attack finally paid off in the 35th minute with wing Lindani Ndlela earning their first try of the match, which allowed them to enter the break with an encouraging 14-0 lead.
The Falcons hit back in the second half with a try by wing Kyle Hendricks to force their way back into the match, but this was cancelled out minutes later by Bulldogs hooker Mihlali Mpafi as he crossed the tryline for their second try.
The Falcons were reduced to 14 men shortly after as Willie Odendal received his marching orders, but despite this they managed to contain the hosts on defence and later scored their second try to reduce the deficit on the scoreboard to five points. The hosts, however, managed to hold on for their first victory of the season.
The Scorers:
For Border Bulldogs:
Tries: Ndlela, Mpafi
Pens: Banda 3
For Falcons:
Tries: Mostert, Hendricks
Cons: Kotze 2
Teams:
Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Makazole Maphimpi, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Lithabile Mgwadleka, 11 Lindani Ndlela, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Rynardt van Wyk, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Anthonie Gronum, 4 Wayne Lemley, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).
Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Yanga Xakalashe, 18 Wandile Putuma, 19 Nkosi Nofuma, 20 Onke Dubase, 21 Mario Noordman, 22 Oliver Zono.
Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Dirk Dippenaar, 13 Willie Odendaal, 12 Jaco Oosthuizen, 11 Kyle Hendricks, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Anrich Richter, 8 Ernst Ladendorf, 7 Jacques Verwey (captain), 6 Andrew van Tonder, 5 Jacques Alberts, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Devlin Hope, 1 Dandre van der Westhuizen.
Replacements: 16 Bruce Muller, 17 Thulani Ngidi, 18 Marlyn Williams, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Andrew van Wyk, 21 Arno Poley, 22 Wayne Gardner.
SWD Eagles 29-21 Leopards
In George the SWD Eagles and Leopards both showed their desire to begin the second round of the competition with a victory as they worked hard on attack and defence in an exciting first half.
The visitors made their presence felt early on with a try by No.8 Morne Hanekom, which was followed by a string of penalties by Leopards flyhalf Andre Pretorius and SWD’s Elric van Vuuren. But a try minutes before half-time by SWD flyhalf Martin du Toit reduced the visitors’ lead to 13-11.
Hanekom again had the first say in the second half as he scored his second-five pointer, but SWD wing Alshaun Bock hit back with his team’s second try seven minutes later. With both teams giving everything the last 30 minutes was tense, but three penalties by van Vuuren to only one by Pretorius sealed the victory for the home side.
The scorers:
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Bock, Du Toit
Cons: Van Vuuren 2
Pens: Van Vuuren 5
For Leopards:
Tries: Hanekom 2
Con: Pretorius
Pens: Pretorius 3
Teams:
SWD Eagles: 15 Daniel Roberts, 14 Clinton Wagman, 13 Elric van Vuuren, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Christo Du Plessis, 7 Alwyn Bester, 6 Shaun Raubenheimer, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Grant Kemp, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Roy Godfrey.
Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Ashley Buys, 18 Peet van der Walt, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Mzo Dyantyi, 21 Gerrit Smith, 22 Brian Skosana.
Leopards: 15 Hoffman Maritz, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 George Tossel, 11 Luther Obi, 10 André Pretorius (captain), 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Morne Hanekom, 7 Rhyk Welgemoed, 6 Juan Language, 5 Danie Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 18 Schalk Van Heerden, 19 Henro-Pierre Swart, 20 Vian van der Watt, 21 Kobus de Kock, 22 Johan Deysel.
Boland Cavaliers 19-27 Griffons
In Wellington the Griffons bounced back strongly from a tightly-fought first half against the Boland Cavaliers to remain in second place on the log standings.
Both teams scored two first-half tries, but one missed conversion by the hosts handed the Griffons a narrow two-point lead at the break.
The Welkom team managed to build on this thanks to a solid second-half start in which flyhalf Louis Strydom slotted over a penalty to add to a try by flank Frans Sisita.
But Boland fought back and earned their third try in the 66th minute to reduce the deficit on the scoreboard. They were, however, unable to build on this, and conceded a penalty on the stroke of full-time which replacement back Franna du Toit converted to stretch their lead to 27-19.
The scorers:
For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Lewis, Lawson, Jordaan
Con: Zana, Hugo
For Griffons:
Tries: Abrahams, Sisita, Nelson
Cons: Strydom 3
Pens: Strydom, Du Toit
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Duwayne Smart, 13 Richard Lawson, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Sino Ganto, 10 Morne Hugo, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Chaney Willemse, 6 Franzel September (captain), 5 Victor Kruger, 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Khwezi Mkhafu.
Replacements: 16 Ulrich Pretorius, 17 Francois Hanekom, 18 Jason-Collin Fraser, 19 Dumisane Meslane, 20 Jovelian de Koker, 21 Cheswin Williams, 22 Christian Rust.
Griffons: 15 Tertius Maarman, 14 Aubrey McDonald, 13 Vuyo Mbotho, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Boela Abrahams, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Erik le Roux, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Heinrich Roelfse, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Daniel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hannes Snyman, 17 PW Botha, 18 Jan Breedt, 19 Martin Sithole, 20 Andre van der Walt, 21 Franna du Toit, 22 Wynand Pienaar.
First Division log (Under played, won, points)
Leopards (6, 5, 25)
Griffons (6, 4, 21)
SWD Eagles (6, 4, 19)
Boland (6, 2, 12)
Falcons (6, 2, 11)
Border (6, 1, 6)