Griquas beat WP...again
CURRIE CUP REPORT: Griquas held on for a tense 22-20 win over Western Province in a Round Four Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley on Friday.
It was the home side's third victory in a row over WP after they did the double against the Capetonians in the 2021 Currie Cup season.
The match, played in perfect conditions at Griqua Park was a close fought affair and the Kimberley outfit enjoyed a slender 12-10 halftime lead.
Poor discipline in the first half by the visitors resulted in no less than nine penalties against them, with ace goalkicker Zander du Plessis (No.12) slotting four of them to give Griquas a two-point lead at the break.
Jerome Paarwater’s side had the slight advantage in terms of possessions and chances created in the opening half, but committed far too many handling errors and as a result they couldn’t really find their rhythm, while the home team defended with gusto.
To compound matters, the visiting team had lock Ben-Jason Dixon sent to the sin bin for an early tackle on Stefan Ungerer while the Griquas scrumhalf was involved in an attacking move.
WP speedster Leolin Zas, a former Junior Bok wing, scored the only try of the opening stanza while flyhalf Tim Swiel slotted the conversion and also a penalty goal.
However, it was the home side’s replacement bench which made a huge and telling impact in the second half to ultimately tilt the outcome of this close-fought encounter their way.
Two well-worked line-out maul tries, one each by replacement prop Andries Schutte and Gustav du Rand (reserve hooker), took the game away from the Capetonians in the last ten minutes.
The script is never written in recent clashes between these two sides and again there was a dramatic end to the match when Griquas replacement prop Kudwazi Dube was sanctioned with a yellow card for a high tackle.
From the resultant penalty, the Cape team elected to run at the home defence, and it was Zas who was sent over in the corner for his second try of the evening. When Swiel slotted the conversion, it was suddenly a two-point game with the hooter sounding in the background.
The match finished in favour of the Northern Cape side when the visitors made another error, swinging a wild pass over the touchline to the absolute joy of the supporters at Griqua Park.
The win was a second for the Griquas this season while WP fell to a third defeat.
Man of the match: The award goes to Griquas flyhalf Theo Boshoff, who was the most consistent performer on the field. He took the ball to the line and made some good decisions.
The scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: Schutte, Du Rand
Pens: Du Plessis 4
For Western Province:
Tries: Zas 2
Cons: Swiel 2
Pens: Swiel 2
Yellow cards: Ben-Jason Dixon (Western Province, 10 - cynical play, pulling an opponent back); Kudzwai Dube (Griquas, 79 - dangerous play, high tackle)
Teams:
Griquas: 15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Alex-Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Theo Boshoff, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Michael Amiras, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 Raegan Oranje, 22 Andre Swarts, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
Western Province: 15 Kade Wolhuter, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Sacha Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan James.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby, Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Additional source: SA Rugby
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