Try-fest in Welkom hands Griquas vital victory
MATCH REPORT: It was a try-fest of note when the Griquas disposed of the nuggety Griffons by 47-21 in round eleven of the Currie Cup in Welkom on Saturday.
The home-side were quick out of the blocks when their wing Granwill Matthys dancing his way over within the first 14 minutes of the game.
Griquas however immediately responded, sending scrumhalf Johan Mulder over, and followed this up with a try by Jay-Cee Nel and the score was level 14-14 after 25 minutes of play.
Two more converted tries put the visitors comfortably ahead by 28-14 half-time and although the Griffons got a good start to the game, they had a fight back on their hands to stay in the game in the second half.
And this is exactly what they did, sending over their number eight Jean Pretorius four minutes into the second half, but sadly this was to be their only points in the second half.
The pale blue side from Kimberley stepped up a gear and took matters into their own hands which saw a sterling performance by flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela which included a try and six conversions.
The second half tries were scored by Carl Els, Ashlon Davids and replacement Sango Xamlashe.
This win sees Griquas move up to fifth spot on the log ahead of the Lions game against the Bulls, but the men from Kimberley are still in with a shout for a possible play-off spot.
Scores and scorers:
For the Griffons:
Tries: Matthys 2, Pretorius
Cons: Juries 3
For Griquas:
Tries: Mulder, Els, Nel, Dobela, Els, Davids, Xamlashe
Cons: Dobela 6
Griffons: 15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Domenic Smit, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Jaywinn Juries , 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Hendrik van Schoor, 1 Stephan de Jager.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 22 Jandre De Beer, 23 Randy Fielies,
Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjöblom, 3 Justin Forwood, 2 Sean Swart, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
Referee: Dylen November
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Egon Seconds