Absa Currie Cup: Week two overview

OVER the weekend, the Xerox Golden Lions, Vodacom Blue Bulls and the DHL Western Province achieved successive wins in the second round of the Absa Currie Cup.

In Durban, the Cell C Sharks opened their account with a win over the Eastern Province Kings, leaving the Kings, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and the ORC Griquas still searching for their first win after two rounds of Premier Division matches.

On Friday, August 14, at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, the Golden Lions survived a bruising battle against the Steval Pumas to win 44-27. In another Friday evening clash Blue Bulls flyhalf, Tian Schoeman, contributed 21 points to steer his team to a 36-12 victory over Griquas at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Western Province beat the Free State Cheetahs 9-3 in driving rain on Saturday afternoon to hand new coach, John Dobson, his first Absa Currie Cup win at the DHL Newlands in Cape Town. The late Saturday kick-off saw the Cell C Sharks fight off a determined challenge from the Eastern Province Kings to claim a 33-25 victory at Growthpoint Kings Park.

The Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions have both collected the maximum ten points on offer from two outings and the Gauteng rivals are closely followed by defending champions, Western Province, who have nine league points.

Xerox Golden Lions vs Steval Pumas

The Pumas will reflect on their lack of discipline, which resulted in two penalty tries. However, they displayed a huge amount of fighting spirit and despite trailing 10-20 at halftime, they came out with an intent which was more than matched by the Golden Lions. The second half was a points feast but three yellow cards were also dished out in that period. Two of those were shown to the Lions as they withstood a final, desperate assault from the visitors.

Perhaps more telling was the dismissal of Pumas flyhalf and ace-kicker, JC Roos, for a deliberate knock-down as the Lions stormed through and were awarded a penalty try. This deprived the Pumas of the chance to chip away at the lead as the Lions surrendered penalties under pressure. The Pumas opted for line-outs and unfortunately came away with nothing from three attempts.

In addition to the two penalty tries, outside centre Harold Vorster, left wing Courtnall Skosan and Stokkies Hanekom, the replacement centre, each scored a try for the Golden Lions. Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff kicked five conversions, a drop goal and two penalties to add 19 points with his boot.

Lively Pumas flank Marnus Schoeman dived over for his third try in two matches, while Bernado Botha, the right wing, and captain and inside centre Stefan Watermeyer also crossed the try-line. Roos added three conversions and two penalties with the boot.

Scorers:

Xerox Golden Lions

Tries: Harold Vorster, penalty tries (2), Courtnall Skosan and Stokkies Hanekom.

Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (5).

Drop Goal: Boshoff.

Penalties: Boshoff (2).

Steval Pumas

Tries: Marnus Schoeman, Bernado Botha and Stefan Watermeyer.

Conversions: JC Roos (3).

Penalties: Roos (2).

Vodacom Blue Bulls vs ORC Griquas

The Blue Bulls had to fight hard for their victory over the Griquas who led 12-6 at halftime. A better second half performance by the Bulls and four tries to the visitors’ two, helped the home team secure the win.

Griquas’ Springbok Sevens flyer Ruhan Nel, moved from centre to right wing for this clash, scored a long-range intercept try and with halftime fast approaching, his colleague on the wing Ntabeni Dukisa, swivelled out of a weak tackle to score in the corner.

Replacement prop Dayan van der Westhuizen, a 2014 Junior Springbok, scored an impressive try for the home side while flyhalf Schoeman, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and wing Jamba Ulengo, completed the bonus-point tally of four tries. Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant’s try was disallowed as the last pass was ruled forward.

Scorers:

Vodacom Blue Bulls

Tries: Dayan van der Westhuizen, Tian Schoeman, Francois Hougaard and Jamba Ulengo.

Conversions: Schoeman (2).

Penalties: Schoeman (4).

ORC Griquas

Tries: Ruhan Nel and Ntabeni Dukisa.

Conversion: Gouws Prinsloo.

DHL Western Province vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs

The persistent rain made playing conditions difficult for both teams in Newlands and despite a good build up, Province had an early try disallowed because of a double movement. WP failed to take full advantage with an extra man on the field after the Cheetahs winger Rayno Benjamin was sin binned in the 32nd minute.

WP had the option to kick at goal on three occasions in the first half, all of which were within striking distance for flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, instead the home side chose to go for the corner. Cheetahs went into the break 3-0 thanks to a Fred Zeilinga penalty.

Two successful penalty kicks after halftime by Catrakilis handed the home team a slender 6-3 lead. A second yellow card, this time to replacement loose forward Gerhard Olivier, again left the Cheetahs one man short and with a six points deficit, Catrakilis slotted the resulting penalty for what would eventually be the winning score line.

Scorers:

DHL Western Province

Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (3).

Toyota Free State Cheetahs

Penalty: Fred Zeilinga.

Cell C Sharks vs Eastern Province Kings

It was the Sharks’ first victory after their opening loss to the Pumas. Much to the relief of the home supporters, the Sharks managed to stand firm in the closing stages and claimed five points.

It was a promising effort by the Kings and the bonus point they earned for scoring four tries will give them much confidence heading into the remainder of the competition.

Left wing, André Esterhuizen, flyhalf Lionel Cronjé, flank Daniel du Preez and replacement centre, Paul Jordaan scored tries for the home side whilst fullback Joe Pietersen added two conversions and two penalties. Flyhalf George Whitehead, eighthman Tim Agaba, lock Steven Sykes and scrumhalf Enrico Acker were the EP Kings’ scorers. Whitehead also kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks

Tries: André Esterhuizen, Lionel Cronjé, Daniel du Preez and Paul Jordaan.

Conversions: Joe Pietersen (2).

Penalties: Pietersen (3).

EP Kings

Tries: George Whitehead, Tim Agaba, Steven Sykes and Enrico Acker.

Conversion: Whitehead.

Penalty: Whitehead.