XEROX Golden Lions held off a determined challenge from the Cell C Sharks on their way to a 31-16 win at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, August 22. The Sharks led by a single point after 61 minutes but the Lions ensured that they remain unbeaten in the competition by running in three tries in the final quarter to hand the Sharks their second loss in three games.
In the North/South derby Vodacom Blue Bulls turned in a fantastic second-half performance to hand defending Absa Currie Cup champions, DHL Western Province, their first defeat of the season in a riveting 47-29 win at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The Bulls were also the only outfit to register a home win this weekend.
The thrilling win was a perfect gift for veteran Bulls prop Werner Kruger, who played in his 100th Absa Currie Cup match. It was the first time since 2012 that the Bulls stepped out as winners in the traditional North versus South encounter. Thanks to their outstanding display, the Bulls consolidated their top spot on the Premier Division standings and they now have 15 points from three matches all clinched with convincing bonus-point victories.
The new generation of Bulls were superbly led by 2014 Junior Springbok fullback Warrick Gelant and veteran scrumhalf Francois Hougaard. Gelant, also a Springbok Sevens international, displayed his attacking skills and was deservedly awarded the Absa man of the match award.
On Friday night in Kimberley, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, spearheaded by pivot Fred Zeilinga, notched their first campaign win when they outplayed the ORC Griquas 31-9.
Flyhalf JC Roos kicked five penalties as the Steval Pumas edged the Eastern Province Kings 15-13 after leading 6-3 at half-time in the other Friday evening clash in Port Elizabeth.
Cell C Sharks vs Xerox Golden Lions
Hard-running inside centre Howard Mnisi kicked through a loose ball on the Sharks 22-metre line, after an overthrown lineout from the Lions, before collecting his own kick and going over for a converted try. Fullback Joe Pietersen kicked two penalties to close the halftime score 7-6.
After the break, Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff and Pietersen traded penalties before a sweeping backline move saw the Sharks right wing Odwa Ndungane race through onto a grubber kick from replacement fullback SP Marais to crash over in the corner. Pietersen slotted the conversion.
The visitors hit back almost immediately when outside centre Stokkies Hanekom crashed over for a converted try. The Lions secured their away-victory after wing Courtnall Skosan warded off Ndungane on his way to a converted try and their bonus point try, when replacement wing Anthony Volmink intercepted a loose pass.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks:
Try: Odwa Ndungane
Conversion: Joe Pietersen
Penalties: Pietersen (3).
Xerox Golden Lions:
Tries: Howard Mnisi, Stokkies Hanekom, Courtnall Skosan and Anthony Volmink
Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (4)
Penalty: Boshoff.
Vodacom Blue Bulls vs DHL Western Province
Both teams were unbeaten after two matches and the first half was a brutal battle between the forwards, which resulted in the Blue Bulls losing two of their loose forwards. WP dominated the scrums as the home side lost flank Roelof Smit and influential number eight Hanro Liebenberg to injuries, which saw them lose momentum in the last quarter of the first-half. They were replaced by Jannes Kirsten and RG Snyman.
At halftime the Bulls were trailing 15-16 and 10 minutes after the break they were trailing 15-26. However, a blitzkrieg of four tries in just 13 minutes saw the Bulls storm into a 44-26 lead with sizzling attacking play. The Bulls’ back trio set the second-half on fire and WP wing Dillon Leyds was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, which left the visitors with a man short on defence and the Bulls to clinch a 47-29 victory.
Tian Schoeman added two conversions and five penalties while substitute flyhalf Louis Fouché also succeeded with a late penalty. Wings Seabelo Senatla and wing Dillon Leyds were the WP try-scorers. Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis added the rest of the points with his boot through two conversions and five penalties.
Scorers:
Vodacom Blue Bulls
Tries: Jamba Ulengo (2), Burger Odendaal, Travis Ismaiel and Warrick Gelant
Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2)
Penalties: Schoeman (5) and Louis Fouché.
DHL Western Province:
Tries: Seabelo Senatla and Dillon Leyds
Conversions: Demetri Catrakilis (2)
Penalties: Catrakilis (5).
ORC Griquas vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Flyhalf Fred Zeilinga was the kingpin in the Cheetahs side as his good all-round performance resulted in a try, all four conversions and a penalty goal. Former Springbok Sevens star Rayno Benjamin, 2014 Junior Springbok wing Sergeal Petersen, on his Absa Currie Cup debut for the Cheetahs, and Gerhard Olivier were the other try-scorers. The Cheetahs led 9-10 at half-time and triumphed over the Griquas with a 9-31 win.
Wing Ntabeni Dukisa slotted three penalties for the home side. For Griquas it will be a case of back to the drawing board after they suffered their third straight loss since winning five qualifying matches in a row to clinch their spot in the top flight.
Scorers:
ORC Griquas:
Penalties: Ntabeni Dukisa (3)
Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Rayno Benjamin, Fred Zeilinga, Sergeal Petersen and Gerhard Olivier
Conversions: Zeilinga (4)
Penalties: Zeilinga.
Eastern Province Kings vs Steval Pumas
EP Kings came into the match having lost their opening two games against the Lions and the Sharks. Pumas kingpin JC Roos and EP Kings fullback Scott van Breda traded early penalties, with Roos adding another to place his side 6-3 in the lead after 13 minutes, which was also the halftime score.
The Kings had a try disallowed after a clever chip by left wing Luther Obi resulted in a good a movement between right wing Siyanda Grey and scrumhalf Enrico Acker, who went over in the far corner. Kings skipper Steven Sykes was also shown a yellow card for foul play.
After the break the Kings kept mounting waves of attack and gained a kickable penalty soon afterwards. They opted to kick for touch, won the lineout and replacement prop Lizo Gqoboka crashed over for the only try of the match, which Van Breda converted. However, Roos then kicked his fourth penalty as the Pumas remained in touch at 13-12. With just 10 minutes remaining Roos nailed the winning penalty 13-15 after substitute scrumhalf Kevin Luiters went offside.
Scorers:
Eastern Province Kings:
Tries: Lizo Gqoboka
Conversion: Scott van Breda
Penalties: Van Breda (2)
Steval Pumas: Penalties: JC Roos (5).
