WP secures home semi-final, Sharks book playoff spot

DHL Western Province on Saturday cemented their home semi-final and the top spot on the log table in the ABSA Currie Cup, while Cell C Sharks ensured that they feature in the playoffs in two weeks in an exciting penultimate pool round.

Xerox Golden Lions were guaranteed of a semi-final spot last week, but they will have to compete with the Cell C Sharks in the final round-robin stage for the second home semi-final.

The fight for the last semi-final place will also come down to the wire next week as Vodacom Blue Bulls, Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Steval Pumas will go head-to-head for the sought-after position.

In a gripping round of matches, Cell C Sharks pipped Xerox Golden Lions 26-23 in Durban, the Vodacom Blue Bulls registered a bonus-point 37-6 victory against Steval Pumas in Nelspruit and log-leaders DHL Western Province defeated Toyota Free State Cheetahs 34-29 in Bloemfontein.

In the bottom-of-the-log clash, GWK Griquas thumped the EP Kings 45-25 in Kimberley.

Cell C Sharks 26 (11) Xerox Golden Lions 23 (13)

The clash between Cell C Sharks and Xerox Golden Lions was nail-biting from the outset as the teams gave everything in the hope of staying in the running for home semi-finals. Replacement Cell C Sharks flyhalf Fred Zeilinga, however, proved to be the home team’s hero as he slotted over seven penalties for a personal tally of 21 points, which steered the team to victory.

The Xerox Golden Lions took a narrow 13-11 half-time lead, thanks to two penalties by flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff to add to a converted try by wing Ruan Combrinck, with the only difference on the scoreboard being a successful conversion by the visitors. Zeilinga, however, forced the Cell C Sharks back into the lead with three penalties in 10 minutes early in the second half, and another a few minutes later to build up an encouraging lead. But the visitors hit back with a converted try by centre Stokkies Hanekom, which levelled the scores with 15 minutes left on the clock. Zeilinga, however, slotted over the winning penalty in the 73rd minute, which kept alive the Durban team’s home semifinal hopes.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks – Try: Andre Esterhuizen. Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (7)

Xerox Golden Lions – Tries: Ruan Combrinck, Stokkies Hanekom. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2). Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (3).

GWK Griquas 45 (14) EP Kings 25 (13)

Seven tries by GWK Griquas to only three by the EP Kings in their clash in Nelspruit steered the side to a convincing victory. The first half was tight as the hosts scored two tries, while the EP Kings were awarded a penalty try to add to two conversions by Gary Van Aswegen. This resulted in GWK Griquas taking a narrow 14-13 half-time lead.

But the flood gates opened for the home side in the second half as they found their rhythm and gaps in the defence, which allowed them to run in another five tries – three of which were scored in a strong nine-minute spell – which inflated their score significantly. In the process GWK Griquas flank Marnus Schoeman earned his hat-trick. In return the EP Kings scored two late consolation tries, compliments of centre Shane Gates, which forced them to settle for a 45-25 defeat.

Scorers:

GWK Griquas – Tries: Janro van Niekerk, Marnus Schoeman (3), Martin Bezuidenhout, PJ Vermeulen (2). Conversions: Dean Grant (3), Gouws Prinsloo (2).

EP Kings – Tries: Shane Gates (2), Penalty Try. Conversion: Gary Van Aswegen, George Whitehead . Penalties: Gary Van Aswegen (2).

Toyota Free State Cheetahs 29 (14) DHL Western Province 34 (24)

DHL Western Province secured a last-gasp victory against Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein thanks to a try in the dying minutes. The first half was tense as the teams gave everything to make their presence felt and gain an advantage on the scoreboard, which resulted in the Toyota Free State Cheetahs scoring first, followed by a spell in which the teams exchanged tries. But a try by DHL Western Province captain Juan de Jongh on the stroke of half time handed them a handy 24-14 lead at the break.

The Cheetahs, however, hit back forcefully in the second half, during which DHL Western Province received two yellow cards, which allowed the Toyota Free State Cheetahs’ Pieter Labuschagne and Francois Venter to score tries, followed by a penalty by Willie du Plessis. This pushed them into the lead temporarily. However, their hopes of a victory were dashed by Cape wing Kobus van Wyk, who scored a late try to seal the victory.

Scorers:

Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Tries: Francois Venter, Joubert Engelbrecht, Pieter Labuschagne, Willie du Plessis. Conversions: Willie du Plessis (3). Penalty: Willie du Plessis.

DHL Western Province – Tries: Juan de Jongh (2), Kobus van Wyk, Scarra Ntubeni. Conversions: Demetri Catrakilis (3), Kurt Coleman. Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (2).

Steval Pumas 6 (6) Vodacom Blue Bulls 37 (10)

Steval Pumas took an early lead in their clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Nelspruit with flyhalf Justin van Staden taking advantage of the visitors’ indiscipline to slot over two penalties to only one by the Pretoria side. Vodacom Blue Bulls forced their way into a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, thanks to a try by Jacques Du Plessis, which they managed to maintain until the break.

The Pretoria side built on this in the second half by adding another three tries to their tally to secure their bonus point. They supported their impressive attacking performance with a solid defensive effort, which denied the hosts from adding to their score. The defeat marked Steval Pumas’ second home defeat in a row.

Scorers:

Steval Pumas – Penalties: Justin van Staden (2)

Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Dean Greyling, Deon Stegmann, Jacques du Plessis, Piet van Zyl. Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Tian Schoeman. Penalties: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3).