WP crowned 2017 Currie Cup champions

DHL Western Province produced a strong second-half display and held their nerve late into the hard-fought Currie Cup final in Durban on October 28 for a 33-21 victory and their first title since 2014.

The hosts edged their way to a 21-15 half-time lead, to the delight of a passionate crowd of 32 562 people at Growthpoint Kings Park, but the Capetonians fought back strongly in the second half to score 23 unanswered points and claim the coveted title.

The win marked the Cape side’s third away victory in five Currie Cup finals against the Cell C Sharks in Durban since 1995, and it capped off a rewarding day for the union from Cape Town as they also secured the SA Rugby u-21 Championship title in the curtain-raiser to the main final, while the Xerox Golden Lions secured the SA Rugby u-19 Championship title.

U-21 Cup finals:

The SA Rugby u-21 Championship final between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and DHL Western Province also proved to be an arm-wrestle, as both teams ran hard on attack, which saw them enter the break tied at 22-22 before DHL Western Province’s effective goal-kicking allowed them to secure a narrow 48-41 victory.

U-19 finals:

In the SA Rugby u-19 Championship final, the Xerox Golden Lions dominated from the outset against Toyota Free State as they created try-scoring opportunities at will and rounded them off to secure a rewarding 55-24 victory.

This is the first u-19 side to successfully defend their title. Consistency has been perhaps the Cubs’ biggest ally, with record-breaking try tallies and an average of 49.61 points per game this season.

The local franchise side opened up the scoring in the early exchanges of the first half with back-to-back penalty goals by flyhalf Gianni Lombard. These they backed up with tries by Louritz van der Schyff, winger Wandisile Simelane – who hails from the South – and hooker PJ Botha, while they limited Toyota Free State to a penalty goal for a 25-3 half-time lead.

They continued this fine form in the second half despite replacement forward Arno van Wyk getting a red card in the 48th minute. Their fine attacking form earned them four more tries – one of which marked Simelane’s second. Toyota Free State, in turn, showed their fighting spirit to score three converted tries in the half, but this was too little too late as they went down 55-24.

Promotion-relegation match:

In the Currie Cup Promotion-relegation match on Friday evening, Tafel Lager Griquas outscored Currie Cup First Division champions, the Down Touch Griffons, nine tries to four in Kimberley for an emphatic 59-26 victory in a match that featured two hat-tricks by Tafel Lager Griquas winger Ederies Arendse and Down Touch Griffons full-back Selvyn Davids.

The Welkom side tried hard to make their presence felt and gave everything, but Tafel Lager Griquas were more effective at creating point-scoring chances and rounding them off. The rewards followed, with the side registering a comfortable victory.

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