Sharks On Top
Wicus Blaauw and Brok Harris bring down Keegan Daniel during the Currie Cup match between the Sharks and Western Province.
The KwaZulu Natal side secured their sixth consecutive victory in this season’s competition and consigned their Cape opponents to their first defeat of 2010.
Both teams have conceded one defeat in the 2010 competition. However the Sharks have notched up more bonus points for scoring four tries or more in a match than WP, and as a result are three points clear of WP at the top of the log.
The match in Durban was a clash between South Africa’s leading defensive and attacking sides in the competition. The hosts have entertained crowds in this season’s competition with their attacking brand of rugby while their Cape opponents have captivated audiences with their tigerish and resolute defensive performances.
The Sharks shifted the ball to their wings on numerous occasions and looked to attack from within their own half throughout the game. They were rewarded with two tries in the match which were scored by winger Odwa Ndungane and No 8 Ryan Kankowski.
SA Under-20 flyhalf Patrick Lambie converted Kankowski’s five-pointer and kicked four penalties before his captain and centre Stefan Terblanche slotted a drop goal in the final minutes of the game.
Western Province surrendered many of their try-scoring opportunities due to basic mistakes at crucial stages of the game. The visitors were also guilty of numerous handling errors throughout the match. Willem de Waal kicked three penalties and converted his side’s only try which was scored by reserve loose-forward Nick Koster.
The Blue Bulls had GWK captain and flyhalf Naas Olivier to thank after they held on to record a 39-38 victory over their Kimberley opponents in Pretoria on Friday evening.
Olivier failed to convert Bjorn Basson’s try that was scored in the final minute of play which would have handed his side their fifth victory of the 2010 competition.
Basson managed to achieve a hat-trick of tries at Loftus Versfeld while his side’s fourth five-pointer was scored by utility back Richard Lawson. Olivier though converted three of his side’s other tries and also kicked four penalties to end the game with a personal points haul of 18.
However while the Blue Bulls had to wait for Olivier’s failed conversion attempt before celebrating their fourth win of the competition, they managed to outscore Griquas with five tries to four.
Winger John Mametsa added a brace while flanker Derick Kuun, prop Dean Greyling and hooker Bandise Maku ran in five-pointers for the hosts. Blue Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked two penalties and added four conversions to end the game with a personal tally of 14 points.
The victory for the defending champions ensured that they ended week seven in third position on the Currie Cup log with 22 points. They are now within striking distance of the second placed Western Province (27).
Meanwhile the Lions had to wait for a television match official (TMO) to rule against a Pumas try in the final minute of their game before holding on to snatch a 33-30 victory in Witbank on Friday night.
The Witbank side though achieved two log points – one for scoring four tries, and the other for conceding a defeat within seven points. The Pumas were awarded a penalty try while their other five-pointers were scored by Christo le Roux, Elgar Watts and Nicky Kritzinger. Watts added a penalty and kicked two conversions while Ricardo Croy also slotted one penalty.
Winger Deon van Rensburg, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, fullback Jaco Taute and Derick Minnie scored tries for the Lions. Former Blue Bulls pivot Burton Francis, now playing for the Johannesburg side, kicked two conversions and three penalties.
Meanwhile in the other Currie Cup game on Friday evening, the Free State Cheetahs secured their fourth win in this season’s competition following their comprehensive 57-0 victory over the Leopards in Bloemfontein.
The hosts ran in nine tries against their opponents who are currently languishing at the bottom of the log. The Leopards are also the only team who has not won a game in the Premier Division.
Free State Cheetahs winger Philip Snyman added a brace of five-pointers while hooker Adriaan Strauss, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, centre Robert Ebersohn, flanker Hendro Scholtz, Francois Uys, Philip van der Walt and WP Nel were the other try-scores for the Bloemfontein side. Centre Meyer Bosman kicked six conversions.
Results and scorers:
Sharks 27 – Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Ryan Kankowski; Conversion: Patrick Lambie; Penalties: Lambie (4); Drop goal: Stefan Terblanche. Western Province 16 – Try: Nick Koster; Conversion: Lionel Cronje; Penalties: William de Waal (3).
Blue Bulls 39 – Tries: John Mametsa (2), Derick Kuun, Dean Greyling, Bandise Maku; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (4); Penalties: Potgieter (2). Griquas 38 – Tries: Bjorn Basson (3), Richard Lawson; Conversions: Naas Olivier (3); Penalties: Olivier (4).
Pumas 30 – Tries: Christo le Roux, Elgar Watts, Nicky Kritzinger, Penalty try; Conversions: Watts (2); Penalties: Watts, Ricardo Croy. Lions 33 – Tries: Deon van Rensburg, Jano Vermaak, Derick Minnie, Jaco Taute; Conversions: Burton Francis (2); Penalties: Francis (3).
Free State Cheetahs 57 – Tries: Philip Snyman (2), Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen, Robert Ebersohn, Hendro Scholtz, Francois Uys, Philip van der Walt, WP Nel; Conversions: Meyer Bosman (6).
Lions Finally Get A Win
Lions players celebrate their Currie Cup win over the Cheetahs.
The home team added two tries in the final five minutes of play thanks to the efforts of talented 19-year-old flyhalf Elton Jantjies (75th) and utility back Jannie Boshoff (77th).
Jantjies was the stand-out performer for the hosts. He controlled the game with his tactical kicking and deservedly received the Man of the Match award in this game.
The Lions pivot – who represented the SA Under-20s at this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina – was solid on defence and looked to ignite his backline on attack throughout the game.
Jantjies kicked three penalties and also converted all three tries scored by his side. The Johannesburg side’s first try was scored by winger Deon van Rensburg which came in the 38th minute of the match.
The Free State Cheetahs ran in two tries which were added by No 8 Ashley Johnson and reserve prop Cobus Kaldo. Flyhalf Louis Strydom who kicked four penalties, and centre Meyer Bosman, slotted the respective conversions.
The Lions (10 points) are still in sixth position on the Currie Cup log despite their dramatic win in Johannesburg. They are however only five points behind the fifth-placed Cheetahs who are on 15 points after six matches.
Western Province though remained in pole position at the top of the log and are still the only undefeated side in this year’s competition following their 15-12 victory over the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.
Both sides were missing many of their first choice international stars who were not considered for selection due to the forthcoming Tri-Nations clash between the Springboks and the All Blacks in Soweto on Saturday.
WP held most of the territory and possession advantage in the first half but only boasted a 6-3 lead at the break. The hosts launched numerous attacking plays close to the Blue Bulls’ try line during the first 40 minutes but failed to break down the superb defensive effort of their Pretoria opponents.
The hosts were also solid on defence and continued their form as the competition’s best defensive side. As a result of both sides who gave very little away on defence, no tries were scored in this match.
All the points in this game were scored thanks to the kicking efforts of both flyhalves. Willem de Waal kicked five penalties for the hosts while Jacques-Louis Potgieter notched up all the points added by the defending champions at Newlands by adding four penalties.
While the victory for Province (27 points) kept them at the top of the Currie Cup log at the conclusion of week six, the defeat for the Blue Bulls (17) consigned them to fourth position after six games.
The defending champions are now 10 points behind WP, but three away from the GWK Griquas who are currently in third position on the log. The Kimberley side bounced back last Saturday’s 50-3 defeat to Province and comprehensively outclassed the Pumas 58-25 on Friday.
Griquas fullback Riaan Viljoen and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius both added a brace of tries while Cecil Kemp, Frikkie Spies, Rocco Jansen and Rudi Vogt also scored five-pointers for the hosts. Flyhalf Naas Olivier kicked six conversions and two penalties.
The Pumas managed to score three tries which were added by Elgar Watts, Shaun Venter and Junior Bester. The former Boland Cavaliers pivot Watts, kicked two conversions and two penalties for the Witbank side.
In the other Currie Cup game of the weekend, the Sharks secured maximum points from their trip to Phokeng on Friday evening when they comprehensively defeated the Leopards 51-6 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The Durban side ran in seven tries which were scored by centre Stefan Terblanche (2), winger Lwazi Mvovo, prop Patric Cilliers, No 8 Willem Alberts, fullback Louis Ludik and scrumhalf Rory Kockott.
The Sharks’ centre sensation Patrick Lambie continued his impressive form in the 2010 Currie Cup on Friday evening and kicked two penalties and three conversions. Kockott also converted two tries.
The Leopards’ points were scored by flyhalf Neill Jacobs who added two penalties for the hosts who are currently the only team in the Currie Cup Premier Division without a win after six games.
The victory for the Sharks (26 points) ensured that they ended week six in second position on the log, one behind Western Province. These sides will go head-to-head in Durban next Saturday as the 2010 Currie Cup concludes its first round’s action.
Currie Cup weekend results and scorers:
Xerox Lions 30 – Tries: Deon van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, Jannie Boshoff; Conversions: Jantjies (3); Penalties: Jantjies (3). Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 26 – Tries: Ashley Johnson, Cobus Kaldo; Conversions: Louis Strydom (1), Meyer Bosman (1); Penalties: Strydom (4).
Western Province 15 – Penalties: Willem de Waal (5). Blue Bulls 12 – Penalties: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (4).
Griquas 58 – Tries: Riaan Viljoen (2), Sarel Pretorius (2), Cecil Kemp, Frikkie Spies, Rocco Jansen, Rudi Vogt; Conversions: Naas Olivier (6); Penalties: Olivier (2). Pumas 25 – Tries: Elgar Watts, Shaun Venter, Junior Bester; Conversions: Watts (2); Penalties: Watts (2).
Sharks 51 – Tries: Stefan Terblanche (2), Lwazi Mvovo, Patric Cilliers, Willem Alberts, Louis Ludik, Rory Kockott; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (3), Kockott (2); Penalties: Patrick Lambie (2). Leopards 6 – Penalties: Neill Jacobs (2).
Bulls Downed Again
Free State Cheetahs reserve hooker Skipper Badenhorst's try in the dying seconds sealed the win for the visitors against the Blue Bulls at Loftus.
Substitute hooker Skipper Badenhorst dived in at the corner during the final seconds of the game to level the scores at 23-23 before utility back Sias Ebersohn kicked a touchline conversion to steer the Bloemfontein side to their second win of the competition.
The defending champions out-scored the Free State Cheetahs with two tries to one. Derick Kuün and centre Stefan Watermeyer both added five-pointers for the hosts. Flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter, playing against his former team, converted both tries and also kicked three penalties for the Blue Bulls.
However the Bloemfontein side remained in touch of the score thanks to the solid kicking performance of their pivot Louis Strydom. The Free State Cheetahs flyhalf added five penalties with the boot and regularly kept the hosts under pressure due to his tactical kicking throughout the game. Ebersohn who kicked the final conversion on the match also added a penalty.
The victory for the visitors ensured that they ended week three in fourth position on the Currie Cup Premier Division log while the Blue Bulls, who suffered their second defeat of the 2010 competition, are currently in fifth place.
Griquas bounced back to winning ways after going down 33-26 to the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last Friday when they edged the Lions by 26-20 in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
This was the second home win for the Kimberley side in the 2010 Currie Cup following their victory over the Sharks in week one. Both teams scored two tries. The Lions who scored two five-pointers before the break thanks to scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and lock George Earle, struggled to cross their opponents’ try line in the second half. Flyhalf Herkie Kruger converted both tries and also kicked two penalties later during the game.
Griquas’ two tries were added in the second half. The hosts threatened the Lions’ try line before the break but struggled to maximize their opportunities into points due to handling errors and ill-discipline at crucial periods of the game.
Prop Jacobie Adriaanse and winger Bjorn Basson added the Kimberley side’s tries while captain and flyhalf Naas Olivier added the two conversions. The skipper also kicked two penalties.
Western Province continued their impressive start in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division following their 42-23 win over the Leopards in Potchefstroom on Friday evening.
The Cape side, who ended week three in pole position on the log, bagged their first five-point victory of the season after scoring six tries in this fixture.
Prop Brok Harris, winger Frikkie Welsh, centre Paul Bosch, flanker Pieter Louw, and replacements Conrad Hoffmann and Pieter Myburgh all added their names to the try-scoring sheet in Potchefstroom. Flyhalf Willem de Waal kicked three conversions and three penalties.
Deon Scholtz added a brace of tries while Jovan Bowles added the hosts’ third try against a WP defence who has only conceded 34 points after three games. Jean Tiedt kicked a conversion and a solitary penalty while Neill Jacobs added the game’s only drop goal for the Leopards.
Stefan Terblanche celebrated his 100th Currie Cup game in fine style on Friday evening after the Sharks achieved maximum points against the Pumas during their 27-17 victory in Durban.
Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel scored a hat-trick of tries while Charl McLeod added his side’s fourth five-pointer to bag a valuable log point for scoring four tries.
Patrick Lambie who represented the SA Under-20s during the 2010 IRB Junior World Champion in Argentina in June kicked two conversions and one penalty.
The Pumas managed to score two tries which were added by Christo Le Roux and Ronnie Uys. Flyhalf Ricardo Croy converted both tries and also added a drop goal during the match.
Currie Cup Premier Division results:
Blue Bulls 23 – Tries: Derick Kuün, Stefan Watermeyer; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2); Penalties: Potgieter (3). Free State Cheetahs 25 – Try: Skipper Badenhorst; Conversion: Sias Ebersohn; Penalties: Louis Strydom (5), Ebersohn.
Griquas 26 – Tries: Jacobie Adriaanse, Bjorn Basson; Conversions: Naas Olivier (2); Penalties: Olivier (4). Lions 20 – Tries: Jano Vermaak, George Earle; Conversions: Herkie Kruger (2); Penalties: Kruger (2).
Western Province 42 – Tries: Brok Harris, Frikkie Welsh, Paul Bosch, Pieter Louw, Conrad Hoffmann, Pieter Myburgh; Conversions: Willem de Waal (3); Penalties: De Waal (2). Leopards 23 – Tries: Deon Scholtz (2), Jovan Bowles; Conversion: Jean Tiedt; Penalty: Tiedt; Drop goal: Neill Jacobs.
Sharks 27 – Tries: Keegan Daniel (3), Charl McLeod; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (2); Penalty: Lambie. Pumas 17 – Tries: Christo Le Roux, Ronnie Uys; Conversions: Ricardo Croy (2); Drop goal: Croy.
Currie Cup Preview
Jacques-Louis Potgieter of the Bulls is tackled by Ricardo Croy of the Pumas during the Currie Cup match between the Blue Bulls and Pumas
Let’s take a look at what’s in store, ahead of the second weekend of the Currie Cup.
Western Province have not conceded a home defeat to the Lions since 2005 and will be aiming to defend this record when these sides meet up in week two of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup at 15h00 on Saturday. The hosts have recorded five victories over their opponents from Johannesburg during the last five years at Newlands. Former Lions lock Anton van Zyl, who represented the Gauteng side in 33 games, will make his 50th Currie Cup appearance for WP against his former team. The last time the Lions beat WP was in the last game of the round robin phase in 2009, when they secured a 27-25 win at Coca-Cola Park. Western Province did not concede a home league defeat in the Currie Cup last year.
History will also be on the side of the Sharks on Saturday when they host the Blue Bulls at the Absa Stadium Durban at 17h00. The defending champions have only defeated their KwaZulu-Natal opponents twice during their last 10 fixtures. The last time the Bulls were victorious in Durban, was back in 2006 when they secured a 50-32 win over the Sharks. These two teams contested the Currie Cup final in 2008, and on that occasion it was the Sharks who triumphed in their 14-9 win over the Blue Bulls in Durban.
The Free State Cheetahs will be aiming to record their first home victory of the season on Friday when they host the GWK Griquas at Vodacom Park at 19h00. Naka Drotske’s men lost their first match of the season, at home against Western Province last Saturday, while the team from Kimberley stunned the Sharks last weekend. The Free State Cheetahs conceded two home defeats in their first two Currie games last season – one of which was against the GWK Griquas, who will be determined to secure their first win in 2010.
In the other Absa Currie Cup Premier Division game of the weekend, the Pumas and the Platinum Leopards will battle it out in Witbank on Saturday at 15h00. Both teams conceded defeats last weekend and will be aiming to record their first win of the season at the Puma Stadium.
With thanks to SA Rugby
Currie Cup Tries Galore
Griquas loose forward Wesley Wilkins was one of the stars in his team's come-from behind Currie Cup win over the Sharks in Kimberley on Saturday.
The 2010 Currie Cup kicked off to an exciting start after 26 tries were scored in the opening weekend of South Africa’s premier domestic rugby competition.
In Kimberley Griquas recorded an entertaining 40-34 victory over the Sharks on Saturday. The hosts ran in five tries to the four scored by their Durban opponents in this game which saw 74 points scored. Both teams played attacking, running rugby and regularly looked to shift the ball wide throughout the match.
Springbok winger Bjorn Basson added a brace of five-pointers while Wesley Wilkins, Ryno Barnes and Steph Roberts were the other try scorers for the hosts. Griquas flyhalf Naas Olivier kicked three penalties and three conversions.
The Sharks boasted a 22-8 half time lead, but failed to press home that advantage. Flyhalf Steve Meyer, prop Pat Cilliers, flanker Michael Rhodes and winger Lwazi Mvovo all ran in five-pointers for the Durban franchise.
Scrumhalf Rory Kockott kicked two conversions and a penalty while replacement flyhalf Monty Dumond converted Cilliers’ try.
Western Province also enjoyed a victorious start to their Currie Cup season following their 25-11 away win over the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.
WP flyhalf Willem de Waal kicked six penalties and converted his side’s only try which was scored by lock Adriaan Fondse to end the game with a personal points’ haul of 20.
Both sides were defensively strong in this match and as a result only two tries were scored. Fondse added Province’s five-pointer just before the half time break while scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn dived in at the corner to score the hosts’ only try.
Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom kicked two penalties for the Bloemfontein side.
Meanwhile the Blue Bulls kicked off their 2010 Currie Cup title defence to the perfect start following their 38-15 victory over the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening.
The defending champions added six tries and racked up their bonus point for scoring four tries within the first quarter of the game.
Winger John Mametsa scored two five-pointers while centres Stefan Watermeyer and Stefan Dippenaar, flanker Deon Stegmann and Dean Greyling all crossed the try line for the hosts in this Currie Premier Division opener. The Blue Bulls pivot Jacques-Louis Potgieter converted three tries while substitute flyhalf Francois Brummer kicked one conversion.
The Pumas managed to score two tries against the reigning champions. Allistair Kettledas and Tian Meyer were the try scores for the Witbank outfit while former Western Province and SWD Eagles No 10 Ricardo Croy kicked one penalty and added a conversion.
While in Phokeng, the Lions achieved their first away victory in the 2010 competition by defeating the Leopards 43-13 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Friday night.
Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak scored two of the Johannesburg side’s five tries in this match which saw the visitors claim maximum points. The other five-pointers were scored by former Blue Bulls centre Marius Delport, former Sharks midfielder Waylon Murray, and SA Under-20 outside centre Jaco Taute, who donned the fullback jersey for the visitors.
Lions flyhalf Herkie Kruger kicked four penalties and converted three tries. Deon Scholtz and Wilhelm Koch scored tries for the Leopards while No 10 Cecil Dumond kicked one penalty for the hosts.
Weekend results and scorers:
Griquas 40 – Tries: Bjorn Basson (2), Wesley Wilkins, Ryno Barnes, Steph Roberts; Conversions: Naas Olivier; Penalties: Olivier (3). Sharks 34 – Tries: Steve Meyer, Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Lwazi Mvovo; Conversions: Rory Kockott (2), Monty Dumond; Penalty: Kockott.
Free State Cheetahs 11 – Try: Tewis de Bruyn; Penalties: Louis Strydom (2). WP 25 – Try: Adriaan Fondse; Conversion: Willem de Waal; Penalties: De Waal (6).
Blue Bulls 38 – Tries: John Mametsa (2), Stefan Watermeyer, Dean Greyling, Stefan Dippenaar, Deon Stegmann; Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3), Francois Brummer (1). Pumas 15 – Tries: Allistair Kettledas, Tian Meyer; Conversion: Croy; Penalties: Ricardo Croy.
Leopards 13 – Tries: Deon Scholtz, Wilhelm Koch; Penalty: Cecil Dumond. Lions 43 – Tries: Jano Vermaak (2), Marius Delport, Waylon Murray, Jaco Taute; Conversions: Herkie Kruger (3); Penalties: Kruger (4).
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