Pumas Stun Defending Champs
The Pumas achieved only their second victory in this season’s Currie Cup by securing a 22-21 victory over the Blue Bulls at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.
The defeat for the defending champions was their fourth loss of the 2010 competition and ensured that they ended the weekend in fourth position on the log with 24 points.
The Blue Bulls were overtaken on the Currie Cup log by the Free State Cheetahs who handed Western Province their first home defeat of the season during their 29-24 victory at Newlands on Friday evening.
The Bloemfontein outfit and the defending champions are both on 24 points. However the Free State side’s superior points differential (+25) over their Pretoria counterparts ensured that they ended week eight in third place.
WP flyhalf Willem de Waal who added nine points for the Cape side is still the leading points’ scorer in this season’s competition with 115. He is however only two points clear of Sharks flyhalf Patrick Lambie who is on 113.
The Cape side still currently occupies second place on the log, but their second defeat in the 2010 Currie Cup has meant that they are now seven points behind the log-leading Sharks who secured their seventh consecutive win in competition following their 48-30 victory over the Griquas on Friday.
The defeat for the Kimberley side in Durban relegated them to fifth position on the 2010 Currie Cup standings. They are on 23 points, but only five points behind the second positioned WP.
The victory for the Sharks ensured that they opened up a healthy points’ gap between the rest of the Currie Cup Premier Division chasing pack and themselves.
Griquas winger Bjorn Basson scored four tries in this match and strengthens his lead at the top of the Currie Cup leading try-scorers list with 13. Sharks’ winger Lwazi Mvovo who has scored seven five-pointers, is in second position after his eight games.
In Johannesburg, the Lions kept their semi-final aspirations alive after they recorded their fourth victory in the Currie Cup following their 45-22 win over the Leopards in Johannesburg on Friday.
The Lions though still occupies sixth position on the log with 20 points. However the defeat for the Leopards ensured that they continued their winless run in this season’s competition. The Leopards are at the bottom of the Currie Cup log with four points.
Pumas 22 – Tries: Elgar Watts, Doppies le Roux, Ashwin Scott, Tiaan Meyer; Conversion: Watts. Blue Bulls 21 – Tries: Dean Greyling, Dewald Potgieter; Conversion: Jacques-Louis Potgieter; Penalties: Francois Brummer (2), Potgieter.
Western Province 24 – Tries: Adriaan Fondse, Gio Aplon, Duane Vermeulen; Conversions: Willem de Waal (3); Penalty: De Waal. Free State Cheetahs 29 – Tries: Kabamba Floors, Jongi Nokwe; Conversions: Louis Strydom (2); Penalties: Strydom (5).
The Sharks 48 – Tries: Odwa Ndungane, Monty Dumond, Craig Burden, Stefan Terblanche, Tendai Mtawarira; Conversions: Patrick Lambie (4); Penalties: Lambie (5). Griquas 30 – Tries: Bjorn Basson (4); Conversions: Naas Olivier (2); Penalties: Riaan Viljoen, Olivier.
Lions 45 – Tries: Renaldo Bothma (2), Johan Snyman (2), Warren Whiteley, Michael Killian, Jano Vermaak; Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3), Burton Francis (2). Leopards 22 – Tries: Michael Bondesio, Jan van Zyl, RW Kember; Conversions: Clayton Durand (2); Penalty: Neill Jacobs.
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).
Province Flying High
Western Province fullback Conrad Jantjes was one of his team's stand-out performers in their Currie Cup win over Griquas in Kimberley.
The Cape side outplayed their opponents in the second half and bagged maximum points from this game after scoring six tries in this fixture. All six five-pointers were scored in the final 40 minutes of the match.
Centre Juan de Jongh who claimed the Man of the Match award in Kimberley for his outstanding performance in this fixture, flanker Pieter Louw, fullback Conrad Jantjies, winger Gio Aplon and reserve flyhalf Lionel Cronje and substitute hooker Deon Fourie were the try scorers for the visitors.
Western Province flyhalf Willem de Waal who earned his 100th Currie Cup cap, added 18 points with the boot by kicking four penalties and three conversions. Cronje converted his own try.
Griquas’ only points were added thanks to one penalty kick by captain and flyhalf Naas Olivier. The hosts, who conceded their first home defeat of the season after securing victories over the Lions (26-20) and the Sharks (40-34), ended the weekend in fourth place on the log with 15 points while WP are still in pole position on 23.
The Blue Bulls secured their third victory of the 2010 competition after they defeated a spirited Leopards outfit 43-38 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.
Eleven (11) tries were scored this game. The defending champions ran in six five-pointers while their opponents added five.
Talented Blue Bulls winger Gerhard van den Heever added a brace while flankers Dewald Potgieter and Derick Kuün; scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and centre Stefan Watermeyer were the other players to score tries for the hosts.
Blue Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked five conversions and one penalty.
The Leopards’ Michael Bondesio, who claimed the Man of the Match award at Loftus Versfeld for his solid performance at scrumhalf, scored a brace while Walter Venter, Ligtoring Landman and Dumisani Matyeshana added the other tries for the visitors.
Niell Jacobs (four) and Clayton Durand added the conversions for the Leopards. Jacobs also kicked one penalty.
The victory for the Blue Bulls ensured that they ended week five of the 2010 Currie Cup in third position on the log with 16 points. They are however still seven points behind the log-leading WP.
The defending champions, who now prepare for their next assignment in this season’s competition against Province at Newlands on Saturday, are also five points behind the second-placed Sharks who secured their fourth win of the competition following their 48-19 victory over the Lions on Saturday.
Flanker Jacques Botes celebrated his 100th Currie Cup appearance in fine style as the Durban side achieved maximum points from this game after scoring five tries.
Patrick Lambie who claimed the Currie Cup Player of the Month award for July kick-started his career at flyhalf for the Sharks by scoring 28 points. The SA Under-20 fullback added a try and kicked five penalties and four conversions.
Sharks winger Lwazi Mvovo continued his impressive form in this season’s competition by scoring two five-pointers while hooker Craig Burden and Botes also added their names to the try-scoring sheet for the hosts.
While Lambie starred for the Sharks, his SA U20 teammate Elton Jantjies also excelled at pivot for the Lions. The Johannesburg flyhalf scored 14 points by kicking four penalties and a conversion. Winger Deon van Rensburg scored the Lions’ only try of the match.
In the other Currie Cup game of the weekend the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ran in six tries as they defeated the Pumas 45-30 in Witbank on Saturday.
Flanker Hendro Scholtz scored two tries while centres Robert Ebersohn and Meyer Bosman; winger Jongi Nokwe and fullback Hennie Daniller added the other five-pointers for the Bloemfontein side.
Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom kicked one penalty and four conversions while utility back Sias Ebersohn added two conversions.
The Pumas managed to score three tries which were added by Shaun Venter, Jacques Coetzee and Ashwin Scott.
Ricardo Coy kicked three penalties and a conversion while former Boland Cavaliers pivot Elgar Watts converted two tries scored by the Pumas.
The victory for the Cheetahs ensured that they ended week five in fifth position on the Absa Currie Cup log with 14 points. The Pumas are in seventh place with five points.
Currie Cup weekend results and scorers:
Griquas 3 – Penalty: Naas Olivier. Western Province 50 – Tries: Juan de Jongh, Pieter Louw, Conrad Jantjies, Gio Aplon, Lionel Cronje, Deon Fourie; Penalties: Willem de Waal (4); Conversions: De Waal (3), Cronje.
Blue Bulls 43 – Tries: Gerhard van den Heever (2), Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuün, Francois Hougaard, Stefan Watermeyer; Conversion: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (5); Penalty: Potgieter. Leopards 38 – Tries: Michael Bondesio (2), Walter Venter, Ligtoring Landman, Dumisani Matyeshana; Conversions: Niell Jacobs (4), Clayton Durand (1); Penalty: Jacobs (1).
The Sharks 48 – Tries: Lwazi Mvovo (2), Patrick Lambie, Jacques Botes, Craig Burden; Penalties: Lambie (5); Conversion: Lambie (4). Lions 19 – Try: Deon van Rensburg; Conversion: Elton Jantjies; Penalties: Jantjies (4).
Pumas 30 – Tries: Shaun Venter, Jacques Coetzee, Ashwin Scott; Conversions: Elgar Watts (2), Ricardo Croy; Penalties: Croy (3). Free State Cheetahs 45 – Tries: Hendro Scholtz (2), Jongi Nokwe, Hennie Daniller, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman; Conversions: Louis Strydom (4), Sias Ebersohn (2); Penalty: Strydom.
Weekend Rugby Wrap
Patrick Lambie scores a try.
Willem de Waal, in what was his 100th appearance in the tournament, contributed 14 points with the boot, while Juan de Jongh, Deon Fourie, Conrad Jantjes, Gio Aplon, Pieter Louw and Lionel Cronje all crossed during a remarkable second-half display from the league leaders.
It was de Waal who opened the scoring, the veteran fly-half landing a penalty nine minutes in after Tiaan Liebenberg had been guilty of playing the ball on the ground. Riian Viljoen attempted to post an immediate reply for the hosts but his drop goal attempt sailed wide.
However, the Griquas were offered a route back into the game when Duane Vermeulen was harshly sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Richard Lawson. Naas Olivier converted the resulting penalty from wide on the right and a spell of incessant Griquas pressure followed. But they could find no way through the Western Province defence, with their best opening ending in Lawson being bundled into touch with the line in sight.
Once restored to their full complement, the visitors quickly reasserted their dominance and they reclaimed the lead when de Waal stroked over an easy penalty from right in front of the posts after the Griquas had wandered offside.
The Griquas were struggling so the last thing they could have done without Bjorn Basson foolishly deciding to tackle de Waal in the air. Basson saw yellow and the Griquas were down to 14 for the rest of the half.
Sharks vs Lions
The Sharks kept pace with the leaders thanks to a 48-19 victory over the Golden Lions at Absa Stadium that saw them cement second place in the table. Rising star Patrick Lambie notched 28 points for the Sharks courtesy of a try, four conversions and five penalties to power his side’s to victory although the final scoreline flattered the hosts.
Lambie’s try on the quarter hour put the Sharks in control but the Lions hit back with a try from winger Deon van Rensburg and the boot of fly-half Elton Jantjies carried them into the lead before the hosts hit back with a try from flanker Jacques Botes before the break.
The game took a decisive turn towards the Sharks shortly after the break with two interceptions in the space of four minutes. First Lwazi Mvovo picked off a loose pass by Jantjes and then Craig Burden pounced on a loose pass by Jano Vermaak with both ending in tries for the home side. The Sharks then hammered home their advantage with Lambie stretching their lead before Mvovo crossed for his second score late in the game.
Cheetahs vs Pumas
As for the Griquas, their hold on fourth is now under threat as the fifth-placed Cheetahs, who picked up a bonus point in their 45-30 victory over the Pumas in Witbank. The Cheetahs made a sluggish start and found themselves 6-3 down after 17 minutes of play. However, it was at that point that the visitors bagged the first of the game, with prop Coenie Oosthuizen forcing his way over the whitewash.
The reclaimed the lead through Shaun Venter’s intercept try but the Cheetahs quickly reasserted their superiority and racked up two more tries, from Hendro Scholtz and Jong Nokwe, before the break.
Louis Strydom added another shortly after the restart to secure the bonus point before Robert Ebersohn got on the end of his own chip forward to get his name on the scoresheet. The Cheetahs were reeling and their defence was breached again just before the hour, with Meyer Bosmanbreaking through to score.
Credit to the Pumas, they kept battling and managed two late tries through Jacques Coetzee and Carl Bezuidenhout but it was very much a case of far too little, far too late.
Blue Bulls vs Leopards
Meanwhile, the Blue Bulls continue to flatter to deceive, the reigning champions suffering an almighty fright before holding on to claim a 43-38 victory over the bottom-ranked Leopards.
The Leopards, who went into the game on the back of four successive defeats, made a stirring start, helping themselves into an early 10-point lead courtesy of a converted try for Ligtoring Landman and a penalty from Neil Jacobs.
The Bulls came roaring back, though, with the prolific Gerhard van den Heever touching down either side of tries for Derick Kuun and Dewald Potgieter as the hosts took complete control of the game.
They pulled further clear after the restart when Francois Hougaard dotted after a scything run from Stefan Watermeyer. Michael Bondiso replied with a brilliant solo score only to see the Bulls seemingly kill off all hopes of a Leopards fightback with a try for Watermayer.
However, Bondiso was a man on a mission and he struck again moments later, this time after winning the race to Deon Scholtz’s chip forward, and the Leopards really began to believe when a fine break from Jacobs ultimately led to Walter Venter diving over.
With just nine points now between the sides, the Leopards went on the offensive. They coughed up a penalty, which was converted by Jacques-Louis Potgieter, but kept coming all the same and registered another try late on, through Dumisane Matyeshana. Unfortunately, they ran out of time and the Bulls had been spared the ignominy of a shock defeat in their own back yard.
Courtesy of Scrum
Loading ...
.PNG){kind=icon}
