The Absa Currie Cup Premier Division lived up to its billing as SA’s premier domestic competition this weekend as the opening round of 2013 delivered a series of nailbiting encounters.
GWK Griquas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs got their campaigns off to positive starts as they registered invaluable away victories, while defending champions, DHL Western Province, and the Vodacom Blue Bulls played to a draw in an epic clash in Cape Town.
So closely matched were the teams, GWK Griquas pipped the Sharks 32-30 at GrowthPoint Kings Park on Friday night, and on Saturday the Toyota Free State Cheetahs edged the MTN Golden Lions 30-29 at Ellis Park and DHL Western Province and Vodacom Blue Bulls drew 24-24 at Newlands.
DHL Western Province 24 (14) Vodacom Blue Bulls 24 (6)
Western Province stamped their authority early on and showed fantastic skills to create try-scoring chances, which earned them two converted tries in the first 20 minutes by Gio Aplon and Patrick Howard, respectively. The Blue Bulls, meanwhile, managed to accumulate only three points in that time thanks to a penalty by flyhalf Tony Jantjies.
With the home team’s confidence up they continued to create try-scoring chances, but mistakes at crucial times denied the team two possible tries before the break. Jantjies, however, slotted over the second of his four penalties which saw the visitors trail 14-6 at the break.
The second half proved to be very close despite the home team adding a third try by Nizaam Carr, as their lack of discipline saw the Pretoria team claw their way back into the match.
Centre Francois Venter and replacement flank Jean Cook crossed the tryline in the last 12 minutes to add to a further two penalties by Jantjies, but the young flyhalf missed a conversion in the dying seconds which denied them a victory.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province: Tries: Gio Aplon, Nizaam Carr, Patrick Howard. Conversions: Gary van Aswegen (3). Penalty: Gary van Aswegen.
Vodacom Blue Bulls: Tries: Francois Venter, Jean Cook. Conversion: Tony Jantjies. Penalties: Tony Jantjies (4).
MTN Golden Lions 29 (16) Toyota Free State Cheetahs 30 (13)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs dominated territory and possession in a physical first half at Ellis Park against the MTN Golden Lions, and they showed their attacking prowess as early as the fifth minute with centre Robert Ebersohn scoring the opening try.
Their ability to balance their attack between the hard grind up front and innovative running rugby, which proved to be far more effective than the Lions’ aimless kicking on attack, paid off again in the 30th minute with captain Boom Prinsloo diving over the line from a rolling maul to add to a penalty by Riaan Smit minutes earlier.
But unfortunately for the visitors three first-half penalties by flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff and a fantastic try by in-form centre Stokkies Hanekom following a stunning off-load by Dylan des Fountain allowed the Lions to sneak into a 16-13 lead.
The Cheetahs continued to pin their hopes of a victory on a balanced effort between the forwards and backs, and this paid off five minutes into the second half as scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius gathered the ball following a strong showing by the forwards to dive over the tryline. Nine minutes later centre Johann Sadie took a gap in the defence following a few phases to earn their bonus point try and a 27-19 lead.
But with nothing to lose the home team retained possession, and the change in tactics worked well, as it earned them two tries in seven minutes to trail 30-29 with a conversion to come.
Unfortunately for the Lions, however, replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies pushed the kick to the right, and with that proving to be their last point-scoring opportunity, the team were left heart-broken with a 30-29 defeat.
Scorers:
MTN Golden Lions: Tries: Stokkies Hanekom, Ruan Dreyer, Willie Britz. Conversion: Marnitz Boshoff. Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (4).
Toyota Free State Cheetahs: Tries: Boom Prinsloo, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Sarel Pretorius. Conversions: Elgar Watts, Riaan Smit. Penalties: Elgar Watts, Riaan Smit.
Sharks 30 (20) GWK Griquas 32 (16)
In Durban the Sharks ill-discipline dealt a huge blow to their hopes of a strong start to the competition.
Both teams found themselves on the wrong side of the law during what proved to be a tense encounter, but GWK Griquas wing Nico Scheepers’ six penalties to only three by Sharks flyhalf Butch James proved to be decisive in the result.
Interestingly, the Sharks outscored the Kimberly side three tries to two – two of which were scored by veteran loose forward Jacques Botes, which contributed immensely to their 20-16 half-time lead.
But the Scheepers’ accurate boot kept the pressure on in the second half and allowed the team to stay within striking range of a victory despite a try by Springbok wing Lwazi Mvovo.
However, a try after the final whistle by Griquas replacement loose forward Carel Greeff, which Scheepers converted, sealed the win for the brave visitors.
Scorers:
Sharks: Tries: Jacques Botes (2), Lwazi Mvovo. Conversions: Butch James (3). Penalties: Butch James (3).
GWK Griquas: Tries: Carel Greeff, Marnus Schoeman. Conversions: Nico Scheepers (2). Penalties: Nico Scheepers (6).
