Luther Obi scored 4 tries against the hapless Border Bulldogs
The Leopards scored 15 tries in beating the Border Bulldogs 103-15 (halftime 54-3) in a lost cause at Profert Olen Park on Saturday.
The Leopards knew they had to win with a bonus point to have any hope of catching the Griquas in the race to the Currie Cup Premier Division, and they did what they had to do with clinical efficiency in a free-flowing rout.
They kicked off with hope in their heart and a determination to push all the way. But it was all in vain as, at about the time they put boot to ball, the Griquas scored their fourth try against SWD Eagles and all but sealed their promotion after just half an hour’s play in George.
SuperSport
The bitter news probably filtered through during the match, but never did the Leopards let up, playing as they have throughout the season by putting the ball out wide for the dynamic backline. Right wing Sylvian Mahuza notched a hat-trick of tries before halftime, among five others. He went on to touch down four times, as did left-wing flyer Luther Obi. The two wings ended top try-scorers of the qualifying series with 10 apiece.
Obi started the rout in the fourth minute and the bonus point was secured by two tries from Mahuza and one by centre George Tossel within 21 minutes.
The hapless Border team, who ended the series without a win, made early substitutions, captain and hooker Blake Kyde and No 10 Oliver Zono departing in the 27th minute.
But nothing they did could stop the flow, and they were eight tries down by halftime. They regained some pride when they scored twice in the second-half. But the Leopards added seven tries after the break, only one coming from the forwards.
Leopards captain Andre Pretorius collected a personal tally of 28 points through 14 conversions, missing just one effort at goal. The Leopards will look back at the one-point loss they sustained at Griquas in June. Throughout the season, they gathered six four-try bonus points in five wins with their enterprising play.
Scorers:
Leopards (103):
- Tries: Luther Obi (4), Sylvian Mahuza (4), George Tossel (2), Hoffman Maritz (1), Dillon Smit (1), Morne Hanekom (1), Francois Robertse (1), Kobus de Kock (1)
- Conversions: André Pretorius (14)
Border (15):
- Tries: Michael Makase (1), Bangi Kobese (1)
- Conversion: Masixole Banda (1)
- Penalty: Masixole Banda (1)
Carel Greeff of the Griquas
The GWK Griquas secured their place in this year’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division thanks to a comprehensive 57-12 (halftime 31-0) win over the SWD Eagles in their qualifying match at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday.
Griquas had to win with a four-try bonus point to ensure that they could not be caught by the Leopards, who were second on the log heading in to the final week of qualifying matches.
The visitors wrapped up the bonus-point try in the first half with No 8 Carel Greef and hooker Ryno Barnes both bagging a brace of tries against the outgunned Eagles.
The Griquas opened their account in the 11th minute after a clever chip and chase from scrumhalf Tian Meyer with hooker Ryno Barnes on hand to crash over from close range after the ball had been recycled from a ruck.
The visitors grabbed their second try just five minutes later after a wonderful period of play which saw a move start on their 22-metre line before Greef muscled his way over for an unconverted score.
SWD seemed to have no answer to Griquas’ pace and power and they conceded the third try, in the 28th minute, when outside centre Jonathan Francke broke from a ruck on a the Eagles’ 10-metre line to sprint clear for a converted try.
The Griquas wrapped up the bonus-point try, and their place in this year’s Currie Cup Premier Division, as early as the 30th minute when right wing Ederies Arendse scooped up a loose ball before outstripping the cover defence to dot down in the corner to make the score 24-0.
Greef collected his second try just before the break when he powered his way over after a scrum five metres from the SWD tryline.
The Griquas needed just four minutes of the second half to resume their scoring when tighthead prop Maks van Dyk crashed over for a converted try after good work from flank Marnus Schoeman in the build-up.
The visitors continued to run rampant and they added further tries through Schoeman, Barnes, Meyer with the Eagles managing two late consolation tries through right wing Hentzwill Pedro and replacement loose forward Christo du Plessis.
Scorers:
SWD Eagles (12):
- Tries: Hentzwill Pedro (1), Christo du Plessis (1)
- Conversion: Elric van Vuuren (1)
GWK Griquas (57):
- Tries: Ryno Barnes (2), Carel Greef (2), Jonathan Francke (1), Ederies Arendse (1), Maks van Dyk (1), Marnus Schoeman (1), Tian Meyer (1)
- Conversions: Francois Brummer (2), Nico Scheepers (4)
Well done ‘Kwas. Northern Cape deserves to have a team in the CC.
I know you’ll be contenders for a semi final spot, unlike some other teams (Bulls) who’ll fall by the wayside.
Justice!
Good job Kwas.
103-15?
What, if anything, is SARU doing to improve standards & raise the quality of rugby being produced in this “hotbed of (African) talent in the Eastern Cape”, Mr Hoskins?
As SARU, this is YOUR problem.
Well done Griquad. and we’ll done leopards. seems like they will dominate the first division and will put a lot of pressure on whoever they play in the promotion relegation match. Good things happening in potch.
@ BrumbiesBoy:
@3 Would be interesting to know what the budget figures for rugby development in the EC are.
GBS visited the SARU offices at Newlands once, in 2007 I think, and what their financial statements showed at that stage regarding expenditure for ‘grass roots’ development was something like 70k per year, for the country as whole.
@ Pietman:
There was an article a few months ago about the ANC using Border resources for their political campaign.
It appears Border is a boetie and chommie union.
…Wow 70k a year? thats shameful.
@ MacroBull:
Yep, check with GBS, he might remember…same year they had a profit of something like R5m.
PissMier posted an insightful article about that also, perhaps it is still here in our archives.
@ Pietman:
If I remember correctly they put the ANC slogans on the cars that belonged to Border
@ MacroBull:
@ Pietman:
THERE is no end to border rugby’s woes as it runs out of money for development plans.
This week the Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU) administrator confirmed the bank had repossessed its fleet of vehicles.
Three months ago the South African Rugby Union (Saru) withdrew financial support and called for Border to be put under administration.
Sources in the BRFU said, this week, some vehicles had been removed from the union and sent to Rose-Innes Auctioneers in Braelyn.
“The remaining four vehicles are still at large,” said a source at Border Rugby, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.
One of the vehicles had ANC branding on its mirrors and it is alleged that some of the vehicles were used for election campaigns in the Buffalo City area.
Border Rugby development Toyota Avanzas have been repossessed from the Border Rugby Football Union as its financial worse deepens. Yesterday three of the vehicles were found in an auction house, Rose Innes auctions in Braelyn. PICTURE ALAN EASON
Some officials at Border Rugby blamed union president Phumlani Mkolo, who is also the ANC regional secretary, for what was happening to the union.
Contacted for comment, Mkolo referred the Dispatch to the union administrator, Monde Tabata.
Tabata said there was nothing to worry about as rugby development would not be affected but would be “localised to communities”.
“The repossession of the vehicles coincided with a decision taken to release them as they were too draining [financially] for the union.
“This won’t affect the quality of rugby here,” Tabata said.
In March, the Dispatch reported on Saru’s suspension of all future funding for BRFU with immediate effect.
The lack of audited financial records prompted the decision. Apparently the union failed to submit acceptable annual budgets for the year ending December 31 2013.
At the time, Mkolo told the Dispatch that he was aware of this but “all this happened before my time with BRFU”.
Saru was concerned with the mismanagement of the union’s finances and demanded that annual financial statements be audited and submitted to them.
Border Rugby development Toyota Avanzas have been repossessed from the Border Rugby Football Union as its financial worse deepens. Yesterday three of the vehicles were found in an auction house, Rose Innes auctions in Braelyn. PICTURE ALAN EASON
In a stakeholders’ meeting earlier this year, Border Rugby general manager Dumisani Mhani revealed the dire financial situation at the union.
Staff salaries including bonuses had not been paid. Mhani also reported that the union owed Mkolo more than R600000 after he paid staff salaries from his own pocket.
Saru then decided to send Tabata to stabilise the union’s financial situation.
“We decided to negotiate with the bank since it was way too expensive for the union. Development needs money more than logistics. Money is needed on the field. We are on a belt-tightening programme,” he said.
Tabata said he was not aware the vehicles had been used for political campaigns.
“No Border Rugby Union employee is allowed to misuse the union assets under any circumstance.
“I was not aware that these vehicles were used for such, otherwise we would have taken action. Pity that this now comes after they have been repossessed,” said Tabata.
Another Border rugby executive member, Xolile Ngcamama, who represents first division, said he did not want to comment.
“I don’t want to say anything on the matter. There are other relevant people to talk to,” said Ngcamama.
@ nortierd
Morne PissMier Nortier had some stats on all that stuff, among others 7 Ford Bantam bakkies donated by Ford that ” went ástray ”, the team doctor who didn’t get paid, coach Kaya (Springbok wing) who had to work for free because they had no money….I think that is the time that Strauli packed up and went to the Sharks .
Some of our bloggers once clubbed in and collected R7,000 for a rugby day in Bethlehem and that was the time that GBS also approached SARU, got nothing…
GBS should comment on this, though, he was our spokesman.
@ Pietman:
Sjoe, not good things happening down there.
I wonder if the players are even being paid?
@9 There you go.
But a lot of raw talent up there in the Amatolas…. Mdantsane, Kings etc, cricket,. rugby, boxing. But no proper sports administration.
Another blogger who has insight in those affairs is TonyM, ask him one day when he comes round again.
@ nortierd:
No, not always, apparently, from what I have read in the Eastern Cape Herald during the 2012 season.
Our first Craven week Springbok came from Border, by the way, Andy van der Watt, 1965 wing to the UK, “The Stellenbosch Express”.
9 @ nortierd:
Hi nortierd, oh dear not a good news story there, where did that quote come from, see Dispatch mentioned a bit, is that a paper from this weekend?
15 @ Bullscot:
Hi Bully, no, that’s an old story from round about March.
We were just speculating on what all has been happening down there.
Luther Obi looks like he could be one helluva sprinter.
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