DHL Western Province will host the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Cape Town and the Xerox Golden Lions will face the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division semifinals next weekend.
Log-leaders DHL Western Province were assured of their home semifinal and the top spot on the log before entering the final round of pool matches this weekend, while the Xerox Golden Lions sealed their home semifinal by thumping the Toyota Free State Cheetahs. The victory for the Johannesburg team was enough to cancel out any efforts by the Cell C Sharks for the second spot on the log.
In the weekend’s matches, the EP Kings registered their first victory of the season as they pipped the Steval Pumas 26-25 in Port Elizabeth, while the Xerox Golden Lions thumped the Toyota Free State Cheetahs 47-7 at Ellis Park, the Cell C Sharks defeated DHL Western Province 28-20 in Cape Town and the Vodacom Blue Bulls beat GWK Griquas 46-12 in Pretoria.
The Xerox Golden Lions will meet the Cell C Sharks in the first semifinal on Saturday, October 18, at 14:30 SA Time and DHL Western Province will go up against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at 17:00 SA Time.
sarugby
EP Kings (19) 26 / 25 (17) Steval Pumas:
A late try by EP Kings fullback Scott van Breda and conversion by flyhalf Gary Van Aswegen secured the EP Kings their first victory of the season against the Steval Pumas at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Interestingly the last time the EP Kings beat the Nelspruit team was in a repeat of this match in the 2012 Absa Currie Cup First Division final, and the score was also 26-25.
Yellow cards for Steval Pumas lock Lubabalo Mtyanda and wing Rosko Specman in the first half handed the EP Kings an edge which they took full advantage of by scoring three tries in the first 28 minutes.
The visitors hit back before the break with two tries to add to a penalty by Justin van Staden, which left them trailing 19-17 at the break.
The Steval Pumas built on this early in the second half with Stefan Watermeyer crossing the tryline for their third five-pointer, while Van Staden added another penalty to hand them a narrow lead. But their hopes of a victory were dashed in the 74th minute as Van Breda scored a try to level scores and Van Aswegen’s conversion sealed the victory.
Scorers:
EP Kings:
- Tries: Paul Schoeman (1), Ronnie Cooke (1), Scott van Breda (1), Tobie Botes (1)
- Conversions: Gary Van Aswegen (3)
Steval Pumas:
- Tries: Frank Herne (1), Justin van Staden (1), Stefan Watermeyer (1)
- Conversions: Justin van Staden (2)
- Penalties: Justin van Staden (2)
Xerox Golden Lions (22) 47 / 7 (0) Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
In Johannesburg the Xerox Golden Lions dominated the set pieces and delivered a solid performance on attack and defence to outclass the Toyota Free State Cheetahs. Such was the high quality of the home team’s performance they scored six tries to only one by the Bloemfontein side, while penalties in their favour allowed flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Three of the Xerox Golden Lions’ tries were scored in the first 30 minutes, with the other three in the second half, the last two of which were scored within three minutes.
This impressive performance will certainly boost the team’s confidence as they prepare to line up against the Cell C Sharks in the semifinal next weekend.
Scorers:
Xerox Golden Lions:
- Tries: Akker van der Merwe (1), Derick Minnie (1), Howard Mnisi (1), Jaco Kriel (1), Ruan Combrinck (1), Warwick Tecklenburg (1)
- Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (4)
- Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (3)
Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
- Try: Sarel Pretorius
- Conversion: Willie du Plessis
DHL Western Province (20) 20 / 28 (11) Cell C Sharks:
The clash between DHL Western Province and the Cell C Sharks was exciting, as the hosts put up a brave fight despite missing several key players. The visitors had the first say as Sibusiso Sithole scored from the kickoff to hand the side an early 5-0 lead.
But DHL Western Province bounced back with intent as they won turnovers and retained possession, which allowed them to apply pressure on attack.
This earned them two penalties, which Kurt Coleman slotted over for a 6-5 lead. The Durban side’s flyhalf Lionel Cronje slotted over his first penalty to put the team in the lead, but the hosts rounded off a fantastic team try in the 19th minute and another minutes later after opting for a lineout from a penalty close their tryline.
Cronje slotted over another penalty later in the half to reduce their deficit to 20-11 before the break.
Cronje opened up the scoring in the second half with three back-to-back penalties to level the scores.
The last penalty also earned DHL Western Province flank Rynhardt Elstadt a yellow card. The Cell C Sharks supported this with a fine effort on attack as they held onto the ball and forced the hosts for defend for long periods. These efforts paid off with a try by prop Lourens Adriaanse, which forced the team into a 25-20 lead.
Replacement flyhalf Fred Zeilinga added three points to their tally in the dying minutes to stretch their lead to eight points, which they managed to hold onto until the final whistle.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province:
- Tries: Kurt Coleman (1), Patrick Howard (1)
- Conversions: Kurt Coleman (2)
- Penalties: Kurt Coleman (2)
Cell C Sharks:
- Tries: Lourens Adriaanse (1), Sibusiso Sithole (1)
- Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (1), Lionel Cronje (5)
Vodacom Blue Bulls (20) 46 / 12 (12) GWK Griquas:
The Vodacom Blue Bulls showed their intent early on against GWK Griquas as Springbok wing Bjorn Basson scored an intercept try in the second minute to hand the team a 7-0 lead. GWK Griquas fought back minutes later with wing Ederies Arendse touching down for their first try. The hosts’ flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter then slotted over two penalties, but Ederies struck again with his second try.
A yellow card for GWK Griquas prop Simon Westraadt four minutes before the break, however, paved the way for Vodacom Blue Bulls flank and captain Deon Stegmann to score their second try of the match for a 20-12 lead. The third quarter was tight as the teams threw everything at each other, but two tries by Basson in 16 minutes secured the home team’s bonus point try, Basson’s hat-trick and his 50th career try.
.The visitors’ hopes of a late surge, however, were dealt a massive blow in the 72nd minute as hooker Rayno Barnes received a red card for verbally abusing the referee.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls took full advantage of this as Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard ran into a gap at pace to score a try.
Former Bok wing Akona Ndungane added their sixth try on the stroke of full time as he gathered a chip kick and crossed the chalk to secure the 46-12 win.
Scorers:
Vodacom Blue Bulls:
- Tries: Akona Ndungane (1), Bjorn Basson (3), Deon Stegmann (1), Handré Pollard (1)
- Conversions: Handré Pollard (2), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3)
- Penalties: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2)
GWK Griquas:
- Tries: Ederies Arendse (2)
- Conversion: Francois Brummer (1)
@ robzim:
Silly Hondkak
😆
@ robzim:
29
Easy man,,,
I can’t vouch for it because between 1985 and 1992 I only spent the June – July period in SA (academic year break )
However I remember Dannie Craven dumped Louw and Mallett and brought in Gert Smal and Schalk Burger (that blonde animal) in their places, the WP decline started there.
If you look at the Boks teams from 1992 to 1998 very few WP players featured in it, 😉 (Stransky , Muir and Small not exactly WP products)
@ MacroBlouBul: 1986 hey? Guess most of us were still drinking Lion Larger one supposes?
@ charlesm:
serious respect Charles. How the sh1t can you remember details like that? Was it blowing North West or South East that day and what wind speed?
@ Jeraldjay: I think he was a young ex Bishops pupil at the time. I remember him. That said, in 1986 I was watching my rugby at E Park and Loftus. Only went ‘home’ for Xmas and to check out the chicks at Clifton 3rd. 😕
@ MacroBlouBul: indeed MB. I’m almost thankful I’ve reached the age where that’s done and dusted. My son went to Rondebosch(next to Bishops). That education cost as much as his university fees. Bishops, next door, requires one to be a USD millionaire to balance the books, without resorting to chucking one’s lot in with the Salvation Army. A decent education today costs an arm and a leg. Thank god I’m done boet. Those KZN school fees are also ridiculous in the extreme.
@ Tassies:
I was there Tassies ! Those were the days that we didn’t miss any games at Newlands.
I played a bit of club rugby with Goggie. I remember when Goggie went over for his 2nd try he was swamped by the crowd in front of the Danie Craven stand. It was a sunny day BTW !
@Hondo 32: if you can’t vouch for something, how can you post it ?? Dawie Snyman was the WP coach at the time and not Danie Craven!!
@ charlesm: yes. And all the saturday pm club games too. I remember Dawie. Not a shabby flyhalf in his day. I can’t even recall Danie ever coaching Province. He was the ‘meneer’ though.
37 @ charlesm:
Those were the days when men were men and women were double-breasted!
@ charlesm: BTW it might have appeared cynical but I was doubting you. I was genuinely impressed with your memory and the extraodinary detail. 🙂
Flok, the late night crowd is always the same… the night owls!
@ grootblousmile: you should come and pay us a visit GB. They still are down here. Its important you keep abreast of times. No better way to do that than fly south over the Orange. 😉
I can say one thing, and that is that the Ex-Voldy crowd has adapted well here at Rugby-Talk.com… and it has fully become your new rugby home… finish and klaar!
… and declare it, you chaps are happy as pigs in shit here at Rugby-Talk…
Come on, say it!
Twit Twoo…..The Night Owl hoot
42 @ Tassies:
I feel a Cape Visit coming soon!
Will I get to meet all you okes and have a good pint or 2?
Bishops in Cape Town is a lovely school, I felt quite at home when I visited!! 🙂
@ Tassies:
I was reading a saffa detective book the other day and the victim was being chased up Signal Hill…The place you took us too so we could see the night lights of Cape Town!!
I could really picture the place lol
……………. Tumbleweed moment ………………..
Something interesting on TV ?
Victor Matfield pole dancing?
@ grootblousmile: GB I’m sure some of us can dig out a red carpet and a limo from somewhere. The steps in front of the entrance to Forries can be a tad treacherous at times and in need of a bit of red carpet traction.
The Capie R-T’s would be sure to treat a respected blogmaster and buy him another dop, in appreciation of the finest rugby site known to mankind.
Bakkies Botha hunting/butchering and making biltong out of some poor unfortunate creature?
@ Blue Bird:
hey bb
The Walking Dead season premier 😀
MacroBlouBul wrote:
Is that something to do with Zombies?
Fark, I hate Zombies, real party poopers!
Lol Hondkak’s “academic break”……
The period the teacher allowed him to move from the dunce’s corner to dry off his pissbroek.
😆
@ Blue Bird: that would be Deon Meyer I’d guess C. Yes, I remember that evening well. You and the Welsh farmer all good? Joining Rob and I to check out the Peninsula in April again?
Pissbroek……Is that what it sounds like?
@ gunther: I was waiting for that response. Took a while Grunter. But………patience is oft rewarded. 😆
Tassies wrote:
Correct, it was a Meyer book!
I have had my final warning to enter the Argus or lose my foreign place!! But not this time for me!
All good here thanks!! 🙂 You and yours?
51 @ Tassies:
I’ve been to Forries… met Jinx there and that fool of a plakkie-wearing Keo webmaster at the time, IG.
Lekker place, good vibe!
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