The Leopards scored their first win in the premier league of the Currie Cup when they managed a last-minute try to beat the Cavaliers narrowly 50-47 in an exciting match at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
The Leopards and the Cavaliers scored 13 tries between them and the trusty boot of Leopards flyhalf Naas Olivier, who was successful with seven of eight attempts from all corners of the field, saw the home team pick up a win and a bonus point.
It was a hard-fought, see-saw battle with tireless efforts by Retief Uys, Franco van der Merwe and Werner Lessing on the Leopards’ side, while Boland’s Chris Potgieter and Francois Prinsloo didn’t stand back at all.
Both teams capitalised on their opponents’ mistakes to score, and added some of their individual brilliance to ensure a try fest.
Barry Geel, the Leopards’ inside centre, was devastating in midfield, creating two tries and having the Boland defence at sixes and sevens at times. Up front, man-of-the-match Jonathan Mokuena again displayed his pace, brilliance and commitment in a mammoth second-half effort that saw him score two tries, one which proved to be the decisive one.
Springbok Jongi Nokwe showed his pace with two tries and flyhalf Antonius Verhoefen attacked the advantage line with intent on many occasions. In the end, Naas Olivier’s unerring boot and the never-say-die attitude of the Leopards won the day for them.
Thrilling victory for Falcons
In a sensational finish to their Currie Cup first-division match in East London on Friday, Falcons flyhalf Louis Strydom booted over a penalty four minutes and 21 seconds after the final hooter to beat the Bulldogs 37-36.
Unfortunately, the disappointment of home fans turned to anger and referee Alistaire Coetzee of Natal had to be escorted off the field by Bulldogs officials.
It was a thrilling match from start to finish, with the Bulldogs — who trailed 18-17 at the break — levelling at 24-24 and then pulling away to a 36-27 lead through tries by hooker Delarey du Preez and flanker Zolani Mofu.
However, a sparkling counter-attack by centre Riaan Hefer deep in his own half saw replacement Falcons wing Jacques Booysen go over for Strydom to convert, making it 36-34 with 10 minutes remaining.
Bulldogs replacement flyhalf Reinhard Gerber then missed two penalty attempts and Strydom one before the hooter sounded, taking the game into extra time.
Surprise win for Griffons
In a complete turnaround, the Griffons surprised friends and foes when they beat the Mighty Elephants 63-33 in the North West Stadium in Welkom in a first-division Currie Cup clash on Friday.
They led 42-26 at half-time.
They scored nine tries, five before the break, and after a mere 14 minutes had already collected a bonus point.
It was hard to believe that it was the same Griffons team who were thrashed 56-21 by the Elephants in Port Elizabeth in the first match of the first division of the Currie Cup competition.
From the outset, the Griffons were determined and a sterling performance by their pack of forwards proved too much for the visitors.
But the Elephants were never going to take a beating without putting up a fight. Their fullback, Fabian Juries, was by far their best player, but a close eye was kept on this Springbok Sevens player.
For the Purple People Eaters, their captain and eighth man Schalk de Klerk was outstanding, as was hooker Bertie Powell.
With this resounding victory, the Griffons kept alive their hopes of reaching the semifinals of the series, and if their performance against the Eastern Province is anything to go by, it is certainly not beyond their reach.
Next week, they take on the Falcons. — Sapa