2023 Currie Cup First Division Week Two – Wrap-up

 

The second round of the 2023 Currie Cup First Division delivered away wins for each of the three visiting sides on Saturday, with Eastern Province beating Leopards in Potchefstroom, Boland Kavaliers defeating the SWD Eagles in Oudtshoorn and the Valke outscoring Border in East London.

Eastern Province scored somewhat of a surprise 30-16 victory over the Leopards in Potchefstroom to register their second win of the new campaign after leading 16-3 at halftime.

The Eastern Cape side outscored the home side by three tries to two, however, it was the accurate boot of flyhalf Masixole Banda that proved to be the biggest difference between the two sides.

Banda delivered a polished performance by scoring a try, three conversions and three penalty goals for a personal tally of 20 points, while right wing Rodney Damons and replacement hooker Temba Boltina were the other try scorers for EP.

The Leopards responded via two penalty goals from Danrich Visagie (flyhalf), plus a try each from Keenan Twigg (left wing) and KG Woodbridge (replacement fullback).

Meanwhile, Boland scored a comprehensive 43-26 victory over SWD Eagles at the Bridgeton Sports Grounds in Oudtshoorn to move to the top of the log, with the visitors recording six tries, five conversions and a penalty goal in the process.

Kavaliers flyhalf Feghon-Leigh Snyders went over for a try and added four conversions and a penalty goal, while fullback Connor Mahoney scored a brace of tries.

SWD managed to score four tries and three conversions, but in the end they were no match for the Bolanders’ strong attack.

In the last match of the round, Border who went down 36-20 to the Valke despite a fighting second-half performance at Police Park in East London.

The Valke managed to compile a 24-7 halftime lead, and although Border delivered a strong second half performance, it was not enough to wipe out the deficit.

The visitors scored five tries, four conversions and a penalty goal while Border responded with two converted tries and a pair of penalty goals.

Zingisa April, the Valke's lively No 8, scored twice while pivot Ruben Liebenberg grabbed a try in addition to the three conversions and one penalty goal.

Onke Dubase (flanker), Sakhekile Dingile (right wing) and Blake Diedericks (replacement wing) were the Border try scorers, with flyhalf Aphiwe Stemele adding the rest of the points through a conversion and two penalty goals.