The Suzuki Griquas edged the Fidelity ADT Lions 27-25 in the 2025 Carling Currie Cup final at Ellis Park on Saturday. The Griquas scored the winning penalty with time already up on the clock, ending a wait of 55 years.
The Griquas started like a house on fire, and following a mistake made by the Lions, Cameron Hufke kicked the bouncing ball forward, won the footrace to reclaim the ball, and scored the first points of the match after just two minutes of play in the first half. George Whitehead converted to extend the Griquas' lead to 07-00.
The Griquas “dominated” the next twenty minutes of play but could not add points to the scoreboard and even had a try disallowed. After twenty minutes of play, Chris Smith converted the first point for the Lions to cut the Griquas' lead to 07-03.
Five minutes later, Quan Horn cut through the Griquas’ defence and offloaded to Kelly Mpeku, who scored the Lions’ first try of the final. Chris Smith converted to claim a 10-07 lead for the hosts.
Minutes later, Griquas flanker Lourens Oosthuizen scored the Griquas' second try. Whitehead added the extras for the Griquas to lead 14-10.
With five minutes to play, and the Lions gradually taking command, Richard Kriel burst past two defenders to score the Lions' second try. Smith converted to retake the lead 17-14, which was also the halftime score.
George Whitehead converted an early penalty, whereafter, Henco van Wyk pounced on a bouncing ball off the kickoff and scored the Lions' third try to extend the Lions' lead to 22-17.
Following an extended time on the Lions' tryline, centre Mnombo Zwelenedaba runs straight at the line to crash over for the try. Whitehead converted from the corner to retake the lead 24-22 with five minutes to play in the second half.
The Lions threw everything they had at the Griquas, which eventually led to a penalty, which Lubabalo Dobela converted to edge the Lions 25-24 into the lead.
With time up, George Whitehead converted a penalty to secure a 27-25 win for the new Carling Currie Cup champions.
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Quan Horn (captain), 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (vice-captain), 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Suzuki Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelenedaba, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Cebo Dlamini (captain), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, 23 Connor Mahoney.