The Windhoek Draught Griquas hosted the Fidelity ADT Lions on Friday and had to defend for their lives during the last ten minutes of play to secure a 25-21 victory.
The Windhoek Draught Friquas dominated the first half against the visitors and lead 19-07 after fourty minutes of play. The Fidelity ADT Lions did not have many chances and will be more than happy going into the halftime break only trailing by twelve points.
It took the Fidelity ADT Lions twenty minutes in the second half to take the lead 21-19 for the first time in the match. However, two late penalties combined with sometimes desperate defence secured a 25-21 win for the home team.
The Windhoek Draught Griquas started like a house on fire with Jay-Cee Nel cutting the defence of the visitors to score next to the poles following fourteen phases and four minutes of play in the first half.
Captain Harnu Sirgel scored the host's second try following ten minutes of domination as they launched waves of attacks on the Fidelity ADT Lions tryline to lead 14-00 after fourteen minutes of play in the first half.
As the first half continued, the Fidelity ADT Lions got their hands on more quality ball and with twenty-two minutes of play, they were awarded a penalty try following yellow-carded Sako Makato's (Windhoek Draught Griquas) illegally sacked a Fidelity ADT Lions' driving maul.
A brilliant skip pass by Johan Mulder sent his captain Sirgel away out wide. Mulder was in a position to catch the final pass and scored his sixth Curry Cup try. The scoreline was in favour of the hosts 19-07 with ten minutes of play left in the first half, which was also the halftime score.
The Fidelity ADT Lions started a lot better in the second half, putting pressure on their hosts for seven minutes, whereafter JC Pretorius scored the Fidelity ADT Lions' second try from the back of a 5 m lineout-maul.
The Fidelity ADT Lions patiently built their attack and following several minutes of sustained pressure on the Windhoek Draught Griques tryline, Morne Brandon forced his way over the tryline to score the visitor's third try to take the lead 21-19 for the first time in the match.
Windhoek Draught Griquas converted two penalties and lead 25-21 with eight minutes to play. Brilliant defence by the Windhoek Draught Griquas during the last ten minutes of play kept the Fidelity Lions from securing a win.
Scorers:
Windhoek Draught Griquas: Tries: Jay-Cee Nel, Harnu Sirgel, Johan Mulder. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (2). Penalty: Lubabalo Dobela (2).
Fidelity ADT Lions: Tries: Penalty Try, JC Pretorius, Morne Brandon. Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (2).
Teams:
Windhoek Draught Griquas:15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosco Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makato, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Harnu Sirgel (c), 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Cebo Dlamini. Replacements: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Reagan Orange, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Prince Nkabine, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Travis Gordon, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (c), Rhynhardt Runsburger. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Tyler Bocks, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.