Suzuki Griquas booked their place in the Carling Currie Cup final against the Fidelity ADT Lions following their convincing 25-05 win against the Toyota Cheetahs.
Great work on the attack by Cameron Hufke and Zane Bester opened up space out wide for lock Albert Liebenberg to score in the corner. Whitehead converted to extend the Griquas’ lead to 07-00 after just seven minutes of play in the first half.
Minutes later, a brilliant individual effort from well within his own half saw Dylan Maart scoring a great try to extend the Griquas' lead to 12-00.
Almost immediately thereafter, Prince Nkambinde stormed past and over a few defenders down the touchline to score the Cheetahs' opening try and cut Griquas' lead to 12-05.
The second quarter was an arm wrestle, and despite both teams having had a few opportunities to score points, the scoreboard remained motionless for the rest of the first half. The Griquas led 12-05 at the halftime break.
George Whitehead converted a penalty following two minutes of action in the second half.
Fifteen minutes later, Dylan Maart scored a great individual try in the corner. Whithead added some magic, converting from the corner to extend the Griquas’ lead to 22-05
A late penalty converted by George Whitehead sealed a 25-05 win against the Cheetahs to secure the Griquas a place in the Currie Cup final against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Teams:
Suzuki Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelenedaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 2 Cebo Dlamini (c), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, Connor Mahoney.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandré Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Raymond Uys, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Juan Venter, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Marko Jansen van Rensburg, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 John Kelly Okonkwo, 19 Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Banie Britz.