Tafel Lager Griquas hosted the Toyota Cheetahs in a Central Derby this afternoon in Round 2 of the Carling Currie Cup and celebrated a first win of the season with 31-10.
This physical match was played at a fast pace and was with 20 minutes to go still evenly balanced. The Cheetahs "dominated" the first 60 minutes, however, the defence of Griquas kept the Cheetahs from scoring well-deserved points. With 20 minutes to go Griquas found the missing rhythm and in the end recorded a well-deserved win.
20:00 After 20 minutes of play in the first half there was still no points on the scoreboard. The Cheetahs was at that stage the "dominant" team although Griquas also had their fair share of ball and territory. An extremely physical game played by both teams with the attacks mostly individual efforts, while the Cheetahs scrum is dominating.
28:33 Ruan Pienaar put the first points on the board with a converted penalty. The Cheetahs refused several opportunities before to convert penalties, (00-03).
37:34 Griquas score a team try as most of the team handled the ball. Masixole Banda score walking over the tryline with Griquas taking the lead for the first time of the match, (07-03).
40:00 A low scoring but exciting and physical match being played by two willing teams. The match at this stage still balanced n a knife's edge with Griquas who will have the wind at their backs in the second half.
45:25 Gideon van Wyk forced his way over the Griquas tryline after the Cheetahs set up camp in the Griquas red zone, (07-10).
52:42 Jay Cee Nel crashed through several tackles to score the Griquas second try. Nel on debut ran a good 50m to put the Griquas back into the lead, (14-10).
60:00 A low scoring but exciting and physical match being played by two willing teams. The match at this stage still balanced n a knife's edge with Griquas who will have the wind at their backs in the second half.
65:05 Mzwanele Zito comes off the bench to score the Griquas third try. Zito picked up the ball from the back of a collapsed maul and force himself over the tryline, (21-10).
71:17 George Whitehead converted his first penalty for Griquas, (24-10).
72:42 Eduan Keyter sealed the game for Griquas after intercepting a loose pass from the Cheetahs. Keyter ran 60m for the Griquas fourth and bonus-point try, (31-10).
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs: Try: Gideon van Wyk. Conversion: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty: Ruan Pienaar.
Tafel Lager Griquas: Tries: Masixole Banda, Jay Cee Nel, Mzwanele Zito, Eduan Keyter. Conversions: George Whitehead (4). Penalty: George Whitehead.
Tafel lager Griquas: 15. Masixole Banda, 14. Daniel Kasende, 13. Jay Cee Nel (Debut), 12. Andre Swarts, 11. Eduan Keyter, 10. George Whitehead, 9. Stefan Ungerer ©, 8. Hanru Sirgel, 7. Sibabalo Qoma, 6. Gideon Van Der Merwe, 5. Cameron Lindsay, 4. Jeandre Leonard, 3. Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 2. Janco Uys, 1. Andrew Beerwinkel. Replacements: 16. HJ Luus, 17. Andrew Kuhn, 18. Janu Botha (Debut), 19. Mzwanele Zito, 20. Henco Beukes (Debut), 21. Raegan Oranje, 22. Theo Boshoff, 23. Ederies Arendse, 24. Ashlon Davids, 25. Enver Brandt, 26. Tijde Visser.
Cheetahs: 15. Clayton Blommetjies, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. Evardi Boshoff, 12. Howard Mnisi, 11. Tian Meyer, 10. Reinhardt Fortuin, 9. Ruan Pienaar (C ), 8. Gideon van Wyk, 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. Jean Droste, 5. Rynier Bernardo, 4. Victor Sekekete, 3. Aranos Coetzee, 2. Wilmar Arnoldi, 1.Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16. Janus Venter, 17. Aluluthu Tshakweni, 18. Hencus van Wyk, 19. Reinier Viljoen, 20. Luan Potgieter, 21. Mihlali Mosi, 22. David Brits, 23. Cohen Jasper.