The Xerox Lions produced a splendid display of running rugby to wallop the Boland Cavaliers 57-17 (half-time 24-10) in a one-sided ABSA Currie Cup game at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.This was by far the best showing this season by last year’s loosing finalists and they announced their return to form in emphatic style with clinical execution of pattern and game plan.
The visitors had momentarily stunned the home team when in the tenth minute, the gangly Bradley Mockford intercepted a pass on his own ten metre line and off-loaded in the tackle to promising eigthman Dries van Schalkwyk, who sprinted 40m to dot down under the poles.
The Lions hit back shortly afterwards however, through a penalty by the mercurial fullback Earl Rose, who then showed a touch of magic with a prodigious side step, breaching the advancing defence to touch down under the poles, allowing the Lions to nudge into the lead.
Coach Eugene Eloff had indicated that a lot of time had been dedicated to working on finishing off moves during the week and he will be glad that that investment paid dividends.
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Two late tries earned Vodacom Western Province a 26-17 come-from-behind Absa Currie Cup victory over archrivals the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Newlands in Cape Town, on Saturday evening.Despite trailing in possession stakes for most of the first 40 minutes, first-half tries from JP Joubert and Pedrie Wannenburg – with flyhalf Morné Steyn converting – helped the Vodacom Bulls into a commanding 14-3 at half-time lead.
That lead then became 17-9 in the second half, before replacement Bulls loose forward Hilton Lobberts was sin-binned in the 68th minute – setting up a heart-stopping finish as Vodacom WP launched a stunning fightback in the final 10 mintues.
Flyhalf Willem de Waal – who scored 20 points on his WP debut last week – had kept his side within striking distance with his metronomic boot for most of the match, but late tries by fullback Gio Aplon and inside centre Gcobani Bobo, with De Waal adding the extras, handed the home side a famous victory, much to the delight of the partisan Newlands crowd.
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Friday – 27 June:
19:00 – Currie Cup: Sharks vs Boland
Saturday – 28 June:
11:45 – Australia vs France
15:00 - Currie Cup: Cheetahs vs Lions
17:00 – Currie Cup: Western Province vs Bulls
19:50 – Argentina vs Italy
20:30 – French Top 14 Final
John Mametsa scored a hat-trick of tries in his 100th game to help the Vodacom Blue Bulls to a 21-7 (half-time 6-0) win over the Xerox Lions in an action-packed ABSA Curries Cup first round game at Ellis Park on Saturday.It was a dream game for the popular Pretoria winger (who was the leading try-scorer in last year’s Absa Currie Cup, with 14 tries.) Mametsa became the first black player at the Bulls to play 100 games and he was deservedly awarded the man-of-the match prize to cap a brilliant performance.
Mametsa signalled his intentions as early as the third minute when he appeared to dot down in the left corner, only to be denied by the TMO after he was bundled into touch by Louis Ludik.
The match between the Gauteng neighbours may have been a low scoring event but it was by no means a dull affair as the teams exchanged enthralling tit-for-tat attacking forays till the final whistle.
The first half began with furious intensity with both threatening to score on numerous occasions, but neither crossed the line as a result of tight defence and it was not until the thirty fifth minute that points were put on the board through a penalty by Bulls flyhalf Morné Steyn. Read the rest of this entry »
Scrumhalf Rory Kockott was the toast of Durban after he kicked a last-minute penalty to give the Sharks a nailbiting 28-25 (halftime 11-19) victory over Vodacom Western Province in their opening Absa Currie Cup match played at Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday night.Kockott, who was unlucky to miss out on Springbok selection after an excellent Vodacom Super 14 season, scored 23 points, made up of six penalties and a superb solo try, as the home team had to dig deep against a spirited WP side that had inexplicably been widely written off before the start of the match.
Indeed, for the opening half hour, coach John Plumtree’s troops looked to have the measure of their more inexperienced opponents, notwithstanding the unusual presence in the streeptrui of one AJ Venter, who just a few weeks ago was still playing in the black and white jersey.
The Sharks raced into an 11-3 lead after 15 minutes, with the men from Durban stronger in the scrums, more physical in the front-on tackle situation, and more incisive in the backs. Read the rest of this entry »
Friday – 20 June:
19:00 – Currie Cup: Sharks vs Western Province
Saturday – 21 June:
09:35 – Second Test: New Zealand vs England
15:00 - South Africa vs Italy
17:10 – Currie Cup: Lions vs Bulls
The Cheetahs retained the ABSA Currie Cup when they overcame a valiant Lions side in Bloemfontein. After all the euphoria of the RWC these two teams had to come up with something special and this they did. Both sides were keen to play rugby and there were plenty of action in the game.
The Cheetahs started like a house on fire, dominating the early exchanges, and they dually took the lead through a Willem de Waal penalty. The Lions drew level almost immediately when Louis Strydom slotted a penalty. Fantastic defence by both teams saw no tries in the first half, with the Cheetahs going into the break 6-3 in the lead after another de Waal penalty.
The second half provided loads of action. Darron Nell, Cheetah 8thman, received a yellow card, and the 10 minutes he spent in the sin bin saw the Lions take control of the game. Two tries, a conversion and a penalty saw the Lions take a 18-6 lead with only 20 minutes left on the clock. The Cheetahs refused to stop trying and the last 15 minutes saw them display the talents that have won them the previous two Currie Cup competitions. They stayed calm and managed to score two converted tries, the last conversion slotted by Willem de Waal right from the touchline to give his team a 2 point lead with only 3 minutes to play. The Cheetahs held on to this slender lead with determination and they celebrated in style when the final whistle went. Final score: Cheetahs 20 Lions 18
In the under 19 and under 21 finals WP were victorius over the Bulls in both games. The under 19 result was 29-27 to WP and in the under 21 clash WP beat the Bulls by 31-17.
The Lions kept their semi-final hopes alive with a fantastic defensive display against the Bulls at Ellispark.
Both teams created chances to score but promising moves broke down due to fantastic defence. The Lions took their chances better, scoring one try in each half. Both flyhalves a had great time with the boot, contributing 17 points each to their teams cause. Final score: Lions 27 Bulls 22.
The Cheetahs maintained their unbeaten record with a hard fought victory over Griquas in Kimberley.
The men from Bloemfontein started the game well and were leading by 14-3 at half time. Griquas came back well in the second half scoring 2 well worked tries. The Cheetahs struggled to breech the Griquas defence and only managed 2 tries. The reliable boot of Willem de Waal proved the deciding factor. Final score: Cheetahs 21 Griquas 17
The Sharks came out on top in a very scrappy game against the Lions in Durban on Saturday.
The Sharks dominated possession and territory in the first half but only had 3 penalties to show for their efforts going into the break. Handling errors by both teams and lack of discipline let to promising moves braking down.
The second half was much like the first, both teams trying to run the ball but handling errors galore made sure this was a frustrating match to watch. A dubious try by Odwa Ndugane gave the Sharks breathing space. A try by Ryan Kankowski just before the end secured the win for the Sharks and saw them maintain second place on the Currie Cup log. Final score: Sharks 21 Lions 3
