Clinton Swart contributed 21-points in Griquas’ resounding 46-22 bonus-point win over the Boland Cavaliers in Kimberley on Thursday.
The result keeps Griquas on course for a place in the Currie Cup semi-finals, which, as it stands, will be at the expense of one of the bigger unions. It may have been an unconventional Thursday night fixture, but there was nothing conventional about Griquas’ style of play and the way they bullied Boland.
Griquas outscored their visitors six tries to three in a lop-sided affair that enhances their playoff aspirations and all but ends Boland’s knockout hopes. Griquas exerted pressure on Boland’s defensive structure from the get-go and, while Swart missed his first attempt at goal, they would open up a 11-point lead thanks to a brilliant individual try by fullback AJ Coertzen and two penalties.
Boland lived off scraps and when Griquas eventually infringed at the breakdown, they were all too happy to go for the points on offer to break their duck. But continued missed tackles, coupled with ill-discipline which saw flank Shaun Adendorff yellow-carded for foul play, didn’t help Boland as they tried to play catch-up. There were two further scores by Ederies Arendse and Elgar Watts as Griquas returned to the sheds 25-3 up.
Boland’s attacking play improved marginally in the second half, but their non-existent defence ultimately decided the outcome. They made 108 tackle attemps and slipped off 25 of those. Swart added his name to the try-scorer's list with a self-converted effort, before Boland barged over via captain Clemen Lewis from a strong drive. There was little structure in the match, as both sides decided to run with ball in hand. But while both teams bagged two more tries, Boland could ill-afford the same reckless approach as their visitors, who knew their advantage was insurmountable.
Griquas – Tries: AJ Coertzen, Ederies Arendse, Elgar Watts (2), Clinton Swart, Wendal Wehr. Conversions: Swart (5). Penalties: Swart (2).
Boland Cavaliers – Tries: Clemen Lewis, Craig Pheiffer, Adriaan Carelse. Conversions: Kotze, Carelse. Penalty: Kotze.
Griquas – 5 AJ Coertzen (c), 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Johnathan Francke, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Poerie van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 4 Wandile Putuma, 3 Chase Morison, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Devon Martinus.
Subs: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Mzwanele Zito, 19 Thabo Mabuza, 20 Renier Botha, 21 André Swarts, 22 Eric Zana.
Boland Cavaliers – 15 Theuns Kotze, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Robbie Louw, 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Shaun McDonald, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Joubert Horn, 4 Johannes Kitshoff, 3 Enoch Mnyaka, 2 Clemen Lewis (c), 1 SP Wessels.
Subs: 16 Francois Esterhuysen, 17 Basil Short, 18 Wayne Wilschut, 19 Zandré Jordaan, 20 Gerhard Jordaan, 21 Craig Pheiffer, 22 Logan Basson.
Photo: Gallo Images
