Leopards take lead in qualifier

The Leopards crushed the Valke 53-7 in Potchefstroom, while there were also home wins for the Griffons and Griquas in round two of the 2015 Currie Cup qualifiers.

Left wing Adri Jacobs scored three of the Leopards' seven tries in the match at Olen Park, while Jaco Oosthuizen went over for Valke's only score. Tries from Jacobs and fullback Rhyno Smith and a further penalty and drop goal pushed the hosts out to a commanding 20-0 lead going into the break. And five more touchdowns in the second stanza from the Leopards blew the Valke away.

The bonus-point victory sees the Leopards top the qualifier log with maximum points after two rounds.

Meanwhile, the Griffons erased an 11-point deficit – courtesy of a 12-point haul from flyhalf Elgar Watts – to edge the SWD Eagles 25-21 in Welkom. SWD scored first to lead 7-0, but Watts got the Griffons on the board with a penalty, before captain Nicky Steyn crossed for a converted try as they led 10-7 at half-time.

SWD's left wing Alshaun Bock then rocked the hosts with a brace in the space of seven minutes, to push his side's tally out to 21. However, a yellow card to tighthead prop Dean Hopp cost them dearly, as the Griffons added 12 points, two tries and a conversion, in his absence. Franna du Toit then kicked a last-gasp penalty to cap off the result.

And in Kimberley, No 8 Carel Greeff ran in four tries as Griquas thrashed the Boland Kavaliers 48-17. Greeff was in top form and completed his hat-trick before the half hour mark as they led 26-3 at the break.

The carnage continued in the second half when Greeff scored his fourth of the afternoon, and Griquas added another three tries to show their dominance. Converted tries by Hanno Kitshoff and Christian Rust and a penalty goal from Eric Zana accounted for the Kavaliers' 17 points.

Griquas are second on the qualifier standings, with one more log point than Boland in third.

Leopards (53) – Tries: Adri Jacobs (3), Rhyno Smith, Adrian Vermeulen, Loftus Morrison, Robert Kruger. Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (6). Penalty: Engelbrecht. Drop goal: Smith.
Valke (7) – Try: Jaco Oosthuizen. Conversion: Jaun Kotze.

Griffons (25) – Tries: Nicky Steyn, Elgar Watts, Tertius Maarman. Conversions: Watts (2). Penalties: Watts, Franna du Toit.
SWD Eagles (21) – Tries: Janneman Stander, Alshaun Bock (2). Conversions: Gerrit Smith (3).

Griquas (48) – Tries: Carel Greef (4), Riaan Viljoen, Steph Roberts, Rudi van Rooyen, Jono Janse van Rensburg. Conversions: Francois Brummer (4).
Boland Kavaliers (17) – Tries: Hanno Kitshoff, Christian Rust. Conversions: Eric Zana (2). Penalty: Zana.

Photo: Duit du Toit/Gallo Images

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