Currie Cup
WP edge past Griquas
2012-08-18 16:07
Kimberley - Western Province launched a spirited
fight-back in the second half of their Currie Cup encounter against
Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday, beating their hosts 25-20 after
trailing 12-7 at half time.
Griquas started at a ferocious pace
and put together some useful phases of play, but lacked the clinical
touch deep in the WP half.
WP were on the back in the opening minutes, but regained composure to show their class late in the contest.
Griquas maintained their attacking play and drew first blood after lock Ligtoring Landman dove over in the corner.
The forward rounded-off after some good interplay between the pack and backs.
Fullback
Francois Brummer failed to convert Landman's opener, but it wasn't long
before Griquas again caught WP's defence napping, as winger Wilmaure
Louw rounded of in the corner.
Brummer was on target with his second attempt to give the Kimberley outfit the early advantage.
The
visitors had their first real chance to get on the board when flyhalf
Demitri Catrakilis took a penalty shot at goal, but his attempt in a
swirling wind went wide.
WP finally scored after Griquas were beaten in defence through a sustained period of attack.
Wing Ederies Arendse ran 25 metres for the highlight of a very poor first half by the visitors, the score 12-7 at the break.
Brummer
kicked a penalty early in the second period, but Province launched a
come-back through centre JP du Plessis, who scored after a quick tap to
get his team within three points of Griquas.
Griquas were forced
to defend their lead and made several crucial tackles, but their tired
bodies showed in the last 15 minutes as WP drove them back into their
own area.
Province used it to their advantage and prop Steven Kitshoff dove over under the posts after some slack defence by the hosts.
Griquas
tried to salvage a bonus point and succeeded when lock Jaco Nepgen
burst over, but with two minutes on the clock and the conversion to
come, the hosts narrowly missed out to their Western Cape counterparts.