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Griquas beat Cavaliers in Wellington

Cape Town - The Griquas delivered a workmanlike performance to solidify their early claim for a place in the Currie Cup by beating the Boland Cavaliers 30-14 (halftime 13-0) in their clash at the Boland Stadium in Wellington.

Winger Alshaun Bock nearly scored in the opening minute but was stopped by some desperate Cavaliers defence. At the subsequent scrum the home teams Achilles heel was exposed and they were scrummed of their own ball. Eightman Jason Fraser collected the ball and forced his way over the tryline.

Flyhalf Clinton Swart brought up 50 points for the season with the conversion and the Griquas were looking dominant.

The rest of the half was dreary affair and both teams were devoid of any constructive rugby. Two missed kicks by Cavaliers flyhalf Theuns Kotze proved vital as two mistakes by his front rankers cost them dearly.

With the Boalnd in an tacking position SP Wessels was penalised for hinging in the scrum, then Francois Hanekom committed a high tackle close to his own tryline. Swart banged over the penalty on the stroke of halftime, making it 10-0.

After the interval Swart slotted another penalty and things got even more bleak for the Cavaliers as AJ Coertzen scored in the corner. The winger collected a neat little grubber from the boot of fullback Eric Zana, who had previously played his rugby in the colours of Boland.

The game then had its second serious scuffle with flanker Shaun Adendorff and Bock exchanging pleasantries. Earlier in the match veteran winger Danwel Demas and scrumhalf Rudi van Rooyen had baregd over an advertising board after a heated moment.

Another former Cavalier, centre Jonathan Francke, was massive on defence and kept the Cavaliers under severe pressure with his tackling.

Adendorff and his namesake Shaun McDonald, both who had started the previous week against the Stevall Pumas, then brought a bit of momentum and direction to a struggling Boland pack. This increased impetus saw a try by replacement Christopher Bosch, after some sublime skills by his fullback Adriaan Carelse and Wwnger Sergio Torrens. The Cavalier comeback was to be short-lived as Bock benefitted from a terrible mistake on the Boland side. The kick-off was poorly dealt with a the winger raced over in the corner.

McDonald continued his impressive cameo and provided William van Wyk with the pass that saw the former Paarl Gymnasium scholar score his first Currie Cup try. Carelse converted and with eight minutes left the Griquas were still leading 23-14.

The Griquas then collected a vital bonus point when replacement hooker Marius Fourie went over, with Ntabeni Dukisa adding the extras. Coach Pieter Engeldoe will have been pleased with the result, but knows his charges have to be much more clinical if they are to compete with the bigger unions.

The Cavaliers travel to Potchefstroom and will need to quickly sort out their issues at scrum time and with the kicking tee if they are to keep their chances alive of qualification for the Currie Cup.

SCORERS:

Boland Cavaliers: Tries: Christopher Bosch, William van Wyk. Covnersions: Adriaan Carelse (2).

Griquas: Tries: Jason Fraser, AJ Coertzen, Alshaun Bock, Marius Fourie. Conversions: Clinton Swart, Ntabeni Dukisa Penalties: Swart (2)

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