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Johannesburg - The Griffons kept their hopes in this year's Vodacom Cup alive thanks to a 17-6 win over the Falcons in their North Section match at the North West Stadium in Welkom on Friday.
The win was the Griffons' third from six games and they moved to fourth in their section with the team from Welkom having one group match left to play.
However, the Griffons will in all likelihood slip down the table over the weekend as other teams in their section are set to play on Saturday.
The Falcons find themselves out of the running for a quarter-final place as they slumped to their fourth defeat in six games.
The Griffons mastered the rainy conditions better than the visitors and the hosts ran in two tries while the Falcons could only respond with two penalties from flyhalf Juan Kotze.
The conditions did not lend themselves to running rugby but it took the Griffons just nine minutes to open their account thanks to a try from right wing Vuyo Mbotho who streaked over for a converted score.
However, the Falcons kept themselves in the contest thanks to Kotze's two penalties as they went to the break trailing 7-6.
But the Griffons took command in the second half and they grabbed their second try, in the 50th minute, when replacement scrumhalf Oshwill Nortje sniped his way over.
The home team's flyhalf Hansie Graaf converted Nortje's try before adding a penalty eight minutes later to secure the victory with the Falcons unable to break down the Griffons' resolute defence in the second half.
Scorers:
Griffons:
Tries: Oshwill Nortje, Vuyo Mbotho
Conversions: Hansie Graaff (2)
Penalty: Graaf
Falcons:
Penalties Juan Kotze (2)
