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Griquas to face WP in SS Rugby Challenge final

Cape Town - Griquas will travel to Florida Park in Ravensmead next Sunday to take on Western Province in the final of the inaugural SuperSport Rugby Challenge after both sides kept their winning streak intact in the semifinals of the competition.

The Griquas beat the Golden Lions 33-21 at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Sunday and Western Province held on to beat the Blue Bulls 28-24 in the second semi-final at the same venue.

Western Province kept their winning streak going and remains undefeated after ten matches in the campaign, while the Kimberley side continues to improve after losing their opening match of the campaign.

Kick-off times will be confirmed.

They were not favourites, but the Griquas team delivered a thrilling first half display. They ran in three tries to take a near unassailable 27 point lead and then closed out the came after a strong comeback by their opponents.

The Johannesburg team gave an excellent account of themselves in the second half, scoring three tries themselves. However, their fairy-tale comeback was not to be as the Griquas closed the game out expertly to secure the victory.

The North/South affair did not disappoint either.

It was a titanic battle played at a cold and windy community stadium with around 8000 fans providing support.

The Blue Bulls had the ascendancy in terms of the scrums, possession and territory but it was the unbeaten Province team that held their nerve and scored when it was needed.

Western Province claimed the lead 10 minutes into the second half, but then relinquished their advantage just minutes later. But an unconverted try by Number 8, Jaco Coetzee, was the difference between the sides as Province held out for the final 10 minutes as the Bulls tried in vain to find the winning score.

The final result and points' scorers are:

Griquas 33 (27), Lions 21 (0)

Griquas - Tries: Ederies Arendse, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Sias Koen. Conversions: George Whitehead (3).  Penalties: Whitehead (2), Andre Swarts (2).

Golden Lions XV - Tries: James Venter, Madosh Tambwe (2). Conversions Shaun Reynolds (3).

Western Province 28 (13), Blue Bulls 24 (14)

Western Province - Tries: Luke Stringer, Godlen Masimla, Jaco Coetzee. Conversions: Kurt Coleman (2); Penalties: Coleman (3).

Blue Bulls - Tries: Dries Swanepoel, Franco Naude, Dewald Naude. Conversions: Joshua Stander (3). Penalty: Stander.

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