Johannesburg - The GWK Griquas overcame a nine-point halftime deficit on their way to a hard-fought 27-24 (half-time 8-17) win over the Cell C Sharks XV in their Vodacom Cup South Section match at the Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
According to the supersport.com website, Griquas also found themselves 24-15 down with just 10 minutes of the match left but they turned in a storming finish as they grabbed two tries, one of which was converted, in the space of five minutes to move to second on the South Section log standings.
The visitors opened the scoring through an early penalty from fullback Gouws Prinsloo.
But the Sharks XV struck back, in the 17th minute, when former Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga scooted over for a converted try.
Flyhalf Cameron Wright added a penalty before flank Khaya Majola muscled his way over for a converted try in the 35th minute.
But the Griquas struck back almost immediately when No 8 Jono Janse van Rensburg barged his way over for an unconverted try with two minutes left in the half.
The visitors made a flying start to the second half with left wing Rocco Jansen diving over for an unconverted try just two minutes after the restart.
The Sharks XV restored their lead, in the 47th minute, when inside centre Marius Louw crossed for a converted try but it was to be the last time the Sharks XV breached the Griquas defence.
With just eight minutes left in the game the Griquas started their comeback when replacement centre Ntabeni Dukisa went over for a converted try.
The vistors then took the lead for the first time in the match as right wing Ederies Arendse grabbed the bonus-point try, and the victory, when he crossed for a converted try with just three minutes left in the game.
Scorers
Cell C Sharks XV – Tries: Tonderai Chavhanga, Khaya Majola, Marius Louw; Conversions: Cameron Wright (3); Penalty: Wright.
GWK Griquas – Tries: Ederies Arendse, Jono Janse van Rensburg, Ntabeni Dukisa, Rocco Jansen; Conversions: Dean Grant (2); Penalty: Gouws Prinsloo.