Griquas crush hapless Cavaliers

2008-09-06 20:04

Kimberley - Leading 28-10 at the changeover, Griquas defeated the never-say-die Boland Cavaliers 48-22 in a crucial bottom-of-the-log Currie Cup fixture match played at Absa Park in Kimberley on Saturday.

After Boland fullback Justin Peach had put his team 3-0 up with a penalty in the fourth minute, the home team responded with two well-worked converted tries - the first by lightning-fast right-wing Bjorn Basson (sixth minute) and the second by No 8 Heinrich Stride (15th minute) following excellent support play between backs and forwards.

Boland struck back with a try by prop WP Nel in the 24th minute and with Peach kicking the conversion, it was 14-10 to Griquas.

In the space of two minutes (the 32nd and 34th minutes) Basson scored his second try of the half and then made another scored by left-wing MJ Mentz. With flyhalf Conrad Barnard kicking another two conversions, Griquas, a bonus point to the good, led 28-10.

Early in the second half, Boland skipper centre Piet van Zyl's opportunistic try, also converted by Peach, made it 28-17 to Griquas with 30 minutes remaining.

Barnard's well-struck, angled penalty from long-range gave the home team a handy 14 point lead which, midway through the half, became 21 points when left-wing Mentz rounded off a fine movement with his second try.

Basson completed a superb attacking match when, following up scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius's cleverly-placed kick into the corner, he gathered the ball at speed and dived over in the corner to complete his hat-trick.

With Griquas now leading 43-17 the Bolanders threw caution to the wind, running the ball at every opportunity.

Replacement left-wing Renfred Dazel scored the Bolanders third try in the 34th minute but this was off-set two minutes from the final whistle by Griqua replacement scrumhalf Tobie Botes's five-pointer to make the final score Griquas 48 Boland 22 - and a very valuable five log-points for the home team.

Scorers:

Griquas:

Tries: Bjorn Basson (3), MJ Mentz (2), Heinrich Stride, Tobie Botes.
Conversions: Conrad Barnard (5)
Penalty: Barnard

Boland Cavaliers:

Tries: WP Nel, Piet van Zyl, Renfred Dazel
Conversions: Justin Peach (2)
Penalty: Peach

- SAPA