Currie Cup Bulletin #28

A new Carling Currie Cup champion will be crowned next week after a weekend of dramatic semi-final action, which saw Windhoek Draught Griquas stun holders Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria, while the Airlink Pumas staged a brilliant late rally to shock the Toyota Cheetahs in their pulsating match in Bloemfontein.

That means that the 2022 Final will be staged in Kimberley next Saturday, when Windhoek Draught Griquas play in their first decider since 1970, the Airlink Pumas, who have reached the top two for the first time.

Meanwhile in the Carling Currie Cup First Division, the Down Touch Griffons and Eastern Province booked their places in next weekend's final after winning their playoffs.

The team from the Northern Free State clinched a dramatic semi-final by 41-38 after extra time against the Georgian Black Lion in Welkom on Friday, and on Saturday, EP outplayed SWD Eagles 26-12 at a wind-swept Wolfson Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The kick-off times for both finals will be confirmed shortly.

Airlink Pumas snatch victory from jaws of defeat in Bloem

Two tries at the death saw the Airlink Pumas stun the Toyota Cheetahs 38-35 in Saturday’s semi-final in Bloemfontein to set up the unlikeliest of deciders against Windhoek Draught Griquas next weekend.

The never-say-die visitors outscored the Free Staters by six tries to four to put themselves in a position to secure a maiden Carling Currie Cup title.

The Toyota Cheetahs found themselves in a sticky situation, trailing 17-7 and suffering a major blow when inspirational captain Ruan Pienaar limped off at the end of the first quarter.

However, a yellow card offence by flank Daniel Maartens, for illegally sacking a driving maul, spawned a 24-point swing in what looked to be a decisive 10-minute period before and after halftime.

The hosts remained in control up until the 75^th minute when, leading by 11 points, speedster Rosko Specman saw yellow for a deliberate knockdown and the Airlink Pumas, in their first semi-final in 42 years, pounced, with replacements Simon Raw and Ali Mgijima scoring and Tinus de Beer converting both tries to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Scorers:

Toyota Cheetahs 35 (24) – Tries: Jeandre Rudolph (2), Penalty try, Clayton Blommetjies. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar, Siya Masuku. Penalty goals: Masuku (3).

Airlink Pumas 38 (17) – Tries: Eddie Fouche, Sebastian de Klerk (2), Giovan Snyman, Simon Raw, Ali Mgijima. Conversions: Fouche (2), Thinus de Beer (2).

Windhoek Draught Griquas end Vodacom Bulls’ grip on the Carling Currie Cup

A stirring second half display – which delivered two tries and a penalty try – paved the way for a well-deserved 30-19 victory for Windhoek Draught Griquas over the Vodacom Bulls in their semi-final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday evening.

The two sides went into the halftime break separated by just four points with the score 7-3 in favour of the defending champions after their captain, Lizo Gqoboka (prop), scored the only try of a tightly contested first half when he forced his way over following a successful lineout, with Juan Mostert adding the extras.

In turn, the experienced George Whitehead, who came on as an injury replacement midway through the first half, slotted a penalty goal for Windhoek Draught Griquas' only points of the opening stanza.

Right from the restart, the visitors from Kimberley shifted to a higher gear which netted three tries and two penalty goals, which were enough to hand them their first final appearance in more than five decades.

Whitehead, who has captained Windhoek Draught Griquas often in the past, led from the front and made a personal contribution of 18 points through one try, two conversions and three penalty goals.

Scorers:

Vodacom Bulls 19 (7) – Tries: Lizo Gqoboka, Bernard van der Linde, Juan Mostert. Conversions: Mostert (2).

Windhoek Draught Griquas 30 (3) – Tries: Hanru Sirgel, George Whitehead, Penalty Try. Conversions: Whitehead (2). Penalty goals: Whitehead (3).

Carling Currie Cup First Division

In the first of the two Carling Currie Cup First Division semi-finals, played in Welkom on Friday afternoon, the Down Touch Griffons managed to defeat Georgian side Black Lion by 41-38 in a thrilling encounter that was only decided in extra-time after the scores were even at fulltime.

The two teams were tied at 31-31 at the sound of the final whistle after 80 minutes, but the Northern Free State side managed to pull away in extra time by scoring twice. Jaywinn Juries (scrumhalf) scored 26 points for the Griffons.

The Georgians managed to dot down right at the end of extra time, but they left it too late as the siren sounded straight after the conversion attempt.

EP managed to turn their 15-7 halftime lead into a well-deserved 26-12 win by scoring three tries, a conversion and three penalties against the SWD Eagles.

The Eagles staged a strong onslaught in the second half but the EP defence held firm to ensure a final appearance next week in Welkom.

Scorers:

Down Touch Griffons 41 (15), Black Lion 38 (14)

Down Touch Griffons – Tries: Dandre Delport, Gurshwin Wehr (2), Jaywinn Juries. Conversions: Juries (3). Penalty goals: Juries (5).

Black Lion – Tries: Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Alexander Todua, Luka Ivanishvili, Tengiz Zantarade. Conversions: Luka Matkava (5). Penalty goal: Matkava.

Eastern Province 26 (15), SWD Eagles 12 (7)

Eastern Province – Tries: Viaan Wolmarans, Sachin Toring, Josiah Twum-Baofo. Conversions: Merlynn Pieterse. Penalty goals: Pieterse (3).

SWD Eagles 12 (7) – Tries: Edwin Sass, Armand Grobler. Conversion: Gene Willemse.