Currie Cup Roundup – Week 7

In Week 7 Currie Cup action the Blue Bulls beat the Boland Cavaliers at Loftus, the Lions defeated Griquas at Ellis Park, Western Province secured the win over the Valke at Newlands and the Sharks were thumped by the Cheetahs in Durban.

Currie Cup Results:

Aug 3 – Blue Bulls 36 – 12 Boland – Loftus Versfeld
Aug 4 – Golden Lions 45 – 24 Griquas – Ellis Park
Aug 4 – Western Province 47 – 18 Valke – Newlands
Aug 4 – The Sharks 22 – 42 Cheetahs – Durban

Currie Cup Table (after 6 Rounds):

[TABLE=12]

Game Reviews:

Blue Bulls 36 – 12 Boland Cavaliers

The Blue Bulls bounced back from last week’s defeat to the Sharks to score a bonus point victory over the Boland Cavaliers. Bulls wing John Mametsa continued his excellent try-scoring form to cross the line twice for the home side. It was not a great spectacle of a fixture with Boland more intent on playing a defensive, spoiling game. They were ultimately outclassed by a Bulls outfit who now find themselves in third position on the Currie Cup table.

Prediction: Bulls by 20
Result: Bulls by 24

Scorers:

Blue Bulls (36)
Tries: John Mametsa (2), Marius Delport, Derick Kuün, JP Nel
Conversions: Derick Hougaard (4)
Penalty: Derick Hougaard

Boland (12)
Tries: Justin Peach, Jongi Nokwe
Conversion: Isma-eel Dollie

Golden Lions 45 – 24 Griquas

Griquas delivered a gutsy performance at Ellis Park to trail the Lions by only seven points at half time. However, two quick tries by Jaco Pretorius and Jano Vermaak for the home side in the first five minutes of the second half effectively snuffed out the visitors’ challenge.

Prediction: Lions by 15
Result: Lions by 21

Scorers

Golden Lions (45)
Tries: Wylie Human, Louis Ludik, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jaco Pretorius, Jano Vermaak, Jannie Boshoff
Conversions: Louis Strydom (3), Vermaak (3)
Penalty: Strydom.

Wildeklawer Griquas (24)
Tries: Hans van Dyk (2), Barry Geel, Gareth Krause
Conversions: Conrad Barnard (2)

Western Province 47 – 18 Valke

Western Province eased to only their second win of the 2007 Currie Cup season in a scrappy game against the Valke at Newlands. However, the victory came at the cost of a season-ending ankle injury to lock Andries Bekker.

WP interim coach Gary Gold talked about the game:

“The Valke were very effective at spoiling our ball and preventing us from picking up the momentum we were looking for,” said Gold.

“They also had a lot of throw-ins at the lineout today, and their policy of shortening the lineout was effective in that it prevented us from competing on their throw. You have to give them credit for that.

“I felt that after that opening flurry we were guilty of forcing too many passes and lacking patience. Against better sides than the Valke we are going to be punished for that, so it is something we must sort out.

“But I thought we protected the ball better in this match than we did in the previous games, and our scrumming also continues to improve. The experiment of playing Peter Grant at inside centre paid off, although you could see at times that he was uncomfortable as he is used to being tighter with a loose-forward on his shoulder,” explained Gold.

Prediction: WP by 15
Result: WP by 29

Scorers:

Western Province (47)
Tries: Naas Olivier, Andries Bekker, Gerrie Britz, Sireli Naqelevuki, Tonderai Chavhanga, Peter Grant, Corne Uys
Conversions: Naas Olivier (3)
Penalties: Olivier (2)

Valke (18)
Tries: Bertus Swanepoel (2)
Conversions: Mark Harris
Penalties: Mark Harris (2)

The Sharks 22 – 42 Cheetahs

The Sharks led 22-16 at half time but were no match for the Cheetahs in the second period when the Free Staters shifted up a gear and scored 26 unanswered points. The Cheetahs are now securely positioned at the top of the Currie Cup log after amassing 29 out of a possible 30 points so far this season.

Prediction: Sharks by 7
Result: Cheetahs by 20

Scorers:

Free State Cheetahs (42)
Tries: Philip Burger, Kabamba Floors (2), Tewis de Bruyn
Conversions: Willem de Waal (2)
Penalties: Willem de Waal (5)
Drop kicks : Willem de Waal

The Sharks (22)
Tries : Patric Cilliers, Stefan Terblanche, Henno Mentz
Conversions: Rory Kockott (2)
Penalties: Rory Kockott

Next Week’s Fixtures:

Fri Aug 10 – 7.10pm – Valke vs Sharks – Brakpan
Sat Aug 11 – 3pm – Griquas vs Western Province – Kimberley
Sat Aug 11 – 3pm – Boland Cavaliers vs Golden Lions – Boland
Sat Aug 11 – 5.05pm – Free State Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls – Bloem