Currie Cup result: Griquas pull off stunning upset of unbeaten Cheetahs

Griquas on Saturday served up a sensational shock in Kimberley as they romped to a 46-18 victory and snapped the Cheetahs’ unbeaten streak in this year’s Currie Cup.

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The Peacock Blues outplayed the visitors from Bloemfontein in every aspect, punishing their neighbours’ mediocre defence and indiscipline to race into a 19-0 lead in the opening quarter.

The hosts wrapped up the four-try bonus point and held a commanding 24-8 at half-time and Pieter Bergh’s charges gave the much-vaunted visitors no way back after the break, scoring three more tries for a stunning win that sees them move up from fifth to third position, behind their old foes and the log-leading Bulls.

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It was a frustrating afternoon for the Free Staters, who never got going and lost key man Frans Steyn to injury in the 23rd minute. They let themselves down with their first-time tackling and were dominated in the set pieces in the second half as well.

Griquas got off to a dream start courtesy of outside centre Sango Xamlashe, who burst through two tackles to dot down under the posts in the first two minutes, Zander du Plessis slotting the first of his three successful conversions.

More poor defence saw the Free Staters fall 12-0 behind as Munier Hartzenberg sliced through a cluster of would-be tacklers and offloaded to scrumhalf Johan Mulder to finish off.

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Things went from bad to worse for the Cheetahs in the 18th minute when repeated infringements led to flyhalf Siya Masuku being sent to the sin bin and the men from the Northern Cape capitalised right away as hooker Janco Uys powered over for a five-pointer.

Frans Steyn limped off for the Cheetahs

Adding injury to insult, Steyn then limped off as captain Ruan Pienaar put the visitors on the board off the tee. The 14-man Cheetahs managed the rest of the yellow card period expertly, Pienaar the pivotal party with his world of experience.

However, as soon as they were back to full complement, the visitors found themselves under their posts again after Champion of the Match Rynhardt Jonker had broken free and Luther Obi provided a top-class finish to bank the bonus-point try and stretch the lead to 24-3.

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Hawies Fourie’s side needed inspiration in a hurry and it came via their magic man Rosko Specman, whose silky footwork created space for No 8 Mihlali Mosi to go over for their opening try at a critical time to head into half-time 24-8 down. 

Obi ensured the Peacock Blues flew out of the blocks as they did in the first half, the explosive winger smashing through a trio of defenders to make it a double and take the score out to 31-8 three minutes into the second stanza.

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The ruthless hosts turned the screws at scrum time next to earn another try-scoring opportunity and they converted with a driving maul and dot down by replacement hooker Gustav du Rand.

Griquas rubbed salt in the wounds when they forced the Free Staters to concede a penalty try with another dominant driving maul, which also saw replacement Cheetahs prop Conraad van Vuuren yellow-carded in the 69th minute.

Replacement forwards Jeandre Rudolph and Louis van der Westhuizen scored consolation tries for the well-beaten Cheetahs either side of a George Whitehead penalty goal as Griquas celebrated a memorable and all-important Central derby triumph.  

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SCORERS:

Griquas

Tries: Sango Xamlashe, Munier Hartzenberg, Janco Uys, Luther Obi (2), Gustav du Rand, Penalty try

Conversions: Zander du Plessis (3)

Penalty: George Whitehead

Cheetahs

Tries: Mihlali Mosi, Jeandre Rudolph, Louis van der Westhuizen

Penalty: Ruan Pienaar

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