JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 21: Eduan Keyter of the Griquas scores during the Carling Currie Cup match between Sigma Lions and Tafel Lager Griquas at Emirates Airline Park on July 21, 2021 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Griquas maul the Lions to snatch Currie Cup’s top spot
Eduan Keyter scored four tries as Griquas claimed their second successive scalp on the road with a 41-31 victory over the Lions
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 21: Eduan Keyter of the Griquas scores during the Carling Currie Cup match between Sigma Lions and Tafel Lager Griquas at Emirates Airline Park on July 21, 2021 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Griquas wing Eduan Keyter scored four tries as his side claimed their second successive scalp on the road with a 41-31 victory over the Lions.
The bonus-point win at Ellis Park comes two weeks after they beat Western Province in Cape Town and shot Griquas to the top of the Currie Cup log.
Red-hot Keyter fires Griquas past Lions
Three of Keyter’s four tries came after the home team were reduced to 14 men when Lions fullback EW Viljoen was red-carded for a dangerous tackle in the 54th minute.
To add to their woes, Duncan Matthews (replacement back) was also sin-binned for a reckless cleanout at rucktime, which meant the Sigma Lions played the last eight minutes of the Currie Cup contest with only 13 men.
Griquas failed to capitalise late in the match, but it didn’t matter as they already had the win in the bag at that stage, mainly thanks to them taking their opportunities, strong defence and hitting back by scoring almost every time they conceded points.
Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, the Lions enjoyed the upper hand upfront throughout most of the game but could not make it count, with their discipline and finishing letting them down, although they did manage to score four tries for a bonus point.
Taking the game by the scruff of its neck
Griquas led for all but two minutes and 21 seconds in the first half after flanker Gideon van der Merwe pounced on a loose ball in the Sigma Lions’ 22 and went over to dot down for their first try early in the match.
Experienced Griquas pivot George Whitehead added the extras and one penalty goal, but missed three more penalty attempts, which would have put a lot of pressure on the hosts.
The Lions dominated the possession stakes in the first half and hit back with tries by their nippy scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, from a quick-tap penalty, and Sti Sithole (prop) after some pressure on attack, to snatch a 12-10 lead after 34 minutes. However, just two minutes later, Griquas were in the lead again, this time after Keyter went over for his first try, which is how it stayed until the break.
The second half started just like the first, with the Joburgers’ centre Burger Odendaal going over 14 second after the restart, but this time the TMO ruled there was a knock-on and the try was disallowed.
Six minutes later though, the Sigma Lions were back in the lead after Rabz Maxwane (wing) scored after a commanding maul, with Jaden Hendrikse (flyhalf) adding his second conversion of the afternoon.
Despite a well-worked try by Ruan Dreyer (prop) and a late five-pointer by Travis Gordon (replacement loose forward), that was it for the hosts, as Whitehead added another penalty goal to his tally, before Viljoen’s red card and Keyter’s burst of tries – in the 55th, 66th and 70th minutes – all but secured the win for the visitors.
Lions 31 – 41 Griquas Match facts
Scorers:
Sigma Lions 31 (12) – Tries: Morne van den Berg, Sti Sithole, Rabz Maxwane, Ruan Dreyer, Travis Gordon. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (3).
Tafel Lager Griquas 41 (17) – Tries: Gideon van der Merwe, Eduan Keyter (4). Conversions: George Whitehead (5). Penalty goals: Whitehead (2).
