Griquas run Lions ragged to secure final berth

Griquas have stormed into their second consecutive Currie Cup final after a dominant semi-final victory over the Lions in Kimberley on Sunday.

Pieter Bergh’s side scored seven tries in their 52-12 thrashing of the Joburgers to underline their championship credentials regardless of who they host in the final. Griquas arrived in the knockout phase in superb form, having won six straight matches after their opening-round defeat to the Stormers XXIII and finishing the league phase top of the table.

Tries from loose forwards Lourens Oosthuizen and Marco de Witt put the hosts 14-0 up within 12 minutes.

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The Lions had looked to establish a foothold, but two crucial errors allowed centre Mnombo Zwelendaba to spark the attack, with de Witt gleefully rounding it off.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard in the 18th minute through hooker Armand Combrinck, although the conversion was unsuccessful. But Griquas quickly restored their momentum, with Zwelendaba going over in the 29th minute. Flyhalf George Whitehead was on song from the kicking tee, kicking all three conversions.

Three minutes later, the hosts extended their lead in impressive fashion. Whitehead showed excellent vision to stab a kick through for powerful fullback Stefan Coetzee, who gathered it in his stride and powered over the line. The flyhalf converted to make it 28-5.

There was still time for Griquas to add one more before the interval, with hooker Tiaan Lange continuing his prolific try-scoring form in the Currie Cup crossing in the 40th minute.

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Whitehead completed the conversion to send the hosts into the break with a commanding 35-5 lead.

It remained one-way traffic in the third quarter, as Oostuizen grabbed a second try for the afternoon. Whitehead was given a rest after his perfect kicking performance, with Liam Koen replacing him and slotting a conversion.

The smattering of Lions fans had something to cheer, as Junior Springbok Ethan Adams powered over for his second Currie Cup try of the season. The extra two points were added by flyhalf Matt Coetzee.

With less than ten minutes to go in the contest, Griquas piled more misery on the Lions as reserve scrumhalf Jack Hart snuck his way over the line for his first try in peacock blue. Koen added the extras to take the hosts to the brink of 50. Koen however took his side beyond 50 with a penalty kick in the final minute.

GRIQUAS – Tries: Lourens Oosthuizen (2), Marco de Witt, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Stefan Coetzee, Tiaan Lange, Jack Hart. Conversions: George Whitehead (5), Liam Koen (2). Penalty: Koen.
LIONS – Tries: Armand Combrinck, Ethan Adams. Conversion: Matt Coetzee.

Photo: Danie Van Der Lith/Gallo Images

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