Olivier inspires Griquas’ win
Naas Olivier scored 21 points to lead the GWK Griquas to a 41-27 (half-time 24-10) win over the Platinum Leopards in their Absa Currie Cup match at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
Flyhalf Olivier scored a try and turned in a faultless kicking performance to succeed with five conversions and two penalties as the visitors recorded their third win in four matches this season.
The home side, who had been in the contest up until the 53rd minute when they trailed 24-20, were left to reflect on their inability to cross the advantage line with enough regularity as they slumped to their fourth consecutive loss.
The Leopards had made all the early running in the contest and they led 10-0 after 12 minutes thanks to a superb individual try from scrumhalf Michael Bondesio and a penalty from flyhalf Niell Jacobs.
It took the more fancied Griquas until the 25th minute before they troubled the scorers thanks to an Olivier penalty but the visitors cut loose in the last 10 minutes of the first half to run in three tries.
Left wing Bjorn Basson continued his fine try-scoring record this season to dot down in his fourth consecutive match while lock Frikkie Spies and Olivier also crossed their opponent’s tryline as Griquas went to the break holding a 14-point advantage.
The second half began much like the first as Bondesio grabbed his second try before replacement flyhalf Clayton Durand kicked a penalty to draw the home side to within four points.
Any hope the hosts had of causing an upset were dashed when Griquas’ scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius intercepted a loose pass on his own 22-metre line before setting off on a long run to score the bonus-point try for the visitors.
In the last 10 minutes of the match Griquas wrapped the contest up thanks to a penalty from Olivier and Basson’s second try.
The Leopards refused to give up and in the 10th minute of injury time lock Palm Koch went over for a consolation try.
Scorers
Platinum Leopards
– Tries: Michael Bondesio (2), Palm Koch; Conversions: Niell Jacobs, Clayton Durand (2); Penalties: Jacobs, Durand.
GWK Griquas – Tries: Bjorn Basson (2), Frikkie Spies, Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius; Conversions: Olivier (5), Penalties: Olivier (2).
