Bulldogs bite back against Griffons
Flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa scored 15 points as the Border Bulldogs pulled off a gutsy 25-21 (halftime 18-7) away win over the Griffons in an Absa Currie Cup First Division match played at the North West Stadium in Welkom on Saturday.
The Bulldogs' third victory of the competition moves them up to 15 log points but still leaves the East London-based side rooted to the bottom of the six-team log.
However, there is now only one point separating them from the SWD Eagles and Valke, in fourth and fifth place respectively.
The win also brought the Bulldogs to within three log points of their beaten opponents, who currently lie third on the table.
Border's hero was Dukisa, who certainly had a week to remember. The outside half, together with teammates Samora Fihlani (lock) and centre Byron McGuigan, spent last weekend and Monday in Stellenbosch, where they helped their club, Winter Rose, to the quarterfinals of the Saru National Club Championships.
Dukisa kept his Club Champs form going here, kicking an early penalty before crossing for a try on the half hour to give the visitors a slender 8-7 lead.
That became 18-7 after flanker Onke Dubase burst through after 33 minutes for Dukisa to convert.
Dukisa's penalty in first-half injury time opened up an 11-point lead but Griffons centre Japie Nel made it 18-14 when he cut through the Bulldogs' defence after 52 minutes for flyhalf Tiaan van Wyk to convert.
With little to choose between the sides on a windy afternoon, Bulldogs flanker Shane Spring silenced the tiny but vocal crowd on the hour when he crashed over for Dukisa to make it 25-14 going into the final quarter.
This proved to be the Bulldogs' final scoring act of the match but excellent defence ensured that they would leave Welkom with four points.
The Griffons were able to snatch a losing bonus point for their troubles, after fullback Tertius Maarman went over with 15 minutes left to make it 25-21 and set up a nailbiting yet ultimately fruitless finale.
Scorers:
Griffons 21 - Tries: Shaun Raubenheimer, Japie Nel, Tertius Maarman. Conversions: Tiaan van Wyk (3).
Bulldogs 25 - Tries: Ntabeni Dukisa, Onke Dubase, Shane Spring. Conversions: Dukisa (2). Penalties: Dukisa (2)