Griffons add to Boland’s woes
The Regent Boland Kavaliers, the defending champions, suffered their fourth consecutive defeat of their 2012 Absa Currie Cup First Division campaign when they went down 20-23 against the log-leading Griffons, after leading 17-8 at the break, at Boland Park Stadium in Worcester on Friday.
Border held a 20-15 lead with 14 minutes left in the match but the Griffons showed why they currently top the log by digging deep to score a try through flank Willie Britz before left wing Reinhardt Erwee stepped up to kick a 70th minute penalty to secure the win.
Four thousand spectators braved the wet and cold conditions and they saw Erwee kick an early penalty before Boland hooker Ashton Constant was mauled over for a converted try in the 17th minute.
However, the Griffons retook the lead five minutes later when their hooker Derick van Heerden crossed for an unconverted score.
But Boland fought back thanks to a try from flyhalf Elgar Watts, who ended the match with 13 points courtesy of a try, a conversion and two penalties, before right wing Brendon April scooted over for another unconverted try with seven minutes left in the half.
Boland went to the break holding an important nine-point lead but they were held tryless in the second half by a Griffons team which has proven to be the surprise package in this year’s tournament.
The visitors' fightback started four minutes after the resumption of play when flyhalf Tertius Maarman skipped over for a converted try to reduce the deficit to two points.
Watts kicked a 48th-minute penalty to keep the hosts' noses in front only for the Griffons to break their hearts at the death with their late scoring surge.
SCORERS
Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Ashton Constant, Elgar Watts, Brandon April; Conversion: Watts; Penalties: Watts (2).
Griffons – Tries: Charles Marias, Willie Britz; Conversions: Reinardt Erwee (2); Penalties: Erwee (2).
