Griquas make easy work of WP in first semifinal

The Tafel Lager Griquas advanced to their third SuperSport Rugby Challenge final in as many seasons as they comprehensively beat DHL Western Province 50-21 (halftime 15-11) in the first semifinal at the Kanyamazane Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday afternoon.

The first half was a slow affair overall but it started off with a bang as Griquas' wing Enver Brandt touched down two minutes after the match kicked off. Flyhalf George Whitehead kicked a penalty goal in the 11th minute to give his charges a comfortable lead in the opening minutes of the clash.

WP hit back in the 12th minute as fullback and captain Craig Barry crashed over, but flyhalf Abner van Reenan missed the conversion.

The match settled into a dull affair with neither team threatening the scoreboard until flank Gideon van der Merwe scored a try with nine minutes left of the first stanza. Whitehead was on target with his conversion attempt.

Van Reenan brought the curtain down on the first half as he kicked a penalty goal to cut the halftime deficit to 15-11 in favour of the Griquas.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first half ended with Van Reenan kicking his third penalty goal, but this was cancelled out by the Griquas as they scored two quick tries in the 46th and 49th minute courtesy of outside centre Eduan Keyter and Brandt. Whitehead added the two conversions.

Lock Brandon Valentyn pulled back a try for WP eight minutes later which Van Reenan converted before the Griquas hit back with three tries in the final twenty minutes of the semifinal.

Scrumhalf Izak Burger, Van der Merwe and fullback Anthony Volmink all added their names to the scoresheet with Whitehead kicking three conversions to ensure the Griquas emerged as 50-21 victors.

SCORERS

DHL Western Province - Tries: Craig Barry, Brandon Valentyn; Conversions: Abner van Reenan; Penalties: Van Reenan (2).

Tafel Lager Griquas - Tries: Enver Brandt (2), Gideon van der Merwe (2), Eduan Keyter, Zak Burger, Anthony Volmink; Conversions: George Whitehead (6); Penalties: Whitehead.