Griquas beat Hino Valke at Barnard Stadium
The half time score was 33-7 in favour of the visitors
ORC Griquas are ever closer to playing in the Premier Division of this year’s Currie Cup competition, after claiming another bonus point victory in the Absa Currie Cup qualifiers against the Hino Valke, by beating them comprehensively 57-33 at the Barnard Stadium, in Kempton Park, on Saturday afternoon.
The Kimberley-based side scored nine tries and the resulting bonus point means that they are still one point ahead of the Leopards, in the overall standings.
Griquas are in front on 21 points, with the Leopards nipping at their heals on 20 points, after beating the Boland Cavaliers in Potchefstroom, on Saturday.
Griquas started like a forest fire, with winger AJ Coertzen scoring the first of his two tries as early as the third minute, with full back Gouws Prinsloo converting to give the visitors an early lead.
It wasn’t long, however, before the Valke hit back through winger Kyle Hendricks, one of few stalwarts for the hosts on the day. Hendricks scored the first of his four tries in the 11th minute, with full back Juan Kotze converting to level the scores.
What followed was a dry spell with regard to attacks, before Griquas came alight again, with Coertzen dotting down for the second time, this time in the 24th minute, for an unconverted try. That led to an impressive period of play by the Peacock Blues, that included one try each to eighth man Carel Greeff, scrumhalf Tian Meyer and centre Jonathan Francke, all of which were converted by Prinsloo, to make the half time score 33-7 in favour of the visitors.
Griquas picked up the second half where they left off the first, with winger Ntabeni Dukisa and centre Clinton Swart both crossing the whitewash, with Prinsloo converting just one. The latter was again called to action minutes later, as Greeff also went over for his second of the afternoon and Prinsloo converted to put the game beyond the Valke’s reach.
Hendricks impressed all afternoon and what followed were three good tries by the winger as Griquas took their foot off the gas in the latter stages. Replacement Arno Poley also came into some points as Kotze converted, but Griquas stamped their authority on the game as lock Hugo Kloppers went over for an unconverted try in the dying seconds.
SCORERS
ORC Griquas 57
(33): Tries: AJ Coertzen (2), Carel Greeff (2), Tian Meyer, Hugo Kloppers, Jonathan Francke, Clinton Swart, Ntabeni Dukisa. Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (6).
Hino Valke 33 (7): Tries: Kyle Hendricks (4), Arno Poley. Conversions: Juan Kotze (4).
