Valke go top, EP move up while Griffons v Black Lions cancelled

The Valke scored eight tries on their way to the top of the Carling Currie Cup First Division while the Eastern Province Elephants needed a late flurry to sink the Boland Cavaliers to move up the table to keep the pressure on the top runners while the Down Touch Griffons, who led the table at the start of the round, had their match against the Black Lion from Georgia cancelled.

VALKE THUMP BORDER

A brace of tries from flanker Dwayne Pienaar and scrumhalf Johan Pretorius helped condemn Border to a 59-5 (halftime 42-0) thumping at the Bosman Stadium in Brakpan. The Valke ran in a total of eight tries to one with flyhalf Keagan Fortune landing seven conversions.

Prop Hugo Pienar, No 8 Zander van der Merwe, prop Bulelani Sali and wing Valentino Wellman all added their names to the scoresheet while flanker Chuma Biyana inflicted the only blemish on the Valke through an unconverted try after 51 minutes.

The Valke had registered their bonus point as early as the 12th minute with both Pienaars, Pretorius and Van der Merwe dotting down in an opening frenetic period.

Border did not help their cause much when Biyana was sin-binned in the 38th minute but by that time, the Valke were already 35-0 up.

By the time Biyana returned, the Valke had scored another two tries through Pretorius and flanker Pienaar.

Scorers

Valke – Tries:Dwayne Pienaar (2), Johan Pretorius (2), Hugo Pienaar, Zander van der Merwe, Bulelani Sali, Valentino Wellman; Conversions:Keagan Fortune (7).

Border – Try:Chuma Biyana.

EP LATE FLURRY SINKS BOLAND

Eastern Province scored two late tries to sink the Boland Cavaliers 31-13 (5-13) at the Villagers RFS in Cape Town.

EP trailed at the break after opening the scoring through hooker Duan Du Plessis before two penalties from fullback Cameron Hufke handed Boland a 6-2 lead.

A try from scrumhalf Jaiden Baron, converted by Hufke, handed the Cavaliers a valuable eight-point advantage heading into the break.

However, a brace of tries from flanker Diego Williams, with others from lock Jaco Willemse and wing Rodney Damons, proved too strong for the Cavaliers as EP scored 26 unanswered points in the second period for a bonus-point victory.

Fullback Masixole Banda landed three successful conversions to cap a good comeback afternoon for the Eastern Cape side.

Scorers

Boland Cavaliers – Try:Jaiden Baron; Conversion:Cameron Hufke; Penalties:Hufke (2)

Eastern Province – Tries: Diego Williams (2), Duan Du Plessis, Jaco Willemse, Rodney Damons; Conversions:Masixole Banda (3).

ZIMBABWE PIP KENYANS

The Zimbabwean Goshawks held off a spirited fight back from the Kenyan Simbas to squeak a 22-21 (halftime 17-10) victory at the City Park Stadium in Athlone.

The Goshawks established an early 17-0 lead thanks to tries from flanker Biselele Tshamala and centre Takudzwa Chieza, both converted by scrumhalf Hilton Mudariki, who had opened the scoring with a penalty.

A penalty from flyhalf Jone Tavaga and a try from centre Vincent Owino, which was converted by Tavaga, brought the Simbas to within a score at the break.

Tavaga closed the gap to four points shortly after the restart before an unconverted try by hooker Matthew Mandioma extended the Zimbabweans lead to nine points.

Another penalty from Tavaga brought the Kenyans to within six points and a try from replacement flanker Elkeans Mukamiti six minutes from time, gave the Simbas the chance to snatch victory but Tavaga’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Scorers

Simbas – Try:Vincent Owinal; Conversion:Jone Tavaga; Penalties:Tavaga (3).

Zimbabwe Goshawks – Tries:Biselele Tshamala, Takudzwa Chieza, Matthew Mandioma; Conversions:Hilton Mudariki (2); Penalty:Mudariki

Black Lion v Down Touch Griffons cancelled