Cheetahs left wing Munier Hartzenberg scored four tries to power his team to a massive 52-12 win over the Griffons, while the Griquas battled back from an 18-point half-time deficit to beat the Sharks 48-42 in both Currie Cup clashes on Saturday. evening.
In the first match at the North West Stadium in Welkom, the Cheetahs produced a fine first half performance, led by a hattrick from Hartzenberg, which saw them lead 40-6 at the break.
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Hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg first to score after breaking off a powerful maul, when flank Friedle Olivier forced his way through from close range, two tries converted by scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, one side of a penalty from Griquas scrumhalf Jaywinn Juries, making it 14-3 after 13 minutes .
Hartzenberg then completed a move in the corner for the opening try, while Juries kicked another penalty to make it 19-6 after 22 minutes.
The Cheetahs then powered away in the final 14 minutes of the half with two tries to Hartzenberg either side one to Viktor Sekekete, all converted, giving him a huge lead at the break.
The second half was a more subdued affair as the Cheetahs took off the gas, but still went down twice, with Hartzenberg’s fourth and one to replace wing Cohen Jasper, while Juries kicked two penalties for the hosts.
Griquas returned to the Shark floor
The second game of the day, a tryout party at Griqua Park, saw the Griquas floor the Sharks with a second-half comeback, as they scored 28 unanswered points to lead 48-28, before two late consolation scores for the visitors made the game more near. from that.
It was a frantic start as the hosts on the board with a penalty for flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela, before the visitors answered with a try converted to the center Francois Venter, followed by the hosts awarded a penalty try after the maul that stopped illegally. giving them a 10-7 lead after just 10 minutes.
But the Sharks soon took control when hook Fez Mbatha and scrumhalf Cameron Wright scored tries within four minutes of each other, followed by wing Yaw Penxe, all converted by flyhalf Fred Zeilinga for a 28-10 lead at the break.
Griquas started the second half as a turnover from the kick-off led to captain Stephan Smit entering early, followed by a great interaction saw Luther Obi left under the stick, with Dobela’s conversion reducing the deficit to four. .
Rampaging replacement let forward Hanru Sirgel down a touch and then saw someone in the corner, with the addition of Dobela who gave the host a surprise 31-28 lead just nine minutes into the second half.
A penalty from Dobela, followed by a converted try for scrumhalf Johan Mulder and replacement hooker Janco Uys, closed the brilliant come from behind win with four minutes to play.
But the Sharks managed two late consolation tries to flank Dylan Richardson to steal a second bonus point at the death.