On Friday, Border lost their home clash 33-29 to the Phangela SWD Eagles, despite leading comfortably 26-12 at the halfway stage in East London, and the NovaVit Griffons gained their first win of the campaign as the downed Eastern Province 66-32 in their clash staged in Welkom in the other Saturday fixture.
The weekend's results saw the Valke consolidate their top spot on the six-team log, with a perfect 10 points from their two matches to date.
The Eagles moved into second spot as they climbed to seven points following their hard-earned win over a tenacious Border. The Griffons, Leopards and EP all have six points from one win in two games, while Border have two points but are still searching for their first win.
Valke No 8 Zingisa April helped himself to three of his team’s eight tries at the Barnard Stadium, with the East Rand-side already 40-7 ahead at the break against the Leopards. Playmaker Keagan Fortune added four conversions. Shaun Baxter converted two of the Leopard's four tries.
Griffons hooker Willem van den Hever grabbed four tries as the men from the Northern Free State outplayed EP by 66-32 at the Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom, with the hosts scoring nine tries to their visitors’ four tries in the end.
Versatile outside back Andrew Kota converted eight of the nine Griffons tries and succeeded with a penalty goal for a personal tally of 19 points via the kicking boot. Oliver Zono (flyhalf) slotted three conversions and two penalty goals for EP.
Border raced into a halfway lead of 26-12 but they could not maintain their momentum and defensive discipline as the Eagles stormed back in the second half to clinch this thrilling encounter 33-29 at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Friday evening.
Kamvelihle Fatyela (hooker) scored twice for the Bulldogs who looked menacing in the opening spell, while pivot Maxwell Klaasen kicked three conversions and a penalty goal. For SWD, reserve hooker Marco Fuhri went over twice, as did outside centre Clive Kruger, while Marlo Weich also scored a try and three conversions.
In next weekend's third round games, Border host log leaders the Valke in East London, and SWD welcome the Griffons to George, with both games taking place on Friday at 18h00. The remaining fixture of the round will be played in Potchefstroom from 15h00 on Saturday, when the Leopards entertain EP.
Scorers:
Valke 50 (40), Leopards 24 (7)
Valke – Tries: Zingisa April (3), Waqar Solaan, Blaine Golden, Sergio Stalmeester, Mosolwa Mafuma, Adrian Joubert. Conversions: Keagan Fortune (4), Mbembe Payi.
Leopards – Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi, Jason Jansen, Brandon Keevy, Gcino Mdletshe. Conversions: Shaun Baxter (2).
NovaVit Griffons 66 (35), Eastern Province 32 (17)
Griffons – Tries: Willem van den Heever (4), Buhle Nojekwa, Kabelo Mokoena, Ngia Selengbe, Richman Gora, Joshua Paris. Conversions: Andrew Kota (8), Kyle Cyster. Penalty goal: Kota.
EP – Tries: Johannes Huisamen, Sherwin Slater, Rodney Damons, Andile Ngonyama. Conversions: Oliver Zono (3). Penalty goals: Zono (2).
Border Bulldogs 29 (26), Phangela SWD Eagles 33 (12)
Border – Tries: Kamvelihle Fatyela (2), Soso Xakalashe, Camagu Dlisani. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (3). Penalty goal: Klaasen.
Eagles – Tries: Marco Fuhri (2), Clive Kruger (2), Marlo Weich. Conversions: Weich (3), Sachin Toring.
