Minnows top in Vodacom Cup

A number of unlikely results marked the first round of the Vodacom Cup competition, a domestic inter-provincial competition in South Africa, at the weekend.

What was noticeable, were the good performances from the so-called smaller unions and the defeat of three of the five franchise unions, reports Rugby365.

Topping the surprises was the 30-10 away win by the Pumas over the Wildebeest in Durban. Although both sides last year won only three of their six matches, the Wildebeest, with stars like Namibia World Cup captain Kees Lensing, Springbok wing Henno Mentz, Super 14 centre Andries Strauss and captain Alistair Hargreaves as well as experienced players such as Jody Jenneker, Steven Sykes, Nikolai Blignaut, Jean Deysel and Charl McLeod, to name just a few, were expected to win this match easily.

However, the Pumas, consisting largely of club players, fought back magnificently from 3-10 down to score 27 unanswered points for an unlikely, but deserved win under new coach Jimmy Stonehouse, another part-timer.

In another surprise the Blue Bulls, with a number experienced players including a number of Super 14 hopefuls as well as some of the country’s best young talent, went down 27-33 to the SWD Eagles in George despite scoring four tries to the Eagles’ three.

The Golden Lions, with most of their players released from their Super 14 duties after finalisation of the Lions franchise squad, went down to a young Free State side (36-42), while Western Province overran the Griffons 51-7.

The Leopards were good value for their 31-14 win over the Mighty Elephants, and Boland beat the Falcons 31-22 in what was effectively a clash between the Currie Cup Premier League sides of the two unions.

Holders Griquas were made to work unexpectedly hard for their 15-5 win over a new-look Border Bulldogs team in East London.

Scores and scorers:

Boland Cavaliers 31-22 Falcons

The scorers:

For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Alshaun Bock, Zolani Mofu, Kobus Meintjes
Cons: Justin Peach 2
Pens: Peach 3
DG: Elgar Watts

For the Falcons:
Tries: Luvo Sogidashe, Ruan Cloete, Warren Perkins
Cons: Poerie van Rooyen 2
Pen: Van Rooyen

Western Province 51-7 Griffons

The scorers:

For Western Province:
Tries: Conraad Britz 2, Terry Jacobs 3, Morgan Newman, PJ Vermeulen
Cons: Newman 4, Charl Weideman
Pens: Newman 2

For the Griffons:
Try: Werner Griessel
Con: Cecil Afrika

Mighty Elephants 14-32 Leopards

The scorers:

For the Elephants:
Try: Marlon Lewis
Pens: Ossie Damons 3

For the Leopards:
Tries: Anvor Schooney 2, Riaan Swanepoel, Andre Swanepoel, Pellow van der Westhuizen
Cons: Schooney 2
Pen: Schooney.

Wildebeest 10-30 Pumas

The scorers:

For the Wildebeest:
Try: Andries Strauss
Con: Strauss
Pen: Spedding

For the Pumas:
Tries: Quintin Minnaar, Jacques Coetzee, Rudy Voght
Cons: Voght 3
Pens: Voght 3

Border 5-15 Griquas:

The scorers:

For Border:
Try: Andries Kruger

For Griquas:
Tries: Dougie Helmuth, Bjorn Basson
Con: Riaan Viljoen
Pen: Viljoen

Eagles 33-37 Blue Bulls

The scorers:

For the Eagles:
Tries: Henry Grimes, Allistar Kettledas, Hendrie van der Nest
Cons: Nel Fourie 3
Pens: Nel Fourie 4

For the Blue Bulls:
Tries: Stefan Dippenaar, Okkie Kruger, Rocco Jansen 2
Cons: Ruan Boshoff 2
Pen: Francois Brummer

Cheetahs 42-36 Lions

The scorers:

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Herman Pretorius, Jongi Nokwe, Ashley Johnson, Nicky Steyn, Jaco du Toit
Cons: Jannie Myburgh 4
Pens: Myburgh 3

For the Lions:
Tries: Clinton de Klerk, Torrie Meyer, Arno Coetzee, Justin St. Jerry
Cons: Coetzee 2
Pens: Coetzee 3
DG: Michael Killian