Trailing 34–19 at halftime, it would have been easy to write the Griquas off. But instead, the team came roaring back with heart and attacking flair to register eight tries, overturning a fifteen-point deficit and securing a vital win on home turf.
First Half: Fireworks and Frustration
It was a match that exploded into action from the opening whistle. Dylan Maart opened the scoring with a dazzling effort down the touchline, only for Boland’s Lunathi Nxele to hit back minutes later. Griquas took early control through strong set pieces and physical dominance, with Lourens Oosthuizen crashing over from a rolling maul, and Gershwin Wehr adding another to stretch the lead to 19–10.
But the last ten minutes of the first half were chaotic for the team. Boland punished Griquas errors with four unanswered tries, including a bounce off Maart’s head for David Brits, a brace for Donovan Don, and a sprint from Marcqiewn Titus. Suddenly, the men from Kimberley were staring at a mountain to climb.
Second Half: A Statement of Intent
Whatever was said in the changeroom at halftime worked. Griquas came out with renewed purpose. Caleb Abrahams sniped through twice from close range to reignite the momentum. Wehr added his second try in the corner to hand Griquas the lead at 36–34 just 12 minutes into the half.
Boland refused to roll over. Donovan Don completed his hat trick with a blistering run to briefly snatch back the lead. But the Griquas forwards weren’t done yet. A powerful driving maul saw Tiaan Lange score in the 69th minute, and with five minutes left, Derik Pretorius sealed the deal with a thunderous finish under pressure. Flyhalf George Whitehead kept the scoreboard ticking with four conversions.
Smart Adjustments, Stronger Finish
This match didn’t unfold the way Griquas would’ve scripted it, but in the end, it was a testament to smart adjustments and composure under pressure—earning a crucial five points on the Currie Cup log. The shift in tempo, the patience in buildup, and the injection of energy from the bench proved decisive. The team’s ability to adapt under pressure and turn around such a dramatic situation reflects the maturity and hunger building within this squad.
SCORERS
Suzuki Griquas: Tries – Dylan Maart, Lourens Oosthuizen, Gurshwin Wehr (2), Calab Abrahams (2), Tiaan Lange, Derik Pretorius; Conversions – George Whitehead (4)
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: Tries – Lunathi Nxele, Donovan Don (3), David Brits, Marcqiewn Titus; Conversions – James Tedder (3); Penalty – Tedder
