Griquas ended a season of highs and lows in style with a victory over Western Province at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Friday (6/9) afternoon. 

The home team beat a star-studded Western Province featuring several Springboks and members from their URC team by 37–29 ending their season in sixth place on the Currie Cup table. 

It was a slow start for both teams with the first points on the board only coming after the first quarter when Zinedine Robinson slotted a penalty goal. Griquas scored two converted tries in the next ten minutes – the first by speedster Dylan Maart and the second by lock Dylan Sjoblom – but the last ten minutes in the half belonged to Western Province thanks to tries by Marcel Theunissen and Dan du Plessis. 

Some supporters showed their support for breast-cancer awareness by also wearing pink. Photo: Facebook/Griquas Rugby - G.W.R.U.

Griquas went into the shed at half-time leading by 20–15, but ill-discipline cost both sides, with Western Province losing two players for ten minutes to yellow cards: full-back Luke Burger for a tackle off the ball and Jurie Matthee just before half-time for slowing down the ball in the red zone. Griquas also had to sit out Thabo Ndimande with a yellow for a late tackle with no arms.

The match came alive in the second half, with both teams scoring two converted tries. Western Province’s Du Plessis went over first for the visitors in the 52nd minute, but Griquas captain Marco de Witt responded swiftly with his own try five minutes later.

‘Bobby Alexander gave Griquas the victory’

Not to be outdone, Damian Markus scored a brilliant try under the poles to give Western Province a two-point lead with 13 minutes to go. But a try in the 78th minute by scrumhalf Bobby Alexander gave Griquas the victory, with a penalty goal by Robinson putting the final nail in the coffin.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg