The Suzuki Griquas held their nerve to overcome a late surge from the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers, securing a pulsating 42-36 win in a high-scoring SA Cup contest at Suzuki Stadium. Despite trailing at halftime, the Griquas capitalized on yellow cards and key moments to notch six tries in a game that went down to the final minute.
First Half: Back-and-Forth Battle
The Cavaliers struck first through Sidney Tobias (5′), converted by Ashlon Davids, but the Griquas hit back through a Gustav Tiaan Du Rand brace (13′, 18′), with George Whitehead converting both.
A Davids penalty and a well-timed try from Jurick Lewis (39′) put Boland back in front at the break, 17-14.
Second Half: Yellow Cards Prove Pivotal
The Cavaliers came out strong with Jurick Lewis (44′) and James Tedder (54′) crossing to stretch their lead to 31-21, but things began to unravel as yellow cards to Ashlon Davids (64′) and Thurlow Marsh (69′) gave the Griquas momentum.
- Cameron Hufke (47′),
- Willem van der Walt (70′),
- Gurshwin Nikhole Wehr (73′), and
- Marcqiewn Titus (77′) all crossed for Griquas in a dominant final quarter.
Whitehead was flawless with the boot, slotting six conversions to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Late Drama
Boland struck back with a last-minute try by Ludio Williams (80′), but it was too late, as Griquas held on to win 42-36, overcoming a 17-28 second-half deficit.
Discipline and Turning Points
The Cavaliers’ ill-discipline, including three yellow cards, cost them dearly during a 10-minute period where Griquas ran in three tries.
Top Performers
- Gustav Tiaan Du Rand (Griquas) – Two tries in the first half, key in set-pieces.
- George Whitehead (Griquas) – Impeccable kicking game with 6 conversions.
- Jurick Lewis (Cavaliers) – Two tries, consistently threatening with ball in hand.
Final Thoughts
The Griquas showed resilience and composure under pressure, turning the match on its head in the final 20 minutes. For the Cavaliers, it was a missed opportunity, their attacking flair undone by lapses in discipline at critical stages.
