Vodacom Cup Quarter-finals Review
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The Vodacom Blue Bulls kept their Vodacom Cup title defence on track following their thrilling 28-26 quarter-final victory over the MTN Golden Lions at the Wits University on Saturday.
The defending champions, who ended the season in fourth position on the log, ended the 2011 challenge of the Johannesburg team by playing out the final 29 minutes this match with 14 players after SA Under-20 centre Francois Venter was red-carded for a spear tackle on MTN Lions lock George Earl during the 51st minute of the game.
The Pretoria team ran in three tries which were scored by former Springbok Sevens speedster Sampie Mastriet, former SA Under-20 prop Morne Mellett and Vodacom Blue Bulls flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff. The Pretoria pivot also kicked two conversions and three penalties to end the match with a personal points’ haul of 18.
The MTN Lions’ points came via the boot of former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius who kicked three penalties; as well as three tries which were scored by centre Alwyn Hollenbach, winger Dusty Noble and scrumhalf Micheal Bondesio. Elton Jantjies also chipped in with one conversion.
The Sharks XV ended the unbeaten 2011 Vodacom Cup run of DHL Western Province following their 21-19 victory at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
Winger Mark Richards, who represented the Springbok Sevens during the opening two tournaments in the 2010/ 2011 HSBC Sevens World Series; and Cobus Reinach scored tries for the Sharks XV. Flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter converted Reinach’s try and kicked three penalties.
The Cape team’s tries were scored by both their wingers – Danie Poolman and JJ Engelbrecht. DHL Western Province rookie flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, who was one of the outstanding performers in the 2011 FNB Varsity Cup for the UCT Ikeys, kicked three penalties for the hosts.
The victory for the Sharks XV means that they will now face the undefeated Pampas XV in next weekend’s semi-finals. The Argentineans maintained their unbeaten run this season by ending the Vodacom Cup aspirations of last year’s losing finalists, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, following their thrilling 41-34 extra time victory at Profert Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
Winger Juan Imhoff scored a hat-trick of tries which contributed to the “hosts” running in six five-pointers in this Vodacom Cup quarter-final match. Julio Cabello, Miguel de Achaval and Agustin Gosio were the other try-scorers for the Pampas XV. Nicolas Sanchez who kicked one penalty, chipped in with three conversions, while Santiago Gonzales added one conversion.
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs scored four tries which came thanks to the efforts of the talented 19-year-old flyhalf Johan Goosen, former SA U20 prop Marcel van der Merwe as well as Pieter Labuschagne and Eddie Fredericks. Louis Strydom added four conversions and a penalty.
In the other Vodacom Cup quarter-final match of the weekend, the GWK Griquas booked their place in next weekend’s semi-final against the Vodacom Blue Bulls following their 37-33 extra-time victory over the Ford Pumas at GWK Park on Friday.
Former national age group flyhalf Earl Rose scored a try during extra time which saw his team secure their place in next weekend’s playoffs. The GWK Griquas’ other try-scorers in this match were Jandre Blom, Wilmaure Louw, Richard Lawson and Jaco Nepgen. Rudi Vogt kicked two penalties and three conversions.
Tian Meyer added a brace of tries for the Ford Pumas while their third five-pointer was scored by former SWD Eagles pivot Ricardo Croy. Croy kicked four penalties and three conversions to end the match with a personal points haul of 23 points.
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