mens
currie-cap
Griquas have kept Currie Cup after mastering Cougars 23-16 in a tense final in Kimberley, with veteran fly-half George Whitehead marking his 150th appearance with the deciding game.
The hosts controlled much of the first quarter and got on the board first through Whitehead, only for the Pumas to strike against the run of play. JC Nell made an interception before Darren Adonis completed the move and Clinton Swart converted for a 7-3 lead.
Griquas responded through Mnombo Zwelendaba after sustained pressure from their forwards and Whitehead added the conversion to regain the lead. Swart then kicked two penalties to send Pumas into the break 13-10 ahead, while Griquas were left to rue two chances that went over the try line.
The second half remained just as tense. Whitehead leveled the scores after the play before taking a huge penalty in his own half to put Griquas ahead 16-13. Swart responded almost immediately, leaving the final locked at 16-16 heading into the closing stages.
Whitehead then produced one of the defining moments of the contest, finding 50-22 with seven minutes remaining to give Griquas a platform to attack deep inside Pumas territory.
The hosts were counting on it. Their forwards set up the kick, absorbed the opposition and eventually went on to score the winner through substitute Janco Uys, with the conversion opening up a seven-point lead.
The Cougars were given one last chance after a late line steal but a loose pass went into touch to end the contest.
Whitehead was named man of the match after guiding Griquas through decisive moments, completing a memorable 150th outing as a Peacock Blues secured a second consecutive Currie Cup title.
“This is what I wanted for Kimberley – a home final. I’m getting emotional,” Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said.
“To see a stadium like this and people coming to support us, this is everything I’ve dreamed of. This is unbelievable.”