THE Windhoek Welwitschias suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge after going down 34-24 to the Touch Down Griffons in Rustenburg on Sunday.
The Welwitschias, who trailed 19-17 at half time, gave a spirited performance though and got off to a flying start, as a pinpoint cross kick from fly half Cliven Loubser found right wing Johannes Tromp, who still had to step inside two players before going over for a converted try after just two minutes.
The Griffons then hit back and looked as if they might power away in the match as right wing Ezrick Alexander, fullback Domenic Smit and eighthman Jean Pretorius all went over, with scrum half Jaywinn Juries adding two conversions to take a 19-7 lead after 16 minutes.
Just four minutes later left wing Allistair Mumba went over in the left hand corner and that could have been the match for the Griffons, only for them to be brought back for an earlier knock on.
This gave the Welwitschias a much-needed break and they responded by scoring a try through prop AJ de Klerk and a penalty by Loubser to trail by two points at the break.
A great start to the second half saw the Welwitschias retake the lead as hooker Louis van der Westhuizen dotted down at the back of a maul to go 24-19 up, but that was as good as it got for them, as the Griffons hit back with tries to outside centre Niell Stannard and fly half Duan Pretorius and a late penalty to replacement Danrich Visagie to seal the win.
In another match at Rustenburg, the Valke beat the Leopards 52-50 in a 15 try fest, while the Eastern Province Elephants beat the Border Bulldogs 52-3 at the Wolfson Stadium in Kwazekehle.
The Griquas lead the log on 20 points, followed by the Pumas (20), the Golden Lions (16), the Blue Bulls (10), the Griffons (10), the Valke (8), the Leopards (6) and the Welwitschias (0).
The Welwitschias’ next match in the SuperSport Challenge is at home to the Leopards on Saturday, 25 May. – supersport.com
