Dylan Maart scored one of the tries as the Griquas beat Boland 48-17 in the Currie Cup match in Wellington on Saturday.
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There was no fairytale finish for Boland in the final Currie Cup pool match before the semi-finals, as Griquas showed their class with a commanding 48-17 victory in Wellington on Saturday.
The defending champions dislodged the Cheetahs at the top of the log, securing home-ground advantage in the playoffs as long as they continue winning.
Boland needed a bonus-point victory to leapfrog the fourth-placed Lions, but that dream evaporated in the second half when Griquas launched a try-scoring spree. The visitors’ scrum and driving maul were too powerful for the home side to contain.
The result means Griquas will host the Lions in one semi-final, while the Cheetahs will welcome the Pumas in the other.
Boland made a positive start, opening the scoring with an early penalty, but Griquas soon took control when flank Marco de Wit marked his 50th cap with a maul try.
The visitors stretched their lead to 12-3 shortly afterwards when wing Dylan Maart capitalised on a cross-kick.
Things looked bleak for Boland, particularly after hooker Joshua Eras was sent to the sin bin.
But the home side produced a spirited response. Flank Sibusiso Sangweni crashed over from a lineout on the half-hour mark before wing Jayden Bantom crossed to put Boland in front.
Having trailed 12-3, Boland suddenly led 17-12, but their advantage lasted only until the final play of the first half when Griquas hit back through another powerful maul, with Tiaan Lange scoring to level the scores.
Griquas regained control immediately after the break when No 8 Carl Els powered over from a pushover try.
The defending champions then added a third successive try when fullback Stefan Coetzee burst through a gap, putting the result increasingly beyond doubt.
Boland's task became even tougher when centre Jurick Lewis was yellow-carded for making head contact in an upright tackle.
Griquas continued to turn the screw and reached 40 points when flank Lourens Oosthuizen peeled off a lineout and powered through the Boland defence.
Boland's woes deepened when outside centre Lunathi Nxele was red-carded for a horrific tackle. Left wing Gurshwin Wehr completed the rout with his team's seventh try.
Scorers
Boland: Tries — Sibusiso Sangweni, Jayden Bantom. Conversion — Ashlon Davids. Penalty — Davids.
Griquas: Tries — Marco de Wit, Dylan Maart, Tiaan Lange, Carl Els, Stefan Coetzee, Lourens Oosthuizen, Gurshwin Wehr. Conversions — Liam Koen (5). Penalty: George Whitehead.
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