Griffons flip the script in extra-time thriller against Valke to lift Currie Cup First Division title

THERE was plenty of action for the rugby connoisseur to savour when the Currie Cup Premier League got under way this past weekend; however, that wasn’t the only thrilling rugga that was played.

Down in the First Division, things were on fire when a cracker of a final took place at a freezing Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday.  The NovaVit Griffons were crowned the 2025 Carling Currie Cup First Division champions after they managed to beat the Valke 51-44 in a dramatic climax to the competition.

The Griffons had a score to settle in this rematch against the Valke, who had secured their place in the final unbeaten. By the way, the Valke were the only team to have beaten the team from Welkom in this year’s competition, and the Griffons were determined to flip the script – this time on the Valke’s turf at Barnard Stadium.

Spectators would be forgiven if they thought that they were watching a Rocky movie, because like two determined and wily heavyweight boxers, these two finalists pummelled each other throughout the game, giving as well as they took, trading blow for blow for the prestigious crown. It can truly be said that the Valke and Griffons delivered a match for the ages when the final finished 37-37 after 80 minutes of pulsating rugby.

On to extra time, and each side managed a converted try to once again level matters 44-44 at the halfway stage of added time. Knowing South African supporters, by this time, those in the stands were probably hoarse already. 

However, a try by Griffons No.8 Ulrich Stander in the second period of extra time clinched the game and the crown for the visitors, who outscored their hosts by seven tries to five.

This section of the Currie Cup is one to monitor, because this was the second consecutive First Division final that was determined in extra time – last year the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers took the honours by virtue of scoring more tries in the decider.

On Saturday, both teams scored three converted tries in the first half, but it was a successful mid-range penalty goal that gave the visitors from Welkom a 24-21 lead at the halfway mark.

Teams gave it their all

The two teams gave it their all in the second half, and when the final whistle went after a pulsating 80 minute of play, and the Valke were in the lead until close to the end, before the Griffons made it 37-37 with a late unconverted try.

The game was a thrill a minute, even from kick-off. Early on, captain and flyhalf Duan Pretorius gave the Griffons a perfect start when he burst through several tackles to score close to the corner flag after the Valke had failed to find touch deep inside their own territory. Flyhalf Andrew Kota converted to put them 7-0 into the lead.

That lead was short-lived as the Valke immediately hit back to score their first try through strong-running left wing Ezrick Alexander, who took a lob pass to score under the poles, with pivot Keagan Fortune adding the extras to even the scores at 7-7.

As the two teams were involved in an arm wrestle, Kota stepped up to steer a penalty goal high through the sticks to put the team from Welkom 10-7 ahead.

But barely three minutes later, the scarlet jerseys were in front for the first time when Theuns Pretorius stepped inside to beat the cover defence with the midfielder diving over for their second converted try of the afternoon to make it 14-10.

The Northern Free Staters then took control of the half when they scored two converted tries late in the half - lock Matt Gray going over from a lineout maul and Pretorius using all his experience to find the tryline in the corner. Kota succeeded with both conversions to increase their lead to 24-14.

But the Valke had the last say as they scored their third converted try through fullback Mbembe Payi, who joined the line late in a set move, easily running through to the delight of the home supporters. Fortune’s conversion meant that they had managed to cut the halftime deficit to 24-21.

Following the restart, Kota and Fortune traded successful penalty goals to take the score to 27-24 for the Griffons, before their scrumhalf Kyle Syster scored the first try of the second stanza when he rounded off a move he started deep inside his own half, taking the final pass to dive over for the visitors’ fourth try of the afternoon.

The Valke’s powerful forward surges

The home side fought back with some powerful forward surges before right wing Valentino Wellman found space on the outside to beat the cover defence. When Fortune slotted another conversion, he had managed to close the gap to just one point at 32-21 in favour of the visitors.

Fortune and replacement back Sergio Stalmeester added two more penalty goals to make the score 37-32 for the Valke, but there was drama in the final minute when replacement outside back Jandre de Beer barged his way over for an unconverted try to level the matters at 37-37 and take the game into extra time.

It was the men from Welkom who struck first through right wing Keanu Vers when he finished off a slick move to score a converted try to make it 44-37.

Alexander refused to give up and fought his way over the try line, with Stalmeester pulling the sides level once more at 44-44 with his conversion.

With players on either side pulling up with cramp, the Valke were reduced to 13 men in the second half of extra time for a dangerous tackle and foul play. From one of these penalties, Stander took a quick tap penalty to score their match-winning try.

The Valke then launched a last, desperate bid to level the scores, however, the ball was held up over the line by the defence, allowing the NovaVit Griffons to clinch a thrilling, drama-filled final.

Scorers:

Valke 44 (21) – Tries: Ezrick Alexander (2), Theuns Pretorius, Mbembe Payi, Valentino Wellman. Conversions: Keagan Fortune (4), Sergio Stalmeester. Penalty goals: Fortune (2), Stalmeester.

NovaVit Griffons 51 (24) – Tries: Duan Pretorius (2), Matt Gray, Kyle Syster, Jandre de Beer, Keanu Vers, Ulrich Stander. Conversions: Andrew Kota (5). Penalty goals: Kota (2).