We preview round 4 of this week’s Currie Cup midweek fixture match between the Griquas and Western Province, kicking off at the Tafel Lager Park, 9 August 2017.
Griquas v Western Province | Wednesday 9 August | Tafel Larger Park | 13:00
The Griquas will be looking to arrest a horrid start to the Currie Cup when they lock horns with a Western Province side who come into this one off the back of an unimpressive victory over the Pumas. Neither side is yet to hit their straps this term but this game could prove to be the catalyst for improved times for one of the two sides.
To Win (80 Mins)
Griquas 7/2 | Draw | WP 30/1
Griquas
Three games in and it looks as though the Griquas will be duking it out with the Pumas to avoid the wooden spoon accolade. Having put in a solid shift against the Bulls in the opening week, there was a lot of hope for the men from Kimberley, but two successive heavy defeats have seen those hopes put to rest.
The Griquas points differential of -49 tells you all you need to know about the men from Kimberley. And while they have played some enterprising stuff at times, there defensive line has been as porous as ‘dear old Henry’s bucket’ which has seen them shift a plethora of points. They will need to solidify their defensive lines if they are to get one over this talented Province side.
Western Province
Another round went by where Province failed to impress as they huffed and puffed their way to a win over the Pumas. A 34-19 score line might look decent on paper but that would be a rather simplistic way of viewing things as Western Province trailed by two points at half-time – mainly due to their inability to convert chances.
The men from the Western Cape will need to be a lot more clinical this time around as while the Griquas have been rather toothless on the road this season, they are capable of turning on the style on their home ground.
Ironically enough, the two sides met in the final of this year’s SuperSport Rugby Challenge which saw Province run out comfortable victors despite a late comeback effort from this weekend’s hosts. The men in Blue and White have been bolstered by the return of their Super Rugby contingent, so things do not bode well for what will essentially be an identical Griquas outfit.
Verdict: Western Province 2/13
Province will be looking to lay down a marker here after last week’s insipid showing and my money is on them doing just that. The Griquas will be good in the first half but I can see them getting taken apart in the second stanza. Get on Province for the outright win.
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
