The Valke, Leopards and Eastern Province were on the winning side in the opening round of the Carling Currie Cup First Division which took place on Saturday.

The East Randers raced into a 22-7 lead at the break, but then had to withstand a spirited second half fightback from the NovaVit Griffons to win their opening Carling Currie Cup First Division clash by 36-26 in Welkom.

The men from North-West kicked off their campaign with a comprehensive 47-20 victory over Border in Potchefstroom, while EP defeated their western neighbours, the Phangela SWD Eagles, by 36-31 in Gqeberha.

Playing in Welkom, the Valke eventually outscored their Northern Free State hosts by five tries to four to secure an important away win. Right wing Ezrick Alexander went over for two tries, while Keagan Fortune (flyhalf) scored one try, four conversions and a penalty goal for a personal contribution of 16 points for the team in the scarlet red jerseys.

The Griffons came storming back with two tries late in the game, but the Valke showed nerves of steel to successfully repel the fightback for a big away win.

In Potchefstroom, the Leopards led 21-13 at the halfway stage on their way to outscoring the Bulldogs by seven tries to two. Scrumhalf Chadd Adams scored two of the seven tries, while Shaun Baxter succeeded with six conversions. Border flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen succeeded with two conversions and two penalty goals.

Eastern Province came out tops by 36-31 in their derby clash with the Phangela SWD Eagles played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where the hosts had a 26-12 advantage at halftime. Both sides managed to score five tries, but EP’s kickers had a better day with the boot, with Jayden Bantom landing a crucial drop-goal.

Hooker Deon Plaatjies went over for two maul tries for EP, while Oliver Zono (flyhalf) slotted four conversions. Marlo Weich (fullback) and Roshwin Abrahams (replacement outside back) each scored and try and conversion for the Bulldogs.

In next week’s round two fixtures, Border host the Eagles at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Friday evening; the Griffons entertain EP in Welkom on Saturday, while Valke are home to Leopards at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.

Scorers:

Leopards 47 (21), Border 20 (13)

Leopards – Tries: Chadd Adams (2), Armin Posthumus, Lwandile Mapuko, Jason Alexander, Brandon Keevy, Hanro Potgieter. Conversions: Shaun Baxter (6).

Border – Tries: Kamvelihle Fatyela, Soso Xakalashe. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (2). Penalty goals: Klaasen (2).

NovaVit Griffons 26 (7), Valke 36 (22)

Griffons – Tries: Duan Pretorius, Simon Westraadt, Kyle Cyster, Willem van den Hever. Conversions: Andrew Kota (3).

Valke - Tries: Ezrick Alexander (2), Kayden Kiewit, Keagan Fortune, Wernich Aucamp. Conversions: Fortune (4). Penalty goal: Fortune.

Eastern Province 36 (26), Phangela SWD Eagles 31 (12)

Eastern Province – Tries: Deon Plaatjies (2), Johannes Huisamen, Rodney Damons, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Oliver Zono (4). Drop goal: Bantom.

Eagles – Tries: Stephan Leonard, JP Duvenage, Marlo Weich, Roshwin Abrahams, Clive Kruger. Conversions: Weich, Abrahams, Marco Fuhri.