Rugby
KweséESPN staff 5y

SWD Eagles win Currie Cup First Division, set up FS Cheetahs playoff

Rugby

SWD Eagles won the Currie Cup First Division title for the first time since 2007 following a come-from-behind 36-27 victory over the Hino Valke.

The Eagles, who hosted Friday night's final at their Outeniqua Park headquarters in George, needed a hat-trick from their No. 8 Wayne Wilschut and determined second half defending to clinch the title and set-up a promotion-relegation playoff against Free State Cheetahs next weekend.

The first half proved to be topsy-turvy as the hosts settled quickest leading to Wilschut scoring a fifth-minute try. The Valke then returned the favour through a converted Anrich Richter try only for the Eagles to hit back minutes later as Wilschut touched down for his second five-pointer, which Divan Nel converted before adding a penalty goal to nudge them into a 15-7 lead.

As it happened, the visitors came storming back. First Etienne Taljaard scored back-to-back tries thanks to a spell of strong running and support play by the visitors, and then Richter followed up with a penalty goal on the stroke of halftime for an encouraging 27-15 lead.

Roared-on by their supporters, the Eagles fought back with intent in the second half. Initially they had to patient, with their forwards setting the platform which allowed and Wilschut to dive over for his hat-trick in the 53rd minute.

They continued to wear down the Valke with their attack as the half progressed and the rewards followed as Marlo Weich and Wynand Grassmann touched down within minutes of one another, while Nel slotted both conversions over to push them into a 36-27 lead with a little over 10 minutes to play.

The dying minutes were tightly contested, but the SWD held their nerve to seal the victory.

Post-match, SWD Eagles captain Jacques Vermaak gave insight into how they were able to turn things around.

"We were a little rusty in the first half and we allowed them to break through the defence. But we got together half-time and decided as a group that we have 40 minutes to win the title, and backed ourselves and did it."

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Down Touch Griffons claimed their third consecutive SA Rugby Under-20 Provincial Championship crown when they defeated they iCOLLEGE Pumas by 53-6 in Middelburg.

Recap:

SWD Eagles 36 (15) Hino Valke 27 (27)

Eagles scorers - Tries: Wayne Wilschut (3), Marlo Weich, Wynand Grassmann. Conversions: Divan Nel (4). Penalty Goal: Nel.

Valke scorers - Tries: Anrich Richter, Etienne Taljaard (2). Conversions: Richter (3). Penalty Goals: Richter (2).

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