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Whitehead kicks Griquas to Currie Cup glory

rugby20 September 2025 15:07| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Suzuki Griquas upset the odds and ended a 55-year Carling Currie Cup droughts as their flyhalf George Whitehead sent home the perfect penalty kick to give them a massive upset 27-25 win over the Fidelity ADT Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday to win a pulsating final.

The rollercoaster ride ended almost in the same cruel fashion for the Johannesburg side as the result repeated itself from last season when the Hollywoodbets Sharks Jordan Hendrikse sent over a long range penalty goal to steal the title from them after the fulltime whistle.

This time it was virtually the same, although the drama was far from complete. The Lions had taken the lead with less than two minutes to go, and seemed to have won a turnover penalty to end the game when the Television Match Official intervened, spotting a deliberate knock on in the process.

“SLAP” CHANGED THE GAME

The “Slap” - as referee Christopher Allison called it - from Ruan Delport earned Griquas a reprieve and gave one of the most promising coaches in South Africa - Pieter Bergh - a first Currie Cup title as Whitehead sent the kick home to ignite tears and celebrations.

It was a fairytale ending for the competition and one that will go down in history, but it could be a costly one for the Lions, who had banked their URC season - as they did last year by playing a virtual first choice URC side against the smaller unions.

The fact they went into the final on the back of a big 37-7 win in the pool phases made them odds-on favourites, and it was expected they would romp home to the title. The fact that so few of their fans turned up for what was supposed to be a title walk says a lot about the marketing of the domestic competition as it does the Lions approach to the season.

The fact they have lost back to back finals raises the question if the trophy at all costs is ever the right way to go. The Lions faded badly last season and a number of their players have not had an off-season before the URC, which could see them fade badly again as the season draws to a close.

HEARTBREAK

The heartbreak of another losing final won’t help either and the rugby romantic will find it hard not to enjoy the celebrations and tears that flowed as Griquas broke their duck.

The point at the end of the day is that this game was everything for Griquas. The Lions leave on tour on Monday for the start of the URC and now must regroup quickly. The disappointment and heartache must be put aside, but the battle scars mean nothing against a Cardiff side that have been through a proper pre-season.

Saying that, Griquas came to Ellis Park with a mission to play and take on their more fancied hosts and for a large part of the game they did that. They tackled their hearts out, they went toe to toe with the Lions and when they got the chance, they took it.

If the Currie Cup isn’t all about the underdog upsetting the odds, then what is it about? The most famous victories in the domestic competition’s history are all about those moments that you remember. Whitehead just added himself to that prestigious list.

Bergh’s team rose from the ashes, they became giants in a game they were expected to tamely succumb to and they fought all the way. The dramatic ending made it only more beautiful for the team that has not tasted glory for so long.

LIONS WERE IN CONTROL FOR MOST OF THE MATCH

Because even as they scored first, a dropped pass from Chris Smith being scooped up by Cameron Hufke to go over, the Lions always seemed to be in control of the game, even though the scoreboard was never comfortable.

Smith got them onto the board with a penalty before a Quan Horn break - which must have caught the eye of the national selectors - put Kelly Mpeku away to take the lead.

Griquas hit back with a 5m penalty tap by Lourens Oosthuizen that barrelled over the line to retake the lead but Richard Kriel found a big hole to run in untouched and put his side into the break 17-14 up.

Griquas had no sooner got themselves level early in the second half through Whitehead’s boot than the ensuing kickoff bounced horribly for them and Henco van Wyk pounced to score a try to retake the lead.

With time running out, it was Mnombo Zwelendaba who went over with eight minutes to go after sustained pressure to put Griquas ahead and lift their hopes of the title.

DOBELA LOOKED TO HAVE WON IT

The Lubabalo Dobela penalty in the 77th minute seemed to end that, as the Lions started celebrating and their turnover penalty win on the 80th minute mark seemed to have won them the title.

But then the TMO intervened, and heartbreak ensued.

Whitehead was never going to miss from straight in front, and the Lions second consecutive season of gambling everything for a trophy backfired again.

For Griquas though, this was the fairytale they had dreamed of.

Scorers

Fidelity ADT Lions - tries: Kelly Mpeku, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk. Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalties: Smith, Lubabalo Dobela.

Suzuki Griquas - tries: Cameron Hufke, Lourens Oosthuizen, Mnombo Zwelendaba. Conversions: George Whitehead (3). Penalties: Whitehead (2).

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