The KwaZulu-Natal Duikers on Friday held their nerve to grind out a 29-26 victory against Griquas in Kimberley to reclaim the Central Amateur Provincial Competition title.
With the team being crowned the 2011 champions, while the 2012 competition was rained out, this win effectively means that the side has won back-to-back titles. The win also rounded off a fantastic weekend for the province as the KZN Wildebeest claimed the Southern-Sub Union title in Margate.
The final was tense from the start as both teams gave their all and scored two converted tries to add to a string of penalties, which kept the scoreboard ticking. In the end it was a single penalty that separated the sides on the scoreboard, as the KZN Duikers kicked five penalties to only four by the home team.
The Griffons Rural, meanwhile, won the plate final as they worked their way to a 39-17 victory against KZN Rural. The Griffons Rural started the clash strongly and played their way to a 19-3 half time lead, which they built on in the second half to secure the victory and a total of six tries.
In the other matches Griquas Rural beat Free State Rural 46-22 and Free State Central defeated Griffons Central 43-12.
Central Amateur Provincial Championship final results:
- Free State Central 43 – 12 Griffons Central
- Griquas Rural 46 – 22 Free State Rural
- Griffons Rural 39 – 17 KZN Rural (Plate final)
- KZN Duikers 29 – 26 Griquas
