The Griffons climbed to third in the Absa Currie Cup First Division after running in eight tries to five as they completed an entertaining 54-37 (28-25) victory over the Regent Boland Kavaliers at the North West Stadium in Welkom on Saturday.

In what was an open game, the visitors were in the contest until the final five minutes, before late tries from captain Werner Griesel and substitute Thabang Molefe sealed the win.

Franzel September grabbed a hat-trick of for the defending champions, but his effort was in vain as they slumped to an eight loss out of 11 this season.

The hosts began strongly and were ahead inside the opening six minutes thanks to centre Japie Nel crossing the whitewash.

Flyhalf Hansie Graaff added the first of seven conversions, before the visitors hit back when flank September went over after nine minutes following some poor tackling, fullback Jacquin Jansen sending over the extras.

A penalty from Jansen then helped Boland hit the lead, before a Brendon April score further stretched the advantage just before the first quarter.

But a Cameron Jacobs effort added to a penalty try, which led to visiting skipper Bolla Conradie sent to the sin bin, either side of the half-hour mark helped the home side retake the advantage.

With the Cape side down to 14 men, Joubert Horn took full advantage by scoring a fourth try for his side, before September went over from a line-out to keep his side in the contest at half time.

After the restart, though, Shane Hancke put the Griffons clear again, but the game became more of an arm wrestle as September and Siviwe Magaba exchanged tries with Martin Sithole, who landed his sixth try in three matches.

The score remained 40-37 until the last five minutes when Griesel and Molefe went over to seal the win.

SCORERS:

Griffons – Tries: Japie Nel, Cameron Jacobs, Penalty Try, Joubert Horn, Shane Hancke, Martin Sithole, Werner Griesel, Thabang Molefe. Conversions: Johannes Graaff (7).

Regent Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Franzel September (3), Brendon April, Siviwe Magaba. Conversions: Jacquin Jansen (3). Penalties: Jansen (2).