The Griffons retained their third position on the Absa Currie Cup First Division rugby log when they beat the Border Bulldogs 50-9 (half-time 24-9) at the North West Stadium in Welkom on Saturday.
The Griffons scored six unanswered tries and flyhalf Kennedy Tsimba added 20 points with the boot. The Griffons' five-point haul takes them to 19 points from their seven matches, just two behind the SWD Eagles.
For the hapless Bulldogs, centre Jeffrey Taljard kicked three first-half penalties to cut the deficit to 18-9 in the 35th minute, but that's as good as it got for the struggling Eastern Cape team.
SA Under-21 fullback Cecil Afrika capped a sterling performance for the Griffons with a hat-trick of tries, the first of which opened his side's account as early as the fifth minute.
Afrika crossed for his second touchdown in the 23rd minute to give the Griffons an 18-3 lead, while the rest of the opening stanza saw Tsimba and Taljard kick seven penalties between them.
It didn't get any better for the Bulldogs after the break, as the men from Welkom scored 26 points without reply, including four tries.
Scorers:
Griffons 50 –
Tries: Cecil Afrika (3), Shane Hancke, Jaco Jackson, Howard Noble.
Conversions: Kennedy Tsimba (4).
Penalties: Tsimba (4).
Bulldogs 9 –
Penalties: Jeffrey Taljard (3).
Sapa CurrieCupRugby.com
