The Griquas beat Western Province on Wednesday evening in their warm-up match that was played in very windy conditions in the West Coast town of Saldanha.

The Peacock Blues beat Province 36-17 in the first of their three warm-up games heading into the upcoming SA Cup.

The match was level at 12-12 at half time.

The lock Athenkosi Khethani scored a brace for the Griquas within the first 20 minutes, while in the second half, Connon Mahony also crossed the whitewash twice.

The flanker and former captain Niel Otto also dotted down, while Lubabalo Dobela landed two conversions, and the experienced George Whitehead hit the mark from the tee once.

The Griquas coach, Pieter Bergh, told OFM Sport that it was a good hit out in tough confidence, but his team’s second half response was very pleasing indeed.

“It was a good outing for us in difficult conditions where there was a 50 km/h wind,” said Bergh.

“It was blowing from left to right and in the first half we played with the wind, but we didn't play well enough. The scores were level at half time and I was worried that in the second half they were going to pin us down. But the guys responded really well and tactically well into that wind.

“We gave 29 players a chance to play. A friendly match is not always about the result, you want to build confidence and a win gives the players that.

“But the way we played in that second half and the way we tactically executed our plan against the wind is something I'm very proud of. Afterwards I told the players that I'm proud of the way they managed that second half, so kudos to them.

“It was a tight game and we were scared to give players an opportunity.”

On Saturday the Griquas will tackle the Boland Cavaliers in a match that will also be played in Saldanha, while on 9 March they will play against the Cheetahs in Jacobsdal.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport