Valke crush Welwitschias

No 8 Reg Muller scored a hat-trick as the Valke beat the Welwitschias 66-5 in Kempton Park, while the Golden Lions XV also won their Currie Cup Qualifier on Saturday.

The home side scored five converted first-half tries to lead 35-5 at the break, before scoring a further five tries in the second half to complete a comprehensive victory.

The Valke dominated from the first whistle and raced to a 35-0 lead with tries from Muller (two), wings Etienne Taljaard and Kyle Hendricks and centre Andries Truter. Flyhalf Karlo Aspeling converted all five tries.

Welwitschias centre Lesley Kim scored the visitors’ only try of the match just before the half-time whistle.

In the second half, the home side picked up where they left off as they ran in five unanswered tries through Andrew van Wyk, Marlyn Williams, Aspeling, Truter and Muller, who completed his hat-trick.

Elsewhere, Golden Lions XV centre Centre Stokkies Hanekom scored a hat-trick, while replacement fullback JW Bell scored a brace of tries, as the Golden Lions XV beat Griquas 52-37. The scores were level at 21-21 at half-time.

Valke (66) – Tries: Reg Muller (3), Etienne Taljaard (2), Kyle Hendricks, Andries Truter, Andrew van Wyk, Marlyn Williams, Karlo Aspeling. Conversions: Aspeling (7), Truter.
Welwitschias (5) – Try: Lesley Kim.

Golden Lions XV (52) – Tries: Stokkies Hanekom (3), Shaun Reynolds, Lourens Erasmus, JW Bell (2). Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (7). Penalty: Boshoff.
Griquas (37) – Tries: Alshaun Bock (2), AJ Coertzen, Stephan Kotze. Conversions: Swarts (4). Penalties: Swarts (3).

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images