In a masterclass of rugby, Connor Mahoney erupted with four tries, propelling Griquas to clinch the Tbilisi Cup with a commanding 48-15 win over Spain's Iberians. Under the guidance of coach Pieter Bergh, the Griquas maintained an unbeaten streak throughout the Toyota Challenge, culminating in this impressive victory.
Despite a sluggish start that saw the Iberians take an early lead thanks to scrumhalf Estanislao Bay, Griquas found their rhythm midway through the first half. Winger Tom Nel was the first to score for Griquas at the 25th-minute mark, ending their initial scoring drought.
Momentum shifted dramatically just before the break when Mahoney and centre Luke Burger scored in quick succession, flipping the scoreboard to 19-10 in favor of Griquas by halftime.
The Iberians attempted a comeback early in the second half, pressing into Griquas' territory but failed to capitalize. Mahoney then swiftly added to his tally, completing his hat-trick and further dampening the spirits of the Iberian side.
The match's Man of the Match, centre Damian Markus, demonstrated remarkable skill by starting and finishing a crucial try that extended the lead. Despite a late consolation try from Iberian No. 8 Valentino Rizzo, Griquas' dominance was evident as Nel tallied his second try of the game and Mahoney sealed the deal with his fourth try, rounding off a standout performance.
In other matches of the day, the Pumas overwhelmed Portugal’s Lusitanos 68-20, demonstrating their offensive prowess through a series of rapid tries from players like Stephan Krugel, Banie Britz, and Dalvon Blood. The Cheetahs, however, faced a defeat, falling 36-25 to Georgia’s Black Lion who showcased strong form throughout their game.
Scorers for Griquas: Tries: Tom Nel (2), Connor Mahoney (4), Luke Burger, Duimpie Markus. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (2), Liam Koen (2).
Iberians' scorers: Tries: Estanislao Bay, Valentino Rizzo. Conversion: Bautista Guemes. Penalty: Guemes.
Pumas’ scorers: Tries: Stephan Krugel, Banie Britz, Dalvon Blood (2), Willie Engelbrecht (2), Jordan McLoughlin, Lundi Msenge (10). Conversions: Bradley Giddy (8), Clinton Swart.
Lusitanos’ scorers: Tries: Hugo Aubry, Vasco Durao, Jose Monteiro. Conversion: Aubry. Penalty: Aubry.
Black Lion’s scorers: Tries: Dato Abdushelishvili, Shota Kheladze, Giorgi Spanderashvili, Irakli Kvatadze (2), Luka Tsirekidze. Conversions: Temur Dzodzuashvili, Tsirekidze (2).
Cheetahs’ scorers: Tries: Siya Ningiza, Erich Visser, Sisonke Vumazonke. Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (2). Penalties: Swanepoel (2).
