‘We dreamed a dream,’ says Griquas coach Pieter Bergh after Currie Cup triumph

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh expressed his dream of witnessing a home final, after the team overcame the challenges of 2022 and secured a 23-16 victory over the Pumas in the Currie Cup final at Griqua Park in Kimberley. The win marked the Griquas' second consecutive title, following their triumph over the Lions in Johannesburg last year. Despite being the slight favorites, the Griquas were defeated 26-19 by the Pumas in the semifinals the previous year, securing the Pumas' first and only title.

Bergh, visibly emotional after the match, emphasized the significance of the home win, stating, "This is all I dreamed of. After 2022, this is all I wanted for Kimberley. A home final, in a stadium like this, to see the people come out and support us, this is all I dreamed of." He praised the players' resilience, noting that they had lost only one pool game in the season and bounced back to win all subsequent matches.

Bergh credited the team's effort to regroup and perform, despite facing numerous injuries throughout the season.

Griquas captain Albert Liebenberg felt proud of his team's ability to elevate their performance after a successful campaign last year. He highlighted the team's determination to progress from good to great, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent wins to achieve the ultimate goal of winning the final again. Liebenberg expressed his satisfaction with the team's victory, stating, "It's goosebump stuff.

It was a great season for us. We pulled it through and the guys really performed. Going back-to-back was great. We wanted to go from good to great, which meant we had to keep winning. We wanted to win the final again and that is what we did."

Pumas captain Willie Engelbrecht acknowledged his team's efforts, recognizing that they had fought their way into the final despite facing setbacks over the season. He credited the Griquas' strong performance in the final, particularly in the set piece, as a crucial factor in their defeat. Engelbrecht expressed disappointment at not winning the trophy but was pleased with how the season had concluded, apart from the loss.

He concluded, "It's disappointing. Well done to the Griquas, they played well at the end. All credit to them. It was unlucky for us, but I am glad with how the season ended except for not winning the trophy. I felt we had the game until about 65 minutes in. We lost our lineouts and in finals your set piece is crucial. Our defence was on point, but we were just lacking at the set piece."