WRAP: The Cheetahs defeated the Griffons in a crucial SA Cup fixture in Bloemfontein on Saturday, putting them back in top-four contention.
Pace-setters Griquas and the Pumas continued their winning runs, while there were also good results for the Falcons and Eastern Province.
The weekend’s action kicked off in George on Friday afternoon, where the Falcons handed the SWD Eagles their fourth loss of the campaign with a deserved triumph on the road to keep them in the race to the top four; later, the second-placed Pumas recorded a runaway victory over the Border Bulldogs in Nelspruit.
On Saturday, Griquas had to fight back from a first-half deficit to beat the Boland in an absorbing encounter in Kimberley, condemning the team from Wellington to their third loss of the season, while Eastern Province gained their second victory of the year by defeating the Leopards at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
With five rounds completed, Griquas and the Pumas increased their tally to 25 log points with bonus-point wins, while the Griffons remained in third spot (18 points) despite their defeat in the Free State Derby with neighbours Cheetahs, who moved up into fourth place (17 points).
Breathing down their necks just outside semifinal contention at the moment are the Boland and Falcns (15 points each); while EP occupies seventh place on 12 points. The Eagles (seven points), Leopards (four points), and Border (two points) bring up the rear.
The Cheetahs won their crucial Free State derby 38-31 over neighbours Griffons in Bloemfontein on Saturday, moving into Currie Cup contention. The men from Bloemfontein converted their 19-10 halftime lead into a morale-boosting seven-point win for their third victory of the campaign.
The Griffons were their own worst enemies in the opening spell, collecting two yellow cards and conceding a string of penalties.
However, they struck back in the second half, with a penalty try evening the scores at 31-31 before a late try by the Cheetahs’ replacement hooker Vernon Paulo clinched a thrilling contest for the hosts.
The Falcons withstood a second-half rally from the SWD Eagles to clinch a 24-18 victory at Outeniqua Park, after leading 24-10 at the break.
The East Randers scored three tries in the first half, through Sergio Stalmeester, Mbembe Payi, and Godfrey Muzanargwo, but the Eagles piled on the pressure in the second half, with Hlomla Zondani grabbing their only try and Roshwin Abrahams adding a second penalty goal in the closing minutes to reduce the final deficit to six points.
Eastern Province gained their second win of the competition by defeating the Leopards 26-17 in their round-five clash Saturday at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha. The hosts scored four tries to move up to seventh place on the league table, despite a yellow card shown to CJ Velleman.
The Leopards scored first in the second half through Bryan Breda, but Eastern Province made home field advantage count, scoring twice through Jayden Bantom and Wayne Ngubane to secure the win.
Griquas showed their pedigree once more by defeating the Boland 42-36 in a competitive clash Friday afternoon in Kimberley. The defending SA Cup champions fought back from a 17-14 halftime deficit to eventually outscore the Boland by six tries to five, recording their fifth win to keep their winning run intact.
The Pumas routed the Border Bulldogs 110-7 to record their fifth straight win, scoring 16 tries while only conceding one.
Fullback Tino Swanepoel led the try feast with four, while loose forwards Andre Fouche and Marvelous Mashimbyi each scored twice. Danrich Visagie was in superb form with his boot, converting 15 of the 16 tries, one of which he scored himself, for a personal tally of 35 points.
Next weekend will see one game staged on Friday evening, between Griquas and EP, while the rest will follow on Saturday.
Border host the Boland in East London; the Pumas travel to Potchefstroom to take on the Leopards; the Cheetahs will welcome the Eagles to Bloemfontein; and the Griffons will travel to Kempton Park for their away fixture against the Falcons .
All the scores and scorers below…
Eastern Province 26-17 Leopards
The scorers:
For EP
Tries: Ngubane, Huisamen, Plaatjies, Bantom
Cons: Humphries 3
For Leopards:
Tries: Breda, Van Heerden
Cons: Williams 2
Teams
Eastern Province: 15 Jayden Bantom, 14 Rodney Damons, 13 Sherwin Slater, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Davian Swanepoel, 10 Chris Humphries, 9 Shirwin Cupido, 8 Athi Manetsa, 7 Stefan Willemse (captain), 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Hannes Huisamen, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Zukisa Sali, 2 Deon Plaatjies, 1 Siyakubonga Nzuzo.
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Arno Gustafson, 18 Duncan du Buisson, 19 Laken Gray, 20 Diego Williams, 21 Wayne Ngubane, 22 Chadwyn November, 23 Ayabonga Oliphant.
Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuka, 14 Sina Tshantyi, 13 Bryan Breda, 12 Mihlali Nchukana, 11 Brandon Keevy, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcina Mdltshe, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Uzile Tele, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Dries du Preez, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Tatenda Chayayl
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Dima Lebelo, 18 Werner Geldenhuys, 19 Lood Prins, 20 Eben Verste, 21 Didi Sekati, 22 Chadd Adams, 23 Andre Grober
Referee: Paul Mente
Cheetahs 38-31 Griffons
The scorers:
For Cheetahs:
Tries: Kruger, Nkabine, Ntsila, Annies, Paulo, Maartens
Cons: Jasper 4
For Griffons:
Tries: Van den Hefer, Banda, Cyster, Penalty try.
Cons: Kota, Pretorius 2
Pen: Pretorius.
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Micheal Annies, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Sisonke Vumazonke, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Pieter Janse van Vuuren, 20 Neels Volschenk, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Jandre Nel, 23 Banie Britz.
Griffons:
Forwards: Thomas Ongera, Mingo Piti, Curtly Thomas, Lungi Mbiko, Buhle Nojekwa, Willem van den Hever, Chadley Wenn, Xolani Jacobs, Mthokozisi Gumede, Matt Gray, Calla Pienaar, Junior Banda, Joshua Paris, David Bunduki, Jared Kruger, Ulrich Stander
Backs: Kyle Cyster, Keanu Vers, Chris Hollis, Qamani Kota, Duan Pretorius, Richman Gora, Christiaan Nel, Tashcon Meas, Cheslin Arendse, Aphiwe Stemela, Quan Eymann,
Referee: Sean Muller
Griquas 42-36 Boland
The scorers:
For Griquas:
Tries: Du Rand 2, Maqondwana, Hufke, Titus, Wehr.
Cons: Whitehead 6
For Boland:
Tries: Lewis 2, Tedder, Davids, Williams, Tobias.
Cons: Davids 4
Teams
Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurwin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Carl Els, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Athenkosi Khethani, 20 Jac van der Walt, 21 Phumzile Maqondwana, 22 Bobby Alexaner, 23 Connor Mahoney
Boland: 15 James Tedder, 14 Riaan Louw, 13 Lunathi Nxele (captain), 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Gift Dlamini (vice captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Micheal Benadie, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Wayrin Losper, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Khwezi Mafu, 20 Ludio Williams, 21 Thurlow Marsh, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Eric Lambrecht.
Referee: Hanru v Rooyen
SWD Eagles 18-24 Falcons
The scorers:
For SWD:
Tries: Ntsane, Zondani
Con: Abrahams.
Pens: Abrahams 2
For Falcosn:
Tries: Stalmeester, Payi, Muzanargwo
Cons: Stalmeester 3
Pen: Stalmeester.
Teams
SWD: 15 Roshwin Abrahams, 14 Kirwan Cupido, 13 JP Duvenage (vice captain), 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Marlo Weich, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Micheal Cloete, 7 Dian Basson, 6 Damon Royle, 5 Mncedisi Dlwengu (captain), 4 Liam Tattersal, 3 Hlomla Zodani, 2 Marco Fuhri, 1, Tandolwetu Matolengwe.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Leonard, 17 Cole Haggard, 18 Stefaan Grundlingh, 19 Ethan Stuurman, 20 Wayne Khan, 21 Arden-Lee Meyer, 22 Quaid Langeveldt, 23 Keanu Langeveldt.
Falcons: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Musa Tshabalala, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Ezrick Alexander, 10 Sergio Stalmeester, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Abulele Ndabambi, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Andrew Volschenk (co-captain), 4 EddieEvans (co-captain), 3 Thabo Ntunja, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Kayden Kiewit
Replacements: 16 Joshua Eras, 17 Lindokhuhle Seteni, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Philip Apea-Adu, 20 Zingisa April, 21 Liam Kloosman, 22 Zeilinga Strydom, 23 Adrian Joubert
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Pumas 110-7 Border Bulldogs
The scorers:
For Pumas:
Tries: Swanepoel 4, Fouche 2, Mashimbyi 2, Xamlashe, Osuagwu, Visagie, Msenge, Swart, Banies, Mokoena, Fredericks
Cons: Visagie 15
For Border:
Try: Lali
Con: Klaasen
Teams
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Carlton Banies, 11 Dalvon Blood, 10 Darich Visagie, 9 Conor van Eden, 8 Marvellous Mashimbyi, 7 Andre Fouche, 6 Armand Martiz, 5 Heinz Bertram, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Stephan de Jager
Replacements: 16 Ntsika Fisanti,17 Darnell Osuagwu, 18 Etienne Janeke, 19 Miyelani Ngobeni, 20 Kwanda Dimaza, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Kabelo Mokoena, 23 Darren Adonis
Border:
Referee: Hernus Coetzee
