Cheetahs beat Griffons in Free State derby but Griquas and Pumas set the pace in the SA Cup

The Cheetahs defeated the Griffons in a crucial SA Cup fixture in Bloemfontein at the weekend, putting them back in Top 4 contention, while pace-setters Griquas and the Pumas continued their winning runs. There were also good results for the Valke and Eastern Province.

In George, last Friday, the Valke handed the SWD Eagles their fourth loss of the competition with a deserved triumph on the road to keep them in the race to the top four. Also on Friday, the second-placed Pumas put over 100 points past the Border Bulldogs in Nelspruit.

On Saturday, Griquas had to fight back from a first-half deficit to beat the Boland Kavaliers 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 remain in third spot (18 points) despite their defeat in the Free State Derby. The Cheetahs have moved up into fourth place (17 points).

Breathing down their necks and just outside semi-final contention at the moment are the Kavaliers and Valke (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 beat the Griffons 38-31 in Bloemfontein to move into Currie Cup Premier Division contention. The Free Staters converted their 19-10 half-time 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.

The Valke withstood a second half rally from the 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 by defeating the Leopards 26-17 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.

Griquas once more showed their pedigree by defeating the Kavaliers 42-36 in a competitive clash in Kimberley. The defending SA Cup champions fought back from a 17-14 halftime deficit to outscore the Kavaliers by six tries to five, recording their fifth win to keep their unbeaten 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.

This weekend, EP travel to Griquas, Border host the Kavaliers; the Pumas travel to the Leopards; the Cheetahs play the Eagles in Bloemfontein; and the Valke host the Griffons.