The Pumas remain in pole position on the Currie Cup First Division log, but defeats for the Leopards and Boland will have both sets of coaches scratching their heads.
The Pumas hammered the Griffons 42-24 in Welkom, EP defeated the Leopards 44-26 in Potchefstroom, Border surprised Boland with a 21-19 victory in East London, and SWD beat the Valke 58-42 in George.
The Pumas thus extend their log table lead to 13 points with 4 pool rounds to go, while the Leopards dropped down from second to fourth place. SWD and EP moved into second and third place respectively.
The Pumas are now virtually guaranteed of a semifinal spot, while Boland face hard work ahead to sneak into the semifinals.
Match reports …
Griffons 24-42 Pumas
In Welkom the Pumas overcame a tightly-fought first half against the Griffons as both teams were reduced to 14 men following yellow cards, to secure their 10th back-to-back victory. So close was the match the Pumas scored five tries to four by the Griffons, but goal kicks proved to be the big difference for the visitors on the scoreboard. The teams each scored two first-half tries, but two penalties by flyhalf JC Roos handed the Pumas an 18-12 lead at the break.
The visitors built on their lead in the second half as they outscored the Griffons three tries to two, but another penalty by Roos to add to his three conversions for the match and one by Carl Bezuidenhout allowed them to finish the match with a convincing lead.
Griffons 24 (12) – Tries: Martin Sithole, Tertius Maarman (2), Thato Ngoza. Conversions: Joubert Engelbrecht (2).
Pumas 42 (18) – Tries: Christo le Roux, Coenie van Wyk, Cornē Fourie, Francois du Toit, Renaldo Bothma. Conversions: Carl Bezuidenhout, JC Roos (3). Penalties: JC Roos (3).
Leopards 26-44 EP
The Leopards started strongly in Potchefstroom with two early tries to take a 12-3 lead against EP. But three tries in 14 minutes for the visitors earned them a 25-12 lead at the break.
The second half took a similar shape with the Leopards running in two tries in the third quarter, but the Kings took control of the match soon after and made good use of their try-scoring chances to take their tally for the match to six. EP flyhalf George Whitehead added to this with the boot as he slotted over four conversions and two penalties for 14 points.
Leopards 26 (12) – Tries: Edgar Marutlulle, George Tossel, Luther Obi, Luvuyiso Lusaseni. Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (3).
EP 44 (25) – Tries: Cornell du Preez, Michael Killian, Samora Fihlani, Stefan Willemse (2), Tiger Mangweni. Conversions: George Whitehead (4). Penalties: George Whitehead (2).
Border 21-19 Boland Cavaliers
In East London Border showed immense character to create an upset against Boland despite the home side entering the clash with only one victory. The match proved to be an arm-wrestle from the outset, with the first half dominated by penalties as neither side gave an inch. The Bulldogs took 13-9 lead at the break thanks to a superior start in which in they scored the only try of the first half, while fullback Dale Sabbagh and Boland flyhalf Eric Zana were involved in a kicking duel.
Tries by Boland No8 PJ van Zyl and captain Franzel September, however, to only one by the Bulldogs in the second half, resulted in the match coming down to kicks. And with Sabbagh having converted one of his two conversions to none by Zana, Border emerged victorious.
Border 21 (13) – Tries: Gareth Krause, Juan Pretorius. Conversion: Dale Sabbagh. Penalties: Dale Sabbagh (3).
Boland 19 (9) – Tries: Franzel September, PJ van Zyl. Penalties: Eric Zana (3).
SWD 58-42 Valke
The clash in George proved to be a try festival as SWD and the Valke showed fantastic skills on attack to run in a combined total of 14 tries. Such was the frantic start to the match five tries were scored in the first 20 minutes – three of which were by the Valke, who have been languishing at the foot of the log. The Kempton Park side continued to stamp their authority as the half progressed and secured two more tries before the break to take their tally to five and build an encouraging 35-22 lead.
But the balance of power shifted in the second half as SWD controlled proceedings and earned the rewards with two tries in two minutes by prop Roy Godfrey. By the 70th minute the Eagles had racked up four tries for the half and scored another four minutes from time to take their total for the match to eight. Unfortunately for the Valke they were only able to cross the line only once in the second half, which dashed their hopes of a surprise victory.
SWD 58 (22) – Tries: Alshaun Bock (2), Dean Hopp, Hentzwill Pedro, Martin du Toit, Mzwanele Zito, Roy Godfrey (2). Conversion: Justin van Staden (5), Martin du Toit. Penalties: Justin van Staden (2).
Valke 42 (35) – Tries: Bruce Muller, Coert Cronje, JP Mostert, Kyle Hendricks, Wessel du Randt, Penalty try. Conversions: Juan Kotze (6)
