Currie Cup: Griquas and Cheetahs maintain playoff push as semi-final race tightens

The Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final race became even more closely contested in round five, with defending champions Griquas strengthening their position at the top and the Cheetahs holding on to second place after a remarkable win over Bulls XV.

Griquas overwhelmed Sharks XV 55-21 in Kimberley, while Cheetahs survived a thrilling 62-52 victory at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Pumas and Boland Kavaliers also recorded bonus-point wins to remain firmly in contention for the top four.

With five rounds played and only two remaining, Griquas lead the standings on 21 points, one ahead of Cheetahs on 20. Pumas are third on 17 points and Boland fourth on 16.

Lions occupy fifth place on 13 points, followed by Stormers XXIII on 11, Sharks XV on 10 and Bulls XV on four.

Boland recover from slow start

Boland Kavaliers produced the weekend’s first comeback, recovering from a 17-0 deficit to beat Lions 38-29 at Wits Rugby Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The result ended Boland’s two-match losing run away from home and strengthened their challenge for a semi-final place. Lions made the better start, with Sam Francis kicking an early penalty before Keagan Smith and Jarod Cairns scored converted tries.

Boland began to turn the match around before half-time when Mthokozisi Gumede and Gift Dlamini crossed the line.

The visitors took control after the interval as Sibusiso Sangweni and Jeandre Leonard added further tries to move the Kavaliers in front. Smith and Rynhardt Jonker kept Lions within reach, but Gumede completed his second try before James Tedder kicked a late penalty to secure victory for the side from Wellington.

The win was a welcome response to Boland’s defeat by Sharks XV the previous weekend.

Griquas underline title credentials

Griquas followed up last week’s home victory over Lions with an even more emphatic performance against Sharks XV, turning a 26-21 half-time lead into a 55-21 bonus-point success.

The Northern Cape side scored eight tries to Sharks XV’s three. Dylan Maart and Tiaan Lange each crossed three times, while Janus Venter and Bobby Alexander also scored. Griquas were awarded a penalty try.

Sharks XV managed three converted tries in the opening half, including one from Tim Swiel, who finished with 11 points after adding three conversions. However, the visitors from Durban were unable to score after the break as Griquas pulled away.

Pumas keep pressure on top two

Pumas remained third after beating Stormers XXIII 29-7 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.

The hosts built on their narrow two-point victory over Bulls XV in the previous round, using their physical strength and control to contain Stormers XXIII. Pumas led 15-0 at half-time and continued to apply pressure after the interval.

Thomas Bursey, Banie Britz, Jan-Henning Campher and JJ Scheepers scored their tries, with Nevaldo Fleurs converting three of them and adding a penalty for a personal total of nine points.

Stormers XXIII replied with a converted try from Mfundo Ndhlovu, but it came too late to threaten the result. The Cape side had been looking to respond after their five-point defeat by Cheetahs in the previous round.

Cheetahs survive Bulls XV fightback

The round ended with a 17-try contest in Pretoria, where Cheetahs beat Bulls XV 62-52 despite a dramatic second-half fightback by the home team.

Cheetahs were dominant in the first half and went into the interval 47-17 ahead. Michael Annies and Prince Nkabinde both scored twice, while Zander du Plessis, Neels Volschenk and Cohen Jasper also crossed.

Jasper completed his second try after the restart and Victor Sekekete added another as Cheetahs extended their advantage to 59-17. Bulls XV then launched an impressive response.

Riyaad Bam, Siphosethu Mnebelele and Kebotile Maake had scored earlier for the hosts, while Marnus Rademeyer, Brooklyn Newman, Nizaam Carr and Devon Williams added further tries during the comeback. Rademeyer scored twice in the match.

But Cheetahs held on, despite finishing with 13 players on the field. Tiaan Swanepoel’s long-range penalty after the final hooter also denied Bulls XV a losing bonus point.

Jaco van der Walt kicked seven conversions for Cheetahs, while Keagan Johannes converted six of Bulls XV’s tries.

Round six fixtures

The penultimate round of league matches will begin next weekend, with three fixtures scheduled for Friday and one on Sunday.

Pumas will host Griquas at Mbombela Stadium from 15:00 on Friday. Bulls XV will then play Stormers XXIII at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, with kick-off at 17:05.

Sharks XV will face Lions at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg at 19:15, before Cheetahs and Boland Kavaliers complete the round in Bloemfontein at 15:00 on Sunday.

Round five results:

Lions 29 (17) – Boland Kavaliers 38 (14)

Lions: Tries – Keagan Smith (2), Jarod Cairns, Rynhardt Jonker. Conversions – Sam Francis (3). Penalty goal – Francis.

Boland Kavaliers: Tries – Mthokozisi Gumede (2), Gift Dlamini, Sibusiso Sangweni, Jeandre Leonard. Conversions and penalty goal – James Tedder (5 conversions, one penalty).

Griquas 55 (26) – Sharks XV 21 (21)

Griquas: Tries – Janus Venter, penalty try, Dylan Maart (3), Bobby Alexander, Tiaan Lange (3). Conversions – George Whitehead (2), Liam Koen (2).

Sharks XV: Tries – Tino Mavesere, Tim Swiel, Johan Momsen. Conversions – Tim Swiel (3).

Pumas 29 (15) – Stormers XXIII 7 (0)

Pumas: Tries – Thomas Bursey, Banie Britz, Jan-Henning Campher, JJ Scheepers. Conversions and penalty goal – Nevaldo Fleurs (three conversions, one penalty).

Stormers XXIII: Try – Mfundo Ndhlovu. Conversion – Kyle Smith.

Bulls XV 52 (17) – Cheetahs 62 (47)

Bulls XV: Tries – Riyaad Bam, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Kebotile Maake, Marnus Rademeyer (2), Brooklyn Newman, Nizaam Carr, Devon Williams. Conversions – Keagan Johannes (6).

Cheetahs: Tries – Michael Annies (2), Zander du Plessis, Prince Nkabinde (2), Neels Volschenk, Cohen Jasper (2), Victor Sekekete. Conversions – Jaco van der Walt (7). Penalty goal – Tiaan Swanepoel.