Currie Cup: Griquas lead standings after Lions win as Cheetahs edge Stormers XXIII

Griquas moved to the top of the Currie Cup Premier Division after defeating the Lions 31-19 in Kimberley, while the Cheetahs claimed a dramatic 31-26 bonus-point victory over Stormers XXIII to finish a thrilling fourth round.

The Cheetahs’ decisive score came in the closing minutes at Athlone Stadium, where Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk crossed in the corner to secure an important away win for the Free Staters.

That result lifted the Cheetahs to 16 points, level with Griquas, although the Kimberley side lead the standings on points difference. The Lions and Pumas are next on 12 points, while Boland Kavaliers and Stormers XXIII have 11 each.

The Sharks XV moved to 10 points after beating Boland 19-12 in KwaMashu. The Bulls XV remain without a win and have three points.

Griquas made the strongest start to Saturday’s action, earning a bonus-point win against the Lions.

Mnombo Zwelendaba broke through the Lions defence and created the opening for Gurshwin Wehr to score. Three minutes later, Dylan Maart made ground down the right before combining with man of the match Bobby Alexander, who finished the move for Griquas’ second try.

Thando Biyela gave the Lions hope with a late first-half try, but George Whitehead’s kicking helped the hosts take a 13-7 lead into the interval.

Griquas extended their advantage in the 55th minute when Janus Venter crossed after a powerful driving maul. Five minutes later, Zwelendaba chipped ahead before Zane Bester delivered a cross-kick for Alexander to score his second try.

Bester was later shown a yellow card, and Jarod Cairns and Exauce Tshiamala both scored for the Lions. However, Whitehead’s 11-point contribution, which included a late drop goal, ensured victory for the defending champions.

The Pumas then kept their play-off hopes alive with a narrow 33-31 victory over a Bulls XV side reduced to 14 players at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The visitors made a fast start, with Alfondso Isaacs, captain Willie Engelbrecht and JJ Scheepers scoring tries during a dominant opening period.

The Bulls XV’s task became more difficult when Abongile Nonkontwana received a red card in the 12th minute. Siphosethu Mnebelele and Cephas van Biljon were also shown yellow cards as indiscipline undermined the home team.

Despite being a player down, the Bulls XV recovered through a penalty try and Jonathan Eloff’s effort late in the first half to trail 19-14 at half-time.

Mnebelele, the Junior Springbok captain, scored soon after the restart to put the Bulls XV ahead for the first time at 21-19. The Pumas responded through Jan-Henning Campher, who scored two tries from driving mauls in quick succession.

Sandi Msengana and Hakeem Kunene gave the Bulls XV a chance during a late rally, but Keagan Johannes missed a conversion in the 78th minute. The Pumas, from Mpumalanga, held on to secure a two-point win and hand the hosts their fourth defeat of the season.

At Princess Magogo Stadium, the Sharks XV marked the start of a new era with a hard-fought home victory over Boland Kavaliers.

Boland scored first in the fifth minute when Jayden Bantom finished a sweeping backline move. The Sharks XV levelled when 19-year-old Junior Springbok Khuthadzo Rasivhaga intercepted the ball and ran almost half the field to score, with Tim Swiel adding the conversion.

A strong run from Tinotenda Mavesere created the opportunity for Johannes Slabbert to crash over before the break, giving the Sharks XV a 14-5 half-time advantage.

The second half became a closely contested battle, but Rasivhaga completed his try double with 10 minutes remaining to put the hosts 19-5 ahead. Dewald Maritz scored a late converted try for Boland, reducing the deficit to seven points, but the KwaZulu-Natalians held firm. The defeat was Boland’s second in succession.

The round ended on Sunday with a dramatic contest between Stormers XXIII and the Cheetahs.

Stormers XXIII controlled the opening exchanges and took the lead through Stefan Ungerer in the 11th minute. Prince Nkabinde replied for the Cheetahs, but Vernon Paulo’s late first-half try gave the hosts a 14-5 lead at the interval.

The Cheetahs began the second half positively, with Neels Volschenk scoring shortly after the restart. Wandile Mlaba then restored the Stormers’ advantage before receiving a yellow card for a tip tackle.

Frans Steyn’s Cheetahs side continued to press and reduced the gap through Michael Annies. They moved ahead after Xola Nyali was penalised for a deliberate knock-on, resulting in a penalty try.

Mlaba returned from the sin bin to score his second try and level the match at 26-26, setting up a tense finish. With the game seemingly heading for a draw, sustained Cheetahs pressure finally told as De Klerk crossed in the corner to complete a valuable bonus-point victory.

Round five begins on Friday, when the Lions face Boland Kavaliers at 15:00 at Wits Rugby Stadium in Johannesburg. Griquas then host the Sharks XV at 17:05 in Kimberley.

The Pumas welcome Stormers XXIII to Mbombela Stadium at 17:00 on Saturday, while the round concludes on Sunday with Bulls XV against the Cheetahs in Pretoria at 15:00.

Results

Griquas 31 (13), Lions 19 (7) Griquas: Tries – Gurshwin Wehr, Dylan Maart, Janus Venter, Bobby Alexander. Conversion – George Whitehead. Penalty goals – George Whitehead (2). Drop goal – George Whitehead. Lions: Tries – Thando Biyela, Jarod Cairns, Exauce Tshiamala. Conversions – Sam Francis (2).

Bulls XV 31 (14), Pumas 33 (19) Bulls XV: Tries – penalty try, Jonathan Eloff, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Sandi Msengana, Hakeem Kunene. Conversions – Keagan Johannes (2). Pumas: Tries – Alfondso Isaacs, Willie Engelbrecht, JJ Scheepers, Jan-Henning Campher (2). Conversions – Nevaldo Fleurs (4).

Sharks XV 19 (14), Boland Kavaliers 12 (5) Sharks XV: Tries – Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (2), Johannes Slabbert. Conversions – Tim Swiel (2). Boland Kavaliers: Tries – Jayden Bantom, Dewald Maritz. Conversion – Ashlon Davids.

Stormers XXIII 26 (14), Cheetahs 31 (5) Stormers XXIII: Tries – Stefan Ungerer, Vernon Paulo, Wandile Mlaba (2). Conversions – Jean-Luc du Plessis (3). Cheetahs: Tries – Prince Nkabinde, Neels Volschenk, Michael Annies, penalty try, Faf de Klerk. Conversions – Zander du Plessis (2).