Griquas secure Currie Cup top spot as semi-final line-up is confirmed

Griquas will host the Lions in Kimberley, while the Cheetahs face the Pumas in Bloemfontein in next weekend’s Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals after the league phase concluded.

Both matches will be played on Sunday, 6 September. The first semi-final, in Kimberley, will begin at 13h00, with the Cheetahs versus Pumas following at 15h30.

Griquas and the Cheetahs had already guaranteed their places in the play-offs before the final round, but the Pumas and Lions needed results to secure the remaining semi-final positions. Both sides responded with convincing victories, while the Boland Kavaliers’ hopes ended with defeat on Sunday.

The Lions opened the final weekend by beating Stormers XXIII 36-12 in Johannesburg on Friday. Later that day, Sharks XV defeated the winless Bulls XV 53-22 in Durban.

The Pumas then produced the result of the round by beating the Cheetahs 52-26 in Nelspruit on Saturday. Griquas completed the league programme with a 48-17 away victory against Boland Kavaliers in Wellington on Sunday afternoon.

Griquas finished first with 31 points, ahead of the Cheetahs on 27. The Pumas ended third on 22 points and the Lions claimed the final semi-final place with 20.

Sharks XV were fifth on 18 points, while Boland Kavaliers and Stormers XXIII both finished on 16. Bulls XV ended the campaign eighth with six points.

The Lions knew that defeat against Stormers XXIII would end their season, but they started with purpose and controlled much of the match. Matt Coetzee opened the scoring with a penalty before Gilermo Mentoe crossed following a well-executed attacking move.

Captain Jarod Cairns then scored from a driving maul to give the Lions a 15-0 half-time lead. Ethan Adams added another after a clever chip-and-chase, before Renzo du Plessis secured the bonus point with the Lions’ fourth try.

Stormers XXIII finally replied through Markus Muller, but Dominic Malgas was shown a yellow card as the visitors’ hopes faded. Latica Nela scored the Lions’ fifth try, with Altus Rabe adding a late consolation for the Cape side. The result moved the Lions into the top four and ended Stormers XXIII’s semi-final hopes.

Sharks XV also needed a bonus-point win, as well as favourable results elsewhere, but concentrated on their own task against Bulls XV. They led 36-7 at half-time and scored eight tries in a dominant 53-22 success.

Tino Mavesere crossed twice inside the opening 12 minutes and finished with four tries. Kebotile Maake replied for Bulls XV, but Ross Braude and Tim Swiel helped Sharks XV reassert their control. Mavesere completed his hat-trick before the interval.

Bulls XV improved after the break through Marnus Rademeyer and Brooklyn Newman, although the Sharks never appeared in serious danger. Mavesere added his fourth try and replacement hooker Jacques Marais scored twice late on.

In Nelspruit, Pumas secured qualification with an eight-try victory over a Cheetahs side that had already reached the semi-finals but was still competing with Griquas for first place. Pumas led 28-7 at the interval and consistently won the gain-line battle, with their forwards creating the platform for the backs to attack in wider areas.

The Free Staters scored four tries, but could not match the hosts’ intensity as Pumas claimed a 52-26 win.

Griquas then confirmed top spot with a powerful second-half performance against Boland Kavaliers. The home side started well, with Ashlon Davids kicking an early penalty, while Marco de Witt and Dylan Maart put Griquas in control.

Sibusiso Sangweni and Jayden Bantom scored for Boland, briefly moving the Kavaliers ahead, but Tiaan Lange crossed from a rolling maul just before half-time to give Griquas a 19-17 lead.

The defending champions dominated after the break, scoring 29 unanswered points. Carl Els, Stefan Coetzee, Lourens Oosthuizen and Gurshwin Wehr added tries, while Liam Koen kicked accurately as Griquas completed a 48-17 victory and secured home advantage for their semi-final.

Results

Lions 36 (15), Stormers XXIII 12 (0) Lions tries: Gilermo Mentoe, Jarod Cairns, Ethan Adams, Renzo du Plessis, Latica Nela. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (4). Penalty goal: Coetzee. Stormers XXIII tries: Markus Muller, Altus Rabe. Conversion: Kyle Smith.

Sharks XV 53 (36), Bulls XV 22 (7) Sharks XV tries: Tino Mavesere (4), Ross Braude (2), Tim Swiel, Jacques Marais (2). Conversions: Luan Giliomee (4). Bulls XV tries: Kebotile Maake, Marnus Rademeyer, Brooklyn Newman, Lavela Pongolo. Conversion: Ian van der Merwe.

Pumas 52 (28), Cheetahs 26 (7) Pumas tries: Ntsika Fisanti, JJ Scheepers (2), Tiaan de Klerk, Chyle van Zyl (2), Andre Goedhals, Sango Xamlashe. Conversions: Clinton Swart (6). Cheetahs tries: Michael Annies, Daniel Maartens, Stefan Venter, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions: Faf de Klerk, Tiaan Swanepoel.

Boland Kavaliers 17 (17), Griquas 48 (19) Boland Kavaliers tries: Sibusiso Sangweni, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Ashlon Davids (2). Penalty goal: Davids. Griquas tries: Marco de Witt, Dylan Maart, Tiaan Lange, Carl Els, Stefan Coetzee, Lourens Oosthuizen, Gurshwin Wehr. Conversions: Liam Koen (5).