Kavaliers, Valke join SA Cup log-jam

The Boland Kavaliers and Valke remain in the race for Currie Cup Premier Division qualification after big wins in round 6 of the SA Cup this weekend.

Boland shrugged off two previous losses by outgunning the Border Bulldogs 52-3 yesterday to move into fourth place on points’ difference, although they share the same amount of league points with the Griffons and Valke.

The East Randers shrugged off a first-half blitz by the men from the Northern Free State to score two tries in the dying minutes to gain a thrilling 45-40 win in Kempton Park.

In Bloemfontein, the Cheetahs bagged their fourth win and second in a row when they overran the SWD Eagles 87-15 at Free State Stadium to move into third spot on the league table.

Meanwhile, unbeaten front-runners Griquas and the Pumas secured comfortable victories to keep their winning runs intact.

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Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas brushed aside the Leopards 80-10 in Potchefstroom, while holders Griquas opened the weekend’s action with a 70-17 rout of Eastern Province in Kimberley on Friday afternoon.

With only three league rounds left before the playoffs, Griquas and the Pumas still lead the table on 30 points each. The Cheetahs are third on 22 points, which is two more than the Kavaliers, Griffons and Valke.

EP is seventh on 12 points, with the defeat in the Northern Cape a big blow to their semi-final aspirations, while SWD (seven points), the Leopards (four) and Border (two) complete the standings.

All the teams have a break before the action resumes on the weekend of April 25, with a top-of-the-table clash in Nelspruit between the Pumas and Griquas.

On Saturday, April 26, the Kavaliers host the Leopards in Wellington; Border and EP play their Eastern Cape derby in East London; the Griffons welcome SWD Eagles to Welkom and Cheetahs are home to Valke.

Round 6 results and scores:

Cheetahs 87-15 Eagles

Cheetahs – Tries: Marko Janse Van Rensburg (2), Prince Nkabinde (2), Rewan Kruger (2), Neels Volschenk (2), Pierre Uys (2), Marco Janse van Vuren, Jandre Nel. Conversions: Cohen Jasper (6), Clayton Blommetjies (5).
Eagles – Tries: Kirwan Cupido (2). Conversion: Roshwin Abrahams. Penalty: Abrahams.

Border Bulldogs 3-52 Boland Cavaliers

Bulldogs – Penalty: Maxwell Klaasen.

Kavaliers – Tries: Sidney Tobias (2), Lunathi Nxele, Peter-John Smit, Xavier Mitchell, Michael Benadie, Thurlow Marsh, Jurick Lewis. Conversions: James Tedder (3), Ashlon Davids (3).

Valke 45-40 Griffons

Valke: Tries – Musa Tshabalala (2), Zeilinga Strydom, Blaine Golden, Sergio Stalmeester, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Adrian Joubert. Conversions: Stalmeester (5).

Griffons – Tries: Kyle Cyster (2), Keanu Vers, Willem van den Hever, Richman Gora, Chris Nel. Conversions: Andrew Kota (5).

Leopards 10-80 Pumas

Leopards – Try: Daniel Verster. Conversion: Charles Williams. Penalty: Williams.

Pumas – Tries: Darren Adonis (3), Eddie Swart (2), Stefan Coetzee, Darnell Osuagwu, Danrich Visagie, Dalvon Blood, Lundi Msenge, Ntsika Fisanti, Marvelous Mashimbyi. Conversions: Visagie (8), Stefan Coetzee (2).

Griquas 70-17 EP

Griquas – Tries: Tertius Kruger (3), Dylan Maart (3), Cameron Hufke, Dylan Sjoblom, Gurshwin Wehr, Zane Bester. Conversions: George Whitehead (5), Tylor Sefoor (5).

EP – Tries: Sherwin Slater, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Christian Humphries (2). Penalty: Humphries.

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