Griquas to host SA Cup final against Pumas

Suzuki Griquas will host the SA Cup final next weekend and face Airlink Pumas in Kimberley following this weekend’s conclusion of the round-robin phase.

Griquas confirmed their home final status by beating the Toyota Cheetahs 39-17 in Bloemfontein in one of two games played on Friday, and in the other match, the Pumas made sure of their place in the final when they defeated the NovaVit Griffons 43-14 at the Mbombela Stadium.

Unbeaten Suzuki Griquas finished top of the log with 45 points and earned the right to host the final against the second-placed Airlink Pumas, who finished second on 41 points.

In the two fixtures played on Saturday, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers won their final outing 48-40 against Eastern Province, while Leopards scored a superb 45-31 away win over the Phangela SWD Eagles in George. In the last fixture of the weekend, Valke defeated Border 38-14 in East London on Sunday.

The weekend results saw the NovaVit Griffons holding on to their third spot on the log with 35 points, three more than the fourth-placed Toyota Cheetahs. The Kavaliers finished fifth on 27 points, followed by the Valke (18 points), Leopards (16), Eagles, EP (both on 14), and winless Border.

SA Rugby will confirm the SA Cup Final kick-off time on Monday.

Griquas clinch home final with victory over Cheetahs

Suzuki Griquas defeated the Toyota Cheetahs 39-17 at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein in one of the two Friday matches with the result handing them the hosting right for next weekend's SA Cup Final in Kimberley.

The Peacock Blues had a slender 15-10 lead at the break, but they managed to pull away from the Free Staters in the second half to make sure they finish the round-robin phase unbeaten.

Pieter Bergh's side scored five tries, four conversions and a drop goal while the side from Bloemfontein replied with two converted tries and a penalty. Fullback Cameron Hufke dotted down twice for Griquas while stalwart flyhalf George Whitehead succeeded with three conversions, a penalty goal and a drop goal.

Former Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar scored two conversions and a penalty goal in his very last competitive match for the Toyota Cheetahs, having announced his retirement from the game after this fixture following a stellar career, which included 88 Tests for the Springboks.

Scorers:

Toyota Cheetahs 17 (10) - Tries: Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty goal: Pienaar.

Suzuki Griquas 39 (15) - Tries: Cameron Hufke (2), Janco Uys, Sako Makata, Stephan Smit. Conversions: George Whitehead (3), Lubabalo Dobela. Penalty goal: Whitehead. Drop goal: Whitehead.

Pumas down Griffons to secure final spot

The Airlink Pumas secured their place in next weeks' SA Cup final against Suzuki Griquas courtesy of their 43-14 win over the NovaVit Griffons Friday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

The Lowvelders scored five tries, a penalty try, four conversions and a penalty goal, while the Northern Free Staters replied with two converted tries.

Hooker Darnell Osuagwu dotted down twice for the Pumas while fly half Clinton Swart slotted three conversions and a penalty goal.

Ludio Williams (No 8) and Randy Fillies (left wing) were the Griffons' try scorers, with fly half Danrich Visagie succeeding with both conversions.

Scorers:

Airlink Pumas 43 (17) - Tries: Darnell Osuagwu (2), Ruwald van der Merwe, Kwanda Dimaza, Stefan Coetzee, Penalty Try. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalty goal: Swart.

NovaVit Griffons 14 (7) - Tries: Ludio Williams, Randy Fillies. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (2).

Kavaliers on top in try-fest against gallant EP

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers scored seven tries as they clinched an exciting 48-40 win over a gallant Eastern Province side Saturday afternoon at Rhino Park in Piketberg.

The Kavaliers led 24-13 at halftime and while they went on to also dominate the scoring after halftime, they had also had their hands full on defence as EP came storming back to finish the game with five tries.

Left wing Gavern Skippers and outside centre Xavier Mitchell each scored twice for the Kavaliers, who were also awarded a crucial penalty try, while pivot Darian Hock sent three conversion kicks through the upright.

Jay-dee Jooste, left wing, ran in for two of EP's tries, while the kicking boot of fullback Jayden Bantom ensured the visitors stayed in touch with the home side. Bantom converted two of the tries and he was also on target with three penalty goals.

Scorers:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 48 (24) - Tries: Gavern Skippers, Xavier Mitchell, Gerrit Bester, Marlyn Williams, Carl Francois Truter, Penalty Try. Conversions: Darian Hock (3).

Eastern Province 40 (13) - Tries: Jay-dee Jooste (2), Sherwin Slater, Aya Oliphant, Temba Boltina. Conversions: Jayden Bantom (2). Penalty goals: Bantom (3).

Leopards hunt down Eagles in George

The Leopards finished the campaign on a high by beating the Phangela SWD Eagles 45-31 in their Saturday afternoon fixture played at Outeniqua Park in George.

The men from Potchefstroom enjoyed a 26-10 halftime lead and they comfortably secured a good away win by scoring seven tries to five in the end. No 8 Henro-Pierre Swart grabbed two of the five tries, while playmaker Charles Williams made a personal contribution of 15 points through a try and five conversions.

Right wing Rosco Seyster had a good game for the Eagles as he added two conversions to his try.

Scorers:

Phangela SWD Eagles 31 (10) - Tries: Dian Basson, Sachin Toring, Mpho Ntsane, Rosco Syster, Clyde Lewis. Conversions: Deon Carstens, Syster.

Leopards 46 (26) - Tries: Henro-Pierre Swart (2), Chris Vermaak, Gilroy Philander, Tjaart Benade, Naiden Jaarts, Charles Williams. Conversions: Williams (5).

Valke swoop to victory over Border in East London

In Sunday's last fixture of the round the Valke scored six tries to two in their away clash with Border Bulldogs at Police Park in East London, having led 19-14 at halftime.

Scrumhalf Luciano Elias went over twice for the Valke while flyhalf Sergio Stalmeester also scored a five pointer in addition to his four conversions.

Border scrumhalf Merlin du Plessis converted his teams' two tries scored through Chuma Biyana (No 8) and Ryan Maree (outside centre).

Scorers:

Border 14 (14) - Tries: Chuma Biyana, Ryan Maree. Conversions: Merlin du Plessis (2).

Valke 38 (19) - Tries: Luciano Elias (2), Eddie Evans, Zander van der Merwe, Sergio Stalmeester, Valentino Wellman. Conversions: Stalmeester (4).

SA Cup Suzuki Griquas Airlink Pumas

Experienced look to Blitzbok squad for Dubai opene...

Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman has included 10 players who have tasted glory at the Emirates Dubai 7s in his ...

Fassi wants to stay after fighting his way back...

Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi was adamant that he would continue giving everything he can on the field to maintain h...

Ackermann returns to SA as coaching consultant...

Former Springbok lock and SA 'A' head coach Johan Ackermann will return to South Africa after seven years abroad to add ...

Nche rested against Wales, Louw to start in Cardif...

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus decided to rest prop Ox Nche for Saturday’s Test against Wales in Cardiff, which will see...

Be part of history in Cape Town this December...

In a little over two weeks’ time, Cape Town will yet again throw Rugby’s Biggest Party, when HSBC SVNS returns to the su...

Crunch time for Vodacom URC quarter-final hopefuls

Three of the four South African franchises will have everything to play for on Saturday when they take the field in the penultimate pool round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship where their eyes will be set firmly on keeping alive their playoff aspirations.

Top three in big fight for SA Cup final spot

The SA Cup will reach a decisive juncture this weekend – with Friday’s two clashes in Bloemfontein and Nelspruit crucial in determining the two finalists – as the last round of group matches unfold.

Boks touched hearts on and off the field in 'Tana'

The Springbok Women’s triumphant return from Madagascar this week highlighted the success the team has created on the rugby field, but they also made a difference off the field.

Match official appointments to 19 May 2024

Match official appointments for the next few days have been made, with the penultimate round of the Vodacom URC and the last round of the SA Cup before next weekend’s final taking centre stage in South Africa.

Awards: Vodacom URC recognises the league's finest

As the Vodacom United Rugby Championship edges closer to crowning its 2023/24 champion, the winners of the annual URC Awards will be announced over the coming weeks.

SA challenge strong but Irish derby set benchmark

There could be three South African teams in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs and there could be as many as four local teams in the Investec Champions Cup next year but after round 17 it looked like it is the Irish that need chasing.

SA Rugby “very happy” with transformation progress

The latest internal audit of SA Rugby’s Strategic Transformation Development Plan 2030 (STDP 2030) paints a picture of a sport tracking firmly in the right direction, said Mr Mark Alexander, president of the South African Rugby Union, on Monday.

Second Bok alignment camp kicks off in Cape Town

The Springboks will kick off their second in-person alignment camp in Cape Town on Wednesday – a month before their opening Test of the season against Wales in London on 22 June – with a group of 38 players assembling for the two-day camp.

Match official appointments to 25 May 2024

Match official appointments for the next few days have been made, with Christopher Allison taking charge of the SA Cup final in Kimberley, and Matthew Carley and Matthieu Raynal in charge of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals respectively.