Elsewhere, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers were crowned First Division champions for a second time in a row following their dramatic 27-27 extra-time draw with Eastern Province in Wellington. They clinched the trophy on account of scoring more tries in Saturday's wet final.

In the opening match of the round, the defending champion Toyota Cheetahs returned to winning ways, but they had to fend off a sensational fightback from the NovaVit Griffons, to edge their Northern Free State neighbours 47-45 in a thrilling meeting in Welkom on Friday.

The men from Bloemfontein sped into a 33-0 lead five minutes before the break, however, the home side fired back with two quick converted tries to give them confidence at half-time.

The NovaVit Griffons continued that trend in the second half by dominating on attack, however, the side from Bloemfontein did just enough to keep their noses in front and were a very relieved side in the end to bag five log points.

Neels Volschenk of the Toyota Cheetahs on the charge.

The home team’s speedsters, Gurshwin Wehr and Kyle Cyster, were in excellent form and scored two tries each.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, fielding seven debutants in their match day squad – including three players who did duty for the Junior Springboks earlier this month – finally recorded their first win of the season with a 35-22 triumph over the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The visitors led 20-3 at the half-time break and scored four tries to two in this period at Emirates Airline Park. Two of the five-pointers belonged to one of their debutants, Junior Bok midfielder Jurenzo Julius, which helped steer the KwaZulu-Natalians to victory, and at the same time handing the Highvelders their first loss of the season.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV made a confidence start, which included a brilliant solo try by Julius. Although the hosts played much better in the second half to score three tries during that time, the visiting side did enough to bag their first win of the campaign.

The Vodacom Bulls had to work very hard to keep their unbeaten status in a classic North-South derby with a 50-34 triumph over DHL Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Reniel Hugo secures a lineout for the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV.

The Capetonians raced into a 27-3 lead, but a late first-half try by the hosts started to swing the momentum as DHL WP took a 27-10 lead at half-time. The Vodacom Bulls were in belligerent form in the second half though, scoring six more tries after the break to claim a comprehensive bonus point win.

The Vodacom Bulls also restricted their visitors to only one more try in the second half. Jaco van der Walt, the hosts’ flyhalf, was impressive as playmaker, scoring two tries, landing six conversions and a penalty goal, for a personal contribution of 25 points.

In another high scoring affair that delivered 13 tries and 92 points, the Airlink Pumas overran Suzuki Griquas by 66-26 in Sunday's last fixture of the round, staged at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit.

The team from Mpumalanga had a 28-14 half-time advantage and turned on the style in the second half for a comfortable victory, scoring nine tries in the process while restricting the visitors to four.

Airlink Pumas inside centre Clinton Swart delivered a polished performance for the home side as he scored twice, succeeding with all nine conversions and a penalty goal for a personal tally of 31 points.

Zak Burger gets the ball away under pressure from DHL WP.

After four rounds, the Vodacom Bulls (18 points) have a three-point advantage over second Toyota Cheetahs and Airlink Pumas (both on 15). The Fidelity ADT Lions shifted down to fourth place after their loss in Joburg and they have 13 points, four more than Hollywoodbets Sharks XV (9).

DHL WP follow next on eight, Suzuki Griquas have seven points and NovaVit Griffons now have two league points but are still winless.

On Friday, the Toyota Cheetahs tackle the Vodacom Bulls in a top of the log clash in Bloemfontein. The following day, the Airlink Pumas host the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Nelspruit and the NovaVit Griffons travel to Cape Town to take on DHL WP. Sunday’s only fixture will be staged in Kimberley between Suzuki Griquas and Fidelity ADT Lions.

Scorers:

NovaVit Griffons 45 (14), Toyota Cheetahs 47 (33)
NovaVit Griffons - Tries: Gurshwin Wehr (2), Kyle Cyster (2), Thato Mavundla, Rian Olivier, Penalty Try. Conversions: Andrew Kota (4).
Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: Carl Wegner, CJ Coetzee, Aranos Coetzee, Corne Fourie, Daniel Maartens, Neels Volschenk, Penalty Try. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (4), Abner van Reenen.

Fidelity ADT Lions 22 (3), Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 35 (20)
Fidelity ADT Lions - Tries: Morne Brandon, SJ Kotze, Layton Horn. Conversions: Sam Francis (2). Penalty goal: Francis.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV - Tries: Jurenzo Julius (2), Reniel Hugo, Yaw Penxe. Conversions: Lionel Cronje (3). Penalty goals: Cronje (2). Drop goal: Cronje.

Vodacom Bulls 50 (10), DHL Western Province 34 (27)
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Jaco van der Walt (2), Mpilo Gumede, Francois Klopper, Zak Burger, Joe van Zyl, Juann Else. Conversions: Van der Walt (6). Penalty goal: Van der Walt.
DHL Western Province – Tries: Gary Porter, Wandisile Simelane, Imad Khan, Angelo Davids. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (4). Penalty goal: Matthee. Drop goal: Matthee.

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers celebrate their First Division title.

Airlink Pumas 66 (28), Suzuki Griquas 26 (14)
Airlink Pumas – Tries: Deon Slabbert (2), Clinton Swart (2), Darren Adonis (2), Phiko Sobahle, Stefan Coetzee, Lundi Msenge. Conversions: Swart (9). Penalty goal: Swart.
Suzuki Griquas - Tries: Cameron Hufke, Thomas Bursey, Sako Makata, Connor Mahoney. Conversions: Zinedine Robinson (3).

Kavaliers retain First Division crown in dramatic style

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers successfully defended their Carling Currie Cup First Division title in dramatic fashion when the 2024 Final against Eastern Province ended 27-27 in Wellington on Saturday.

The scores were locked at 20-all after 80 minutes and 27-all following a tense period of extra-time, which saw the home team declared champions by virtue of scoring five tries against the four of EP in the final.

Saturday's final was played throughout in heavy rains and muddy conditions, and after looking like the team from Wellington would walk away with the crown, EP fought back courageously to level matters twice.

Scorers:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 27 (15), Eastern Province 27 (10)
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Neil Rautenbach (2), Dayan dan der Westhuizen, Cornell Engelbrecht, Taine-Randall Booysen. Conversion: Ashlon Davids.
Eastern Province – Tries: Temba Boltina, Lungi Mbiko (2), Wayne Ngubane. Conversions: Jayden Bantom (2). Penalty goal: Bantom.