This past weekend’s Currie Cup Premier Division action brought plenty of excitement, with key wins for the Cheetahs, Boland Kavaliers, and Griquas, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV finally celebrated their first victory of the season.
With the playoffs looming, every point counted as teams jostled for position.
Boland Kavaliers Stage Stunning Comeback
Friday night in Nelspruit saw the Boland Kavaliers pull off a dramatic turnaround against the Pumas, winning 29-26 after trailing 21-3 at halftime.
The Pumas appeared in control early, exploiting two yellow cards that left Boland down to 13 men.
Ross Braude scored twice and hooker Eddie Swart added another, giving the Pumas a seemingly comfortable lead.
However, the Kavaliers returned with renewed energy in the second half.
Marcqiewn Titus and Xavier Mitchell crossed for tries, while Dayan van der Westhuizen bulldozed over for another.
A crucial penalty try in the final minutes allowed Boland to seize the lead and hold on, marking a significant first away win that solidifies their playoff credentials.
Sharks XV Snap Their Winless Streak
Meanwhile, in Durban, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV ended their season-long drought with a 29-21 victory over Western Province.
The first half was tight, with WP initially taking a 14-0 lead thanks to Paul de Villiers and Ezekiel Ngobeni.
But the Sharks fought back before halftime with tries from Phiko Sobahle and Jaco Williams.
After the break, prop Lee Mazibuko and Bathobele Hlekani crossed for tries, while a late penalty from flyhalf Jean Smith sealed the Sharks’ long-awaited first win.
The victory gives them a much-needed confidence boost as they continue to chase momentum in the league.
Cheetahs Dominate Lions in High-Scoring Clash
Saturday’s highlight in Bloemfontein saw the Cheetahs overpower the Lions 47-31 at Toyota Stadium.
The Free Staters stormed out to a 26-0 first-half lead, with hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg scoring twice and Clayton Blommetjies adding a bonus-point try.
The Lions fought back in the second half, narrowing the gap to just 33-31, but a penalty try and a final score from scrumhalf Jandre Nel put the Cheetahs beyond reach.
The win pushes them to the top of the log alongside the Kavaliers, setting the stage for an intense finish to the league rounds.
Griquas Overpower Bulls in Pretoria
Sunday saw the Griquas put on a dominant display at Grizzly Park, defeating the Bulls 42-21.
Gurshwin Wehr stole the show with a hat-trick, while Cebo Dlamini, Janco Uys, and Zane Bester also crossed for tries.
The Bulls managed late scores through Junior Pokomela and Katlego Letebele, but Griquas controlled the match throughout, securing their fourth consecutive win and moving up to third place on the log.
Currie Cup Standings After Round Five
After the weekend’s results, the standings are tight at the top:
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Cheetahs: 21 points
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Boland Kavaliers: 21 points (slightly lower points differential)
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Griquas: 20 points
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Lions: 19 points
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Pumas: 15 points
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Bulls: 10 points
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Sharks XV: 6 points
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Western Province: 1 point
Looking Ahead to Round Six
Next weekend promises more high-stakes action:
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Friday: Cheetahs vs Griquas in Bloemfontein at 17:00
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Saturday: Lions vs Bulls at Ellis Park, 15:00
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Saturday: Sharks XV vs Boland Kavaliers at Woodburn Stadium, 17:10
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Sunday: Western Province vs Pumas at Cape Town Stadium, 15:00
With just two rounds left, teams are battling fiercely for playoff positioning, and every match could prove decisive.
Weekend Scorers Summary
Pumas 26-29 Boland Kavaliers
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Pumas: Ross Braude (2), Eduan Swart (2); Danrich Visagie (3 conversions)
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Boland: Marcqiewn Titus, Xavier Mitchell, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Penalty Try; James Tedder (2 conversions, 1 penalty goal)
Sharks XV 29-21 Western Province
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Sharks: Phiko Sobahle, Jaco Williams, Lee Mazibuko, Bathobele Hlekani; Jean Smith (3 conversions, 1 penalty)
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WP: Paul de Villiers, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Brendan Venter; Kyle Smith (2 conversions), Ronald Brown
Cheetahs 47-31 Lions
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Cheetahs: Marko Janse van Rensburg (2), Prince Nkabinde, Clayton Blommetjies, Michael Annies, Jandre Nel, Penalty Try; Cohen Jasper (2 conversions), Blommetjies (3 conversions)
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Lions: Gianni Lombard, Morne Brandon, Angelo Davids, Nico Steyn, Rynhardt Jonker; Sam Francis (3 conversions)
Bulls 21-42 Griquas
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Bulls: Stravino Jacobs, Junior Pokomela, Katlego Letebele; Boeta Chamberlain (3 conversions)
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Griquas: Gurshwin Wehr (3), Cebo Dlamini, Janco Uys, Zane Bester; George Whitehead (6 conversions)
