The Vodacom Bulls are the only unbeaten team left after four rounds in the Currie Cup, while the Sharks broke their duck in Johannesburg and the Cheetahs and Pumas grabbed valuable victories.
Elsewhere, the 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 champions Cheetahs had to fend off a sensational fightback from the Griffons, to edge their 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 home team’s speedsters, Gurshwin Wehr and Kyle Cyster, were in excellent form and scored two tries each.
The Sharks, fielding seven debutants in their matchday 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 Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Two of the Sharks’ five-pointers belonged to one of their debutants, Junior Bok midfielder Jurenzo Julius, who helped steer the KwaZulu-Natalians to victory, and at the same time handed the Highvelders their first loss of the season.
The 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.
The Capetonians raced into a 27-3 lead, but the Bulls were in belligerent form in the second half, scoring six tries after the break to claim a comprehensive bonus point win.
In another high scoring affair that delivered 13 tries and 92 points, the Pumas overran Griquas 66-26 in Nelspruit on Sunday.
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.
After four rounds, the league-leading Bulls (18 points) have a three-point advantage over second Cheetahs and Pumas (both on 15).
On Friday, the Cheetahs tackle the Bulls in a top-of-the-log clash in Bloemfontein. The following day, the Pumas host the Sharks in Nelspruit and the Griffons travel to Cape Town to take on WP.
Sunday’s only fixture will be staged in Kimberley between Griquas and the Lions.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
