SA Cup log leaders Suzuki Griquas, the defending champion Airlink Pumas, the Toyota Cheetahs, Valke and Eastern Province were on the winning side in the penultimate league round this weekend, with six teams still in with a shout of making the playoffs.

Griquas delivered another statement win on Saturday when they defeated the Dotsure SWD Eagles 62-12 in Kimberley to secure top spot on the log, while the Pumas edged the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in an eight-try thriller in Nelspruit on Sunday, winning this pulsating game by 38-31 to remain on course to host a home semi-final.

The Toyota Cheetahs’ comprehensive 87-5 triumph over Border in East London reignited their campaign and lifted them firmly back into playoff contention. In Welkom, Eastern Province clinched their third win of the campaign when they survived a late rally by hosts Griffons to win a close-fought encounter 31-28.

And the Valke ensured they are still in with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs when they edged the Leopards 31-27 in a thrilling contest at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park for their fourth win of the campaign.

With just one round of league games remaining, Griquas are way out in front with a full house of 40 log points, seven more than Pumas. The Toyota Cheetahs are third in the standings on 30, while Boland’s two bonus points from their defeat in Nelspruit kept them in semi-final contention in fourth on 27 points. SWD are also on 27, but moved down to fifth due to an inferior points’ difference.

The Valke are in sixth on 24 points), followed by EP (13), the Leopards (9) and Border (0). The top four teams will contest the semi-finals and qualify for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.

In next weekend’s final round of fixtures, two games will be staged on Friday and rest on Saturday. The Toyota Cheetahs and Griquas clash in Bloemfontein from 18h00 on Friday, and an hour later the Pumas’ clash against the Griffons will kick off in Nelspruit.

Saturday sees SWD take on Leopards in a must-win game for the George side if they want to possibly progress to the playoffs, Boland cannot afford to slip up against the improving EP in Wellington, while the Valke will be looking for a big win over Border in East London.

The past weekend’s thrilling action again showed how closely matched teams are in the top-half of the current log.

A powerful maul and efficient finishing proved decisive as the Airlink Pumas edged the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 38–31 in a pulsating encounter at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

The Kavaliers started sharply and dominated early territory, striking through Sidney Tobias, Louis Schreuder and Jayden Bantom, whose two conversions meant the visitors took a slender 19–14 halftime lead. The Pumas, however, stayed in touch through composed goal-kicking from Clinton Swart, who punished Boland’s lapses with points when opportunities arose.

The second half became a see-saw battle. Gustav du Rand crossed twice for the hosts, both converted by Swart, while Boland responded through Dayan van der Westhuizen and Sauliegh Arendse, briefly reclaiming the lead at 31–28.

In a tense final quarter, handling errors crept in on both sides before Swart delivered the decisive moment, muscling over from close range in the dying minutes. His successful conversion ensured the Pumas secured a vital bonus-point win that strengthens their push for a home semi-final, while Boland’s late surge still earned them two valuable log points.

On Saturday, Suzuki Griquas delivered another emphatic statement win, overpowering the Dotsure SWD Eagles 62–12 at Suzuki Stadium as they consolidated their top spot on the log. After a competitive opening quarter, with SWD taking a 12-0 lead, the hosts took full control and were ahead by 24–12 at the break, before pulling away decisively in the second half.

The Eagles struck early through tries by Masande Mtshali and Xavier Swartbooi, briefly testing the Griquas defence. However, the home side responded clinically, with Janco Uys and Connor Mahoney crossing before powerful close-range efforts from Malembe Mpofu and Mango Ngundue ensured momentum swung firmly the hosts’ way.

After the break, Griquas turned pressure into points, scoring six unanswered tries. Cameron Hufke bagged two, while Damian Markus, Sako Makata and Mahoney added further scores as the Eagles struggled to contain the tempo. Yellow cards were issued to Griquas’ Phumzile Maqondwana and the SWD duo of Gunther Janse van Vuuren and Dylan de Leeuw.

The Toyota Cheetahs emphatically bounced back from their seventh-round disappointment by bagging a massive 87–5 victory over the Border Bulldogs in East London. Determined to respond after last week’s setback, the Free Staters struck early and often, racing to a commanding 47–5 halftime lead through a relentless mix of forward power and slick backline execution.

The second half followed a similar pattern as the visitors maintained their intensity and attacking precision, running in a total of 13 tries overall. Much of the damage was done by Michael Annies, who scored four tries, while Rewan Kruger and Louis van der Westhuizen both crossed twice, with the trio combining for eight of the Cheetahs’ 13 tries.

Border’s only reply came via a late first-half try by Mbasa Nkonki, but the hosts were otherwise unable to halt the tide, while Cheetahs’ playmaker Cohen Jasper succeeded with 10 conversions in addition to a try for a personal contribution of 25 points.

Eastern Province survived a spirited second-half fightback from the Griffons to claim a 31–28 victory at Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom. EP laid the foundation in a dominant first half, racing to a 24–14 halftime lead through tries by Lwandile Mapuko and Diego Williams, a penalty try, and accurate goal-kicking from Garth April.

The Griffons returned with renewed intent after the break and produced a valiant response, “winning” the second half 14–7. Tries from Chad Tshimanga and Jandre de Beer, complemented by Dehovine Johannes’ boot, dragged the hosts back into contention and set up a tense finish. However, EP’s defensive resolve proved decisive as the visitors held on to secure the narrow win.

The Griffons’ cause was dented by the two yellow cards issued to Jared Kruger and Simon Westraadt, which put them at a numerical disadvantage for 20 minutes of the game.

In the Barnard Stadium on the East Rand, the Valke held off a spirited Leopards challenge to secure a hard-fought 31–27 victory in Kempton Park. The hosts led 19–14 at halftime after a lively opening period that saw two tries from Mbembe Payi and one by Zeilinga Strydom, while Naiden Jaarts and Brandon Keevy replied for the visitors.

The Leopards struck early in the second half through Godfrey Sebokolodi and Siniothando Tshontsyi, briefly moving ahead, but Valke stayed composed. Tries from Tiaan Jonker and replacement hooker Pierre Rabie proved decisive, with Sergio Stalmeester and Tylor Sefoor contributing crucial points from the kicking tee. Jandre Burger slotted a conversion and late penalty goal for the Leopards, keeping the contest alive until the final whistle.

Scorers:

Airlink Pumas 38 (19), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 31 (14)
Pumas – Tries: Gustav du Rand (2), Ruwald van der Merwe, Lundi Msenge, Clinton Swart. Conversions: Swart (5). Penalty goal: Swart.

Kavaliers – Tries: Sidney Tobias, Louis Schreuder, Jayden Bantom, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Sauliegh Arendse. Conversions: Bantom (3).

Suzuki Griquas 62 (24), Dotsure SWD Eagles 12 (12)
Griquas – Tries: Cameron Hufke (2), Connor Mahoney (2), Janco Uys, Malembe Mpofu, Mango Ngundue, Sako Makata, Damian Markus, Dylan Maart. Conversions: George Whitehead (4), Liam Koen (2).

Eagles – Tries: Masande Mtshali, Xavier Swartbooi. Conversion: Fred Zeilinga.

Toyota Cheetahs 87 (47), Border Bulldogs 5 (5)

Cheetahs – Tries: Michael Annies (4), Rewan Kruger (2), Louis van der Westhuizen (2), Ramon Uys, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Juan Smal, Sisonke Vumazonke, Cohen Jasper. Conversions: Jasper (10), Annies.

Border – Try: Mbasa Nkonki.

Griffons 28 (14), Eastern Province 31 (24)
Griffons – Tries: Jandre de Beer (2), Daylon Myners, Chad Tshimanga. Conversions: Dehovine Johannes (3), Myners.

EP – Tries: Lwandile Mapuko (2), Diego Williams, Penalty Try. Conversions: Garth April (3). Penalty goal: April.

Valke 31 (19), Leopards 27 (14)
Valke – Tries: Mbembe Payi (2), Zeilinga Strydom, Tiaan Jonker, Pierre Rabie. Conversions: Sergio Stalmeester (2), Tylor Sefoor.

Leopards – Tries: Naiden Jaarts, Brandon Keevy, Godfrey Sebokolodi, Siniothando Tshontsyi. Conversions: Jandre Burger (2). Penalty goal: Burger.