In the other match also played on Saturday morning, the Lions managed to edge the Leopards 27-25 in their game at Olen Park in Potchefstroom - the men from Joburg's first of the competition.

The Leopards managed to outscore their Gauteng visitors by four tries to three, but the Lions cliched the game through better kicking performances off the kicking tee.

Jurich Claasens (2) and Setshaba Mokoena managed to convert all three tries scored through Ivan Esterhuizen, Jarod Cairns and Zeilinga Strydom. Claasens was also on target with two penalty goals to help steer his side to a narrow victory.

Jakkie Eloff, Marvelous Mashimbye, Naiden Jaarts and Luan van der Walt each scored a try for the Leopards, while Sanele Zunga added a conversion and Jean-Jacques van der Walt a penalty goal.

Despite the presence of the experienced Kade Wolhuter at flyhalf, DHL WP lost 26-10 at home to the Bulls in Paarl, where the team from Pretoria managed to outscore them by 4-1 tries and led by 7-3 at the break.

No 8 Keke Morabe went over for WP’s try, which was converted by Wolhuter, who also hit the mark with a penalty goal.

Danwich Beukes capped a fine performance in the No 8 jersey for the Bulls by grabbing two tries, while right wing Tharquinn Manuel and inside centre Keanen Wentel also went over for a try each. Tiaan Fourie, the Bulls' captain and scrumhalf, Compion von Ludwig (flyhalf) and Franco Coetzee (fullback) each weighed in with a successful conversion.

The weekend’s results saw the Bulls increase their log leading tally to 10 points from two wins, five more than WP, who are in second place and six more than the Lions, who are third on the log with four points.

The Leopards (3 points) and Sharks (1 point), who had a bye the past weekend, complete the league table, while the Toyota Cheetahs will kick off their campaign this weekend at home against the Leopards.

In the other two games, the Bulls host the Sharks and WP travel to Gauteng to take on the Lions.

Meanwhile, in the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition, Eastern Province managed to stay in first position of the log despite not playing over the weekend.

The Valke registered their first win of the campaign after outplaying SWD 36-27 at the Bosman Stadium in Brakpan. In the only other Shield game staged over the weekend, Griquas also managed to register their first win courtesy of a 27-18 away win over the Pumas at a match hosted at the Middelburg High School in Mpumalanga.

The young men form Kimberley outscored their Lowveld hosts by three tries to one, with outside centre Wian van Niekerk kicking three conversions and two penalty goals for the winning side.

Fullback Jaylen James scored a try and slotted three conversions for a personal contribution of 11 points for SWD. Jacques Blignaut (fullback) scored twice for the triumphant Valke, while Toit du Toit (replacement back) added four conversions and a penalty goal.

Following the second round of matches, EP are still in first place with five points, thanks to their superior points' difference. The Eastern Cape side are followed by Valke and SWD, both of whom are also on five points, while the Griffons and Griquas are on four points each, and Pumas are in sixth place with one point.

Results:   

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup (Round 2):
Leopards 25, Lions 27
DHL Western Province 10, Vodacom Bulls 26

For all the Cup results, fixtures and logs, click here.

SA Rugby Under-21 Shield (Round 2):
Valke 36, SWD 27
Pumas 18, Griquas 27

For all the Shield results, fixtures and logs, click here.