Unfortunately for Eastern Province, the Valke, Leopards, and Border Bulldogs, the results didn’t go their way for a second successive week.

The weekend started in dramatic fashion as Friday’s game in Bloemfontein, the first of the round, was called off and ruled a non-result as result of lightning in the Free State capital, where the teams shared the spoils at two log points apiece.

The abandoned game was followed by four Saturday afternoon games, which saw Sanlam Boland Kavaliers registering a 73-24 win over the Valke in Wellington for their third win of the campaign, while Suzuki Griquas swept Border aside by 97-7 in Kimberley. The Griffons had to work hard for their second victory over the season, by 29-23 over the Leopards in Welkom, and in Gqeberha, the SWD Eagles won their derby 26-17 against a spirited Eastern Province.

The results mean log leaders Griquas and Boland have stretched their tally to a full house of 15 points each from three bonus-point wins each. They are followed by the defending champions, the Pumas, and SWD, both on 12 points, with the Griffons now fifth on 10 points. The rest of the table consists of Cheetahs (eight), Valke (five), EP (two), Leopards (one) and Border (zero).

Friday night saw lightning put an end to the clash between the Toyota Cheetahs and Airlink Pumas in Bloemfontein, with the match ultimately abandoned and recorded as a “no-result” because less than 40 minutes was completed.

Kick-off was delayed by more than an hour after a storm hit the Free State capital. Once play finally got underway, the Pumas scored first through Gustav du Rand, which was converted by Clinton Swart. The Cheetahs hit back when captain Louis van der Westhuizen drove over from a maul, with Cohen Jasper converting to make it 7–7.

In the 24^th minute, players were forced off due to lightning. After a long delay, the game briefly resumed and Swart kicked a penalty goal to put the Pumas 10–7 ahead, but lightning returned and the referee called the game off. Under competition rules, it could not stand as a result, so both teams received two log points.

On Saturday, the Griffons strengthened their credentials with a hard-earned 29-23 win over Leopards at the Down Touch Investments Stadium, gaining their second victory in three outings to remain in the top half of the log in the race for the four semi-final places and a spot in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.

After conceding an early Jandre Burger penalty goal, the Griffons took control through direct carries and a clinical finish out wide as wing Sibongile Novuka struck first. Experienced hooker Simon Westraadt then powered over, before replacement back Clive Kruger capped a dominant spell to send the hosts into the break 19-6 ahead.

But the Leopards clawed their way back after the restart when fullback Noegh Hayward crossed and Burger converted to ignite a tense final quarter. Zachery Bester (wing) added two tries to close the gap further, but the Griffons held their nerve through a period that included yellow cards to Chyle van Zyl and Jared Kruger.

Dehovine Johannes steadied the ship with a try and crucial points from the tee, and lock Sergio Moreira’s late score proved decisive as the hosts shut the door on a spirited Leopards finish.

The Sanlam Boland Kavaliers maintained their impressive start when they outscored Valke by 11 tries to three in their 73-24 triumph in Wellington on Saturday to stay unbeaten.

The Kavaliers were already out of sight by halftime with the score 40-17 in their favour in front of an appreciative crowd. Two tries by Erik Lambrecht and one each by Jade Stighling and Domenic Smit set the home side up for an early 26-3 lead in the first half.

The Valke initially stayed in the fight via two Zeilinga Strydom tries, while the boot of Sergio Stalmeester added the extras. But with their pack in command, Boland added further tries by Dayan van der Westhuizen Sauliegh Arendse to hand them a handy 23-point lead at the break.

The hosts continued to dominate in the second half when Joshua Eras gained his debut try in the black and gold jersey. Last week’s four-try hero, Xavier Mitchell, then scored a brace, while Michael Benadie and Thurlow Marsh added late tries to push the Kavaliers to a commanding win.

Suzuki Griquas delivered a commanding performance in Kimberley, sweeping aside Border Bulldogs by 97–7 to reinforce their status at the top of the log. The reigning Carling Currie Cup Premier Division champions are unbeaten after three outings and delivered an emphatic display of 15 tries, while conceding only once on Saturday.

From the outset, the hosts dominated both possession and territory. Openside flanker Marco de Witt set the tone with an early try, quickly followed by scores from Mnombo Zwelendaba, Dylan Maart, and Connor Mahoney, as the Griquas raced to a 47–0 halftime lead.

The second half brought more of the same, although Border managed a brief moment of celebration when Sakhekile Dingile crossed shortly after the interval. But that only sparked the Kimberley outfit into another gear. Centre Thomas Nel completed a brace, while Gurshwin Wehr, Bobby Alexander, Carl Els, and Sako Makata all dotted down as Griquas’ depth and tempo overwhelmed the visitors.

Kickers Zinedine Robinson and George Whitehead steered proceedings with assured game management, contributing a combined tally of 12 conversions between them.

In Gqeberha, the SWD Eagles claimed a determined 26–22 victory over Eastern Province in an exciting clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where the hosts started with intent, absorbing early pressure before hitting back with tries by Joshua Paris and Lwandile Mapuko, both converted by Maxwell Klaasen, pushing them into a deserved lead late in the first half.

A Klaasen penalty goal stretched the margin further as EP appeared to have the momentum, but the Eagles responded to show their fighting spirit. A crucial try from Gunther Janse van Vuuren, followed by a Fred Zeilinga conversion on the stroke of halftime, gave the visitors a narrow 19–17 advantage at the break.

That surge formed part of a decisive 14-point swing either side of halftime, shifting the derby’s rhythm firmly towards SWD.

The second half was equally tense and SWD extended their lead through Carlton Banies, again converted by Zeilinga. Although Mapuko crossed again in the final quarter to bring EP within striking distance, the Eagles’ forwards tightened their grip, dominating collisions and slowing EP’s momentum.

Next week’s fourth round fixtures see the Pumas host the Valke in Nelspruit in the only Friday evening match. The other four games are all scheduled to kick off at 15h00 on Saturday afternoon: the SWD Eagles will face a stern test when they host Boland in George; the Leopards welcome Border to Potchefstroom; EP travel to Bloem to take on the Cheetahs; and Griquas entertain the Griffons in Kimberley.

Scorers:

Toyota Cheetahs 7, Airlink Pumas 10
Cheetahs – Try: Louis van der Westhuizen. Conversion: Cohen Jasper.
Pumas – Try: Gustav du Rand. Conversion: Clinton Swart. Penalty goal: Swart.
Match abandoned in first half because of lightning

Griffons 29 (19), Leopards 23 (6)
Griffons – Tries: Simon Westraadt, Sibongile Novuka, Clive Kruger, Dehovine Johannes, Sergio Moreira. Conversions: Dehovine Johannes (2).
Leopards – Tries: Zachery Bester (2), Noegh Hayward. Conversion: Jandre Burger. Penalty goals: Burger (2).

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 73 (40), Valke 24 (17)
Boland – Tries: Erik Lambrecht (2), Xavier Mitchell (2), Jade Stighling, Domenic Smit, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Sauliegh Arendse, Joshua Eras, Michael Benadie, Thurlow Marsh Conversions: Juan Mostert (7), Thurlon Williams (2).
Valke – Tries: Zeilinga Strydom (2), Kelvin Kanenungo Conversions: Sergio Stalmeester (3). Penalty goal: Stalmeester.

Suzuki Griquas 97 (47), Border Bulldogs 7 (0)
Griquas – Tries: Marco de Witt (2), Dylan Maart (2), Connor Mahoney (2), Thomas Nel (2), Carl Els (2), Mnombo Zwelendaba, Lungi Mbiko, Gurshwin Wehr, Bobby Alexander, Sako Makata. Conversions: Zinedine Robinson (7), George Whitehead (5).
Border Bulldogs – Try: Sakhekile Dingile. Conversion: Isiphe Mbini.

Eastern Province 22 (17), SWD Eagles 26 (19)
EP – Tries: Lwandile Mapuko (2), Joshua Paris. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (2). Penalty goal: Klaasen.
SWD – Tries: Kyle Cyster, Tiaan Pretorius, Gunther Janse van Vuuren, Carlton Banies. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (3).