The Carling Currie Cup First Division is going down to the wire this coming weekend, with all six teams in action still in with a shout of making the semi-finals after Eastern Province and the Border Bulldogs won their matches last weekend.
Both sides from the Eastern Cape were in must-win situations, and they obliged with good victories over the SWD Eagles and Valke. They will need to win upcountry and will require some mathematical assistance on the log to make it to the top-four.
The Elephants scored four tries to three against the Eagles in Despatch to win by 28-19, and were in control for most of the match as they moved up to 11 log points.
In East London, the Bulldogs delivered a very strong second half performance to come back from 10-20 down at the break to “win” the second half by 24-7 for a 34-27 victory to keep their semi-final aspirations alive.
Border showed great character and determination, with their younger players rising to the occasion, and Litha Nkula (flyhalf) adding 14 points from the kicking tee.
The Leopards also required a step up after the break against Boland in Wellington, where the men from Potchefstroom eventually won 29-23 (halftime 5-17).
With 10 minutes to go, the Kavaliers were still in the lead by 20-17, but two late tries – to take their second half try-tally to four – sealed the win for the Leopards. The Bolanders kicked a penalty goal in injury time for a valuable bonus point.
With one round of action left, the Leopards have taken the lead on the log with 21 points, followed by the Down Touch Griffons (20), Boland (16), Valke (13), Border and Eastern Province (both on 11) and SWD (6).
The top two teams on the log have all but secured their spots in the top four, and Boland will need some serious bad luck to drop out, meaning the Valke, Border and EP will be particularly desperate this weekend. In the final round, the Valke host Eastern Province, Border travel to North West to take on the Leopards, and the Down Touch Griffons take on Boland in Welkom.
Scorers:
Border Bulldogs 34 (10) Valke 27 (20)
Border Bulldogs – Tries: Ntsikomzi Daka, Billy Dutton, Yamnkela Mzozoyana (2). Conversions: Litha Nkula (4). Penalties: Litha Nkula (2).
Valke – Tries: Dwayne Pienaar, Denzel Hill, Lundi Ralarala. Conversions: Anrich Richter (3). Penalties: Anrich Richter (2)
Eastern Province 28 (15) SWD Eagles 19 (7)
Eastern Province – Tries: Duan du Plessis, Lupumlo Mguca, Sherwin Slater, Riaan Arends. Conversion: Keagan September. Penalties: Keagan September (2).
SWD Eagles – Tries: Deon Slabbert, JP Duvenhage, Keano Hendricks. Conversions: JP Duvenhage (2).
Boland Kavaliers 23 (17) Leopards 29 (5)
Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Deon Carstens, Dylan Maart, Gavern Skippers. Conversion: Garrick Mattheus. Penalties: John Lourens (2)
Leopards – Tries: Vincent Maruping, Andries Fouche, Shirwin Cupido, Danrich Visagie, Lincoln Daniels. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (2).