Each of the weekend’s exciting three Carling Currie Cup fixtures produced a memorable result as the Sigma Lions finally won their first game of the campaign in Johannesburg; Windhoek Draught Griquas stunned the high-flying Toyota Cheetahs in Kimberley to end their nine-game winning run, and the Vodacom Bulls staged a strong comeback to defeat the 14-man Airlink Pumas in Pretoria with the help of the referee.
After coming agonisingly close on several occasions, the Sigma Lions finally produced a winning performance to defeat DHL WP 33-10 in the weekend’s third and final fixture played Saturday evening on the Highveld.
In the early Saturday afternoon clash in Kimberley, home side Windhoek Draught Griquas outplayed the Toyota Cheetahs to register a surprisingly comfortable 48-18 triumph to end the Free Staters’ unbeaten run.
And on Friday evening, defending champions Vodacom Bulls were forced onto the ropes for long periods by a determined Airlink Pumas, but the hosts managed to fight back and win their penultimate league clash by 31-26.
The weekend’s results left the Vodacom Bulls on 47 points, with a six-point lead at the top of the league standings, however, the holders have played 11 games compared to the 10 by the Toyota Cheetahs, who are second on 41 points.
Thanks to their sensational result in Kimberley, Windhoek Draught Griquas jumped into third place with 26 points, two more than the Cell C Sharks (24), who had a bye this weekend.
The Airlink Pumas (fifth, 22 points), DHL WP (sixth, 13 points) and Sigma Lions (seventh, 10 points) complete the rest of the standings with just two more rounds before the semi-finals.
Two matches will be staged on Friday, 3 June during the penultimate round – DHL WP host Windhoek Draught Griquas in Stellenbosch (16h00), while the Toyota Cheetahs play the Airlink Pumas in Bloemfontein (18h00). The Cell C Sharks and Sigma Lions clash the next day in Durban (17h00) while the Vodacom Bulls have a bye.