Suzuki Griquas will host the SA Cup final next weekend and face Airlink Pumas in Kimberley following this weekend’s conclusion of the round-robin phase.
The Griquas confirmed their home final status by beating the Toyota Cheetahs 39-17 in Bloemfontein in one of two games played on Friday.
In the other Friday match, the Pumas made sure of their place in the final when they defeated NovaVit Griffons 43-14 at the Mbombela Stadium.
Unbeaten Griquas finished top of the log with 45 points and with that they earned the right to host the final against second-placed Pumas, who finished second on 41 points.
In the two fixtures played on Saturday's the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers won their final outing 48-40 against Eastern Province, while Leopards scored a superb 45-31 away win over the Phangela SWD Eagles in George.
In the last fixture of the weekend, Valke defeated Border 38-14 in East London.
The weekend results saw the Griffons holding on to their third spot on the log with 35 points, three more than the fourth-placed Cheetahs. The Kavaliers finished fifth on 27 points, and they are followed by the Valke (18 points), Leopards (16), SWD Eagles, EP (both on 14), and winless Border.
What: SA Cup Final 2024
Who: Suzuki Griquas vs Airlink Pumas
When: Saturday 25 May 2024
Time: 12h30
Where: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Griquas clinch home final with victory over Cheetahs
The Suzuki Griquas defeated Toyota Cheetahs 39-17 at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein in one of the two Friday matches with the result handing them the hosting right for next weekend's SA Cup Final in Kimberley.
The Peacock Blues had a slender 15-10 lead at the break, but they managed to pull away from the Free Staters in the second half to make sure they finish the round-robin phase unbeaten.
Pieter Bergh's side scored 5 tries, four conversions and a drop goal while the side from Bloemfontein replied with two converted tries and a penalty.
Fullback Cameron Hufke dotted down twice for the Griquas while stalwart flyhalf George Whitehead succeeded with three conversions, a penalty goal and a drop goal.
Former Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar scored two conversions and a penalty goal in his very last competitive match for the Cheetahs, having announced his retirement from the game after this fixture following a stellar career with amongst others, the Cheetahs and the Springboks.
Right wing Daniel Kasende and utility back replacement Rewan Kruger each scored a try for the hosts.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs (10) 17 - Tries: Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty: Pienaar.
Suzuki Griquas (15) 39 - Tries: Cameron Hufke (2), Janco Uys,Sako Makata, Stephan Smit. Conversions: George Whitehead (3), Lubabalo Dobela. Penalty: George Whitehead. Drop goal: George Whitehead.
Pumas down Griffons to secure final spot
The Airlink Pumas secured their place in next weeks' SA Cup final against Suzuki Griquas courtesy of their 43-14 win over the NovaVit Griffons Friday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The Lowvelders scored five tries, a penalty try, four conversions and a penalty goal, while the Northern Free Staters replied with two converted tries.
Hooker Darnell Osuagwu dotted down twice for the Pumas while fly half Clinton Swart slotted three conversions and a penalty goal.
Ludio Williams (No 8) and Randy Fillies (left wing) were the Griffons' try scorers, with fly half Danrich Visagie succeeding with both conversions.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas (17) 43 - Tries: Darnell Osuagwu (2), Ruwald van der Merwe, Kwanda Dimaza, Stefan Coetzee, Penalty Try. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalty: Clinton Swart.
Novavit Griffons (7) 14 - Tries: Ludio Williams, Randy Fillies. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (2).
Kavaliers on top in try-fest against gallant EP
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers scored seven tries as they clinched an exciting 48-40 win over a gallant Eastern Province side Saturday afternoon at Rhino Park in Piketberg.
The Kavaliers led 24-13 at halftime and while they went on to also dominate the scoring after halftime, they had also had their hands full on defence as EP came storming back to finish the game with five tries.
Left wing Gavern Skippers and outside centre Xavier Mitchell each scored twice for the Kavaliers, who were also awarded a crucial penalty try, while pivot Darian Hock sent three conversion kicks through the upright.
Jay-dee Jooste, left wing, ran in for two of Elephants' tries, while the kicking boot of fullback Jayden Bantom ensured the visitors stayed in touch with the home side. Bantom converted two of the tries and he was also on target with three penalty goals.
Scorers:
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (24) 48 - Tries: Gavern Skippers, Xavier Mitchell, Gerrit Bester, Marlyn Williams, Carl Francois Truter, Penalty Try. Conversions: Darian Hock (3).
Eastern Province (13) 40 - Tries: Jay-dee Jooste (2), Sherwin Slater, Aya Oliphant, Temba Boltina. Conversions: Jayden Bantom (2). Penalties: Jayden Bantom (3).
Leopards hunt down Eagles at Outeniqua Park
The Leopards finished the campaign on a high by beating the Phangela SWD Eagles 45-31 in their Saturday afternoon fixture played at Outeniqua Park in George.
The men from Potchefstroom enjoyed a 26-10 halftime lead and they comfortably secured a good away win by scoring 7 tries to 5 in the end. No 8 Henro-Pierre Swart grabbed two of the five tries, while playmaker Charles Williams made a personal contribution of 15 points through a try and five conversions.
Right wing Rosco Seyster had a good game for the Eagles as he added two conversions to his try.
Scorers:
Phangela SWD Eagles (10) 31 - Tries: Dian Basson, Sachin Toring, Mpho Ntsane, Rosco Syster, Clyde Lewis. Conversions: Deon Carstens, Rosco Syster.
Leopards (26) 45 - Tries: Henro-Pierre Swart (2), Chris Vermaak, Gilroy Philander, Tjaart Benade, Naiden Jaarts, Charles Williams. Conversions: Charles Williams (5).
Valke swoop to victory over Border in East London
In Sunday's last fixture of the round the Valke scored six tries to two in their away clash with Border Bulldogs at Police Park in East London, having led 19-14 at halftime.
Scrumhalf Luciano Elias went over twice for the Valke while flyhalf Sergio Stalmeester also scored a five pointer in addition to his four conversions.
Border scrumhalf Merlin du Plessis converted his teams' two tries scored through Chuma Biyana (No 8) and Ryan Maree (outside centre).
Scorers:
Border (14) 14 - Tries: Chuma Biyana, Ryan Maree. Conversions: Merlin du Plessis (2).
Valke (19) 38 - Tries: Luciano Elias (2), Eddie Evans, Zander van der Merwe, Sergio Stalmeester, Valentino Wellman. Conversions: Sergio Stalmeester (4).