Cheetahs claw into top four

The Cheetahs beat Free State rivals Griffons on Saturday, as SA Cup pace-setters Griquas and Pumas continued their winning runs in round 5 of the competition.

Frans Steyn’s charges converted their 19-10 half-time lead into a morale-boosting 38-31 win in Bloemfontein for their third victory of the campaign.

The weekend’s action kicked off in George on Friday, where the Valke handed the SWD Eagles their fourth loss of the campaign. Later, the second-placed Pumas recorded a runaway victory over the Border Bulldogs in Nelspruit.

The Valke withstood a second-half rally from the Eagles to clinch a 24-18 victory at Outeniqua Park, after leading 24-10 at the break. Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas routed the Border Bulldogs 110-7 to record their fifth straight win, scoring 16 tries while only conceding one.

On Saturday, defending champions Griquas fought back from a first-half deficit to beat the Boland Kavaliers 42-36 in a competitive clash in Kimberley, condemning Hawies Fourie’s men to their third loss of the season.

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Meanwhile, the Eastern Province Elephants banked their second victory of 2025 by defeating the Leopards 26-17 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

With five rounds left until the semi-finals, Griquas and Pumas increased their tally to 25 log points with bonus-point wins, while the Griffons remained in third spot (18 points) with the Cheetahs, who moved up into fourth place (17 points).

Breathing down their necks just outside playoff contention are the Kavaliers and Valke (15 points each), with EP in seventh place on 12 points while the Eagles (seven), Leopards (four) and Border (two) bring up the rear.

Next week’s round 6 action will see one game staged on Friday evening, between Griquas and EP, while the rest will follow on Saturday. Border host the Kavaliers in East London; the Pumas travel to Potchefstroom to take on the Leopards; the Cheetahs welcome the Eagles; and the Griffons will travel to Kempton Park to face the Valke.

Round 5 results and scorers:

Eastern Province 26-17 Leopards
EP – Tries: Wayne Ngubane, Johannes Huisamen, Deon Plaatjies, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Christian Humphries (3).
Leopards – Tries: Bryan Breda, Chris van Heerden. Conversions: Charles Williams (2)

Cheetahs 38-31 Griffons
Cheetahs – Tries: Rewan Kruger, Prince Nkabine, Andisa Ntsila, Michael Annies, Vernon Paulo, Daniel Maartens. Conversions: Cohen Jasper (4).
Griffons – Tries: Willem van den Hefer, Junior Banda, Kyle Cyster, penalty try. Conversions: Qamani Kota, Duan Pretorius (2). Penalty: Pretorius.

Griquas 42-36 Boland Kavaliers
Griquas – Tries: Gustav du Rand (2), Phumzile Maqondwana, Cameron Hufke, Marcqiewn Titus, Gurshwin Wehr. Conversions: George Whitehead (6).
Boland – Tries: Jurick Lewis (2), James Tedder, Ashlon Davids, Ludio Williams, Sidney Tobias. Conversions: Davids (4).

SWD Eagles 18-24 Valke
SWD – Tries: Mpho Ntsane, Hlomla Zondani. Conversion: Roshwin Abrahams. Penalty goals: Abrahams (2).
Valke – Tries: Sergio Stalmeester, Mbembe Payi, Godfrey Muzanargwo. Conversions: Stalmeester (3). Penalty: Stalmeester.

Pumas 110 -7 Border Bulldogs
Pumas – Tries: Tino Swanepoel (4), Andre Fouche (2), Marvelous Mashimbyi (2), Sango Xamlashe, Darnell Osuagwu, Danrich Visagie, Lundi Msenge, Eddie Swart, Carlton Banies, Kabelo Mokoena, Russwill Fredericks. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (15).
Border – Try: Sibusiso Lali. Conversion: Maxwell Klaasen.

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images