The Jaguares XV are cantering away with ease on the overall log, leaving a clustered bunch of contenders fighting for the other play-off spot in the Currie Cup First Division - sponsored by Direct Axis Financial Services - after earning their sixth consecutive win of the competition on Saturday with a massive win over the Valke.
The Down Touch Griffons, Valke, EP Elephants, Leopards and Boland are all chasing the second spot on the log, after the Welkom, Port Elizabeth and Potchefstroom sides registered important wins over the weekend.
The Jaguares XV have won six on the trot, while the Down Touch Griffons, Valke, EP Elephants and Leopards have registered three wins and Boland two.
In Welkom the Down Touch Griffons scored an easy 45-25 win over Border, with the visitors unable to stem the home side's attack in the second half.
Things were pretty tight after the first half at HT Pelatona Projects Stadium, with the home side leading 17-8, but they pulled away in the second half.
Cody-Anthony Basson, their livewire No 8, scored a brace as the Down Touch Griffons scored six tries to two.
It was an absolute rout in Brakpan, where the chart-topping Jaguares XV destroyed the Valke 122-19. The Potchefstroom-based side smashed their way over the Bosman Stadium tryline 18 times as they totally dominated against the home side, who fielded a team of novices at this level.
The visitors held a 68-0 lead at the break and continued to stamp their authority in the second half, with outside centre and Argentina sevens player, Agustin Segura, bagging four tries and flyhalf Domingo Miotti kicking sixteen conversions. He also scored a try for a personal tally of 37 points.
The Leopards also continued to crawl up the log with a solid 33-24 win over Boland at Olën Park in Potchefstroom. They scored their third win in the competition and could still force their way into the play-offs pending other results.
Boland were left pondering their second-half performance after they allowed a 21-14 lead to slip following three converted tries. Their attack lost its sting in the second half, and they could only add a penalty goal to their score, while they conceded three tries.
The EP Elephants are another side looking to find some consistency, and they got back their groove in a good away-win over SWD, who are in serious danger of being denied the chance to defend their title.
The home side could not penetrate the visitors’ defence at Outeniqua Park on Friday and had to rely on Divan Nel's boot to keep their scoreboard ticking.
The men from Port Elizabeth offered a solid second-half showing after trailing 15-10 at the break, with their bench providing the necessary impact, with tries to replacements Lupumlo Mgcuca (prop) and Kevin Luiters (scrumhalf) sealing the deal and a valuable away-win.
Scoring summary:
Valke 19 (0), Jaguares XV 122 (68)
Valke - Tries: Andre du Plessis, Jasper Genis, Andre Grobler. Conversions: Grobler (2).
Jaguares XV - Tries: Nicolas Solveyra Von Glasberg Chaet, Jeronimo Ureta Saenz PeÑa, Ignacio Calas, Francisco Gorrissen, Domingo Miotti, Julian Dominguez Widmer (2),
Juan Cruz Mallia (2), Agustin Segura (4), Bautista Delguy, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Montagner (2), Ignacio Inchauspe. Conversions: Miotti (16)
Leopards 33 (14), Boland 24 (21)
Leopards - Tries: Giovanne Snyman, Boeta Vermaak, Marius Stander, Japie Kleinhans (2). Conversions: Chuiner van Rooyen (4).
Boland - Tries: Hannes Janse van Rensburg, Edwin Sass, Gavern Skippers. Conversions: Garrick Mattheus (3). Penalty Goal: Mattheus.
SWD Eagles 21 (15), EP Elephants 27 (10)
SWD - Penalties: Divan Nel (7)
EP Elephants - Tries: Duan du Plessis, Lupumlo Mguca, Kevin Luiters. Conversions: Oliver Zono (3).
Down Touch Griffons 45 (17), Border 15 (8)
Down Touch Griffons - Tries: Schalk van der Merwe, Jean-Jacques Pretorius, Cody-Anthony Basson (2), Robbie Petzer, Duan Pretorius. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (5), Domenic Smit. Penalty Goal: Visagie.
Border - Tries: Leza Gcilitshane, Siphelele Zono. Conversion: Aphiwe Stemele. Penalty Goal: Stemele.
