The defending champions had to work hard to beat the New Nation Pumas by 32-27 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, and on Saturday the Peacock Blues had the better of the Toyota Cheetahs in Kimberley, winning this Central Derby by 31-10.
On Wednesday, the Free Staters welcome the Vodacom Bulls to Bloemfontein for a big clash, before a Coastal Derby in Cape Town between DHL Western Province and the Cell C Sharks.
The Vodacom Bulls had the better of the Toyota Cheetahs the last time they met in the Carling Currie Cup, with the men from Pretoria running out comfortable winners by 40-13 at Loftus Versfeld, scoring four tries to one with Springbok squad members Marco van Staden bagging two tries and Morne Steyn contributing 16 points with the boot.
The Cell C Sharks will also be going into their match this week with positive memories from the last time they played DHL Western Province in the Carling Currie Cup – it was in the 2020 semi-final in Cape Town, where the Durbanites caused a minor upset with a 19-9 win over the men in the blue and white hooped jerseys.
In the weekend’s First Division action, the Boland Kavaliers had a strong start to the season, with four tries by the flying Dylan Maart helping them to a big win over the Border Bulldogs in Wellington, while the Down Touch Griffons made it two from two over Eastern Province in Welkom.
Toyota Cheetahs v Vodacom Bulls
Date: Wednesday, 30 June
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 16h45
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Local appointments
Television Match Official: Egon Seconds
TV: SuperSport
DHL Western Province v Cell C Sharks
Date: Wednesday, 30 June
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19h00
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Local appointments
Television Match Official: Aimee Barrett-Theron
TV: SuperSport
Premier Division
(Click on the heading for a full match report)
Stylish Griquas too good for Cheetahs
Tafel Lager Griquas bounced back from their opening round Carling Currie Cup loss with a 31-10 bonus-point win over a young Toyota Cheetahs team in Kimberley on Saturday.
Following a first round bye, the visitors were determined to start their Carling Currie Cup campaign on a high but ran into a spirited home side in what was a typically tough Central Derby for the first 50 minutes, before the Peacock Blues spread their wings.
With 13 players making their Carling Currie Cup debut for the Bloemfontein team due to COVID cases and injuries, including Springbok flank Jacques Potgieter, who featured prominently, teething problems were evident, particularly, a lack of finishing countless opportunities they created.
Scorers:
Tafel Lager Griquas 31 (7) – Tries: Masixole Banda, Jay-Cee Nel, Mzwanele Zito, Eduan Keyter. Conversions: George Whitehead (4). Penalty goal: Whitehead.
Toyota Cheetahs 10 (3) – Try: Gideon van Wyk. Conversion: Ruan Pienaar. Penalty goal: Pienaar.
Bulls bounce back against plucky Pumas
Defending Carling Currie Cup champions, the Vodacom Bulls, scored a hard-fought 32-27 win over an ever-charging New Nation Pumas side at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening.
The home side lost their opening match in the Premier Division last week and thanks to a 17-3 lead at the break, managed a good enough buffer to withstand the Lowvelders' fightback in the second half.
The Vodacom Bulls scored four tries and the visitors three, with a first half New Nation Pumas try ruled out due to a forward pass proving crucial in the bigger scheme of things, while flyhalf Eddie Fouche will also ponder on three missed kicks to goal.
Marcell Coetzee and his men will gladly take the bonus point though, while the visitors at least have a losing bonus point to show for their efforts.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls 32 (17) – Tries: Harold Vorster, Madosh Tambwe, Cornal Hendricks, David Kriel. Conversions: Chris Smith (3). Penalty goals: Smith (2).
New Nation Pumas 27 (3) – Tries: Etienne Taljaard, Eddie Fouche, Tapiwa Mafura. Conversions: Fouche (2). Penalty goals. Fouche (2).
A determined Boland had too much power for the Border Bulldogs in Wellington.
First Division
The Boland Kavaliers got their Carling Currie Cup First Division campaign off in style with a 46-19 win over the Border Bulldogs in Wellington, where speedster Dylan Maart scored four tries for the home team.
In Welkom, the Down Touch Griffons continued where they stopped last week by inflicting a one-sided 41-3 win on Eastern Province, outscoring their visitors from the Eastern Cape by seven tries to none.
The Leopards were awarded four log points after their scheduled clash with the SWD Eagles was cancelled on Thursday.
Boland Kavaliers 46 Border Bulldogs 19
Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Damian Cheswill May, Dylan Maart (4), Gavern Skippers, Kelvin Fikster, Taine Booyen. Conversions: Garrick Mattheus, Skippers, John Lourens.
Border Bulldogs – Try: Vuyisani Mavuso. Conversion: Litha Nkula. Penalty goals: Nkula (4).
Down Touch Griffons 41 Eastern Province 3
Down Touch Griffons – Tries: Duan Pretorius (2), Niell Stannard, Morne Joubert, Soso Xakalashe, Lindokuhle Welemu, Bolla Matthys. Conversions: Jaywinn Juries (3).
Eastern Province - Penalty goal: Luvo Claassen.
