The Cell C Sharks are top due to a better points’ difference and despite losing to the Vodacom Bulls in Durban on Saturday, while the Leopards earned a draw out of their away trip to Cape Town. Toyota Free State outplayed Eastern Province to move to fourth on the log, with six points.

The Lions, who had a bye, will look to improve on that tally in round three, while DHL Western Province will not be happy with their first outing. Eastern Province remain competitive, but are still winless after two matches.

The Eastern Cape side delivered a much better performance in round two, but still failed to secure a win in Bloemfontein, with the Free Staters winning 24-18. The home side held a 24-6 lead at the break and looked comfortable on route to their first win of the competition and with the four try bonus points secured, before the Elephants came storming back to claim a bonus point and some bragging rights in the second half.

Flyhalf Monre de Ridder kicked six penalty goals for EP and is still the leading points' scorer in the competition with 31 points, almost double that of second placed Brandon Wilkie (Cell C Sharks).

DHL Western Province, in action for the first time in the competition, met a determined Leopards side at DHL Newlands on Sunday, with the match finishing in a 14-all draw, with both sides scoring two converted tries.

The Leopards, fresh off a win over Toyota Free State a week ago, will be more than happy with the two log points earned with the draw as it kept them in the top half of the log.

The Capetonians, who scored both tries through their pack of forwards, held a 14-7 lead at the break. The Leopards scored the only try of the second half.

The Vodacom Bulls scored a thrilling win over the Cell C Sharks in Durban, to earn their first win of the tournament. Both sides scored four tries, with the visitors also being awarded a penalty try during the match.

The KwaZulu-Natalians also conceded two yellow cards in the match, and 18 penalties to 13, so will have to address that aspect of their play. There was more than enough attacking endeavour from both teams, with the hosts making 76 passes and the visitors 64.

All the teams enjoy a bye this weekend, with the third round scheduled for the weekend of 27 August, when the Lions tackle the Cell C Sharks in Johannesburg, EP host DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Bulls and Toyota Free State front up in Pretoria.

Scorers:

 DHL Western Province 14 (14), Leopards 14 (7)

 DHL WP – Tries: Keegan Blanckenberg, Jarrod Taylor. Conversions: Meyr Retief (2).

Leopards – Tries: Abre Minnie, Naiden Jaarts. Conversions: Martin Venter (2).

Toyota Free State 24 (24), Eastern Province 18 (7)

Toyota Free State – Tries: Marnus Nel, Jooste Nel, Lesley Botha, Avumile Bongco. Conversions: Wikus Basson (2).

Eastern Province – Penalty goals: Monre de Ridder (6).

Cell C Sharks 31 (24), Vodacom Bulls 33 (14)

Cell C Sharks – Tries: Jacques Goosen, Corne Rall, Siviwe Zondani, Ethan Fisher. Conversions: Brandon Wilkie (4). Penalty goal: Wilkie.

Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Rynard Mouton (2), Canan Moodie, Niel Beukes, Penalty try. Conversions: Jandre Burger, FC du Plessis (2).