DHL Western Province registered their first win of the season in Welkom, but the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and NovaVit Griffons are still seeking for their first win following more heartache.

The First Division final will be contested between Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and Eastern Province in Wellington on Saturday (kick-off 12h30), after both teams had to work hard for victory in the semi-finals this past weekend.

In the first Premier Division match of the weekend, the Fidelity ADT Lions had to work hard for victory over this year’s SA Cup winners, Suzuki Griquas, in Johannesburg.

The hosts swung momentum their way by scoring 10 points in the final quarter, when two players from the visiting side were sent to the sin bin for yellow card infringements.

Flyhalf Sam Francis kicked one conversion and two penalty goals for the Highveld side, who were always in control of the game.

Chris Smith on the attack for the Vodacom Bulls.

The Vodacom Bulls produced a solid performance to beat defending champions Toyota Cheetahs 25-13 later on Friday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, handing the Free Staters their first defeat of the season.

The men form Pretoria prevailed with three tries to one after leading 17-6 at the halftime break. Right wing Henry Immelman grabbed two tries while pivot Chris Smith added two conversions and a penalty goal.

His Toyota Cheetahs counterpart, Ethan Wentzel, converted Daniel Maartens' try while also adding two successful penalty goals, but in the end the visitors did not have enough to topple the Vodacom Bulls in the capital.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV are still searching for their first win in the Premier Division. Coming into Friday evening’s game on the back of two losses, the Durban outfit came unstuck against a determined Airlink Pumas side, losing by 31-21, who hit back in style after last weekend’s big defeat at the hands of the Fidelity ADT Lions.

The KwaZulu-Natalians conceded 24 points in the first half without reply as the Lowvelders made a blistering start. Although the hosts fought back with 21 points in the second stanza – with flyhalf Tian Meyer on target with all three conversions – they could not breach the gap.

Inside centre Clinton Swart was perhaps the pick of the bunch for the Airlink Pumas as he added two conversions to his try, one of five scored by the visiting team.

Phiko Sobahle was one of the Airlink Pumas' try scorers in Durban.

In the last match of the round, played on Sunday afternoon in Welkom, Jonathan Roche scored a hat-trick of tries as a young DHL Western Province overpowered the NovaVit Griffons 64-15 for their first win of the campaign.

The Capetonians raced into a 33-10 half-time lead, and eventually registered 10 tries in a bonus-point victory, after two defeats in the opening stage of the Premier Division. Roche and wing Angelo Davids (two) were responsible for half of DHL WP’s tries, while fly half Jurie Matthee slotted seven conversations.

On Friday, the NovaVit Griffons take on the Toyota Cheetahs in a Free State derby in Welkom (15h00), and the Airlink Pumas host Suzuki Griquas in Nelspruit (19h00), and that will be followed by two encounters on Saturday.

First, the Fidelity ADT Lions host Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Johannesburg (15h00) and later, the Vodacom Bulls face DHL WP in a North vs South derby in Pretoria (17h15).

Scorers:

Fidelity ADT Lions 25 (12), Suzuki Griquas 13 (8)
Fidelity ADT Lions – Tries: Rynhardt Jonker, Nico Steyn, Penalty Try. Conversion: Sam Francis. Penalty goals: Francis (2).
Suzuki Griquas – Tries: Carl Els, Zinedine Robinson. Penalty goal: Lubabalo Dobela.

Vodacom Bulls 25 (17), Toyota Cheetahs 13 (6)
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Celimpilo Gumede, Henry Immelman (2). Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalty goals: Smith, Jaco van der Walt.
Toyota Cheetahs – Try: Daniel Maartens. Conversion: Ethan Wentzel. Penalty goals: Wentzel (2).

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 21 (0), Airlink Pumas 31 (24)
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV – Tries: Dian Bleuler, Nick Hatton, Kerron van Vuuren. Conversions: Tian Meyer (3).
Airlink Pumas – Tries: Clinton Swart, Eddie Swart, Darren Adonis, Phiko Sobahle, Ntsika Fisanti. Conversions: Clinton Swart (2), Danrich Visagie.

NovaVit Griffons 15 (10), DHL Western Province 64 (33)
NovaVit Griffons – Tries: Mango Ngundue, Chris Nel. Conversion: Andrew Kota. Penalty goal: Kota.
DHL Western Province – Tries: Jonathan Roche (3), Angelo Davids (2), Luke Burger, Clayton Blommetjies, Lukhanyo Vokozela, CJ Velleman, Hendre Stassen. Conversations: Jurie Matthee (7).

The Kavaliers edged the Eagles by one point in Wellington.

Kavaliers to host EP in First Division Final

The Carling Currie Cup First Division semi-finals were both closely fought affairs, with Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and Eastern Province prevailing at home to progress the final this weekend.

Only four points were the difference between EP and the Valke as the men from Gqeberha beat the East Randers by 31-27 to advance to the final.

EP led 14-12 at the break in Uitenhage and eventually clinched the semi-final after both sides scored four tries, with the difference the home team’s goal kicking.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers will defend their Carling Currie Cup First Division title at home after they edged Western Cape rivals Phangela SWD Eagles 25-24 on Saturday in Wellington, where Ashlon Davids scored 15 points for the hosts.

The match was an exciting affair as the teams went into the halftime break with the Kavaliers leading 18-17. Both sides only managed to add a converted try in the second half, but that was enough for the Bolanders to progress to their second home final in a row.

Scorers:

Eastern Province 31 (14), Valke 27 (12)
EP – Tries: Temba Boltina, Lungi Mbiko, Athenkosi Manentsa, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Shirwin Cupido (2), Bantom (2). Penalty goal: Mbembe Payi
Valke - Tries: Pierre Rabie, Zander van der Merwe, Valentino Wellman, Ezrick Alexander. Conversions: Keagan Fortune (2). Penalty goal: Fortune.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 25 (18), Phangela SWD Eagles 24 (17)
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Michael Benadie, Emile Booysen, Ashlon Davids. Conversions: Davids (2). Penalty goals: Davids (2).
Phangela SWD Eagles - Tries: Clive Kruger (2), Sachin Toring. Conversions: Marlo Weich (3). Penalty goal: Weich.