SA Cup: Pumas riding high, Kavaliers a dark horse

Today at 02:06 AM

The Pumas and Griquas took an early lead in the race for four places in the Currie Cup Premier Division as the 2025 SA Cup got off to a cracking start.

The Pumas, Currie Cup champions in 2023 and finalists in 2024, opened their account with a 75-7 romp over the SWD Eagles in George on Friday, and reigning SA Cup champs Griquas came close to matching that margin on Saturday in a 64-7 win against the Leopards in Potchefstroom.

Boland Kavaliers ambushed the Cheetahs in a 10-try shootout in Wellington; former Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie steering Boland to a 45-29 victory against Frans Steyn's Free Staters.

A second-half surge helped Griffons to beat Border 55-32 in East London, while Valke prevailed 41-30 over Eastern Province at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.

Pumas roast Eagles in Nelspruit
The SWD Eagles scored first against the Pumas, but then leaked 11 tries as the hosts raced to a comprehensive 75-7 victory in the Friday opener. The Pumas led 26-7 at half time.

Pumas centres Sango Xamlashe and Wian van Niekerk, prop Eddie Swart and as loose forward Ntsika Fisanti each scored two tries while goal-kickers Danrich Visagie and Clinton Swart combined for ten conversions. Sachin Toring grabbed the solo try for the team from George.

Scorers:
Pumas 75 (26) – Tries: Sango Xamlashe (2), Darren Adonis, Wian van Niekerk (2), Eddie Swart (2), Ntsika Fisanti (2), Llewellyn Classen, Clinton Swart. Conversions: Swart (6), Danrich Visagie (4).
SWD Eagles 7 (7) – Try: Sachin Toring. Conversion: Braam Abrahams.

Kavaliers put Cheetahs to the sword
The Boland Kavaliers defeated the Cheetahs 45-29 in Wellington on Saturday to open their SA Cup with a convincing bonus-point win after leading 19-12 at the break.

An enthusiastic crowd was treated to five tries by each of the teams, but it the Boland goal-kickers who proved to be the difference – flyhalf Ashlon Davids and his replacement Garth April punished the Free Staters for ill-discipline.

Davids was instrumental in a good tactical display, and also kept the scoreboard ticking over by slotting three conversions and two penalty goals. April kept in tune when he came on as replacement by adding a conversion and two penalty goals.

Boland left wing Lunathi Nxele scored three tries. Replacement flyhalf Jandre Nel made a good impact for the Free Staters by crossing twice while starting pivot George Lourens converted his own try before making way for Nel.

Scorers:
Boland 45 (19) – Tries: Lunathi Nxele (3), Sidney Tobias, Duren Hoffman. Conversions: Ashlon Davids (3), Garth April. Penalties: Davids (2), April (2).
Cheetahs 29 (12) – Tries: Jandre Nel (2), Prince Nkabinde, George Lourens, Pierre-Raymond Uys. Conversions: Lourens, Cohen Jasper.

Griffons close the door on Border
The Griffons powered to a 55-32 away victory over the Border Bulldogs at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Saturday afternoon.

Despite Border turning homeground advantage into a 25-19 half-time lead, the men from Welkom found their rhythm after the break for the win.

Hooker Simon Westraadt helped himself to a hat-trick of tries as the Griffons’ rolling maul created havoc in the second half, while inside centre Chris Hollis went over for a brace of tries.

Griffons left wing Andrew Kota also had a fine individual game as he added six conversions and a penalty goal to his try for a personal tally of 20 points.

Eighthman Soso Xakalashe was one of the standout performers for the Bulldogs as he crossed for two tries, while flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen kicked three successful conversions and two penalty goals.

Scorers:
Border 32 (25) – Tries: Soso Xakalashe (2), Sakhe Dingile, Larry Nkonki. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (3). Penalty goals: Klaasen (2).
Griffons 55 (19) – Tries: Simon Westraadt (3), Chris Hollis (2), Ulrich Stander, Quan Eymann, Andrew Kota. Conversions: Kota (6), Penalty goal: Kota.

Defending champs Griquas too strong for Leopards
Griquas got the defence of their SA Cup title off to a flying start by beating Leopards 64-7 in Potchefstroom.

The men from Kimberley were lethal in the first half and scored 31 unanswered points before adding a further 33 points in the second period, while restricting the Leopards to just one converted try during that time.

Loose forward Carl Els and left wing Connor Mahoney each scored twice for the champions. Former Junior Springbok flyhalf Tylor Sefoor added four conversions. Arminn Posthumus scored the Leopards’ consolation try in the second half.

Scorers:
Leopards 7 (0) – Try: Arminn Posthumus. Conversion: Shaun-Christian Baxter.
Griquas 64 (31) – Tries: Connor Mahoney (2), Carl Els (2), Tertius Kruger, Cameron Hufke, George Whitehead, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Marco de Witt, Gustav du Rand. Conversions: Tylor Sefoor (4), Whitehead (3).

Valke fight back to corral EP
Valke overturned a half-time deficit to beat Eastern Province 41-30 in Kempton Park.

EP started slow before scoring three tries for a 22-14 lead at the break. However, the Valke tightened up their defence in the second half and converted scoring opportunities to clinch a hard-fought victory. Flyhalf Keagan Fortune kept the East Randers in the hunt with his accurate boot as he succeeded with all five conversions in addition to two well-taken penalty goals.

Right wing Rodney Damons dotted down twice for EP and pivot Christian Humphries hit the mark with two conversions and two penalty goals.

Scorers:
Valke 41 (14) – Tries: Valentino Wellman, Sergio Stalmeester, Mbembe Payi, Zander van der Merwe, Wernich Aucamp. Conversions: Keagan Fortune (5). Penalty goals: Fortune (2).

Eastern Province 30 (22) – Tries: Rodney Damons (2), Troy Delport, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Christian Humphries (2). Penalty goals: Humphries (2).

In round 2 action on Friday, the Cheetahs host the Leopards while Border visit the Eagles in George. On Saturday, Griquas welcome the Valke to Kimberley, Griffons aim to make Boland feel Welkom and EP take on the Pumas at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

The post SA Cup: Pumas riding high, Kavaliers a dark horse appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.