Early pacesetters in Currie Cup race

Today at 09:03 AM

WRAP: The race for the four places in the Currie Cup got off to a cracking start during the 2025 South African Cup opening round - the qualifying tournament.

Three of the five matches at the weekend ended in away wins, with only the Boland Cavaliers and Falcons able to gain home victories.

In one of the main clashes of the first round, the Boland Cavaliers got the better of the Cheetahs when the side coached by Hawies Fourie defeated Frans Steyn's Free Staters by 45-29 in Wellington.

This entertaining fixture produced 10 tries and the Bloemfontein visitors played their part by matching the home side's tally of five tries.

Defending champions Griquas got their campaign off to a flying start by overwhelming the Leopards 64-7 in Potchefstroom in one of four Saturday fixtures.

The Griffons produced a powerful second-half display to defeat hosts Border 55-32 in their clash in East London, while Falcons prevailed 41-30 over a gallant Eastern Province in their home game at Kempton Park.

Meanwhile, the Pumas opened their account with a 75-7 romp over the SWD Eagles in George this past Friday.

(Match details and scorers follow below ...)

Pumas outgun Eagles in Mpumalanga

Sango Xamlashe (inside centre), Wian van Niekerk (outside centre), Eddie Swart (replacement prop) as well as Ntsika Fisanti (loose forward) all scored two tries each for the Pumas. Kickers Danrich Visagie and Clinton Swart slotted ten conversions between the two of them. Sachin Toring grabbed the solo try for the team from George.

Scorers:

Pumas
Tries: Xamlashe 2, Adonis, Van Niekerk 2, E Swart 2, Fisanti 2, Classen, C Swart
Cons: C Swart 6, Danrich Visagie 4

SWD Eagles
Try: Toring
Con: Abrahams

Teams

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Ettiene Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Armand Maritz, 21 Conor van Eden, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Lundi Msenge.

Eagles: 15 Roshwin Abrahams, 14 Rosco Syster, 13 JP Duvenage, 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Quaid Langeveldt, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Leighton van Wyk, 7 Dian Basson, 6 Damon Royle (captain), 5 Mncedisi Dlwengu, 4 Ethan Stuurman, 3 Hlomla Zondani, 2 Stephan Leonard, 1 Cole Haggard.
Replacements: 16 Tandolwethu Matolengwe, 17 Gaywin Smith, 18 Cecil Rittels, 19 Azola Mati, 20 Wayne Khan, 21 Stone Cloete, 22 Clive Kruger, 23 Jordon Beukes.

Referee: Christopher Allison

Boland stake early claim against Cheetahs

In an entertaining encounter played in front of an enthusiastic crowd, both sides scored five tries apiece, however, it was the Cavaliers' kickers, Ashlon Davids (flyhalf) and his replacement Gart April, who punished the Free Staters for their propensity to commit numerous offenses.

Davids was an instrumental figure throughout as he pulled the strings in a good tactical display, and he 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 over twice, while starting pivot George Lourens converted his own try before making way for Nel.

Scorers:

Boland Cavaliers
Tries: Nxele 3, Tobias, Hoffman
Cons: Davids 3, April
Pens: Davids 2, April 2

Cheetahs
Tries: Nel 2, Nkabinde, Lourens, Uys
Cons: Lourens, Jasper

Teams

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Duren Hoffman, 13 Xavier Mitchell, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Lunathi Nxele, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Keenan Opperman, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Michael Anthony Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Schalk Wentzel Oelofse, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Garth April, 23 Jurick Lewis.

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Raegan Oranje, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Neels Volschenk, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dux Manyana, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Jandré Nel, 23 Banie Britz.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Griffons pull away from Border in second half

The hosts made home ground advantage count as they scored three of their four tries in the opening half to lead 25-19.

The men from Welkom found their rhythm after the break and outscored the Bulldogs by four tries to one to register a comfortable win in the end, only allowing their hosts to score again after normal playing time had lapsed.

No 8 Soso Xakalashe was one of the standout performers for the Bulldogs as he crossed over for two tries, while flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen kicked three successful conversions and two penalty goals.

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.

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.

Scorers:

Border Bulldogs
Tries: Xakalashe 2, Dingile, Nkonki
Cons: Klaasen 3
Pens: Klaasen 2

Griffons
Tries: Westraadt 3, Hollis 2, Stander, Eymann, Kota
Cons: Kota 6
Pen: Kota

Teams

Border Bulldogs: 15 Larry Nkonki, 14 Simthembile Ntleki, 13 Awonke Sondishe, 12 Hlumelo Zitha, 11 Sakhekile Dingile, 10 Maxwell Klaasen, 9 Chucky Ismail, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Hlomla Payi, 6 Oyisa Balekile, 5 Ayabonga Nomboyo, 4 Camagu Dlisani, 3 Hlumza Nondonga, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 1 Luxolo Koza (captain).
Replacements: 16 Mangaliso Zixesha, 17 Sibusiso Lali, 18 Siphetho Manakaza, 19 Cayleb Radcliffe, 20 Esethu Zenani, 21 Jaden Shaw, 22 Aphiwe Sidloyi, 23 Ryan Maree.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen

Defending champs Griquas too strong for Leopards

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 effort 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 Leopards' consolation try in the second half.

Scorers:

Leopards
Try: Posthumus
Con: Baxter

Griquas
Tries: Mahoney 2, Els 2, Kruger, Hufke, Whitehead, Zwelendaba, De Witt, Du Rand
Cons: Sefoor 4, Whitehead 3

Teams

Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuka, 14 Sinothando Tshontsyi, 13 Andre Grobler, 12 Mihlali Nchukana, 11 Clyde Lewis, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcinokuhle Mdletshe, 7 Ghudian Van Reenen, 6 Uzile Tele, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Imaad Phillips, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Jethro Alexander, 1 Jason Jansen.
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Tatenda Chayayi, 18 Michael Ryan, 19 Dries du Preez, 20 Arminn Posthumus, 21 Daniel Verster, 22 Sakkie Smith, 23 Shaun-Christian Baxter.

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelindaba, 11 Conner Mahoney, 10 Tylor Sefoor, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt (captain), 6 Carl Els, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Athi Khethani, 3 Cebolenkosi Dlamini, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Edward Davids.
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Corné Lavagna, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Dylan Sjöblom, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Tertius Kruger.

Referee: Paul Mente

Falcons fight back to down plucky EP

The visitors – who were 0-14 down before scoring three first-half tries – had a fine opening spell and deservedly led by eight points at the halfway stage.

However, the Falcons tightened up their defence and took better advantage of their scoring opportunities in the second stanza 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, however, they could not match the strong finish of the hosts, who scored 10 points in the final 10 minutes to pull away.

Scorers:

Falcons
Tries: Wellman, Stalmeester, Payi, Van der Merwe, Aucamp
Cons: Fortune 5
Pens: Fortune 2

Eastern Province
Tries: Damons 2, Delport, Bantom
Cons: Humphries 2
Pens: Humphries 2

Teams

Falcons: 15 Mbembe Xolela Payi, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Musawenkosi Tshabalala, 12 Zeilinga Strydom, 11 Adrian Joubert, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Abulele Ndabambi, 7 Eddie Evans, 6 Zander van der Merwe, 5 Andrew Volschenk (captain), 4 Phillip Apea-Adu, 3 Thabo Ntunja, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Kayden Kiewit.
Replacements: 16 Joshua Eras, 17 Lindokuhle Seteni, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Zingisa April, 20 Kelvin Tafirenyika Kanenungo, 21 Luciano Elias, 22 Sergio Stalmeester, 23 Waqar Solaan.

Referee: Dylen November