Defending Currie Cup champions the Cheetahs, as well as the two Gauteng teams – the Lions and Vodacom Bulls – all continued their unbeaten starts to the 2024 edition of the tournament.
The Free Staters increased their points tally to a “perfect 10” from two games with a 37-17 win over DHL Western Province in Bloemfontein on Saturday, but the Lions were the biggest winners of the round as they romped to a 75-21 triumph over the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, Griquas edged the Sharks XV by 34-31 in an exciting game in Kimberley, and Sunday’s match between the Griffons and Bulls ended in a comfortable 52-10 victory for the men from Pretoria.
The round kicked off in Kimberley, where Griquas fought back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to edge the Sharks XV by 34-31 in a clash that delivered 10 tries – five by each team. Lubabalo Dobela was the hometown hero with a late penalty goal that handed the hosts their maiden win of the season.
On Sunday, the Vodacom Bulls took revenge for their defeat in Welkom last year by scoring eight tries in the dry Northern Free State conditions to comfortably beat the Griffons by 52-10.
Celimpilo Gumede, who was part of the Springbok training squad a few weeks ago, scored two of the Vodacom Bulls’ tries, while Jaco van der Walt and Chris Smith added three conversions each.
Photo: Marnus Prinsloo/Gallo Images