Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas maintained their unbeaten record in the SA Cup when both again scored important away wins during the weekend’s fifth round action.

The log leaders from Kimberley withstood a spirited effort from the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers to register a 48-30 triumph in Wellington on Saturday, while at the same time in East London, the team from Mpumalanga bagged a 56-0 victory over Border Bulldogs – their third clean sheet of the season.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the Valke delivered their best performance of the season by outmuscling Phangela SWD Eagles by 63-31 in Kempton Park for their maiden win of the new competition, while the Leopards defeated Eastern Province in Potchefstroom for their second win of the campaign.

On Sunday in Welkom, the NovaVit Griffons clinched a dramatic 36-33 victory over neighbours Toyota Cheetahs when they were awarded a penalty try after the buzzer for their fourth win of the season, to stay in touch with the frontrunners.

After five rounds of action, Griquas managed to hold onto their leading log position with 25 points from five wins in as many games. The Pumas have the same amount points, however, they find themselves second on the standings behind on points’ difference.

The Griffons’ derby win over the Cheetahs lifted them above the Bloemfontein outfit into third place with 20 points, with the team from Bloemfontein three points behind on 17. The two Free State sides are followed by the Kavaliers in fourth place (12 points), the Eagles and Leopards (both 10), Elephants (8), Valke (7) and Bulldogs (0).

The action continues next weekend when five more games will be played during round six of the competition. Following conclusion of the single round of matches, the two top-ranked sides will contest the Cup final on Saturday, 25 May.

Griffons edge Cheetahs in exciting Free State derby

The NovaVit Griffons delivered their best performance of their SA Cup campaign when they defeated their southern neighbours the Toyota Cheetahs by 36-33 in Welkom on Sunday afternoon.

The teams were locked at 12-all at the interval and both sides managed to score five tries apiece, but the hosts clinched this exciting clash with a penalty try deep in extra-time after their maul was illegally brought down on the way to the tryline.

Dandre Delport (hooker), Carel-Jan Coetzee (outside centre), Jaywinn Juries (replacement outside back) and Thomas Ongera (loose forward) were the try scorers for the hosts, while the Cheetahs' five tries were dotted down by Dan Kasende (right wing), Friedle Olivier, Gideon van der Merwe (loose forwards) and Tapiwa Mafura (fullback).

Scorers:

NovaVit Griffons 36 (12) – Tries: Dandre Delport, Carel-Jan Coetzee, Jaywinn Juries, Thomas Ongera, Penalty Try. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (3). Penalty goal: Visagie.

Toyota Cheetahs 33 (12) – Dan Kasende (2), Friedle Olivier, Gideon van der Merwe, Tapiwa Mafura. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (2), Abner van Reenen, George Lourens.

Griquas withstand courageous Kavaliers fightback

Suzuki Griquas scored seven tries and the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers replied with three as the men from Kimberley registered win number five courtesy of a 48-30 victory in Wellington on Saturday afternoon, after leading 22-9 at the break.

The Kavaliers staged a determined fightback in the second stanza, during which time they managed to score their three converted tries. However, Pieter Bergh's outfit were too strong for Hawies Fouries' team to leave the field as deserved winners.

Griquas No 8 Carl Els scored two of their seven tries, while flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela hit the mark with four conversions and a penalty goal.

Kavaliers' pivot Garth April was successful with three penalty goals in addition to the three conversions for a personal tally of 15 points.

Scorers:

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 30 (9) – Tries: Tries: Cornell Engelbrecht, Xavier Mitchell, Bentley Geldenhuys. Conversions: Garth April (3). Penalty goals: April (3).

Suzuki Griquas 48 (22) – Tries: Carl Els (2), Janco Uys, Stephan Smit, Thomas Bursey, Cameron Hufke, Niel Otto. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (4), George Whitehead. Penalty goal: Dobela.

Valke stun Eagles for first campaign victory

The Valke had too much firepower for the visiting Phangela SWD Eagles as they clinched a 63-31 victory in Kempton Park on Saturday, for their first win of the campaign.

The East Randers were already 28-10 ahead at the interval and they went on to score eight tries against four.

Left wing Valentino Wellman dotted down for two of the Valke's tries and Sergio Stalmeester slotted four conversions and three penalty goals for a personal contribution of 17 points.

The Eagles fought back in the second half by scoring three times, however, JP Immelman’s team scored four tries in front of their home fans to put the game beyond the visitors’ reach.

Wings Thoubaan Gabriels and Rosco Syster each scored a brace of tries for the team from George, while midfielder Marlo Weich added two of the three successful conversions.

Scorers:

Valke 63 (28) – Tries: Valentino Wellman (2), Cohen Kiewit, Luciano Elias, Yanga Hlalu, Easton Arendse, Kelvin Kanenungo, Anrich Richter. Conversions: Sergio Stalmeester (4), Andrew van Wyk, Anrich Richter (2). Penalty goals: Stalmeester (3).

Phangela SWD Eagles 31 (10) – Tries: Thoubaan Gabriels (2), Rosco Syster (2), Jade Stoffels. Conversions: Marlo Weich (2), Sachin Toring. Penalty goal: Deon Carstens.

Leopards hunt down EP in Potchefstroom

The Leopards registered six tries in their 43-26 SA Cup victory over Eastern Province on Saturday in Potchefstroom, following their narrow 17-14 halftime advantage.

The men from the North West managed to pull away in the second period for their second win in as many weeks, although the visitors from the Eastern Cape were always a threat.

The home side's tries were split equally amongst the forwards and the backs, while flyhalf Marius Viviers kept the scoreboard ticking by adding five conversions and a penalty goal.

Three of EP’s five pointers were dotted down by their outside backs and pivot Ruben Vos also slotted two conversions.

Scorers:

Leopards 43 (17) – Tries: Henro-Pierre Swart, Shirwin Cupido, Gilroy Philander, Keenan Twigg, Christo Willemse, Christiaan Gates. Conversions: Marius Viviers (5). Penalty goal: Viviers.

Eastern Province 26 (14) – Tries: Riaan Arends, Davian Swanepoel, Sanwell Jacobs, Marvin Kampher. Conversions: Ruben de Vos (2), Jacobs.

Visiting Pumas’ firepower too much for Bulldogs

The Airlink Pumas were in rampant mood as they notched up their third clean sheet of the SA Cup campaign courtesy of a comprehensive 56-0 triumph over hosts Border in East London on Saturday.

The men from Mpumalanga were already 28-0 in the lead when the two sides went off for the halftime break.

Loose forward PJ Jacobs was handed the kicking duties and he duly obliged by steering all six of his conversions through the uprights, while his kicking-replacement Diego Swartz also added two conversions.

Replacement hooker Darnell Osuagwu continued his good scoring form by dotting down two of their eight tries.

Scorers:

Border Bulldogs 0

Airlink Pumas 56 (28) – Tries: Darnell Osuagwu (2), Jan-Henning Campher, Giovan Snyman, Gene Willemse, Zeilinga Strydom, De-an Ackermann, Andrew Kota. Conversions: PJ Jacobs (6), Diego Swartz (2).