The NovaVit Griffons delivered arguably the performance of the week by edging the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 38-35 in a nail-biting second round SA Cup match in Welkom to entrench themselves in the top three along with Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas.

The defending champions from Kimberley and last year’s runners up from Nelspruit both maintained their winning record. Griquas beat the Valke 68-15 at home and the Pumas beat Eastern Province 61-22 in Gqeberha.

The Toyota Cheetahs bounced back to winning ways when they outplayed the Leopards 69-0 in Bloemfontein and the Phangela SWD Eagles also got their first win of the campaign courtesy of a 48-22 victory over the Border Bulldogs in George on Friday afternoon.

After two rounds, three teams are deadlocked on 10 log points, but Suzuki Griquas lead the standings with a better points differential over the Airlink Pumas and NovaVit Griffons.

The Bolanders are fourth on seven points, followed by the Cheetahs on six, and the Eagles and Valke on five each. The top four teams at the end of the single round league phase will qualify for the Carling Currie Cup.

In a nail-biting encounter at the Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom, the NovaVit Griffons gained a thrilling 38-35 victory over the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers Saturday. Both teams scored five converted tries, but the hosts’ successful comeback in the second half, spearheaded by Andrew Kota (left wing), swung the game in their favour.

Kota scored a try, five conversions and a crucial penalty goal for a personal contribution of 18 points.

The Kavaliers took an early lead, heading into halftime with a 28-7 advantage, which included two tries by former Springbok centre Cornal Hendricks. The team from Wellington started the second half positively by scoring their fifth converted try, but other than that, the Griffons controlled the second stanza.

They mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring four tries in the second period, with Kota heavily involved. Midfielder Chris Hollis scored the winning try in the dying moments to clinch a thrilling contest for the Welkom outfit.

The Airlink Pumas convincingly beat Eastern Province 61-22 in their away game Saturday afternoon in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha after leading 33-10 at the hallway stage.

The men from Mpumalanga, last year's finalists, outscored their Eastern Cape hosts by nine tries to three, which included a penalty try. Scrumhalf Ross Braude helped himself to a hat trick of tries for the Lowvelders, while pivot Clinton Swart kicked five conversions

In Kimberley, the Suzuki Griquas gave a commanding performance against Valke on Saturday, securing a resounding 68-15 victory for the holders. They set the tone early, racing to a 33-10 lead by halftime because of their five tries and four successful conversions, while Valke could only reply with a converted try and a penalty goal.

Their relentless attack continued in the second half, adding another 35 points via five more converted tries to their tally. Former Blitzbok Gurswhin Wehr (left wing) scored three times, while Dylan Maart (right wing) and Gustav du Rand (replacement hooker) each went over twice. Tyler Sefoor (fly half) was on target with five conversions and his replacement George Whitehead hit the mark with four.

Valke managed to score two tries, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant Griquas, who were in fine form throughout the match.

The Toyota Cheetahs recovered from their opening loss last week in Wellington to secure a runaway 69-0 win over the Leopards in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, racing to a 34-0 lead at the break and scoring 11 tries in total, of which seven were converted.

Livewire scrumhalf Jandre Nel was the standout player as he dotted down four time, while Louis van der Westhuizen (hooker) went over twice. Fullback Cohen Jasper was amongst the try scorers and added the seven successful conversions for a personal haul of 19 points.

The Phangela SWD Eagles handed the Border Bulldogs their second defeat of the competition with a 48-22 victory in George on Friday afternoon.

It was a tight affair in the opening half with Border still very much in the picture, with the hosts leading by 19-15 at the break. The Eagles pulled away in the second stanza as they eventually scored eight tries overall plus three conversions, while Border replied with three tries, two conversions and a penalty goal.

The East London side could not match the intensity of SWD, adding only one more try after the break. The Eagles turned on the heat in the second stanza to add 28 more points to their tally for a comfortable bonus-point win and their first victory of the season.

Scrumhalf Sachin Toring led the way with two tries and a conversion for the Eagles. Border flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen had a steady game and slotted two of the three conversion attempts in addition to landing a penalty goal.

Next week will see three matches staged on Friday – Phangela SWD Eagles host Eastern Province in George; the Border Bulldogs entertain Suzuki Griquas in East London; and the Airlink Pumas face the Toyota Cheetahs in Nelspruit.

Saturday’s two fixtures involve the Leopards against NovaVit Griffons in Potchefstroom, while Valke welcome the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers to Kempton Park.

Scorers:

Novavit Griffons 38 (7), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 35 (28)

Griffons – Tries: Simon Westraadt, Andrew Kota, Chris Hollis, Junior Banda, Lungi Mbiko. Conversions: Kota (5). Penalty goal: Kota.

Kavaliers – Tries: Cornal Hendricks (2), Ashlon Davids, Keenan Opperman, Lunathi Nxele. Conversions: Davids (5).

Eastern Province 22 (10), Airlink Pumas 61 (33)

EP – Tries: Rodney Damons, Shirwin Cupido, Jayden Bantom. Conversions: Chadwin November, Christian Humphries. Penalty goal: Humphries.

Pumas – Tries: Ross Braude (3), Sango Xamlashe, Wian van Niekerk, Ruwald van der Merwe, Danrich Visagie, Lundi Msenge, Penalty try. Conversions: Clinton Swart (5), Danrich Visagie (2).

Suzuki Griquas 68 (33), Valke 15 (10)

Griquas – Tries: Gurshwin Wehr (3), Gustav du Rand (2), Dylan Maart (2), Cameron Hufke, Marco De Witt, Zane Bester. Conversions: Tylor Sefoor (5), George Whitehead (4).

Valke – Tries: Andrew Volschenk, Musa Tshabalala. Conversion: Keagan Fortune. Penalty goal: Keagan.

Toyota Cheetahs 69 (34),Leopards 0

Cheetahs – Tries: Jandre Nel (4),Louis van der Westhuizen (2), Daniel Maartens, Prince Nkabinde, Cohen Jasper, Reagan Oranje, Banie Britz. Conversions: Jasper (7).

Phangela SWD Eagles 48 (19), Border Bulldogs 22 (15)

SWD – Tries: Sachin Toring (2), Mpho Ntsane, Stone Cloete, Ethan Stuurman, Dian Basson, Clive Kruger. Penalty Try. Conversions: Braam Abrahams (2), Sachin Toring.

Border – Tries: Kamvelihle Fatyela, Simthembile Zozi, Hlumelo Pantyo. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (2). Penalty goal: Klaasen.