The Sharks XV beat the Free State XV 23-22 in a nailbiting Vodacom Cup contest in Heidedal.
A missed penalty kick by flyhalf Niel Marais late in the South Section clash determined the result on Friday.
Defending champions the Pumas are still undefeated in the competition after a 69-5 drubbing of the Griffons in Welkom. The Pumas ran in nine tries, of which seven were converted by flyhalf JC Roos. Uzair Cassiem, Trompie Pretorius and Ruwellyn Isbel all scored doubles, while Tertius Maarman grabbed a consolation try for the Griffons.
In Kimberley, Griquas thrashed the Limpopo Blue Bulls 68-13. Winger Hilford Clarke completed a first-half hat-trick, while Limpopo could only manage a converted try through Niyass Johnson and two penalties by Andy Huysamen.
There were also Vodacom Cup wins for the Blue Bulls, SWD, Leopards, Western Province and Border.
North Section
Blue Bulls (22) – Tries: Clayton Blommetjies, Clyde Davids, Jesse Kriel. Conversion: Tony Jantjies, Louis Fouche.
Penalty: Jantjies.
Golden Lions (20) – Tries: Cyle Brink, Vainon Willis. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2). Penalties: Jantjies (2).
Griquas (68) – Tries: Carel Greeff, Gouws Prinsloo, Hilford Clarke (3), Jaco Nepgen (2), Ntando Kebe, Simon Westraadt
Thabang Molefe. Conversions: Dustin Jinka (7), Gouws Prinsloo (2).
Limpopo (13) – Try: Niyaas Johnson. Conversion: Andy Huysamen. Penalty: Huysamen (2).
Pumas (69) – Tries: Bernardo Botha, Brian Shabangu, Corne Steenkamp, Dewald Pretorius
Jerome Pretorius (2), Ruwellyn Isbell (2), Uzair Cassiem (2). Conversions: JC Roos (7), Justin van Staden.
Penalty: Roos.
Griffons (5) – Try: Tertius Maarman
Leopards (40) – Tries: George Tossel (3), Adri Jacobs. Conversions: Gerhard Nortier (4). Penalties: Nortier (4).
Valke (29) – Tries: Andrew van Wyk, Anrich Richter, Grant Janke, Sandile Ngcobo. Penalties: Angus Cleophas (3).
South Section
Sharks XV (23) – Tries: Hanco Venter, Justin Downey. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (2). Penalties: Zeilinga (3).
Free State XV (22) – Tries: Don Mlondobozi, Nicolaas Lee, Renier Botha. Conversions: Niel Marais (2). Penalty: Marais.
Western Province (56) – Tries: Devon Williams, JP Lewis, Kyle Lombard, Rayn Smid (3), Rohan Kitshoff, Sikhumbuszo Notshe. Conversions: Gary van Aswegen (5). Penalties: Van Aswegen (2).
EP Kings (22) – Tries: Kuhle Sonkosi, Michael Killian, Selvyn Davids. Conversions: Ntabeni Dukisa (2), Penalty: Ntabeni Dukisa.
SWD (46) – Tries: Duwayne Smart (2), Grant le Roux, Hentzwill Pedro, Quinten Petzer, Shaun Raubenheimer. Conversions: Karlo Aspeling (4), Deroy Rhoode. Penalties: Aspeling (2).
Boland (17) – Tries: Hendri Rust, Tiaan Radyn. Conversions: Eric Zana (2). Penalty: Zana.
Border (18) – Tries: Jeff Taljard, Makazole Maphimpi. Conversion: Taljard. Penalty: Taljard (2).
Tusker Simba XV (17) – Tries: Fabian Ogutu, Leonard Mugaisi. Conversions: Kenny Andola (2). Penalty: Kenny Andola.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
