Defending champions, the Pumas have taken sole ownership of top of the log after the Sharks brought down the Free State Cheetahs in the seventh round of Currie Cup action.

The Vodacom Bulls also claimed their third victory in a row and jumped two spots in the standings with a Morne Steyn-inspired 30-19 win against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night. Then on Sunday, last season’s losing finalists, Griquas, made it back-to-back victories as they powered past the Griffons 42-27 in Kimberley.

An outstanding defensive display from the Sharks snuffed out a spirited Cheetahs fightback to secure a 24-17 victory in Bloemfontein on Friday, before the Pumas snatched a 25-24 triumph over Western Province in Nelspruit.

STATE OF THE URC: North-South derby lights up playoffs

Jimmy Stonehouse’s charges have accumulated 29 log points after seven rounds, and the men of Mpumalanga have opened a narrow three-point gap on the second-placed Cheetahs, the previous joint leaders in the 2023 competition.

Following the weekend’s results,​​ Griquas have moved up to fourth position on the log, and are tied on 19 points with the third-placed Sharks, who have a superior points difference. The Bulls have climbed to fifth and are one point above old rivals WP.

Looking ahead to round 8, the Lions face the Pumas in Johannesburg on Friday (5pm), before the Cheetahs host the Griffons at Free State Stadium (7:05pm). In the remaining fixtures, the Sharks and Griquas are set to lock horns in Durban on Saturday (3pm), with Province and the Bulls to bring the curtain down in a north-south derby at Cape Town Stadium (5:05pm).

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