Tries galore as SA Cup lifts off with a bang

Springbok winger Sbu Nkosi opened his account for the Cheetahs as the four Currie Cup Premier Division sides all reigned supreme in the first round of the inaugural SA Cup.

A total of 49 tries were scored at an average of just under 10 per game, with the biggest contributors Griquas (14) – who also kept a clean sheet on defence – and the Griffons (eight) in the competition, which was played over the weekend, while Eastern Province won a thrilling contest against the Valke in Gqeberha.

The Griffons outplayed Border 52-8 in Welkom; the Cheetahs won their home tie 38-7 against the Boland Kavaliers – now coached by former Cheetahs mentor Hawies Fourie – in Bloemfontein; the Pumas outscored SWD Eagles 43-22 in George; and Griquas cruised to an 88-0 victory over the Leopards in Kimberley.

EP won their clash with Valke 31-27 after a strong comeback in the second half where they managed to erase a halftime deficit of 27-10.

The action continues this weekend with five more games scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Scorers:

Griffons 52 (24) – Tries: Domenic Smit (3), Dandre Delport, Duren Hoffman, Gurshwin Wehr, Michael Benadie, HP van Schoor. Conversions: Jaywinn Juries (3), Danrich Visagie (3).
Border Bulldogs 8 (3) – Try: Awonke Sondishe. Penalty goal: Layron Milborrow.

Eastern Province 31 (10) – Tries: Lubabalo Mtyanda, Athenkosi Manentsa, Davian Swanepoel, Gerrit Huisamen. Conversions: Darryle Kameel (4). Penalty goal: Kameel.
Valke 27 (27) – Tries: Musa Tshabalala (2), Mosolwa Mafuma, Sergio Stalmeester. Conversions: Keagan Fortune (2). Penalty goal: Fortune.

Cheetahs 38 (21) – Tries: Gideon van der Merwe, Ali Mgijima, Marnus van der Merwe (2), Sbu Nkosi, Sibabalwe Xamlashe. Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (4).
Boland Kavaliers 7 (7) – Try: Thurlow Marsh. Conversion: Darian Hock.

SWD Eagles 22 (3) – Tries: Liko Ndiyalwa, Mpho Ntsane (2), Joshua Vermeulen. Conversions: Jade Stoffels (2).
Pumas 43 (31) – Tries: Llewellyn Classen (2), Sampie Swiegers, Andre Fouche, Tino Swanepoel, Etienne Janeke, Giovan Snyman. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3), Brandon Thomson.

Griquas (45) 88 – Tries: Janco Uys, Stephan Smit, Sako Makata (2), Tertius Kruger, Sango Xamlashe, Marcqiewn Titus (4), Thomas Bursey, Connor Mahoney (2), George Whitehead. Conversions: Whitehead (6), Lubabalo Dobela (3).
Leopards 0

Photo: @CheetahsRugby/Twitter

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