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