The Pumas, Western Province and Griquas all remain on track to challenge for Rugby Challenge honours after good wins this weekend.
The three heavyweights in this exciting tournament, which saw an average of 70 tries per weekend in the first month, are the only undefeated teams left after four rounds of action and look set to again be involved in the playoffs next month.
The Pumas beat the Golden Lions XV 51-33 in Johannesburg, while Griquas stunned the Vodacom Blue Bulls to remain the top team in the North section. Meanwhile, Western Province beat the Zimbabwe Academy 33-13 in Cape Town to open up a huge lead in the South section.
The Sunday Rugby Festival, held at Impala Rugby Club in Rustenburg, again delivered two massively competitive matches, with the Griffons downing the Welwitschias 34-24, and the Valke claiming a first win in the competition by beating the Leopards 52-50. In this match, both Edmund Rheeder and Eugene Hare scored hat-tricks for the North West team.
In other results, the Boland Cavaliers had their flags lowered for the first time in Durban on Friday evening when the Sharks XV kicked a penalty goal after the hooter to win this exciting encounter by 29-28.
The Free State Cheetahs XV had the advantage of players coming back into the squad after their PRO14 campaign, and they showed no mercy to SWD in Bloemfontein on Saturday, beating them 64-17.
The EP Elephants won their Eastern Cape derby against Border 52-3.
Round 4 results:
Griquas (38) – Tries: Ederies Arendse (2), AJ le Roux, Andre Swarts, Sias Koen. Conversions: George Whitehead (5). Penalty: Whitehead.
Blue Bulls (17) – Tries: Travis Ismaiel, JT Jackson. Conversions: Fiela Boshoff (2). Penalty: Jackson.
Golden Lions XV (33) – Tries: Reuben Schoeman, Sylvian Mahuza, Prince Nkabinde, Jan-Louis la Grange, Pieter Jansen. Conversions: Dillon Smit, Mahuza (2), Ruan Combrinck.
Pumas (51) – Tries: Neil Maritz (2), Alwayno Visagie (2), Phumzile Maqondwana, Chris Smith. Conversions: Smith (4). Penalties: Smith (2).
Griffons (34) – Tries: Ezrick Alexander, Domenic Smit, Jean Pretorius, Niell Stannard, Duan Pretorius. Conversions: Jaywinn Juries (3). Penalty goal: Danrich Visagie.
Welwitschias (24) – Tries: Johannes Tromp, AJ de Klerk, Louis van der Westhuizen. Conversions: Cliven Loubser (3). Penalty: Loubser.
Leopards (50) – Tries: Eugene Hare (3), Edmund Rheeder (3), Schalk Hugo, Andre Fouche. Conversions: Hugo (5).
Valke (52) – Tries: Rodney Damons (2), Coert Cronje, Friedle Olivier, Andrew van Wyk (2), Errol Jaggers. Conversions: Anrich Richter (4), Andre du Plessis (3). Penalty: Richter.
Western Province (33) – Tries: Godlen Masimla (2), Chad Solomon, Johan du Toit, Edwill van Der Merwe. Conversions: Abner van Reenen (4).
Zimbabwe Academy (13) – Try: Jafnos Chiwanza. Conversion: Brendon Mandivenga. Penalties: Mandivenga (2).
Free State Cheetahs XV (64) – Tries: Jasper Wiese (3), Adriaan Carelse, Boan Venter, Darren Adonis, Jamba Ulengo, Keanen Murray, Niell Jordaan, Carel Coetzee. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (6), Lubabalo Dobela.
SWD Eagles (17) – Tries: Leighton Eksteen, Shario Rosenkrantz. Conversions: Divan Nel (2). Penalty: Nel.
Sharks XV (29) – Tries: Penalty Try, Sicelo Tole, Lwazi Mvovo, Rhyno Smith. Conversions: Smith (2). Penalty goal: Smith.
Boland (28) – Tries: Shilton van Wyk, Valentino Wellman, Shirwin Cupido. Conversions: Garrick Mattheus (2). Penalties: Mattheus (3).
EP Elephants (52) – Tries: Tries: Rynhard van Wyk, Zingisa April (2), Ntabeni Dukisa, Athenkosi Mayinye, Mikey Botha (2), Diego Williams. Conversions: Ntabeni Dukisa (6).
Border (3) – Penalty: Aphiwe Stimele.
Photo: Gallo Images
