Western Province and the Pumas both claimed wins in round six of the Rugby Challenge to remain undefeated and assure their places in the semi-finals.
The defending champions totally outplayed Windhoek Draught Welwitschias in Nelspruit and scored 16 tries in a 106-0 win, but the Capetonians needed a late surge to keep their undefeated status as they beat the Free State Cheetahs XV 37-33 at the Sunday Rugby Festival held in Port Elizabeth.
While the wins have ensured that the two sides will move to the playoffs, the other two teams who will be to joining then will only be clear at the conclusion of the final round of fixtures next Sunday.
The Golden Lions XV kept their North Section semi-final hopes alive with a good 42-15 win over Griffons in Johannesburg. The Gauteng side laid the foundation of their win in the first half, when they scored three tries to none. Thanks to this result, the Lions are on 22 log points and can still overhaul Griquas (26 log points) in the final round. The two sides meet in Kimberley next weekend.
Despite a a solid 47-22 victory win over Valke, the Blue Bulls have left their charge too late and will not make the play-offs.
In the South Section, the EP Elephants claimed an unlikely 27-7 victory over a 14-man Sharks XV side, who had their slim semi-finals hopes dashed. Meanwhile, the Boland Cavaliers enhanced their claim to a semi-final spot with a solid 52-16 win over Zimbabwe Academy. At 25 log points, Boland still need to face WP next Sunday, while the Cheetahs XV, on 22 log points, face Border in Bloemfontein.
Round six results:
Western Province (37) – Tries: EW Viljoen, Brandon Valentyn, Penalty Try, Tristan Leyds. Conversions: Abner van Reenen (3). Penalties: Abner van Reenen (3).
Free State Cheetahs XV (33) – Tries: Jasper Wiese, Darren Adonis (2), Gunther Janse van Vuuren, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (4).
Boland Cavaliers (52) – Tries: Michaine Fick (2), Shilton van Wyk, Thurlow Marsh, Jordan Holgate (2), Tapiwa Tsomondo, Valentino Wellman. Conversions: Garrick Mattheus (4), Gavern Skippers, Monty Dumond.
Zimbabwe Academy (16) – Tries: Royal Mwale, Brendon Mandivenga. Penalties: Mandivenga (2).
SWD (18) – Tries: Wayne Wilschut, Anton Smit. Conversion: Gerhard Nortier. Penalties: Nortier, Divan Nel.
Border (17) – Tries – Onke Dubase, Sipho Nofemele. Conversions: Aphiwe Stimele (2). Penalty: Stimele.
EP Elephants (27) – Tries: Tristan Fourie, Mihlali Mpafi, Martin du Toit. Conversions: Ntabeni Dukisa (3). Penalties: Ntabeni Dukisa (2).
Sharks XV (7) – Try: Lwazi Mvovo. Conversion: Murray Koster.
Golden Lions XV (42) – Tries: Pieter Jansen (2), Nathan McBeth, James Venter, Tyreeq February, Jan-Louis la Grange. Conversions: Ruan Combrinck (6).
Griffons (15) – Tries: Nkosi Nofuma, Dominec Smit, Allistair Mumba.
Leopards (16) – Tries: Tjaart Benadie. Conversion: Schalk Hugo. Penalties: Hugo (3).
Griquas (31) – Tries: Conway Pretorius, Chris Smit (2), Ederies Arendse. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (4). Penalty: De Beer.
Valke (22) – Tries: Shane Kirkwood, Thabo Mabuza (2), Juandre Nel. Conversion: Andre du Plessis.
Blue Bulls (47) – Tries: Roelof Smit, Muller Uys (2), Wian van Niekerk, Duncan Matthews (2), Llewellyn Classen. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (5), Fiela Boshoff.
Pumas (106) – Tries: Johann Vermaak, Jean-Paul Lewis (2), Jacobus Marais, Henko Marais (2), Marco Palvie (3), Piet-Louw Strauss, Etienne Taljaard, Phumzile Maqondwana, Hilton Lobberts (2), Giovanne Snyman, Carel du Preez. Conversions: Jacobus Marais (11), Ashlon Davids (2).
Windhoek Draught Welwitschias (0).
Photo: Carel Fourie/Gallo Images
