Griquas set for semi-final showdown against Cheetahs in Kimberley

The Suzuki Griquas will have another chance to prove themselves on home soil this coming weekend when they host the Toyota Cheetahs in a Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:15 on Saturday, and the clash will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Despite suffering a tough 37-7 defeat against the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg in their final league encounter, the Griquas secured second place on the log with 25 points, just one point behind the table-topping Lions. That position guaranteed them a home semi-final and an opportunity to bounce back in front of their supporters.

The Lions, who finished top of the standings on 26 points, will host the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in the other semi-final at Ellis Park, with kick-off set for 17:00.

Griquas started brightly against the Lions on Saturday evening when flanker Lourens Oosthuizen finished off a flowing move in the fifth minute, converted by George Whitehead to give the visitors an early 7-0 lead. But a powerful response from the Lions saw tries from Henco van Wyk and Richard Kriel shift momentum before halftime. A penalty from Chris Smith extended their advantage to 15-7 at the break.

The second half belonged entirely to the hosts. Griquas struggled to contain wave after wave of attack, conceding tries to Nico Steyn, Angelo Davids, and Quan Horn, which sealed the Lions’ emphatic victory.

Elsewhere, the final round of league action produced heartbreak for the Airlink Pumas, who narrowly missed out on the semi-finals. The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV handed them a 19-13 defeat in Durban on Friday night, with tries from Yaw Penxe, Phepsi Buthelezi, and Francois Venter proving decisive. The Pumas collected only a single bonus point, which was not enough to overtake Boland.

On Saturday, DHL Western Province finally broke their season-long drought with a 40-22 win over Boland in Cape Town. WP’s resurgence was built on discipline and precision, with Adre Smith scoring twice, while Jurie Matthee added five conversions in a standout display. Boland, who finished fourth on the log with 23 points, were left to rue costly yellow cards as they slipped to defeat.

The Vodacom Bulls ended their campaign on a positive note with a 35-31 win over the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld. The Pretoria side dominated the first half and built a 28-5 lead, only to see the visitors surge back after captain Marcell Coetzee was shown a red card. Tries from Jandre Nel, Prince Nkabinde, Pierre-Raymond Uys, and Vernon Paulo gave the Cheetahs hope, but missed conversions meant they fell just short.

At the end of the single-round league stage, the Lions, Griquas, Cheetahs, and Boland advanced to the playoffs. The Pumas finished fifth on 21 points, while the Bulls (15 points), Sharks XV (14), and Western Province (six) completed the table.

For Griquas, this weekend is about redemption. Kimberley fans will pack Suzuki Stadium with the hope of seeing their team rise after a tough loss in Johannesburg. Standing in their way are the Cheetahs, who showed flashes of brilliance in Pretoria and will be determined to spoil the home side’s party.

The Currie Cup has delivered its fair share of drama already, but with the semi-finals ahead, the stage is set for even bigger battles.