Sport

Eight clubs remain standing in Pick n Pay Gold Cup

Danie van der Lith|Published

The Pick n Pay Gold Cup quarter-finalists have been confirmed after an intense Round of 16, with all eight home sides advancing. Defending champions Naka Bulls and Northam Wolves headline the North section, while Villager, Gardens, College Rovers, and Robertson advance in the South.

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THE QUARTER-finalists in this year’s Pick n Pay Gold Cup have been confirmed after an action-packed Round of 16 weekend, with all eight home sides advancing to the last eight. Known as the ‘FA Cup’ of South African rugby, the tournament continues to showcase the growth and passion in community rugby across the country.

Supported by Northam Platinum, whose commitment to grassroots sport aligns with the spirit of the Gold Cup, the tournament also benefits from Pick n Pay’s title partnership. This is part of a four-year agreement that includes the retailer’s Tier-1 sponsorship of the Springboks, the four-time world champions and back-to-back Castle Lager Rugby Championship winners.

In the North section, defending champions Naka Bulls are three wins away from an unprecedented third consecutive national title. A brilliant performance from left wing JJ Motlhodi and scrumhalf Jack Hart saw the Pretoria side trounce Louis Trichardt 88-19. Naka Bulls will meet Northam Wolves in the first quarter-final after the platinum miners impressed by beating the Raiders of Johannesburg 53-30. Wing Marcel Human scored a hat-trick, including the opening try in the first minute and the 77th-minute touchdown, contributing 21 points overall with three conversions.

Northam’s other team, Rhinos, the 2024 runners-up, had to fight hard for a 31-19 win over Centurion. The match remained in the balance until wing Elzandro Fredericks’ stoppage-time try sealed the victory. Rhinos will face Pretoria Harlequins, who overcame Vereeniging 34-22 in a seven-try battle, boosted by centre Dieter Crafford’s second try and 14 points from flyhalf Jaen-dré de Bruyn.

The South half of the draw promises thrilling contests in the Western Cape. Villager, Western Province champions seeking their first national title since 1980, came from behind to defeat arch-rivals Hamilton 27-14, marking their fourth victory over the Claremont side this year. Villager will host Gardens, who edged Kruisfontein United 29-25 in a tense Eastern Cape derby at the Central Ground in Kariega. The seven-try thriller saw super-sub Claude Jantjies’ 74th-minute try bring Gardens close, but Kruisfontein’s Breyton Wentzel responded in the 79th minute, leaving Gardens to hold on for a famous victory.

The fourth quarter-final will feature KZN champions College Rovers taking on Boland champions Robertson. College Rovers secured a hard-fought 19-3 win over local rivals Crusaders, while Robertson triumphed 52-33 over Villagers Worcester in a 13-try spectacle that kept the full house at Van Zyl Sports Grounds on edge until the dying minutes. Centre Jennewil April’s stoppage-time score finally put Robertson clear.

“We’ve now reached the business end of the Pick n Pay Gold Cup and it was clear to see the step up in intensity,” said SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer. “The last eight teams will now know that anything can happen in a knockout tournament and they are within touching distance of lifting the Cup.

“I would like to thank Pick n Pay and Northam Platinum for making the Gold Cup possible, giving amateur and semi-professional players a chance to display their talents on a national stage. In 2017, Grant Williams was playing in the Gold Cup for College Rovers, and on Saturday he lifted the Rugby Championship trophy with the Springboks. The Gold Cup has the potential to provide the next Grant Williams, and with our sponsors on board, I am confident this will happen soon.”

The quarter-final venues and kick-off times will be announced shortly.

Round of 16 Results – Saturday 4 October

North Section: Naka Bulls 88-19 Louis Trichardt, Northam Wolves 53-30 Raiders, Northam Rhinos 31-19 Centurion, Pretoria Harlequins 34-22 Vereeniging

South Section: College Rovers 19-3 Crusaders, Robertson 52-33 Villagers, Worcester Villager 27-14 Hamilton, Gardens 29-25 Kruisfontein United