Griquas continue impressive unbeaten SA Cup run with commanding win over Eastern Province

THE SUZUKI Griquas have maintained their hold at the top of the SA Cup table with a sixth consecutive victory, overpowering Eastern Province 70–17 at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Friday afternoon.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the Pumas, who are also unbeaten, made light work of the Leopards in Potchefstroom with an 80-10 victory, and with this victory significantly narrowed the gap at the top of the table: Griquas have a points difference of 305, while the Pumas are on 303. But with their big win in Potch, the Pumas have pulled ahead in the tries scored column, leading Griquas 63 to 62.

Needless to say, it’s tight at the top!

But back in Kimberley on Friday, while the visitors from the coast stayed within striking distance during a tightly contested first half, Griquas shifted gears after the break and delivered a second-half onslaught that showcased their attacking depth and tactical maturity. 

Leading 14-10 at halftime, the hosts went on to score eight unanswered tries in the final 40 minutes – a statement of intent as they continue to march confidently toward the business end of the competition.

Speedster Dylan Maart was in sensational form, crossing the line three times to claim a well-deserved hat-trick. He was joined on the scoresheet by Tertius Kruger, who opened proceedings early in the match, and Cameron Hufke, who added a powerful finish to the dominant display. 

Griquas’ ever reliable George Whitehead, kept the scoreboard ticking with accurate conversions from his trusty boot.

Eastern Province, to their credit, showed early grit. A try from Sherwin Slater and points from Christian Humphries brought them close at halftime. However, their resistance faltered in the face of Griquas’ relentless second-half tempo. 

Further disruption came in the form of two yellow cards for Diego Williams and Stefan Willemse, leaving the visitors stretched at crucial moments. Griquas also temporarily lost Gustav Erlank to the bin, but it had little impact on their momentum.

With this emphatic result, the defending champions remain unbeaten and in pole position – setting the stage for a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against the Pumas in Nelspruit on April 25. 

Yes, that’s right, there’ll be a week’s break before all hell breaks loose in Nelspruit!

Remember, the Pumas are also unbeaten and they are running like a well-oiled machine. This means that the Kimberley outfit will need to bring their A-game for what promises to be a season-defining encounter against Jimmy Stonehouse’s brekers.

So as the SA Cup heads into a short, welcome break, giving the players to heal and reset, Griquas fans can take pride in a side that continues to deliver powerful, polished performances. 

From here, it’s not going to get easier, but the team’s consistency thus far, and their depth, and hunger for silverware seem to be as sharp as ever.

SA Cup Round 6 Results round-up

Toyota Cheetahs 87-15 Phangela SWD Eagles (half time 28-15)

Border Bulldogs 3-52 Sanlam Boland Cavaliers (half time 3-17)

Valke 45-40 NovaVit Griffons (half time 7-7)

Leopards 10-80 Airlink Pumas (half time 10-47)

Suzuki Griquas 70-17 Eastern Province (half time 14-10)