SA Cup heats up as three teams battle for last semi-final spot

The 2025 SA Cup is hurtling towards an electrifying conclusion as three teams – the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, NovaVit Griffons, and the Valke – head into the final round of league fixtures with just one semi-final berth left up for grabs.

With the top three semi-final spots already secured by the Airlink Pumas, Suzuki Griquas, and Toyota Cheetahs, the spotlight now shifts to the battle for fourth place – and with only two points separating the three contenders, this weekend promises high drama.

Pumas Hold Firm, Kavaliers Cling to Hope

The Pumas retained their unbeaten record in thrilling fashion, edging the Boland Kavaliers 34-32 in a titanic clash in Wellington last Saturday. The match lived up to expectations, with both sides locked at 15-all at halftime and trading blows right until the final whistle.

Despite the loss, Boland picked up two crucial bonus points that keep them in fourth place on 27 points – just ahead of the Griffons (26) and the Valke (25).

HP van Schoor was the standout for Boland, crossing the whitewash twice, while flyhalf James Tedder contributed a try, three conversions, and two penalty goals for a personal tally of 15 points. For the Pumas, Jay Cee Nel’s brace of tries, along with a composed performance from Clinton Swart with the boot, ensured they stayed top of the table with 40 points.

Griquas and Cheetahs Flex Muscles

On Friday evening, the Griquas bounced back from their first defeat of the competition with a dominant 52-5 away win over the Phangela SWD Eagles in George. The defending champions ran in eight tries – evenly split between forwards and backs – in a resounding return to form.

Flyhalf Tylor Sefoor slotted six conversions in a clinical display as Griquas moved to 37 points on the log, keeping pressure on the Pumas.

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs put on a scoring exhibition in Bloemfontein, obliterating Border 106-7. The Free Staters crossed the line 16 times, with Marko Janse van Rensburg, Prince Nkabinde, James Verity-Amm, and Jandre Nel all bagging braces. The Cheetahs, now on 32 points, will face a sterner test this weekend against Griquas in Kimberley.

Griffons Stumble, Valke Stay Alive

The Griffons missed a golden opportunity to move into the top four, falling 20-14 to Eastern Province in Gqeberha. Despite leading 14-3 at halftime thanks to tries from Andrew Kota and Willem van den Hever, the Griffons were shut out in the second half.

EP turned things around with tries from wings Rodney Damons and Davian Swanepoel, while Christian Humphries kept the scoreboard ticking with two conversions and two penalty goals. Although EP can no longer qualify for the semi-finals, their performance effectively threw the race for fourth wide open.

Meanwhile, the Valke reignited their semi-final hopes with a crucial 45-31 victory over the Leopards in Potchefstroom. The East Randers crossed the try line seven times, with Musa Tshabalala bagging a brace. Flyhalf Sergio Stalmeester added five conversions to ensure his side walked away with the full haul of points. 

The Leopards put up a fight in the first half, trailing by just two points at the break, but couldn’t keep up with the Valke's second-half surge.

Current Log Standings (Top Six):

1. Airlink Pumas – 40 pts
2. Suzuki Griquas – 37 pts
3. Toyota Cheetahs – 32 pts
4. Sanlam Boland Kavaliers – 27 pts
5. NovaVit Griffons – 26 pts
6. Valke – 25 pts

The final round matchups will be pivotal:

• Suzuki Griquas vs Toyota Cheetahs (3pm, Kimberley) – a battle for second place and play-off seeding.
• NovaVit Griffons vs Airlink Pumas (3pm, Welkom) – Griffons must win to have a shot at the semi-finals.
• Eastern Province vs Boland (3pm, Gqeberha) – Boland’s playoff fate lies in their own hands.
• Valke vs Border Bulldogs (3pm, Kempton Park) – Valke must win big and hope other results go their way.
• Leopards vs SWD Eagles (3pm, Potchefstroom) – a dead rubber between the bottom two.

Semi-Final Picture to Be Finalised

With only one place left and three teams in contention, the SA Cup’s final round promises to deliver edge-of-your-seat rugby. A single point could be the difference between glory and heartbreak – and with every bonus point and try now carrying massive weight, fans can expect an intense weekend of action ahead.

Who will rise, and who will fall short? All will be revealed on Saturday as the road to the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division reaches its dramatic conclusion.