Gutsy Griquas dig deep to deny Cheetahs in SA Cup semi-final classic

The Suzuki Griquas will return to their third SA Cup final after a dramatic 41-38 semi-final victory over the Toyota Cheetahs in Kimberley on Saturday — but they had to dig deeper than ever to get there.

In a seesaw encounter filled with attacking flair and uncompromising forward battles, the defending champions were pushed to the brink by a determined Free State outfit who came within metres of a last-gasp win. 

Ultimately, a resolute defensive stand in the dying seconds sent Griquas into next weekend’s final, where they’ll meet the unbeaten Airlink Pumas in Nelspruit.

Mauls and momentum swings

The Cheetahs came out firing, using their famed rolling maul to great effect. Tries from loose forward Gideon van der Merwe and skipper Louis van der Westhuizen gave them a deserved 12-3 lead early on.

But Griquas responded with force. Janco Uys powered over from a maul, before Blitzbok flyer Gurshwin Wehr ghosted through the defence to snatch the lead. Uys struck again soon after to make it 24-12, only for Ali Mgijima and Michael Annies to hit back with tries of their own — the teams locked at 24-all by halftime.

Second half fireworks

The tit-for-tat nature of the match continued after the break, there was no doubt that both teams appreciated what was at stake. Mgijima crossed again for the Cheetahs, but Cameron Hufke hit back for Griquas. The lead swung once more as Ashlon Maart weaved through for a brilliant individual try, only for Annies to respond again and level things up at 38-38.

By now, I am certain you are wishing you had been there, right?

With just over 10 minutes to play, Whitehead coolly slotted a long-range penalty to edge the Griquas ahead. From there, it was all about grit. The Cheetahs camped in the Griquas’ 22 and looked certain to score — but the home side’s defensive wall held firm, but the crowds in the stands found their nerves rattled.

Last stand seals it

In a heart-stopping finish, the Cheetahs drove one last maul – their weapon of choice – toward the try line, only for Griquas to hold the ball up and force a turnover. That moment sealed the result, sending the crowd at Suzuki Park into raptures.

Proud but pained Cheetahs

Despite the heartbreak, there was no shame in defeat for the Cheetahs. Forwards coach Izak van der Westhuizen praised his pack’s massive contribution throughout the campaign, with well over 120 maul tries scored this season — many on display again on Saturday.

“We’re immensely proud of what this team has achieved,” Van der Westhuizen said. “Griquas defend the maul well — they’ve proven that — and they were able to do it again when it mattered most.”

Final challenge awaits

The Griquas will now face the Pumas — who edged the Boland Kavaliers 31-29 in their own semi-final — in Nelspruit on Friday. 

Having shown their championship mettle once more, the men from Kimberley will carry belief and momentum into what promises to be a blockbuster final — where they'll aim to prove that their loss at this venue during the league phase was merely an aberration.