Griquas blaze past Western Province as Currie Cup log tightens

The Suzuki Griquas lit up Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Friday afternoon, storming to a commanding 47-17 victory over DHL Western Province in the third round of the 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division. The win not only boosted their campaign but also played a key role in blowing the competition wide open, with no unbeaten sides remaining after a weekend of upsets and standout performances.

The Griquas wasted little time asserting their dominance, crossing the line early through Albert Liebenberg before Zane Bester added another try inside the opening 20 minutes. Flyhalf George Whitehead kept his boot sharp, slotting both conversions to establish a solid lead. Western Province struck back through Aden De Costa, with Jurie Matthee converting to narrow the gap, but Caleb Abrahams’ score before the break ensured the home side took a 21-7 advantage into halftime.

In the second half, speedster Gurshwin Wehr extended the lead with a converted try, and although WP managed unconverted scores from veteran Scarra Ntubeni and former Junior Bok scrumhalf Ezekiel Ngobeni, they could not match the Kimberley outfit’s relentless attack. Tries from Derik Pretorius, Carl Els, and Thomas Bursey in the closing stages sealed a seven-try performance and an emphatic home triumph.

Elsewhere in the competition, the Airlink Pumas stunned the Vodacom Bulls 41-7 at Loftus on Saturday. The visitors led 10-7 at halftime before unleashing a dominant second half in which they ran in 31 unanswered points. Tries from Willie Engelbrecht, Tiaan de Klerk, Ross Braude, Hanno Theunissen, and Andre Fouche highlighted a ruthless display that dropped the Bulls from first to fourth on the log.

In Durban, the Toyota Cheetahs edged the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 7-5 in a bruising, low-scoring affair at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium. Neels Volschenk scored the only try for the Free Staters in the first half, converted by Ntokozo Makhaza, while Phatu Ganyane replied for the Sharks in the second. A missed conversion proved costly for the hosts, who are still searching for their first win of the season.

The weekend wrapped up in Wellington, where the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers handed the Fidelity ADT Lions their first defeat with a 29-10 victory. Donavan Don’s brace of tries, alongside scores from Xavier Mitchell and Juan Mostert, secured a bonus point for the home team. Flyhalf James Tedder added three conversions and a penalty goal, while Boland’s defence held firm against the Highveld side’s determined attacks.

Following the weekend’s action, the Airlink Pumas, Toyota Cheetahs, and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers each sit on 11 league points, with the Pumas topping the standings on points difference. The Bulls, Lions, and Griquas follow closely on 10 points, while the Sharks XV and winless WP occupy the bottom two spots.

Round four promises more excitement, with the Griquas hosting the Sharks XV in Kimberley on Friday afternoon. Saturday sees the Pumas face the Lions in Nelspruit and the Cheetahs welcome Western Province to Bloemfontein, before Boland takes on the Bulls in Wellington on Sunday.