Currie Cup set for explosive rounds
Griquas winger Gurswin Wehr was a standout performer, scoring a hat-trick against the Bulls in their Currie Cup clash in Pretoria on Sunday.
Image: Danie van der Lith / DFA Newspaper / File
The Suzuki Griquas continued their impressive Carling Currie Cup campaign with a dominant 42-21 victory over the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday, securing their fourth consecutive win and climbing to third place on the log.
The Kimberley outfit were in clinical form at Grizzly Park, with winger Gurshwin Wehr stealing the show thanks to a superb hat-trick of tries. Flyhalf George Whitehead was equally influential, converting all six of Griquas’ tries in a flawless kicking display.
The Bulls opened the scoring early through centre Stravino Jacobs, with Boeta Chamberlain adding the conversion. However, the visitors responded in devastating fashion, running in three unanswered tries before half-time. Wehr crossed twice in quick succession before Cebo Dlamini powered over, giving the Griquas a commanding 21-7 lead at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, and with Bulls captain Nama Xaba in the sin bin, Wehr completed his hat-trick when he latched onto a perfect pass from Whitehead. Soon after, Janco Uys crashed over from a maul to stretch the lead to 35-7, and Zane Bester added a sixth try to seal the win. The Bulls managed late consolation tries through Junior Pokomela and Katlego Letebele, but the result leaves them struggling with three consecutive defeats.
Elsewhere, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers produced one of the comebacks of the season to edge the Airlink Pumas 29-26 in Nelspruit on Friday. Trailing 21-3 at half-time and down to 13 men at one stage, Boland fought back through tries by Marcqiewn Titus, Xavier Mitchell and Dayan van der Westhuizen before a late penalty try secured their first away win of the season.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV also claimed their first victory of the campaign, defeating DHL Western Province 29-21 in Durban. Tries from Phiko Sobahle, Jaco Williams, Lee Mazibuko and Bathobele Hlekani gave the Durban side a much-needed boost, while WP remain bottom of the table.
In Bloemfontein, the Toyota Cheetahs surged to the top of the standings with a 47-31 win over the Fidelity ADT Lions on Saturday. The Free Staters dominated the first half, racing to a 26-0 lead before holding off a spirited Lions fightback in the second period.
With two rounds remaining, the Cheetahs and Kavaliers are level on 21 points, with the Griquas just one behind on 20. The Lions sit fourth with 19, followed by the Pumas (15), Bulls (10), Sharks XV (6) and WP (1).
Next weekend’s fixtures could prove decisive in the race for the playoffs. The Toyota Cheetahs will host the in-form Suzuki Griquas in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, followed by Saturday’s Gauteng derby between the Lions and Bulls at Ellis Park. The Sharks XV face the Kavaliers in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday evening, while DHL Western Province will take on the Pumas in Cape Town on Sunday.
All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.