The 2024 Currie Cup Bulletin

The Vodacom Bulls and Fidelity ADT Lions are the only two unbeaten teams left in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division following victories over the Toyota Cheetahs and Suzuki Griquas in round three, while the First Division finalists were confirmed.

DHL Western Province registered their first win of the season in Welkom, but the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and NovaVit Griffons are still seeking for their first win following more heartache.

The First Division final will be contested between Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and Eastern Province in Wellington on Saturday, after both teams had to work hard for victory in the semi-finals this past weekend.

In the first Premier Division match of the weekend, the Fidelity ADT Lions had to work hard for victory over this year’s SA Cup winners, Suzuki Griquas, in Johannesburg.

The hosts swung momentum their way by scoring 10 points in the final quarter, when two players from the visiting side were sent to the sin bin for yellow card infringements.

Flyhalf Sam Francis kicked one conversion and two penalty goals for the Highveld side, who were always in control of the game.

The Vodacom Bulls produced a solid performance to beat defending champions Toyota Cheetahs 25-13 later on Friday afternoon at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, handing the Free Staters their first defeat of the season.

The men form Pretoria prevailed with three tries to one after leading 17-6 at the halftime break. Right wing Henry Immelman grabbed two tries while pivot Chris Smith added two conversions and a penalty goal.

His Toyota Cheetahs counterpart, Ethan Wentzel, converted Daniel Maartens' try while also adding two successful penalty goals, but in the end the visitors did not have enough to topple the Vodacom Bulls in the capital.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV are still searching for their first win in the Premier Division. Coming into Friday evening’s game on the back of two losses, the Durban outfit came unstuck against a determined Airlink Pumas side, losing by 31-21, who hit back in style after last weekend’s big defeat at the hands of the Fidelity ADT Lions.

The KwaZulu-Natalians conceded 24 points in the first half without reply as the Lowvelders made a blistering start. Although the hosts fought back with 21 points in the second stanza – with flyhalf Tian Meyer on target with all three conversions – they could not breach the gap.

Inside centre Clinton Swart was perhaps the pick of the bunch for the Airlink Pumas as he added two conversions to his try, one of five scored by the visiting team.

In the last match of the round, played on Sunday afternoon in Welkom, Jonathan Roche scored a hat-trick of tries as a young DHL Western Province overpowered the NovaVit Griffons 64-15 for their first win of the campaign.

The Capetonians raced into a 33-10 half-time lead, and eventually registered 10 tries in a bonus-point victory, after two defeats in the opening stage of the Premier Division. Roche and wing Angelo Davids (two) were responsible for half of DHL WP’s tries, while fly half Jurie Matthee slotted seven conversations.

On Friday, the NovaVit Griffons take on the Toyota Cheetahs in a Free State derby in Welkom (15h00), and the Airlink Pumas host Suzuki Griquas in Nelspruit (19h00), and that will be followed by two encounters on Saturday.

First, the Fidelity ADT Lions host Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Johannesburg (15h00) and later, the Vodacom Bulls face DHL WP in a North vs South derby in Pretoria (17h15).

Scorers:

Fidelity ADT Lions 25 (12), Suzuki Griquas 13 (8)

Fidelity ADT Lions – Tries: Rynhardt Jonker, Nico Steyn, Penalty Try. Conversion: Sam Francis. Penalty goals: Francis (2).

Suzuki Griquas – Tries: Carl Els, Zinedine Robinson. Penalty goal: Lubabalo Dobela.

Vodacom Bulls 25 (17), Toyota Cheetahs 13 (6)

Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Celimpilo Gumede, Henry Immelman (2). Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalty goals: Smith, Jaco van der Walt.

Toyota Cheetahs – Try: Daniel Maartens. Conversion: Ethan Wentzel. Penalty goals: Wentzel (2).

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 21 (0), Airlink Pumas 31 (24)

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV – Tries: Dian Bleuler, Nick Hatton, Kerron van Vuuren. Conversions: Tian Meyer (3).

Airlink Pumas – Tries: Clinton Swart, Eddie Swart, Darren Adonis, Phiko Sobahle, Ntsika Fisanti. Conversions: Clinton Swart (2), Danrich Visagie.

NovaVit Griffons 15 (10), DHL Western Province 64 (33)

NovaVit Griffons – Tries: Mango Ngundue, Chris Nel. Conversion: Andrew Kota. Penalty goal: Kota.

DHL Western Province – Tries: Jonathan Roche (3), Angelo Davids (2), Luke Burger, Clayton Blommetjies, Lukhanyo Vokozela, CJ Velleman, Hendre Stassen.

Conversations: Jurie Matthee (7).