Griquas Dominate SA Cup as Cheetahs Face Historic Premier Division Exclusion After Shock Defeat

Griquas lead the SA Cup after defeating the Pumas, while a shock loss to the Valke leaves the Cheetahs fighting to stay in the Currie Cup Premier Division.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 3:37 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Rugby365

Griquas Assert Supremacy in High Scoring Kimberley Clash

The top-of-the-table encounter at Suzuki Stadium lived up to its billing as Griquas preserved their unbeaten streak with a hard-fought win over the Pumas. The hosts held a slim 19-15 lead at the interval, bolstered by tries from Tiaan Lange, Dylan Maart, and Albert Liebenberg, while the Pumas stayed competitive through Jay Cee Nel and Thomas Bursey. The second half evolved into a volatile exchange of momentum, with Nel briefly putting the visitors ahead before Carel van der Merwe and Caleb Abrahams restored the Griquas' advantage. According to reports from the venue, the accurate goal-kicking of George Whitehead and a late effort from Janco Uys finally quelled the Pumas' fightback, leaving the men from the Northern Cape with 35 points from seven consecutive victories.

The Cheetahs Stumble Against a Resolute Valke Outfit

In what stands as the most significant upset of the weekend, the Valke overturned a 10-point halftime deficit to edge the Cheetahs 43-36 at Barnard Stadium. The Cheetahs appeared to have control in the opening period, leading 24-14 behind scores from Louis van der Westhuizen, Marco Janse van Vuren, Michael Annies, and Ethan Wentzel. However, the second half saw a dramatic shift in energy as Sergio Stalmeester delivered an influential performance for the home side, crossing for two tries and adding four conversions. This loss leaves the Cheetahs in a precarious fifth position, level on points with Boland but trailing on points difference, putting their participation in the upcoming Currie Cup Premier Division at serious risk.

Eagles Consolidate Position with Clinical Attacking Display

The Dotsure SWD Eagles further strengthened their claim for a semifinal berth by outclassing the Griffons 45-24 at Outeniqua Park. The Eagles established an early 19-10 lead through the clinical finishing of Rosco Syster and Nico Leonard, supported by a powerful effort from Dylan de Leeuw. After the break, the home side effectively ended the contest by running in four additional tries, as Jaco Bezuidenhout and Janus Venter benefited from a cohesive effort between the forward pack and the backline. This victory places SWD in third place with 27 points, just one point behind the Pumas, as they prepare for a formidable challenge against the league-leading Griquas in the penultimate round.