For the third successive season, Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas will contest the SA Cup final when they meet in Kimberley on Saturday after the two sides, who won the competition in the first two years, beat the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and Toyota Cheetahs in the two semi-finals this weekend.
The Pumas, the defending champions, were first to book their place in next weekend’s final after edging the Cheetahs 42–36 in a pulsating semi-final at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
On Saturday, Griquas, the 2024 champions, secured their place in the decider by beating the Kavaliers 59-35 in a high-scoring spectacle in Kimberley.
The results also saw the trend continue of the home teams not losing a SA Cup semi-final. Next Saturday’s grand finale will kick off at 18h30 at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. Pieter Bergh’s Griquas earned home ground advantage courtesy of their league position.
On Friday evening, the Toyota Cheetahs struck early in the first semi-final, building a 10–0 lead through a Tiaan Swanepoel penalty goal and a converted try by Clayton Blommetjies.
However, the Airlink Pumas responded with authority, their forward pack asserting dominance through the maul as Sampie Swiegers crossed twice before the break. Clinton Swart’s reliable boot ensured the Pumas held a 20–10 half-time lead.
The Cheetahs’ momentum was further disrupted when Swanepoel and Louis van der Westhuizen were both yellow-carded, and the Pumas capitalised. Swart added penalty goals early in the second half before Gustav du Rand and Junior Banda powered over to extend the hosts’ lead.
Despite the setbacks, the Free Staters remained in contention throughout. Tries from Michael Annies, Cohen Jasper, Neels Volschenk and Sisonke Vumazonke kept the scoreboard ticking, with Jasper adding three conversions.
The seesaw nature of the contest ensured a tense finish, but Swart’s composed goal-kicking – he landed four conversions and three penalty goals – ultimately proved the difference between the sides, as the Pumas once again underlined their strength.
In the second semi-final, played in bright Kimberley sunshine, Suzuki Griquas raced into a 14–0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes, but the Kavaliers responded with intent, scoring four converted tries through James Tedder, Jade Stighling, Dominic Smith, and Thurlow Marsh to surge into a 28–14 lead at the half-hour mark.
The hosts hit back strongly. A dominant rolling maul earned them a penalty try – with Boland’s Sibusiso Sangweni sent to the sin-bin – before a sweeping counter-attack, sparked by Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead, saw him release Bobby Alexander for their fourth try. Whitehead’s conversion levelled the scores at 28–28 at half-time.
The back-and-forth continued after the break. Speedster Dylan Maart crossed for his second try soon after the restart, but Jurick Lewis replied for Boland to level matters again at 35-35.
However, Griquas’ forward power, particularly their driving maul, eventually proved decisive. Marco de Witt, Sako Makata and Lourens Oosthuizen all crossed for converted tries in the second stanza as the home side pulled clear, and Cameron Hufkie applied the finishing touch, slotting a long-range penalty goal to seal a comprehensive 59–35 victory.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas 42 (20) Toyota Cheetahs 36 (10)
- Pumas – Tries: Sampie Swiegers (2), Gustav du Rand (2), Junior Banda. Conversions: Clinton Swart (4). Penalty goals: Swart (3).
- Cheetahs – Tries: Clayton Blommetjies, Michael Annies, Cohen Jasper, Neels Volschenk, Sisonke Vumazonke. Conversions: Jasper (3), Tiaan Swanepoel. Penalty goal: Swanepoel.
Suzuki Griquas 59 (28), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 35 (28)
- Griquas – Tries: Dylan Maart (2), Cameron Hufke, Penalty try, Bobby Alexander, Marco de Witt, Sako Makata, Lourens Oosthuizen, Zane Bester. Conversions: George Whitehead (7). Penalty goal: Hufke.
- Boland – Tries: James Tedder, Jade Stighling, Dominic Smith, Thurlow Marsh, Jurick Lewis. Conversions: Tedder (5).
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