The final round of the SA Cup produced another thrilling bout of action as the Toyota Cheetahs and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers booked their places alongside Suzuki Griquas and Airlink Pumas in next week’s two semi-finals. In doing so, the foursome also qualified for the prestigious 2026 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.
The weekend’s round nine action got underway on Friday evening and in the most dramatic fashion in Bloemfontein, when the Toyota Cheetahs ended log leaders’ Suzuki Griquas’ eight-game winning run with a last gasp 32-31 win. Elsewhere on Friday, Airlink Pumas outplayed Griffons 61–12 at Mbombela Stadium to consolidate their second spot on the log.
Needing a bonus-point win at home to keep alive their qualifying hopes, Sanlam Boland Kavaliers wing Xavier Michell scored an incredible seven tries help the Kavaliers overwhelm Eastern Province 85–29 in Wellington, one of three matches staged on Saturday.
Dotsure SWD Eagles also needed nothing less than five points, and they duly delivered, powering past the Leopards by a score of 69–19 at Outeniqua Park in George. The result was unfortunately not good enough due to Boland’s full house of points in Wellington. And in East London, Valke produced a powerful display to overpower Border 50–12 at Police Park.
So, after the final round of league matches, Suzuki Griquas finished top on 42 points, with Airlink Pumas second on 38 and Toyota Cheetahs third (35). Sanlam Boland and Dotsure SWD both finished on 32 points each, however, the Kavaliers clinched the fourth spot due to their superior points difference. Valke (29), EP (18), Griffons (13), Leopards (9) and Border (0) complete the standings.
The Toyota Cheetahs produced a composed yet gritty performance under extreme pressure to edge Griquas 32–31 at Toyota Stadium on Friday evening, a result that confirmed their place in the SA Cup’s top four. In a contest that ebbed and flowed for the full 80 minutes, the Free Staters laid the platform with a dominant first half, racing into a 25–12 lead at the break. Early tries from hooker Louis van der Westhuizen and wing Cohen Jasper were backed up by the accurate boot of Jaco van der Walt.
The Griquas refused to go away and in the second half the game developed into a tense arm-wrestle. Tries from Damian Markus, Carel van der Merwe and Connor Mahoney steadily hauled the log leaders back into contention, as the Cheetahs were forced to manage two yellow cards and a reshuffled pack.
Crucially, the Cheetahs struck when it mattered most. Centre Munier Hartzenberg crossed shortly after the break, with Cohen Jasper adding the conversion, ensuring the scoreboard continued to tick over and ultimately keeping the Cheetahs just out of reach despite conceding five tries overall. The drama reached its peak after the final hooter. Griquas wing Dylan Maart finished in the corner in the 82nd minute, reducing the deficit to a single point and setting up a decisive conversion attempt, which was missed.
Also playing on Friday, the Airlink Pumas delivered a comprehensive performance, overwhelming the Griffons 61–12 at Mbombela Stadium to underline their title credentials. They shrugged off an early setback after conceding a sixth‑minute try to Armand Maritz, but steadily asserted control. Jay‑Cee Nel sparked the response before loose forward De Wet Marais powered over, with Clinton Swart’s accuracy from the tee helping the Pumas to 21–12 halftime advantage.
Any hopes of a Griffons comeback were extinguished after half-time as the Pumas lifted the tempo. Wing Tino Swanepoel was a constant menace, completing a superb hat-trick, while centre Sango Xamlashe crossed twice as the Lowvelders cut loose. In total, the Pumas ran in nine tries, backing up their forward dominance with slick handling and pace out wide.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers wing Xavier Michell produced a performance for the ages, scoring a record‑breaking seven tries as the Wellington side outplayed the EP Elephants 85–29 in Wellington on Saturday. Michell’s seven‑try haul eclipsed the previous Boland single‑match record of six held by Buks Marais since 1952 and came on a memorable afternoon that also marked his 50th cap for the Kavaliers.
The Kavaliers seized control early, racing to a 38–17 halftime lead with Michell crossing four times in the opening 40 minutes as the Kavaliers dominated. EP found joy on attack through former Kavalier Garth April, whose composure and creativity helped engineer tries for Mpho Ntsane (2), Lwandile Mapuko and Jac van der Walt, keeping the visitors in touch before the break.
However, Boland shifted through the gears in the second stanza, piling on try after try as Michell added three more five‑pointers to underline his exceptional outing. Further tries from Chris Smit (2), Jurick Lewis, Lunathi Nxele, Duren Hoffman and Kwanda Dimaza ensured there was no let‑up. Jayden Bantom and replacement flyhalf Thurlon Williams added five conversions each as Boland claimed the full five log points in clinical fashion.
Meanhile in George, the Dotsure SWD Eagles delivered the emphatic victory they needed to keep their playoff hopes alive, powering past the Leopards 69–19 at Outeniqua Park on Saturday. Knowing that nothing less than a bonus-point win would suffice, the Eagles set the tone from the outset with relentless tempo and physicality. They raced into a commanding 40–12 halftime lead after crossing the whitewash six times in the opening stanza.
Lock Jaco Bezuidenhout, centre Ulrich Wahl and flank Hendrik Stemmet were prominent as the Eagles repeatedly found space, while scrumhalf Tiaan Fourie and wing Rosco Syster added further first‑half tries. The second half followed a similar pattern, with the home side maintaining intensity and piling on five more tries. Wahl completed a hat‑trick, while replacement hooker Tiaan Drotskie, winger Kyle Cyster and centre Nico Leonard added to the tally as the Eagles pulled away decisively.
In Saturday’s third encounter, Valke produced a powerful display to close out their final league campaign with a 50-12 win over Border Bulldogs at Police Park in East London. The East Rand side took a commanding 26–7 lead into the halftime break before pushing on to seal a comprehensive away victory.
Loose forward Abulele Ndabambi was the standout performer, crossing for four tries. Flyhalf Sergio Stalmeester also played a key role, adding a try of his own and contributing five conversions to keep the scoreboard moving. Border showed flashes of resistance, finding reward through tries from Sokhana Mpemba and Lonwabo Rawana, but they struggled to contain the visitors.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Valke attacking with intent and accuracy. Further tries from Mbembe Payi, Mosolwa Mafuma and replacement forward Dirk Lourens ensured the Bulldogs were kept under sustained pressure until the final whistle.
Scorers:
Toyota Cheetahs 32 (25), Suzuki Griquas 31 (12)
- Cheetahs – Tries: Rewan Kruger, Cohen Jasper, Munier Hartzenberg, Louis van der Westhuizen. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (2), Cohen Jasper. Penalties: Van der Walt (2).
- Griquas – Tries: Dylan Maart, Damian Markus, Tiaan Lange, Connor Mahoney, Carel van der Merwe. Conversions: George Whitehead (3).
Airlink Pumas 61 (21), Novavit Griffons 12 (12)
- Pumas – Tries: Tino Swanepoel (3), Sango Xamlashe (2), Jay‑Cee Nel, De Wet Marais, Conor van Eeden, Clinton Swart. Conversions: Clinton Swart (5), Danrich Visagie (3).
- Griffons – Tries: Armand Maritz, Penalty try.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (85), EP Elephants (29):
- Boland – Tries: Xavier Michell (7), Chris Smit (2), Jurick Lewis, Lunathi Nxele, Duren Hoffman, Kwanda Dimaza. Conversions: Jayden Bantom (5), Thurlon Williams (5).
- EP – Tries: Mpho Ntsane (2), Lwandile Mapuko, Jac van der Walt. Conversions: Garth April (3). Penalty goal: April.
Dotsure SWD Eagles 69 (40): Leopards 19 (12):
- SWD – Tries: Ulrich Wahl (3), Jaco Bezuidenhout, Hendrik Stemmet, Rosco Syster, Tiaan Fourie, Janus Venter, Tiaan Drotskie, Kyle Cyster, Nico Leonard. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (7), Abner van Reenen.
- Leopards – Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi (2), Ghudian van Reenen. Conversions: Jandre Burger (2).
Border Bulldogs 12 (7) Valke 50 (26)
- Border – Tries: Sokhana Mpemba, Lonwabo Rawana. Conversion: Isiphe Mbini
- Valke – Tries: Abulele Ndabambi (4), Sergio Stalmeester, Mbembe Payi, Mosolwa Mafuma, Dirk Lourens. Conversions: Sergio Stalmeester (5).
Golden Cougar
The original cricket wickets used only two stumps over which a bail is attached. This design was changed in 1775 after an English cricketer, Lumpy Stevens, was able to bowl three consecutive balls that shot clear between the stumps. This is why modern wickets have three stumps instead of just two.
High Beam
Rugby union was only classified as a professional sport in 1995 – When a schism formed and rugby became rugby league and rugby union in 1895, rugby union was no longer considered a professional sport. Shockingly, this remained the case until a century later, when in 1995, it was given the same recognition afforded to rugby league.