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Currie Cup semis are set

Writer's picture: SA RugbySA Rugby

The Toyota Cheetahs will continue the defence of their Carling Currie Cup crown when they travel to Johannesburg to face the table-topping Fidelity ADT Lions in the first semi-final at 2.30pm on Saturday, with the second play-off taking place between Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, from 5pm in Pretoria.

The two winning teams will battle it out for the historic cup on Saturday, 21 September at 4pm. All games will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Over the past weekend, the Suzuki Griquas started the action on a winning note when they defeated DHL Western Province 37-29 in Kimberley on Friday afternoon, after which the Lions consolidated their top spot on the log with a comfortable 62-5 triumph over the NovaVit Griffons in Johannesburg.

On Saturday, the Cheetahs clinched the last semi-final berth with a 41-14 win over the Airlink Pumas in Nelspruit, while the Sharks rounded off the league phase of the competition by beating the Bulls 24-18 in Durban on Sunday.

Griquas flyhalf Zinedine Robinson delivered a perfect kicking display when he succeeded with all four conversions and three penalties in their win over Province in Kimberley. The Cape side had a frustrating first half, which saw them lose several line-outs, hampering their momentum.

Playing in the second fixture on Friday, the Lions turned on the style for a comfortable victory over the Griffons in Johannesburg. The Highvelders were already 31-0 ahead at the break and raced away to score 10 tries to one against their visitors from Welkom.

Four players from the home team, Jarod Cairns (No 8), Rabz Maxwane (left wing), Boldwin Hansen (right wing) and replacement loose forward JC Pretorius each scored twice, while flyhalf Kade Wolhuter was on target with six conversions. Their forwards laid a solid platform for the backline, who proved a threat throughout the game with their slick handling.

Saturday’s only match was a straight-forward knock-out fixture between the Pumas and Cheetahs at the Mbombela Stadium, with the last semi-final spot on offer for the winner. It was the 2023 champions from Bloemfontein who emerged as winners after scoring six tries to one, racing away in the second half after they held a slight 14-9 lead at the break.

Left wing Daniel Kasende crossed twice for the determined Free Staters, with flyhalf Ethan Wentzel adding three of the four successful conversions. The Cheetahs tightened the screws in the second half to ramp up pressure on the home side, who couldn't cope with the visitors’ intensity.

In the very last league match of the campaign, the Sharks recorded their sixth win in seven games to defeat the Bulls in wet conditions in Durban on Sunday. The first half was a real arm wrestle and finished 8-7 in favour of the visitors.

Both sides scored two tries each but it was Siya Masuku who proved to be the match winner on the day. The KZN flyhalf showed his class with an assured display of slick decision-making and accurate kicking off the tee as he slotted one conversion and four penalties for a personal contribution of 14 points.

Dylan Richardson (hooker) and Jordan Hendrikse (fullback) scored for the black and white jerseys, while Akker van der Merwe and (hooker) and Embrose Papier crossed the whitewash for the Pretoria outfit.

Following conclusion of the final league round, the Lions finished top of the log with 43 points from 10 games. They were followed by the Bulls (38 points), Sharks (35) and fellow semi-finalists the Cheetahs (30).

Griquas and the Pumas – finalists in 2022 – finished on 24 points each, while WP ended their campaign on 20 points. The Griffons could only collect three points in a winless campaign.


Fixtures

Semi-final 1: Fidelity ADT Lions v Toyota Cheetahs @ Emirates Airline Park on Saturday (2.30pm)

TV: SS Rugby

Semi-final 2: Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV @ Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (5pm)

TV: SS Rugby

Final: Winner semi-final 1 v Winner semi-final 2 @ Home ground of highest-placed semi-final winner on Saturday 21 September (4pm)

TV: SS Rugby


Scores

Suzuki Griquas 37 (20), DHL Western Province 29 (15)

Suzuki Griquas – Tries: Dylan Maart, Dylan Sjoblom, Marco de Witt, Bobby Alexander. Conversions: Zinedine Robinson (4). Penalties: Robinson (3).

DHL Western Province – Tries: Dan du Plessis (2), Marcel Theunissen, Damian Markus. Conversions: Jurie Mathee (3). Penalty: Mathee.

Fidelity ADT Lions 62 (31), NovaVit Griffons 5 (0)

Fidelity ADT Lions – Tries: Jarod Cairns (2), Renzo du Plessis, Rabz Maxwane (2), Boldwin Hansen (2), JC Pretorius (2), Darrien Landsberg. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (6).

Novavit Griffons – Try: Willem van den Heever.

Airlink Pumas 14 (9) Toyota Cheetahs 41 (14)

Airlink Pumas – Try: Ntsika Fisanti. Penalties: Clinton Swart (3).

Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: Daniel Kasende (2), Jandre Nel, Munier Hartzenberg, Aidon Davis, Gideon van der Merwe. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (3), John Lourens. Penalty: Wentzel.

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 24 (7), Vodacom Bulls 18 (8)

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV – Tries: Dylan Richardson, Jordan Hendrikse. Conversion: Siya Masuku. Penalties: Masuku (4).

Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Akker van der Merwe, Embrose Papier. Conversion: Jaco van der Walt. Penalties: Van der Walt (2).


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