Front runners stay on course in SA Cup league race

Defending champions, the Airlink Pumas, as well as Suzuki Griquas and the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers all earned second SA Cup wins over the weekend, while SWD Eagles and the Toyota Cheetahs opened their accounts on the road.

However, the Leopards, Eastern Province and Border will have to wait another week for their first successes of the new season.

The Cheetahs defeated the Leopards 64-7 in Potchefstroom on Friday evening to kick off the second-round action, which was followed by the Pumas’ 47-10 success over EP in Nelspruit.

Saturday’s two games went the way of the travelling sides – Griquas earned a 52-15 win over the Valke in Kempton Park, while the Eagles downed Border 57-22 in East London.

On Sunday, the Kavaliers beat the Griffons by 56-23 in an ill-tempered affair in Wellington, where eight yellow and three red cards were brandished.

After the second round, Griquas maintained their number one ranking with a better points’ differential than the Kavaliers and Pumas. All three are on 10 log points from two bonus-point wins.

SWD moved up into fourth place on seven points, one more than the Cheetahs on six. The Griffons and Valke follow on five league points each, which is four clear of EP, while Border and Leopards must still get off the mark.

This coming weekend’s round three action will see one Friday evening clash and four Saturday fixtures.

The Cheetahs and Pumas clash at 6pm on Friday evening in Bloemfontein. On Saturday from 3pm, Boland host the Valke in Wellington, Griquas take on Border in Kimberley and the Griffons entertain the Leopards in Welkom. The final round three clash kicks off 5pm in Gqeberha between EP and SWD.

The Cheetahs delivered a commanding performance to overpower the Leopards in their clash at Olen Park on Friday evening, for their first victory of the campaign.

The Free Staters surged into a 38-0 half-time lead, built on forward dominance and clinical finishing. The opening half saw the Cheetahs cross the five times through Jandré Nel, George Lourens, Marko Janse van Rensburg – the first of his brace – Cohen Jasper, and Clayton Blommetjies.

They struck again after half-time with skipper Victor Sekekete, Jansen van Vuren and Tielman Nieuwoudt, plus a penalty try. Leopards were rewarded with a consolation try by Hlumelo Ndudula.

Meanwhile, the Pumas treated the Mbombela Stadium crowd to a commanding victory over Eastern Province in their Friday evening encounter.

The champions struck early when Andrew Kota dotted down, setting the tone for a lively opening period. EP responded through a Garth April penalty goal before Lwandile Mapuko burst over for a converted try which gave the visitors a 10-5 lead.

However, the Pumas closed out the first half with real intent as Ntsika Fisanti barged over, followed by Sango Xamlashe. Danrich Visagie added both conversions, easing the hosts into a 19-10 half-time advantage.

Fisanti continued his outstanding night, completing his hat‑trick with two tries after the break. The momentum kept building as Valentino Wellman finished strongly thereafter as Darnell Osuagwu powered over in the last 10 minutes.

The Griquas put on a clinical eight‑try display to sweep aside the Valke in their Saturday clash in Kempton Park.

The match opened brightly for the Valke as Tylor Sefoor slotted a penalty in the opening minute, but from thereon, Griquas shifted into gear. Cameron Hufke crossed minutes later, Tiaan Lange powered his way over and Connor Mahoney flashed down the wing to add another try. With Liam Koen flawless off the tee in the opening half, the visitors surged to a comfortable cushion.

The Valke fought back bravely when Mbembe Payi scored a converted try just before the break, reducing the half-time deficit to 21-10. Unfortunately for the East Randers, the floodgates opened in the second half, with Mahoney completing his hat‑trick of tries.

The hosts then had a brief glimmer of joy through a Zander van der Merwe try. But the final quarter showcased the depth of the Kimberley outfit, who gained further tries from Mnombo Zwelendaba, Marco de Witt and finally Lourens Reinart Oosthuizen. George Whitehead chipped in with four conversions to seal an emphatic 52‑15 triumph.

The SWD Eagles closed out a lively clash in style, powering past the Border Bulldogs at Hudson Park High School in East London on Saturday. What looked like a runaway victory was anything but early on, with Border trailing by only 26-22 at half-time after a fiercely contested first stanza.

SWD opened through a penalty try after Sivu Mabece was sent to the bin, before Isiphe Mbini kept Border calm with a well‑struck penalty goal. Tiaan Pretorius then finished neatly out wide, but Border hit back through Sibusiso Lali and Hlumelo Zitha, both converted by Mbini.

The Eagles edged ahead at the break thanks to tries from Janus Venter and Gunther Janse van Vuuren, either side of a snipe from Hlumelo Pantyo. After the interval, SWD’s pack took control, with Gideon van Wyk crossing for two quickfire tries.

The bench added further sting as Kyle Cyster streaked in, Fred Zeilinga kept the scoreboard ticking, and Pretorius completed his brace. With Border’s discipline slipping – earning three yellow cards – Matthew Sekele’s late try and Zeilinga’s fifth conversion sealed a comfortable Eagles performance.

The Kavaliers shrugged off an ill-disciplined performance to secure their second win of the 2026 SA Cup campaign by beating the Griffons in Round Two of the competition.

Coach Hawies Fourie’s side scored eight tries to two, beating the Griffons comfortably at Boland Stadium in Wellington on Sunday after enjoying a five-point, 21-16, lead at the half-time break.

Despite a game that saw referee Sean Muller brandish eight yellow cards and three red cards, Kavaliers' left winger Xavier Mitchell made sure he stole the show on a hot Sunday in Wellington after scoring four tries.

The Kavaliers made a slow start to their first home game of the campaign after trailing by 10-0 after the Griffons’ Keegan Schaefer slotted an early penalty. The visitors were also awarded a penalty try after the home side were adjudged to have illegally brought down a rolling maul.

The Kavaliers also lost Dayan van der Westhuizen and Sauliegh Arendse to the sin bin during this period.

It did, however, kick-start the home side into action as flanker Khwezi Mafu crashed over for Boland’s opening try. From a powerful rolling maul, Sidney Tobias then scored the Kavas’ second try to take the lead in the 26th minute.

A second successful penalty by Schaefer saw Boland’s lead shrink to just one point before Mitchell scored his first of the game after some brilliant tactical kicking by experienced scrumhalf Louis Schreuder.

Schreuder spotted space at the back of the Griffons’ defence and kicked a neatly placed kick for winger Xavier Mitchell to chase and dot down for the home side’s third try of the afternoon.

Before the break, Boland suffered another setback as lock Marlyn Williams was punished with 10 minutes in the bin for a professional foul with the Griffons hot on the attack.

Schaefer stepped forward to slot his third penalty as the Kavaliers had to settle for a narrow lead at the break.

Boland then asserted their dominance in the second half with Tobias scoring his second five-pointer from a rolling maul.

The game then turned into the ‘Xavier Mitchell Show’ as the winger and Schreuder again combined for his second try. Schreuder offloaded neatly to Mitchell, who glided past three would-be Griffons’ defenders to dot down under the poles.

And just before the game’s hour mark, Mitchell completed his hat-trick with another fantastic run, before scoring his fourth, giving the Griffons no chance of a comeback.

Following this, the game turned into a bit of an ill-tempered affair as more players on both sides got sent off

Replacement hooker Chyle van Zyl scored the Griffons’ second try as referee Muller brandished more cards as two Kavas got red-carded. Lunathi Nxele, who scored the game’s final try, also saw yellow for a bust-up with a Griffons player near the end.

The win sees Boland consolidate their third place on the SA Cup log, after opening their campaign with a win against the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Scores

Leopards 7 (0), Toyota Cheetahs 64 (38)

Leopards – Try: Hlumelo Ndudula, Conversion Jandré Burger.

Cheetahs – Tries: Marko Janse van Rensburg (2), Jandré Nel, George Lourens, Cohen Jasper, Clayton Blommetjies, Victor Sekekete, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Tielman Nieuwoudt, Penalty Try. Conversions: Jasper (4), Ntokozo Makhaza (2).

Airlink Pumas 47 (19), Eastern Province 10 (10)

Pumas – Tries: Ntsika Fisanti (3), Andrew Kota, Sango Xamlashe, Valentino Wellman, Darnell Osuagwu. Conversions: Clinton Swart (4), Danrich Visagie (2).

EP – Try: Lwandile Mapuko. Conversion: Mapuko. Penalty: Garth April.

Valke 15 (10), Suzuki Griquas 52 (21)

Valke – Tries: Mbembe Payi, Zander van der Merwe. Conversion: Tylor Sefoor. Penalty goal: Sefoor.

Griquas - Tries: Connor Mahoney (3), Cameron Hufke, Tiaan Lange, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Marco de Witt, Lourens Reinart Oosthuizen. Conversions: Liam Koen (4), George Whitehead (2).

Border Bulldogs 22 (22), SWD Eagles 57 (26)

Border - Tries: Sibusiso Lali, Hlumelo Zitha, Hlumelo Pantyo. Conversions: Isiphe Mbini (2). Penalty goal: Mbini.

SWD – Tries: Tiaan Pretorius (2), Gideon van Wyk (2), Janus Venter, Gunther Janse van Vuuren, Kyle Cyster, Matthew Sekele, Penalty Try. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (5).

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 56 (21), Griffons 23 (16)

Boland – Tries: Xavier Mitchell (4), Sidney Tobias (2), Khwezi Mafu, Chris Smit. Conversions: Juan Mostert (7), Thurlon Williams.

Griffons - Try: Chyle van Zyl, Penalty Try. Conversion: Dehovine Johannes. Penalties: Keegan Schaefer (3).