Valke, Eagles, Griffons start with a bang

The Valke, DotSure SWD Eagles and Griffons made winning starts to their 2026 Carling Currie Cup First Division campaigns on Saturday, as the competition kicked off with 35 tries – and a penalty try – scored in the three matches.

The defending champions from Welkom overpowered the Border Bulldogs by 52-19 in East London; the Valke, runners up last year, scored a convincing 49-28 win over Eastern Province in Kempton Park; and the Eagles came from behind to edge the Leopards 44-38 in their Potchefstroom encounter.

In East London, the Griffons kicked off their campaign with an authoritative victory over the Bulldogs at Police Park.

The Griffons established early dominance with a sixth minute try by Simon Westraadt. Border responded swiftly, taking a brief lead through tries from Lonwabo Rawana and Luvumo Makata, both converted by Khanya Kama.

However, the match swung decisively in the 25th minute when Border’s Mihlali Nchukana received a yellow card. Shortly after, the Griffons were awarded a penalty try and the Bulldogs were reduced to 13 men as Dillan Kromhout was also sin-binned.

Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, Asekho Marubelela and Westraadt crossed the line to give the Griffons a commanding 31-14 lead at half-time.

Border opened the second half with a try from Unathi Mayekiso but their momentum was quickly halted as Marubelela secured his brace in the 46th minute. The Griffons closed out the match with late tries from Daylon Myners and Adriaan Carelse, earning an important bonus-point away win.

The Valke kicked off their 2026 campaign with an emphatic victory over Eastern Province at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday.

The East Randers laid the foundation in the first half, tearing into the Eastern Province defence with four rapid-fire tries. Zeilinga Strydom opened the account in the sixth minute already, followed quickly by scores from Godfrey Muzanargwo and Abulele Ndabambi.

EP hit back through Christiaan Potgieter and Buhle Nojekwa, but a late strike by Marco Fuhri for the Valke, along four successful conversions from Sergio Stalmeester, ensured a commanding 28-14 lead at the interval.

The second half saw no respite as Ilunga Mukendi crossed the whitewash immediately after the resumption for the hosts. EP fought back gallantly with a try from Siya Nzuzo and a late self-converted effort by replacement Maxwell Klaasen.

However, their discipline cost them late in the game, resulting in yellow cards for Christiaan Potgieter and Jay-Dee Jooste. The Valke capitalised, adding further tries through Mosolwa Mafuma and Zingisa April to comfortably seal the bonus-point win.

The Dotsure SWD Eagles clinched a hard-fought away win over the Leopards on Saturday at Olen Park in Potchefstroom where the hosts led 26-24 at half-time.

The Leopards made a promising start, with Shaun-Christian Baxter crossing early before Siniothando Tshontsyi added a brace. Jandre Burger controlled matters superbly in the first half, contributing with accurate conversions and even crossing for a try himself. Despite a yellow card to Adri Kermis, the Leopards surged to a two-point lead at the break.

The Eagles, however, remained within striking distance through tries from Sisipho Nofuya, Masande Mtshali, Janus Venter and Ulrich Stander, while Fred Zeilinga added key conversions to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The contest turned decisively early in the second half when Leopards centre Brandon Keevy was shown a red card, reducing the hosts to 14 men. The Eagles pounced ruthlessly, running in further tries through Niel Beukes, Ulrich Wahl, Sean Roulston and Rosco Syster.

To their credit, the Leopards fought back late, with Naiden Jaarts grabbing two tries and Burger adding another conversion but it proved insufficient as the Eagles held on for a brave bonus-point victory, while the hosts grabbed two bonus-points in the process.

Scores

Valke 49 (28), Eastern Province 28 (14)

Valke – Tries: Zeilinga Strydom, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Abulele Ndabambi, Marco Fuhri, Ilunga Mukendi, Mosolwa Mafuma, Zingisa April. Conversions: Sergio Stalmeester (5), Adrian Joubert (2).

Eastern Province – Tries: Christiaan Potgieter, Buhle Nojekwa, Siya Nzuzo, Maxwell Klaasen. Conversions: Garth April (3), Klaasen.

Leopards 38 (24), Dotsure SWD Eagles 44 (26)

Leopards – Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi (2), Naiden Jaarts (2), Shaun-Christian Baxter, Jandre Burger. Conversions: Burger (4).

SWD – Tries: Sisipho Nofuya, Masande Mtshali, Janus Venter, Ulrich Stander, Niel Beukes, Ulrich Wahl, Sean Roulston, Rosco Syster. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (2).

Border Bulldogs 19 (14), Griffons 52 (31)

Border – Tries: Lonwabo Rawana, Luvumo Makata, Unathi Mayekiso. Conversions: Khanya Kama (2).

Griffons – Tries: Simon Westraadt (2), Clive Kruger, Penalty Try, Asekho Marubelela (2), Daylon Myners, Adriaan Carelse. Conversions: Carelse (5).