The top three teams on the Currie Cup Premier Division log have opened a gap on the chasing pack with five rounds left before the playoffs next month.

The Golden Lions, The Sharks and Western Province all won their games this weekend, but in Bloemfontein the supporters were treated to a nail-biter that came down to a last-minute penalty goal as the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls played out to a draw.

In the Currie Cup First Division, the Cavaliers inched closer to the EP Kings at the top of the standings, while the bottom four teams will fight it out for the remaining two semi-final places in the coming weeks.

Golden Lions vs GWK Griquas

After a total of nine tries and three yellow cards in 80 minutes, the Golden Lions remained at the top of the Currie Cup pile thanks to a 41-25 victory over GWK Griquas at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Friday evening.

The Golden Lions were not afraid to throw the ball around and used their backline to full effect, in the process causing Griquas grey hair with their all-out attacking play.

Four of the home team’s six tries were scored by their outside backs, with winger Deon van Rensburg bagging a brace, while his fellow wing Michael Killian and Jaco Taute (fullback) also crossed Griquas’ try-line.

Earl Rose, a former Lion now playing for Griquas, was yellow carded in the first half. The home team’s Taute and Doppies la Grange spent time in the sin bin in the second half.

Final Score Golden Lions 41 (20) GWK Griquas 25 (6)

Scorers

Golden Lions
Tries: Deon van Rensburg (2), Pat Cilliers, Michael Killian, Alwyn Hollenbach, Jaco Taute
Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4)
Penalty: Jantjies.

GWK Griquas
Tries: Jonathan Mokuena, Ryno Barnes, Earl Rose
Conversions: Rudi Vogt (2)
Penalties: Vogt (2).

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Warren Whitely, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Burton Francis, 22 James Kamana.

GWK Griquas: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Monty Dumond.

The Sharks vs Pumas

For an hour at Kings Park on Saturday, The Sharks were made to sweat by the Pumas, but two late tries by replacement flanker Jacques Botes helped the home team clinch a 33-20 Currie Cup victory.

Botes, a former Puma and one of the more experienced players in the Sharks team, replaced Marcell Coetzee midway through the second half. He made an immediate impact with his first try a mere five minutes after appearing on the field.

The visitors led at the break (17-14) and extended their lead early in the second half when flyhalf Coenie van Wyk, who scored both their tries, added another penalty goal to their tally.

After that penalty and trailing 14-20, The Sharks knuckled down as they scored three tries in the final half hour of the match. The victory on the score board, however, looked far more comfortable than on the field.

All five The Sharks’ tries were scored by forwards, while Van Wyk contributed 17 of the Pumas’ 20 points.

In the end the Mpumalangans were left to rue a number of instances of bad discipline and lapses on defence as they continued their winless season with yet another solid performance against a much more fancied team.

Final Score The Sharks 33 (14) Pumas 20 (17)

Scorers

The Sharks
Tries: Craig Burden, Jean Deysel, Anton Bresler, Jacques Botes (2)
Conversions: Fred Michalak (4).

Pumas
Tries: Coenie van Wyk (2)
Conversions: Van Wyk (2)
Penalties: Tiaan Marx, Van Wyk.

Teams:

The Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Keegan Daniel (captain), 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Alistair Hargreaves, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.

Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Anton Bresler, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Adrian Jacobs.

Pumas: 15 MJ Mentz, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Tiaan Marx, 11 Wilhelm Looch, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corne Steenkamp (captain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Rudi Matthee, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1 Dawie Steyn.

Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Brett Nel, 18 Willem Serfontein, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Hendrik van der Nest, 21 Siviwe Magaba, 22 Johan Jackson.

Western Province vs Platinum Leopards

For 20 minutes the Platinum Leopards make life difficult for Western Province in their Currie Cup game at Newlands on Saturday, before the home team cut loose to comfortably win this encounter by 49-21.

The visitors scored two tries in the opening 20 minutes, by scrumhalf Whestley Moolman and centre Joubert Engelbrecht, to lead by 14-3. But WP kept their composure and answered with a converted try by Tertius Daniller and three penalty goals by Isma-eel Dollie to lead 16-14 at the break.

The home team recovered from their slow start and dominated the second half, scoring a further five tries to win easily in the end.

Final Score Western Province 49 (16) Platinum Leopards 21 (14)

Scorers

Western Province
Tries: Tertius Daniller, Nick Fenton-Wells, Danie Poolman, Nick Groom, Brok Harris, Siya Kolisi
Conversions: Isma-eel Dollie (3), Dewaldt Duvenage (2)
Penalties: Dollie (3).

Platinum Leopards – Tries: Whestley Moolman, Joubert Engelbrecht, Hoffman Maritz. Conversions: Clayton Durand (2), Wesley Dunlop.

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Tertius Daniller, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1 Wicus Blaauw.

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Nizaam Carr, 19 Siya Kolisi , 20 Nic Groom, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Steven Hunt.

Platinum Leopards: 15 George Tossel, 14 Jovan Bowles, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Clayton Durand (captain), 9 Whestley Moolman, 8 Juan Pretorius, 7 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6 Robert Kruger, 5 Brad Mock , 4 Roan van Heerden, 3 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Dewald Coetzee.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Moller, 17 BG Uys, 18 Morne Hanekom, 19 Brendan Snyman , 20 Johann Laker, 21 Wesley Dunlop, 22 Joubert Engelbrecht.

Free State Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls

Ten points in the final five minutes, including a long range penalty goal, helped the Blue Bulls to a 22-22 draw in their Currie Cup match against the Free State Cheetahs at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening.

With five minutes to go in this entertaining encounter, the Free Staters were leading by 22-12, thanks to a superb kicking performance by their SA U20 flyhalf Johan Goosen and a try by the former Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp.

But then Goosen’s SA U20 team mate Francois Venter scored the Blue Bulls’ only try before flyhalf Louis Fouché, who is still U21, added the conversion and a penalty goal of over 50m on the angle after the hooter had sounded to draw the game for the team from Pretoria.

The FS Cheetahs looked sharp on the attack but the Blue Bulls defended well. The visitors also played some enterprising rugby at stages, but were their own worst enemies with bad discipline and handling costing them valuable points.

Of 44 points scored in this absorbing game, 39 were scored by players that are still Under-21 – Fouché, Goosen and Venter. This included a penalty goal of more than 60m by the impressive Goosen in the first half.

Final Score Free State Cheetahs 22 (12) Blue Bulls 22 (9)

Scorers

FS Cheetahs
Try: Wilhelm Steenkamp
Conversion: Johan Goosen
Penalties: Goosen (5).

Blue Bulls
Try: Francois Venter
Conversion: Louis Fouché
Penalties: Fouché (5).

Teams:

FS Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Burger.

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.

Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Jurgen Visser.

Currie Cup First Division

The Cavaliers moved one log point closer to the EP Kings, front runners in the Currie Cup First Division, following their matches on Saturday.

Where the Cavaliers crushed the Valke by 55-28 at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, the Kings were made to work very hard by a determined Griffons side at the North West Stadium in Welkom.

These results, coupled with the Border Bulldogs upsetting the SWD Eagles on Friday, means the scramble for the third and fourth places on the log intensified, with the Kings and the Cavaliers still comfortably ahead at the top of the standings.

In Kempton Park, Boland stepped on the gas in the second half as they scored 34 points. It was their seventh win this season and they ran in seven tries against the Valke, who answered with four. It was only the second time this season the Cavaliers conceded a try-scoring bonus point.

While the Cavaliers were amassing the points on the East Rand, the EP Kings were made to sweat in Welkom as the Griffons produced one of their best performances of the season.

And in East London, flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa contributed 16 points as the Border Bulldogs beat the SWD Eagles by 19-16 – their first victory over the team from George since 2008.

Dukisa scored a try, which he also converted, as well as three penalty goals to set up Border’s second victory of the season.

Only four log points separate the bottom four teams in the Currie Cup First Division, although the Eagles and Valke each have a game in hand. Any of these four teams can still make it into the semi-finals.

Weekend scorers:

Final Score Border Bulldogs 19 (16) SWD Eagles 16 (9)

Border Bulldogs
Try: Ntabeni Dukisa
Conversion: Dukisa
Penalties: Dukisa (3)
Drop-goal: Dale Sabbagh.

SWD Eagles
Try: Martin Ferreira
Conversion: Elric van Vuuren
Penalties: Van Vuuren (3).

Final Score Valke 28 (14) Cavaliers 55 (21)

Valke
Tries: Warren Perkins, Juan Kotze, Anrich Richter, Chris-Erich Ehlers
Conversions: Kotze (4).

Cavaliers
Tries: Danwel Demas, Cornal Hendricks (2), Willie le Roux (2), Alwyn Bester, Ligtoring Landman
Conversions: Elgar Watts (4)
Penalties: Watts (4).

Final Score Griffons 19 (16) EP Kings 21 (11)

Griffons
Try: Willie Britz
Conversion: Tiaan van Wyk
Penalties: Van Wyk (3)
Drop goal: Van Wyk.

EP Kings
Tries: Marcello Sampson, Joe Breytenbach
Conversion: Louis Strydom
Penalties: Strydom (3).