The Free State Cheetahs/ Blue Bulls and Pumas/ Hollywoodbets Sharks games ended in draws, while the Griffons continued their improvement in Cape Town and the Golden Lions saw off Griquas in Kimberley in the fifth round of the Currie Cup.
Free State Cheetahs 34-34 Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein
A last-gasp penalty from new Blue Bulls man Boeta Chamberlain kept intact their unbeaten record in the competition in securing a 34-34 draw with the Free State Cheetahs at Toyota Stadium on Friday. There were eight touchdowns in all in yet another Currie Cup try-fest, with the visitors lucky to secure the draw after giving up a 24-3 lead following a sublime recovery by the defending champions.
The result means the Bulls, who have not won in Bloemfontein in six years, remain at the summit of the log standings on 21 points, three ahead of the Cheetahs.
Chamberlain ▶ Dyantyi
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 2, 2024
Doing the things in blue for the Vodacom Bulls 🐂🔥
📺 Stream #CarlingCurrieCup live: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/Soy2u1OWF6
Pumas 44-44 Hollywoodbets Sharks in Mbombela
Bradley Davids and Clinton Swart traded penalties in the final minutes of the game as the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Pumas drew 44-44 at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. The Pumas had raced into a 24-3 lead courtesy of a Phiko Sobahle hattrick, but the men in black and white showed massive character to haul themselves back in it and even come within moments of clinching the result.
The sides each come away from the encounter with three log points, with the Pumas in fourth on 18 and the Sharks lying sixth with 12.
Bradley Davids thought he won it for the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in the 79th minute only for Clinton Swart to convert a penalty after the hooter for the Airlink Pumas.#CarlingCurrieCup pic.twitter.com/BjPD3xNIyZ
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 3, 2024
Western Province 39-17 Griffons in Cape Town
The Griffons continued to show major improvement following their tough start to the campaign in a 17-39 loss to Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday. The Purple People Eaters began their season with huge defeats to the Cheetahs, Bulls and in the reverse fixture with WP, but have found a degree of confidence after going down by just two points to the Cheetahs last week and produced some good moments on Saturday.
They remain rooted to the bottom of the log on two points with WP sitting fifth with 13.
A full house of five points at home. #WPvGRI #wpjoulekkerding #dhldelivers #WhereChampionsRise pic.twitter.com/JPbopgo6Dn
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) August 3, 2024
Griquas 28-36 Golden Lions in Kimberley
The Golden Lions got back to winning ways against Griquas at Suzuki Stadium on Sunday, claiming a 36-28 victory. The Joburgers headed into the match off the back of their first defeat of the campaign against the Sharks, and did well to get back to winning ways, showing some fine counter-attacking moments that were too much for Griquas to handle in the end.
The hosts are seventh on eight points with the Lions sitting third, level on 18 with the Cheetahs (second) and Pumas (fourth).
𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐨 𝐝𝐮 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬! 😤
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 4, 2024
The Flanker dots down his second try of the game with this beautiful run 👇💪#CarlingCurrieUp pic.twitter.com/nYgXVQiD0N
