Round six of the 2025/26 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division delivered another weekend of pulse-pounding rugby, with drama and comebacks shaping the race to the play-offs. Suzuki Griquas firmly stamped their authority at the top of the log with a stunning 40-10 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, while the Fidelity ADT Lions reinforced their top-four credentials with a dominant 44-5 win against the Vodacom Bulls in the Jukskei Derby.
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Meanwhile, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV won their second on the bounce with a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Woodburn Stadium, secured by a last-gasp penalty. In Cape Town, the Airlink Pumas maintained their charge for a semi-final berth with a bonus-point 39-13 win over DHL Western Province.
As the penultimate round concluded, the league table is finely poised, setting the stage for a dramatic final round where every point will count in the battle for the Currie Cup playoffs. Just five points separate the top five teams, who will be whittled down to four as the knock-out stages arise. The Griquas, Kavaliers, Lions, Cheetahs and Pumas lay out the table from 1st to 5th, with a pivotal round of Currie Cup action set to decide the semi-finals of this year’s competition.
Toyota Cheetahs 10 – 40 Suzuki Griquas
(Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
The Suzuki Griquas stormed to the top of the Currie Cup standings with a stunning 40-10 victory over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Five first-half tries from the Kimberley side silenced the home crowd as they dismantled the Free Staters in clinical fashion.
George Whitehead sparked the onslaught inside three minutes, converting his own try, before Zane Bester and Caleb Abrahams crossed in quick succession. Although Marko Janse van Rensburg replied from a maul, the visitors struck back immediately as Gurshwin Wehr showed great finishing skills out wide. Fullback Cameron Hufke added a fifth before the break to make it 33-5.
Wehr grabbed his second with an intercept in the second half, sealing the bonus-point triumph. Despite a flurry of late yellow cards, the Cheetahs could only muster a consolation score through Daniel Maartens. Griquas’ emphatic win lifts them into pole position heading into the decisive final round.
TOYOTA CHEETAHS: 10
TRIES: 2 (Marko Janse van Rensburg, Daniel Maartens)
SUZUKI GRIQUAS: 40
TRIES: 6 (George Whitehead, Zane Bester, Caleb Abrahams, Gurshwin Wehr 2, Cameron Hufke)
CONVERSIONS: 5 (George Whitehead 5)
Fidelity ADT Lions 44 – 5 Vodacom Bulls
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
The Fidelity ADT Lions kept their playoff hopes firmly alive with a commanding 44-5 demolition of the Vodacom Bulls in the Jukskei Derby at Ellis Park. The Bulls, ravaged by injuries and missing several URC regulars, were no match for the Lions’ power and precision.
Chris Smith struck early against his former side, kicking a penalty before converting his own try for a 10-0 lead. Jaco van der Walt pulled one back for the visitors, but the Lions forwards quickly reasserted their dominance. Tries from SJ Kotze and PJ Botha, both from rolling mauls, secured a 20-5 halftime cushion.
The second half was one-way traffic as Richard Kriel crossed to seal the bonus point. Sam Francis and Junior Bok flanker Haashim Pead piled on further misery for the Pretoria outfit, who endured a flurry of yellow cards in the closing stages. The Lions, meanwhile, head into the final round brimming with momentum.
FIDELITY ADT LIONS: 44
TRIES: 6 (Chris Smith, SJ Kotze, PJ Botha, Richard Kriel, Sam Francis, Haashim Pead)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Chris Smith 2, Richard Kriel, Sam Francis)
PENALTIES: 2 (Chris Smith 2)
VODACOM BULLS: 5
TRY: 1 (Jaco van der Walt)
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 33 – 31 Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
(Woodburn Stadium, Pietermaritzburg)
A last-gasp penalty from Siya Masuku handed the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV a dramatic 33-31 win over the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in Pietermaritzburg, ending Boland’s hopes of snatching victory after a spirited comeback.
The Sharks XV controlled the first hour, with Jacques Marais powering over twice from mauls and Junior Bok midfielder Albie Bester adding another. Flyhalf Jean Smith was flawless with the boot, slotting three conversions and three penalties to establish a 30-17 lead.
But the Kavaliers came roaring back. Sauliegh Arendse and prolific winger Donavan Don struck either side of halftime, before Dayan van der Westhuizen and HP van Schoor turned the tide in Boland’s favour. James Tedder’s metronomic kicking nudged them into a 31-30 lead with minutes left.
Just as Boland looked home, a poor decision to kick away possession allowed the Sharks XV to surge upfield and win a penalty. Masuku held his nerve with a booming long-range effort after the hooter to clinch the win in sensational fashion.
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS XV: 33
TRIES: 3 (Jacques Marais 2, Albie Bester)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Jean Smith 3)
PENALTIES: 4 (Jean Smith 3, Siya Masuku)
SANLAM BOLAND KAVALIERS: 31
TRIES: 4 (Sauliegh Arendse, Donavan Don, Dayan van der Westhuizen, HP van Schoor)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (James Tedder 4)
PENALTIES: 1 (James Tedder)
DHL Western Province 13 – 39 Airlink Pumas
(DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
The Airlink Pumas reignited their playoff charge with a clinical 39-13 bonus-point win over DHL Western Province at DHL Stadium, overturning a sluggish first half with a ruthless second-half performance.
WP flew out of the blocks as Connor Evans crashed over in the opening minute, converted by Kyle Smith, who later added a penalty to make it 10-0. The Pumas, however, struck a crucial blow before halftime when Andre Fouché powered over from a maul, cutting the deficit to 10-7 at the break.
Clinton Swart levelled with a penalty after the restart before tries from Tiaan de Klerk and Sango Xamlashe turned the tide emphatically in Mpumalanga’s favour. Smith replied with another penalty, but the Pumas were relentless. Darren Adonis sprinted over in the corner before replacement prop Junior Banda smashed through for the visitors’ fifth try in the dying moments.
The victory keeps the Pumas within striking distance of the semi-final places, while Western Province remain rooted to the bottom after another heavy defeat.
DHL WESTERN PROVINCE: 13
TRY: 1 (Connor Evans)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Kyle Smith)
PENALTIES: 2 (Kyle Smith 2)
AIRLINK PUMAS: 39
TRIES: 5 (Andre Fouché, Tiaan de Klerk, Sango Xamlashe, Darren Adonis, Junior Banda)
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Clinton Swart 4)
PENALTIES: 2 (Clinton Swart 2)
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