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Johannesburg - The Blue Bulls and the Free State Cheetahs kept their chances of hosting an Absa Currie Cup semifinal alive after both sides secured thrilling victories at the weekend.
The defending champions recorded a stunning 36-32 victory over Western Province in Pretoria on Saturday, while the Cheetahs notched up their ninth victory of the competition with a 43-37 win over the Lions in Bloemfontein.
The Bulls and the Cheetahs ended the penultimate week of the league stage in joint third position on the Premier Division log with 42 points. They are still two points behind Province, who salvaged a bonus point for losing within seven points of the Pretoria side.
WP can deny the Pretoria and Bloemfontein sides the chance of hosting a semifinal if they defeat the log-leading Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.
Springbok stars Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh scored tries for Province while Willem de Waal kicked six penalties and two conversions. Their efforts, however, were not enough to prevent the Bulls from securing a narrow victory.
De Waal stretched his lead at the top of the leading scorers' table, having accumulated 183 points, while Blue Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter (171) moved in to second place after kicking four penalties and three conversions.
Flank Okkie Kruger, centre Stefan Watermeyer and Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner scored tries for the Bulls while former Springbok fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen kicked the game's only drop goal.
In Bloemfontein, the Cheetahs moved a step closer to hosting a semifinal when they picked up maximum points from their clash against the Lions.
The hosts scored six tries from Man-of-the-Match Ashley Johnson (two), Hennie Daniller, Adriaan Strauss, WP Nel and Phillip Snyman. Louis Strydom kicked two penalties and two conversions while Meyer Bosman added one penalty.
The Lions achieved two bonus points - for scoring four tries, and for losing within seven points of the Cheetahs. The Johannesburg-based side's five-pointers were dotted down by Burton Francis, Joshua Strauss, Edgar Marutlulle and Michael Killian. Former SA Under-20 flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked four conversions and three penalties for the visitors.
The Lions will now have to hope that the Leopards upset the Cheetahs or Griquas defeat the Blue Bulls in Kimberley in the final round of the league stage if they are to have a chance of qualifying for the semifinals.
The Sharks will host one semifinal after they outclassed the Leopards (63-6) at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday evening.
Flank Keegan Daniel, prop Jannie du Plessis and winger Odwa Ndungane each scored a brace of tries, while fullback Louis Ludik, winger Lwazi Mvovo and prop Eugene van Staden added one each for the hosts. Former Springbok flyhalf Andr Pretorius kicked six conversions while former SA Under-20 fullback Patrick Lambie converted three tries.
Clayton Durand kicked two penalties for the Leopards, who are the only side in the competition not to have recorded a victory.
Griquas winger Bjorn Basson equalled the Currie Cup try-scoring record (19) held by former Western Province wing Carel du Plessis and former Leopards wing Colin Lloyd.
The Springbok flyer was named the Currie Cup Player-of-the-Month for September on Thursday and continued his try-scoring run in the competition after he added two more during his side's 61-31 victory over the Pumas in Witbank.
Griquas achieved maximum points from the game but were eliminated from the semifinal race after the Blue Bulls and the Cheetahs secured victories.
While Basson added a brace, Barry Geel, Naas Olivier, Riaan Viljoen, Rocco Jansen, Ryno Barnes, Sarel Pretorius and Wesley Wilkins were the other try scorers for Griquas. Olivier kicked seven conversions while Rudi Vogt converted one try.
The Pumas nonetheless managed to secure a bonus point by scoring five tries. Corn Steenkamp (two), Elgar Watts, Hendrik van der Nest and Shaun Venter dotted down for the hosts. Watts kicked two conversions while Ricardo Croy added one conversion.
Currie Cup Premier Division results and scorers:
Blue Bulls beat Western Province 36-32
Blue Bulls:
Tries: Okkie Kruger, Stefan Watermeyer, Zane Kirchner. Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3). Penalties: Potgieter (4). Drop-goal: Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Western Province:
Tries: Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon. Conversions: Willem de Waal (2). Penalties: De Waal (6).
Cheetahs beat Lions 43-37
Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Ashley Johnson (2), Hennie Daniller, Adriaan Strauss, WP Nel, Phillip Snyman. Conversions: Louis Strydom (2). Penalties: Strydom (2), Meyer Bosman.
Lions:
Tries: Burton Francis, Joshua Strauss, Edgar Marutlulle, Michael Killian. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4). Penalties: Jantjies (3).
Sharks beat Leopards 63-6
Sharks:
Tries: Keegan Daniel (2), Jannie du Plessis (2), Louis Ludik, Odwa Ndungane (2), Lwazi Mvovo, Eugene van Staden. Conversions: Andr Pretorius (6), Patrick Lambie (3).
Leopards:
Penalties: Clayton Durand (2).
Griquas bt Pumas 61-31
Griquas:
Tries: Bjorn Basson (2), Barry Geel, Naas Olivier, Riaan Viljoen, Rocco Jansen, Ryno Barnes, Sarel Pretorius, Wesley Wilkins. Conversions: Olivier (7), Rudi Vogt.
Pumas:
Tries: Corn Steenkamp (2), Elgar Watts, Hendrik van der Nest, Shaun Venter. Conversions: Watts (2), Ricardo Croy.
