The SWD Eagles surged to the top of the Currie Cup First Division log, while there were also round three wins for the Valke and Eastern Province.
The Eagles claimed a 54-26 victory over the Griffons in Welkom to remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.
The Valke crushed the Border Bulldogs 96-19 in Kempton Park to move into second place on the standings, while EP fought back in the second half of their clash in Kariega to beat the Leopards 40-32.
SWD are now top of the log with 15 points after three rounds, followed by three teams on 11 points. The Valke are second, though, on points difference (+77), with EP third (+26) and the Griffons fourth (+6).
The Leopards (five) and Bulldogs (zero) bring up the rear, with two rounds left before the semi-finals.
In Welkom, the Eagles scored four tries in the first 17 minutes – two by flank Ulrich Stander – to take a 28-7 lead despite conceding a penalty try and losing a player to the sin bin.
The hosts added two tries while SWD responded with their fifth five-pointer late in the first half to take a commanding 35-19 lead at the break.
The Griffons closed the gap with their fourth try early in the second half, but after Stander completed his hat-trick in the 49th minute, it was basically game over for the defending champions.
The Eagles added two late tries, by replacement scrumhalf Xavier Swartbooi and winger Rune Lucas, to seal an emphatic win away from home.
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The biggest win of the weekend belonged to the Valke, who scored 14 tries against Border.
Right wing Ezrick Alexander grabbed four as flyhalf Tylor Sefoor contributed 23 points via a try and nine conversions, while left wing Ilunga Mukendi and flank Kelvin Kanenungo chipped in with a brace each.
In the third match of the weekend, Eastern Province had to fight back from trailing 12-15 at the break to beat the Leopards in Kariega. Flank CJ Velleman scored a hat-trick.
GRIFFONS (26) – Tries: Hlumza Nondonga, Jandre de Beer, Chyle van Zyl, Penalty try. Conversions: Dehovine Johannes (2).
SWD EAGLES (54) – Tries: Ulrich Stander (3), Sinalo Jivana, Ewan Coetzee, Hendrik Stemmet, Xavier Swartbooi, Rune Lucas. Conversions: Divan du Toit (6), Fred Zeilinga.
VALKE (96) – Tries: Ezrick Alexander (4), Sikho Nanto, Luciano Elias, Ilunga Mukendi (2), Tylor Sefoor, Adrian Joubert, Kelvin Kanenungo (2), Liam Kloosman, Dirk Lourens. Conversions: Sefoor (9), Tireque Apolles (4).
BORDER BULLDOGS (19) – Tries: Khanaye Mbakaza, Sakhe Dingile, Thembela Folo. Conversions: Khanya Kama, Isiphe Mbini.
EASTERN PROVINCE (40) – Tries: CJ Velleman (3), Mpho Ntsane, Liyema Matyolweni, Penalty try. Conversions: Jaydon Bantom, Maxwell Klaasen (3).
LEOPARDS (32) – Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi, Jason Alexander, Hlumelo Ndudula, Brandon Keevy. Conversions: Jandre Burger (3). Penalties: Burger (2).
Photo: SWD Eagles/Facebook
The post Eagles take top spot, Valke win big in First Division appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The SWD Eagles surged to the top of the Currie Cup First Division log, while there were also round three wins for the Valke and Eastern Province.
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