Currie Cup: Round 7 - Semi-Finals confirmed as the ADT Lions take top spot

While the Lions surged to the top of the log with an emphatic win over Griquas, the Cheetahs’ narrow defeat in Pretoria saw them slip into fourth spot, leaving Boland clinging to third despite a derby loss against DHL Western Province. The Airlink Pumas, meanwhile, suffered heartbreak in Durban as their defeat to the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV left them agonisingly short of the top four.

With the log settled and knockout rugby looming, the focus now turns to Ellis Park and Suzuki Stadium, where the four remaining contenders will battle for a place in the 2025/26 Currie Cup final.

The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV ended the Pumas’ semi-final hopes with a gritty 19-13 win at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban. The first half belonged to the visitors, who relied on the boot of Clinton Swart to punish Sharks’ indiscipline. The Pumas flyhalf slotted two penalties to give his side a deserved 6-0 halftime lead, despite playing with 14 men after hooker Eduan Swart’s yellow card.

The game came alive after the break when Yaw Penxe chased down a Siya Masuku grubber to finally put the hosts on the board. The Pumas responded almost immediately, with Lundi Msenge finishing a clever chip from Ross Braude to restore their lead.

But the Sharks finished stronger. Tries from captain Phepsi Buthelezi and centre Francois Venter swung momentum firmly their way, and despite desperate late pressure from the visitors, the Durbanites held firm to secure their third victory of the campaign. For the Pumas, the single losing bonus point wasn’t enough as their season ended in heartbreak.

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS XV: 19
TRIES: 3 (Yaw Penxe, Phepsi Buthelezi, Francois Venter)
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Siya Masuku 2)

AIRLINK PUMAS: 13
TRY: 1 (Lundi Msenge)
CONVERSION: 1 (Clinton Swart)
PENALTIES: 2 (Swart 2)

DHL Western Province finally broke their duck in style, claiming their first win of the season with a 40-22 triumph over Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in the Western Cape derby at DHL Stadium.

Boland started brightly with Dayan van der Westhuizen powering over and Juan Mostert adding a penalty, but discipline soon unravelled. Three yellow cards before the hour mark handed WP the initiative, and they struck ruthlessly. Adre Smith bagged a brace of tries, while Leolin Zas and Jonathan Roche also dotted down in a dominant spell.

Replacement flyhalf Jurie Matthee was superb from the tee, nailing five conversions and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Marcel Theunissen and Vernon Matongo added further scores as Province wrapped up a deserved bonus-point victory.

Boland fought gamely to the end, with Donavan Don and Llewellyn Classen crossing late, but the damage had long been done. Despite the loss, the Kavaliers still advanced to the semi-finals, while WP signed off their campaign with pride.

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE: 40
TRIES: 6 (Adre Smith 2, Vernon Matongo, Leolin Zas, Jonathan Roche, Marcel Theunissen)
CONVERSIONS: 5 (Jurie Matthee 5)

SANLAM BOLAND KAVALIERS: 22
TRIES: 3 (Dayan van der Westhuizen, Donavan Don, Llewellyn Classen)
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Jayden Bantom, Don)
PENALTY: 1 (Juan Mostert)

The Fidelity ADT Lions stormed to the top of the table with a commanding 37-7 win over Suzuki Griquas at Ellis Park, though the clash was delayed an hour due to lightning in Johannesburg.

It was the visitors who struck first, as flanker Lourens Oosthuizen powered over after sustained pressure, converted by George Whitehead. But from there, the Lions dominated. Henco van Wyk and Richard Kriel crossed before the break, while Chris Smith’s penalty gave them a 15-7 halftime lead.

The second half was all Lions. Scrumhalf Nico Steyn darted over to extend the margin, before electric wing Angelo Davids and fullback Quan Horn sealed the result with further tries. Smith added two more penalties and three conversions to complete a polished performance. For Griquas, it was a rare off-night in a strong campaign, but their semi-final berth was already assured. The Lions, meanwhile, march into the playoffs as top seeds with momentum firmly on their side.

FIDELITY ADT LIONS: 37
TRIES: 5 (Henco van Wyk, Richard Kriel, Nico Steyn, Angelo Davids, Quan Horn)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Chris Smith 3)
PENALTIES: 2 (Smith 2)

SUZUKI GRIQUAS: 7
TRY: 1 (Lourens Oosthuizen)
CONVERSION: 1 (George Whitehead)

The Vodacom Bulls ended their campaign on a high with a thrilling 35-31 victory over Toyota Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, spoiling the visitors’ chance to finish higher on the log.

The first half was all Bulls, who ran riot with four tries. Captain Marcell Coetzee opened the scoring before Cheswill Jooste grabbed a brace, showcasing his pace and finishing. Mpilo Gumede added another as the pack dominated, with David Kriel rounding off a powerful scrum move. Scrumhalf Keagan Johannes was flawless from the tee, converting all five as the Bulls surged to a 28-5 halftime lead.

But the second half told a different story. Coetzee was sent off for a dangerous tackle, and the Cheetahs pounced. Jandre Nel, Prince Nkabinde, Pierre-Raymond Uys, and Vernon Paulo all crossed as the Free Staters roared back into contention. Despite their spirited comeback, missed conversions cost them dearly, and the Bulls clung on to seal a confidence-boosting win to close their campaign.

VODACOM BULLS: 35
TRIES: 5 (Marcell Coetzee, Cheswill Jooste 2, Mpilo Gumede, David Kriel)
CONVERSIONS: 5 (Keagan Johannes 5)

TOYOTA CHEETAHS: 31
TRIES: 5 (Carel-Jan Coetzee, Jandre Nel, Prince Nkabinde, Pierre-Raymond Uys, Vernon Paulo)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Cohen Jasper 3)