Currie Cup: Griquas, Pumas reach final as Lions, Cheetahs eliminated

Griquas 52-12 Lions

Defending champions Suzuki Griquas powered into the Currie Cup final with a dominant 52-12 semifinal victory over the Lions in Kimberley on Sunday.

Griquas scored seven tries to two and controlled the contest through their powerful pack, taking a commanding 35-5 lead into halftime. They will host the final against the Pumas, who defeated the Cheetahs 27-24 in the other semifinal.

The hosts made a fast start, with Lourens Oosthuizen and Marco de Witt crossing inside the opening 12 minutes. The Lions briefly responded through hooker Armand Combrinck, but Griquas quickly regained control.

Mnombo Zwelendaba, Stefan Coetzee and Tiaan Lange added further tries before halftime, with George Whitehead converting all five attempts to give the champions a 30-point advantage.

Oosthuizen scored his second try shortly after the restart as Griquas continued to dominate. Ethan Adams crossed for the Lions, but Jack Hart added a seventh try for the hosts before replacement flyhalf Liam Koen kicked a late penalty to take Griquas beyond 50.

Griquas' superiority at scrum time was a major factor, with the hosts forcing six scrum penalties and repeatedly putting the Lions under pressure.

The victory extended Griquas' winning run to seven matches since their opening-round defeat by the Stormers XXIII. Having finished top of the league phase, Pieter Bergh's side will now attempt to complete their title defence on home soil against the Pumas.

Cheetahs 24-27 Pumas

The Pumas overturned a halftime deficit to beat the Cheetahs 27-24 in a dramatic Currie Cup semifinal in Bloemfontein on Sunday, booking a final against defending champions Griquas.

Clinton Swart kicked the decisive penalty in the 70th minute before the Pumas held firm during a tense finish. The result gave them back-to-back wins over the Cheetahs after last week's 52-26 victory in Nelspruit.

The Cheetahs controlled the first half, with Jaco van der Walt opening the scoring from the tee before Ramon Uys crossed from a rolling maul to make it 10-0. Swart's penalty before halftime reduced the deficit to 10-3.

The Pumas came out strongly after the break, with Darren Adonis scoring from a stolen lineout and Swart converting to level the scores. Andre Goedhals then put the visitors ahead, but the Cheetahs responded through replacement hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg's maul try.

Gustav du Rand restored the Pumas' advantage from another rolling maul before Carel-Jan Coetzee brought the Cheetahs level at 24-24.

Swart's penalty with 10 minutes remaining ultimately proved decisive. The Cheetahs had a chance to equalise from a penalty in front of the posts but chose to kick for touch and attack through their rolling maul. The Pumas defended successfully and eventually won a crucial breakdown penalty to end the threat.

Swart was named man of the match as the Pumas secured their place in next Saturday's final in Kimberley, where they will face Griquas, who beat the Lions 52-12 in the other semifinal.

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