Griquas dominate Griffons to extend unbeaten SA Cup record

Defending SA Cup champions the Suzuki Griquas continued their dominant run in the competition, securing a 52-33 win over the Novavit Griffons in Welkom on Saturday to maintain their undefeated record in the competition’s history.

Ahead of Saturday's game, the Griffons were also on a winning streak, but that all ended when Griquas flexed their muscle. The Kimberley-based side has now won 14 consecutive SA Cup matches, further cementing their status as the team to beat.

And once again, it was the Kimberley team’s star winger Dylan Maart who stole the show. The 2024 Griquas Player of the Year produced a dazzling four-try performance, leading his team to their fourth consecutive bonus-point victory in the tournament.

Griquas wasted no time asserting their authority, surging to a 14-0 lead as Maart crossed the try line twice in the opening exchanges. However, the Griffons showed resilience, using their forward power to apply pressure and fight their way back into the contest. Costly handling errors and ineffective kicking, though, allowed Griquas to regain control.

With Maart, Gurshwin Wehr, and Cameron Hufke posing a constant threat in the back three, the visitors ran in four first-half tries to take a commanding 33-14 lead into the break. Wehr, who previously played for the Griffons, added his second try early in the second half to further extend the advantage.

While Griquas' discipline wavered at times – resulting in a yellow card for Dandré Delport – their attacking firepower proved too much for the home side. The win keeps Griquas at the top of the standings, sharing their unbeaten record with the Airlink Pumas after four rounds.

With just a few weeks remaining in the competition, the battle for a place in the Currie Cup Premier Division is heating up. The top four teams in the 2025 SA Cup will join the four United Rugby Championship teams in the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division, while the remaining six teams will compete for the Currie Cup First Division title.

In the weekend’s other games, the Toyota Cheetahs edged out Eastern Province 35-47 in a crucial away win. The Leopards claimed their first victory in the competition, defeating the Border Bulldogs 25-28 in East London. The Boland Cavaliers snapped their losing streak in emphatic fashion, thrashing the SWD Eagles 71-21 in Wellington, and the Pumas kept their unbeaten run alive with a 50-35 victory over the Valke in Kempton Park.