Western Province managed to carry on for a 25-21 win over the Griffons in their Currie Cup conflict in Welkom, whereas the Sharks surprised the 14-man Pumas with a late comeback to steal a 24-22 win in Mbombela on Friday.
Province put in a dominant first 50 minutes to comfortably lead the Griffons 25-0 in their match, just for the hosts to attain three transformed tries over the final half-hour to make it a decent contest.
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It was a scrappy first quarter from each groups, with Province notably responsible of lacking probabilities, earlier than the second quarter noticed the guests construct a superb lead.
A 23rd minute penalty from fullback Clayton Blommetjies was adopted by two unconverted tries in the 30th and 38th minutes as flank Jarrod Taylor crashed over from shut vary and hooker Andre-Hugo Venter capitalised on a Griffons mistake to grab on a unfastened ball and energy over.
Taking a 13-0 lead into the second half Province then received off to an ideal begin as they attacked off the kick-off, received into the house sides 22m after which labored house for flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis to take an offload and cruise over for a transformed rating.
In the 49th minute one other Griffons mistake on assault in their very own half allowed scrumhalf Thomas Bursey to hack the ball forward, decide up the ball and dive over to attain, with Blommetjies lacking his third kick of the evening to go away them 25-0 up.
This appeared to spark the house aspect to life and so they took benefit of a yellow card to Province prop Kwenzo Blose after a slew of penalties, as they attacked from a lineout in the 22m, earlier than incomes house out large for wing Domenic Smit to go over for a transformed strive in the 58th minute.
A quickfire double, in the 68th and 71st minutes, then noticed Griffons exterior centre CJ Coetzee hit a spot to attain, and substitute hooker HP van Schoor dot down in the back of a large maul, with each transformed by scrumhalf Jaywinn Juries to make it 25-21.
But it was an excessive amount of in the top as Province held on for an important bonus level win.
Red card
In the Pumas and Sharks recreation the hosts misplaced prop Njabulo Gumede to a crimson card in the 26th minute, however nonetheless went into the ultimate 5 minutes main 22-10, just for two late transformed tries from the guests to interrupt their hearts.
It was the Sharks that received off to a flier in the match with an unconverted rating to flank James Venter in the second minute of the match, however three penalties from the boot of Pumas flyhalf Tinus de Beer gave the hosts a 9-5 lead after 19 minutes.
Gumede then obtained his marching orders for a harmful sort out, earlier than De Beer had two extra probabilities to place the Pumas additional forward on the break, however missed penalties both aspect of the posts as they took a 4 level lead into halftime.
De Beer was nevertheless again on track in the second half with a 52nd minute penalty, adopted by a 60th minute drop aim placing them 15-5 up.
A yellow card to Pumas lock Shane Kirkwood for collapsing a maul in the 64th minute lowered them to 13-men, with the Sharks taking quick benefit by powering a maul over for substitute hooker Dan Jooste to dot down and unconverted rating making it 15-10.
The Pumas had been undaunted and went up the opposite finish with two males much less, earned a penalty in the Sharks 22m and substitute scrumhalf Giovan Snyman fast tapped and dived over, with De Beer’s extras placing them 12 factors forward after 71 minutes.
The Pumas would have thought that they had finished sufficient going into the ultimate 5 minutes, however the Sharks had been saved by their replacements as flank Dylan Richardson and prop Dian Bleuler went over for tries, with fullback Nevaldo Fleurs knocking over each conversions to seal a shocking win.
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