Griquas edged the Leopards 33-32 in their third round Currie Cup Premier Division qualifier in Kimberley, while there were also wins for Boland and SWD.
This was a top-of-the-table clash between two unbeaten sides.
Wing Nico Scheepers gave the hosts a 10-point lead with a penalty, a try and a conversion inside the first 10 minutes, before a penalty from centre Adriaan Engelbrecht got the Leopards on the board.
An unconverted try by Leopards flank Juan Language was sandwiched between two Griquas touchdowns by flank Marnus Schoeman and No 8 Burger Schoeman. Scheepers and Engelbrecht then traded penalties, as Griquas led 27-11 at the break.
The Leopards came back firing in the second stanza with a try from replacement scrumhalf George Tossel. The boot of Scheepers, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over for Griquas.
With time running out, the Leopards scored twice through wingers Sylvian Mahuza and Luther Obi. Engelbrecht added the extras on both occasions, making it a one-point game.
They attacked relentlessly in the final five minutes, but Griquas held on for the victory.
In East London, Border slumped to a 37-12 defeat at the hands of Boland. The men from Wellington scored six tries and only conceded two. Boland fullback Eric Zana was once again the go-to man for his team with a try, two conversions and a penalty.
In a high-scoring affair in George, the Valke beat SWD 52-34, scoring seven tries to five. Valke wing Riaan Arends bagged a brace, while flyhalf Juan Kotze scored a try, and kicked four conversions and three penalties.
Griquas (33) – Tries: Nico Scheepers, Marnus Schoeman, Burger Schoeman. Conversions: Scheepers (3). Penalties: Scheepers (4).
Leopards (32) – Tries: Juan Language, George Tossel, Sylvian Mahuza, Luther Obi. Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (3). Penalties: Engelbrecht (2).
Border (12) – Tries: Johannes Jonker, Yanga Xakalashe. Conversion: Masixole Banda.
Boland (37) – Tries: Martin Dreyer, Horlan Klaasen, Franzel September, Eric Zana, Arno Fortuin. Conversions: Zana (2). Penalty: Zana.
SWD (34) – Tries: Mzwanele Zito, Dwayne Kelly, Brian Skosana, Anver Venter, Alshaun Bock. Conversions: Karlo Aspeling (3). Penalty: Aspeling.
Valke (52) – Tries: Shane Kirkwood, Riaan Arends (2), Marlyn Williams, JP Mostert, Juan Kotze, Anrich Richter. Conversions: Kotze (4). Penalties: Kotze (3).
Photo: Louis Botha/Gallo Images
