Sergeal Petersen's brace helped the Free State XV to a 50-45 win over the EP Kings in Bloemfontein on Saturday, while WP, Griquas and Namibia's Welwitschias also won.
Petersen, who is on loan from the Kings, scored two of seven tries for Free State, while Kings captain Tim Whitehead led from the front with a double for his side.
Free State outscored their visitors three converted tries to two in the first half, with scores from Petersen, centre JP du Plessis and scrumhalf Shaun Venter. No 8 Tim Agaba and wing Luther Obi dotted down for the Kings. However, a penalty apiece from Scott van Breda and Gary van Aswegen saw the Kings trail just 21-20 going into the break.
The second stanza produced more thrills as both sides wrestled for control. In an interesting sequence of play, both teams conceded three times after the break with Van Breda landing a 55m penalty in between to level matters at 42-42.
But Free State's replacement inside centre Ludwieg Erasmas came on and slotted a penalty before grabbing their seventh try in the 77th minute to make the game safe. The Kings, who fought valiantly, received a late penalty but with the game beyond the converted try mark, Whitehead opted to take the points on offer which got them a losing bonus point.
Meanwhile, Natabeni Dukisa scored a hat-trick as Griquas thumped Boland 62-19 in Velddrif to continue their perfect record in the competition; in Windhoek outside centre Johann Tromp grabbed all three tries for the Welwitschias who beat the Limpopo Blue Bulls 24-17, and in Cape Town, Western Province eased past Border 34-6.
Free State XV (50) – Tries: Sergeal Petersen (2), JP du Plessis, Shaun Venter, Joubert Engelbrecht, Zingisa April, Ludwieg Erasmas. Conversions: Niell Marais (6). Penalty: Erasmus.
EP Kings (45) – Tries: Tim Agaba, Luther Obi, Tim Whitehead (2), Siviwe Soyizwapi. Conversions: Scott van Breda (4). Penalties: Van Breda (3), Gary van Aswegen.
Boland (19) – Tries: Wilneth Engelbrecht, Tiaan Ramat, Ryno Conradie. Conversions: Eric Zana (2).
Griquas (62) – Tries: Rocco Jansen (2), Weldall Wehr (2), Natabeni Dukisa (3), Martin Bezuidenhout, Clinton Swart. Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (7). Penalty: Prinsloo.
Welwitschias (24) – Tries: Johann Tromp (3). Conversions: Shaun Kaizemi (3). Penalty: Kaizeni.
Limpopo Blue Bulls (17) – Tries: Heinrich Els, Marnus Erasmus. Conversions: Anton Beswick (2). Penalty: Beswick.
Western Province (34) – Tries: Chris van Zyl, Deacon Chowles, Garth April, Rayn Smid, Robert du Preez. Conversions: Jean-Luc du Plessis (2), Du Preez. Penalty: Du Plessis.
Border (6) – Penalties: Masixole Banda (2).
Photo: Saru
