Griquas returned to winning ways with a 27-24 victory over the Sharks XV, while the EP Kings, WP, SWD, Leopards, Valke and Blue Bulls all won.
Griquas, who lost to Province last week, overturned a nine-point half-time deficit to secure a much-needed Vodacom Cup win in Pietermaritzburg.
Converted tries by wing Tonderai Chavhanga and flank Khaya Majola, plus a Cameron Wright penalty pushed the hosts out to a 17-8 lead. Eigthman Jono Janse van Rensburg and fullback Gouws Prinsloo accounted for Griquas' tally.
Wing Rocco Jansen got the visitors off to a flying start in the second half when he crossed the tryline, but they conceded immediately thereafter, as the Sharks restored their points buffer with a third touchdown. Griquas rallied back in the final 10 minutes of the match, scoring two tries that earned them the bonus-point victory.
Meanwhile, the Blue Bulls ran riot at Loftus, scoring 12 tries in their 83-13 drubbing of the Limpopo Blue Bulls. Flyhalf Kobus Marais led the way with a 22-point haul (a try, seven conversions and a penalty), while outside centre William Small-Smith and wings Jamba Ulengo and Travis Ismaiel bagged a double each.
Elsewhere, eighthman Aidon Davis grabbed a hat-trick as the EP Kings ran out surprise 44-10 victors over Boland in Citrusdal; the Free State XV outscored WP four tries to three, but it wasn't enough as the Cape side claimed an exciting 30-29 win in Bloemfontein; after leading 21-0 at the break, a second-half blitz saw the Leopards XV thrash the Griffons 59-12 in Hartbeesfontein and the SWD Eagles defeated the Border Bulldogs 36-17.
In the only match on Friday, Namibia's Welwitschias suffered a 45-7 loss against the Valke in Windhoek.
Sharks XV (24) – Tries: Tonderai Chavhanga, Marius Louw, Khaya Majola. Conversions: Cameron Wright (3). Penalty: Wright.
Griquas (27) – Tries: Rocco Jansen, Ntabeni Dukisa, Jono Janse van Rensburg, Ederies Arendse. Conversions: Dean Grant (2). Penalty: Gouws Prinsloo.
Boland (10) – Tries: Granville Adams. Conversion: Adams. Penalty: Adams.
EP Kings (44) – Tries: Aidon Davis (3), Dylon Frylinck, Eital Bredenkamp, Hansie Graaff, Siviwe Soyizwapi. Conversions: Graaff (3). Penalty: Graaff.
SWD Eagles (36) – Tries: Zandre Jordaan (2), Kirsten Heyns, Janneman Stander, Alshaun Bock. Conversions: Elric van Vuuren (4). Penalty: Van Vuuren.
Border Bulldogs (17) – Try: Ayabonga Nomboyo. Penalties: Masixole Banda (4).
Leopards XV (59) – Tries: Francois Robertse, Jaco Hayward, Kobus du Plessis, Adi Jacobs (2), Adriaan Engelbrecht, Briers Myburgh, Molotsi Bouwer. Conversions: Engelbrecht (5), Ruan van Rensburg (3). Penalty: Engelbrecht.
Griffons (12) – Tries: Nicky Steyn (2). Conversion: Wynand Pienaar.
Free State XV (29) – Tries: Henco Venter, Teunis Nieuwoudt, Maphutha Dolo, Reuben Johannes. Conversions: Neil Marais (2), Noel Marx. Penalties: Marais.
Western Province (30) – Tries: Kyle Lombard, Tshotsho Mbovane, EW Viljoen. Conversions: Robert du Preez (3). Penalties: Du Preez (3).
Blue Bulls (83) – Tries: William Small-Smith (2), Travis Ismaiel (2), Jamba Ulengo (2), Jacques Engelbrecht, Kefentse Mahlo, Kobus Marais, Marquit September, Mox Mxoli, Roelof Smit. Conversions: Marais (7), Joshua Stander (3). Penalty: Marais.
Limpopo (13) – Try: Fanie Raseroka. Conversion: Anton Beswick. Penalties: Beswick (2).
Valke (45) – Tries: Ernst Ladendorf, Anrich Richter (2), Riaan Arends (2), Willie Odendaal, Friddle de Wet. Conversions: Juan Kotze (5).
Welwitschias (7) – Try: Johan Tromp. Conversion: Michael Kaizemi.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
