The Golden Lions XV beat the Blue Bulls 47-29 in Johannesburg, while there were also wins for Western Province, the Sharks XV, Pumas, Boland and Griquas in the Provincial Rugby Challenge.
In the final round of pool fixtures, the Lions – featuring a Springbok-laden lineup including Warren Whiteley, Malcolm Marx and Courtnall Skosan – were far too strong for the Bulls, who also had a number of Super Rugby regulars in their lineup.
Whiteley completed an impressive 70 minutes on his return from a knee injury, while Marx, who had recovered from a hamstring tear, played out the first half before being replaced by Corné Fourie.
However, it was Skosan who stole the show as he scored a hat-trick to round off a powerhouse performance from the home side.
The Lions will face the Sharks XV in the quarter-finals after the Durban-based side beat the Free State XV 43-21. Sharks scrumhalf Louis Schreuder grabbed a brace in what was one of the hosts’ most impressive performances of the season.
Western Province remained unbeaten since the competition’s inception last year with a 41-26 defeat of the SWD Eagles. Former Junior Boks No 8 Juarno Augustus continued his impressive form since returning from a back injury by grabbing one of WP’s six tries.
The Pumas were equally impressive in their 58-29 demolition of the Valke in Johannesburg. Pumas hooker Marco Janse van Rensburg scored a hat-trick as the visitors outscored the Valke eight tries to four.
In other results, the EP Elephants ended their season with a disappointing 20-12 loss to the Boland Cavaliers, while Griquas edged the Griffons 37-31.
Quarter-final fixtures:
Pumas vs Blue Bulls
Griquas vs Boland Cavaliers
Sharks XV vs Golden Lions XV
Western Province vs Free State XV
Round 10 results:
Golden Lions XV (47) – Tries: Courtnall Skosan (3), James Venter, Ruan Combrinck (2), Jacques van Rooyen. Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (5), Ashlon Davids.
Blue Bulls (29) – Tries: Hanro Liebenberg, Franco Naude, Jason Jenkins, Ruben van Heerden. Conversions: Manie Libbok (3). Penalty: Libbok.
Valke (29) – Tries: Andries Truter (2), Andrew Volschenk, Ettienne Taljaard. Conversions: Anrich Richter (2), Warren Potgieter. Penalty: Richter.
Pumas (58) – Tries: Le Roux Roets, Marko Janse van Rensburg (3), Ryan Nell, Willie Engelbrecht, Devon Williams, Jeandre Rudolph. Conversions: Chris Smith (6). Penalties: Smith (2).
Sharks XV (48) – Tries: Wian Vosloo, Louis Schreuder, Ross Geldenhuys, Cameron Wright, Marius Louw (2), Jeremy Ward. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3), Garth April (2). Penalty: Bosch.
Free State XV (21) – Tries: Penalty try, Marius van der Merwe (2). Conversions: Barend Janse van Rensburg (2).
Griffons (31) – Tries: Barend Potgieter, Danie van der Merwe, Cody-Anthony Basson, Joubert Engelbrecht. Conversions: Jaun Kotze (3), Duan Pretorius. Penalty: Kotze
Griquas (37) – Tries: Louis Venter (2), De Wet Kruger, Godfrey Ramaboea. Conversions: George Whitehead (4). Penalties: Whitehead (3).
EP Elephants (12) – Tries: Brendon Brown, Mbeko Kota; Conversions: Simon Bolze.
Boland Cavaliers (20) – Tries: Arnout Malherbe, Ludio Williams. Conversions: Elgar Watts (2). Penalties: Watts (2).
Western Province (41) – Tries: Dan du Plessis, EW Viljoen, Juarno Augustus, Josh Stander, Dean Muir, penalty try. Conversions: Stander (3). Penalty: Stander.
SWD Eagles (26) – Tries: Johan Steyn, Nicolaas Immelman. Conversion: Leighton Eksteen. Penalties: Eksteen (4).
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
