MONDAY, 11.00AM:
NATAL SHARKS beat the Free State Cheetahs 23-11 in their Bankfin Currie Cup match at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday. Free State put up a good defence and Natal only managed to stay one try ahead, despite a 16-3 lead at half time.
The Gauteng Lions have been beset by further setbacks as winger Pieter Hendriks, utility back Dawie du Toit and lock Armand du Preez joined the ranks of the injured this weekend. The three were hurt during the Lions’ Currie Cup match against Northern Transvaal at Loftus Versveld on Saturday, which Northerns won 19-15.
Western Province creamed the unfortunate Mpumalanga Pumas at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday, beating them 52-7 after a half-time lead of 26-0. Heavy rain and a muddy pitch did nothing to detract from their single-minded annihilation — they scored eight tries to the Pumas’ one.