The elimination of the defending champions and a spirited performance against the odds were two of the features of a thrilling final weekend of league fixtures in the Vodacom Cup competition, which enters its quarterfinal stage this weekend.
Holders the Valke were denied the chance of defending their title when they went down 17-8 to the Blue Bulls in their final North Section fixture last Friday.
Victories by Griquas (47-15 against the Lions) and the Leopards (29-8 over the Griffons) put paid to any hopes the Valke had of sneaking home, and ensured both Griquas and the Leopards of their places in the last eight. The Blue Bulls’ victory also ensured their qualification, while the fourth North Section qualifiers are the Pumas.
A remarkable performance by the Mighty Elephants, who against all expectations scored a 30-26 win over the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Saturday, ensured the Eastern Cape side of their place in the knockout stages.
The Elephants went into the South Section match trailing last year’s beaten finalists the Wildebeest by two log points and needing nothing less than a win to qualify.
Buoyed by a recent turnaround in fortunes, the Elephants took the game to their opponents from the start to come away with a deserved win and keep their campaign alive. Despite the defeat, Boland also reached the last eight.
Other qualifiers from the South are Western Province (WP) and the Free State Cheetahs. WP extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a 25-18 win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday to secure home advantage in the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinal fixtures
Friday
Blue Bulls vs Boland Cavaliers — Loftus Versfeld, 4pm;
Free State Cheetahs vs Pumas — Vodacom Park, 5.30pm.
Saturday
Griquas vs Mighty Elephants — Absa Park, Kimberley, 1pm;
Western Province vs Leopards — Newlands, 2.30pm.
In the semifinals on the weekend of April 27 and 28, the winner of the match between the Blue Bulls and the Cavaliers will face the winner of the WP/Leopards clash, while the winner of the Cheetahs vs Pumas match will meet either Griquas or the Pumas. — Sapa