Former Sharks flyhalf Garth April proved his worth in the SA Cup opener, slotting two conversions and two penalties for Eastern Province. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The Boland Kavaliers, Pumas, and Valke all got their 2026 SA Cup campaigns off to winning starts on the road, while Griquas and the Griffons also secured wins in the opening round as the 10 teams chase qualification for the Currie Cup Premier Division.
The Bolanders were off to a flying start when they defeated the Cheetahs 34-24 in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, while the defending champion Pumas had to dig deep to beat the resurgent SWD Eagles 28-26 in a thrilling contest in George. Eastern Province made a good start but could not last the pace as the Valke won their match 29-23 in Gqeberha.
Saturday’s two fixtures saw a runaway 101-7 triumph for Griquas over the Leopards in Kimberley, while the Griffons beat the Border Bulldogs 36-17 in Welkom.
Next weekend’s second-round action sees the Leopards hosting the Cheetahs in Potchefstroom on Friday, while the Pumas play Eastern Province in Nelspruit. On Saturday, the Valke take on Griquas in Kempton Park, Border welcome SWD to East London, and the Griffons travel to Wellington to take on the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers.
Eastern Province opened the new SA Cup season with promise but were ultimately reeled in by a composed Valke outfit. EP struck immediately when scrumhalf Sachin Toring sniped over inside the opening minute, with flyhalf Garth April converting for a 7-0 lead.
However, Valke wing Ezrick Alexander hit back five minutes later. The conversion was wide, but the hosts suffered a blow as centre Christiaan Potgieter was binned moments later, although April added a successful penalty goal to make it 10-5 for EP.
Valke wing Adrian Joubert finished smartly on 15 minutes, and playmaker Sergio Stalmeester added the extras as they went 12-10 into the lead. The half turned again when Valke hooker Pierre Rabie saw yellow on the half-hour mark and EP captain Laken Gray powered over from close range.
April converted for a half-time lead of 17-12, but not before the Valke also lost Alexander to the bin before the break in a frenetic closing spell.
With their maul getting stronger, Rabie atoned with a try in the 48th minute, and Stalmeester’s conversion gave the visitors a 19-17 edge. EP were determined, and April added a second penalty goal to restore the lead at 20-19. Valke full-back Mbembe Payi answered with a penalty goal of his own as the visitors regained the lead at 22-20 as the teams entered the final quarter.
EP’s cause was hampered when Gray was shown yellow 10 minutes before the end, and the Valke ruthlessly cashed in when replacement outside back Musa Tshabalala finished a sweeping movement four minutes from time, with Payi converting for a decisive nine-point buffer.
Replacement Maxwell Klaasen landed a late penalty goal to salvage a losing bonus point for EP, but the Valke closed out a composed away win 23-29.
* Mike Greenaway is a senior rugby reporter at Independent Media and contributor on our Last World on Rugby podcast on our YouTube channel, The Clutch.