Currie Cup result: Plucky Pumas set up title clash with champs

Flyhalf Clinton Swart’s late penalty helped the Pumas progress to the Currie Cup final with a come-from-behind win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.

Man of the Match Swart split the uprights in the 70th minute at Free State Stadium to complete a 27-24 victory that will see Jimmy Stonehouse’s men contest next Saturday’s decider in Kimberley against the defending champions Griquas, who earlier in the day thrashed the Lions 52-12 at Griqua Stadium.

It was also back-to-back wins for the Pumas over Frans Steyn’s troops after last week’s 52-26 rout in Nelspruit. sport-newz.biz

High The Lowvelders are no strangers to the showpiece of rugby’s oldest domestic competition, having reached consecutive finals in 2022 and 2023 and a maiden title triumph four years ago.

Sunday’s hosts controlled territory from the outset before Cheetahs flyhalf Jaco van der Walt opened the scoring with a penalty in the 18th minute.

Their forwards did the damage from there, a rolling maul on 35 minutes ending in a try for flanker Ramon Uys, and Van der Walt converted.

The Pumas struggled to find rhythm with ball in hand, undone by handling errors and a scrum that kept giving the home team a platform.

Swart’s penalty on the stroke of half-time was the visitors’ only reward as the Cheetahs took a 10-3 lead into the break.

The visitors struck early after the restart, winger Darren Adonis finishing off a lineout steal and Swart converting to level matters at 10-10.

Flanker Andre Goedhals barged over for a second try, but the Cheetahs hit back through replacement Marko Janse van Rensburg’s maul finish, and Van der Walt tied it up again from the kicking tee.

Gustav du Rand’s rolling-maul try nudged the Pumas back ahead before Carel-Jan Coetzee’s converted touchdown levelled it once more at 24-24.

Swart’s final strike then edged the Pumas in front, and they held on from there to book a spot in the decider.

CHEETAHS – Tries: Ramon Uys, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3). Penalty: Van der Walt.
PUMAS – Tries: Darren Adonis, Andre Goedhals, Gustav du Rand. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalties: Swart (2).

This story was first published on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.

The young Proteas opener collected the batting award after dominating attacks during the tournament.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius was named Batter of the Tournament after scoring 226 runs in the Namibia T20I Tri-Series.

The left-hander’s campaign included a blistering 94 against Zimbabwe and a century against hosts Namibia.

Pretorius struck 101 as South Africa amassed 228-4 against Namibia, becoming the centrepiece of another commanding batting display.

READ:Hermann, Fortuin fire Proteas to tri-series title

However, a groin injury ruled him out of the final against Zimbabwe.

Despite his absence, the 20-year-old’s earlier performances were enough to secure the tournament’s batting award.

Pretorius finished level with Player of the Tournament Dewald Brevis on 226 runs as the Proteas claimed the title.

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Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images

The post Pretorius takes tri-series batting honours appeared first on SA Cricket Mag.

Kaizer Chiefs maintained their unbeaten run in the 2026/27 season after beating Siwelele FC 3-2 in a Betway Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium last night.

The result also saw Amakhosi retain their third spot with 11 points after five matches, while winless Siwelele moved down to 14th spot with two points after five games.

Amakhosi dominated ball possession and created the bulk of chances, but decision-making was again their Achilles heel.

Siwelele did little to trouble the Chiefs backline as the midway point of the first-half approached. Brandon Petersen was not troubled for most of the first half.

Mfundo Vilazi gave Chiefs the lead in the 30th minute. After being played through on goal, the Chiefs winger spotted the goalkeeper Samukelo Xulu off his line and delightfully chipped the ball over him to give Chiefs the lead in the 30th minute.

Wandile Duba thought he had doubled Chiefs’ lead five minutes later when he turned his marker before unleashing a low shot past Xulu, but his goal was ruled offside. TV replays, however, showed it was an incorrect call because a Siwelele defender touched the ball before it reached Duba.

Petersen was finally called into action on the stroke of half-time when he parried away a corner kick cum shot to make sure that Chiefs kept their lead into the break.

Siwelele came out fighting after the restart and came close to finding the equaliser in the second minute of the second half when Sphesihle Jeza stole the ball from Siphesihle Ndlovu. Still, his shot didn’t have enough power to trouble Petersen.

Duba found the back of the net again in the 55th minute, but was once again ruled offside.

Eleven minutes later, Duba finally found his goal with an audacious backheel to double Chiefs’ lead.

Aphiwe Baliti pulled one back for Siwelele with a deflected shot in the 68th minute. Substitute Faiz Abrahams, however, retained Chiefs’ lead, although there was a little bit of doubt it was his goal, as the ball came off the woodwork and hit Xulu on his back before crawling into the net.

New signing Michael N’Guessan, who had just been on the field for a few minutes, gave Siwelele some hope when he pulled another one back for the visitors with a deflected shot, but it was a little too late for Lehlohonolo Seema’s charges.

Flyhalf Clinton Swart’s late penalty helped the Pumas progress to the Currie Cup final with a come-from-behind win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.

Man of the Match Swart split the uprights in the 70th minute at Free State Stadium to complete a 27-24 victory that will see Jimmy Stonehouse’s men contest next Saturday’s decider in Kimberley against the defending champions Griquas, who earlier in the day thrashed the Lions 52-12 at Griqua Stadium.

It was also back-to-back wins for the Pumas over Frans Steyn’s troops after last week’s 52-26 rout in Nelspruit.

The Lowvelders are no strangers to the showpiece of rugby’s oldest domestic competition, having reached consecutive finals in 2022 and 2023 and a maiden title triumph four years ago.

RECAP: Griquas run riot to book final berth

Sunday’s hosts controlled territory from the outset before Cheetahs flyhalf Jaco van der Walt opened the scoring with a penalty in the 18th minute.

Their forwards did the damage from there, a rolling maul on 35 minutes ending in a try for flanker Ramon Uys and Van der Walt converted.

The Pumas struggled to find rhythm with ball in hand, undone by handling errors and a scrum that kept giving the home team a platform.

Swart’s penalty on the stroke of half-time was the visitors’ only reward as the Cheetahs took a 10-3 lead into the break.

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The Pumas struck early after the restart, winger Darren Adonis finishing off a lineout steal and Swart converting to level matters at 10-10.

Flanker Andre Goedhals barged over for a second try, but the Cheetahs hit back through replacement Marko Janse van Rensburg’s maul finish, and Van der Walt tied it up again from the kicking tee.

Substitute Gustav du Rand’s rolling-maul try nudged the Pumas back in front before centre Carel-Jan Coetzee’s converted touchdown levelled it once more at 24-24.

Swart’s final strike then edged the Pumas in front, and they held on from there to book a spot in the decider.

CHEETAHS – Tries: Ramon Uys, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3). Penalty: Van der Walt.
PUMAS – Tries: Darren Adonis, Andre Goedhals, Gustav du Rand. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalties: Swart (2).

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images

The post Plucky Pumas set up title clash with champs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

The Proteas batter received the leading individual award after scoring 226 runs during the competition.

Dewald Brevis was named Player of the Tournament following South Africa’s series-winning campaign at the Namibia T20I Tri-Series.

Brevis scored 226 runs at a strike rate of 116.17, including two half-centuries.

Pretorius takes tri-series batting honours

The 23-year-old finished level with Lhuan-dre Pretorius as the tournament’s joint-leading run-scorer.

Brevis contributed 32 from 23 deliveries in the final as South Africa posted 205-5 against Zimbabwe.

The Proteas dismissed Zimbabwe for 157 to secure a 48-run victory and win the series.

Brevis received the tournament’s leading individual award, while Pretorius was named Batter of the Tournament.

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Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images

The post Brevis claims tri-series top honour appeared first on SA Cricket Mag.