SA Cup hits business end as playoffs approach

Seven teams are still in with a shout of reaching the semifinals of the SA Cup with only two rounds of league action remaining, although a few of these sides will hope for help from others if they are going to qualify for the playoffs.

All five games this weekend will have an influence on the final standings, with the action kicking off at 6pm on Friday evening in George, where the Phangela SWD Eagles host the defending champion Suzuki Griquas.

The other four matches are all scheduled to start at 3pmon Saturday: Sanlam Boland Kavaliers welcome log leaders, the Airlink Pumas, to Wellington; the Valke travel to Potchefstroom to take on the Leopards; the Toyota Cheetahs host the Border Bulldogs in Bloemfontein; and Eastern Province take on the NovaVit Griffons in Gqeberha.

The Airlink Pumas are sitting pretty at the top of the standings on a perfect 35 points from their seven games, with three points more than Suzuki Griquas. These two teams are assured of their places in the semifinals.

The chasing pack of five teams all still have their work cut out for them in the last two rounds. The Toyota Cheetahs are third on 27 points, followed by the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (25) in fourth, while the NovaVit Griffons are fifth on the same amount of log points.

The Valke, in sixth on 20 points, can’t afford to slip up, while EP, seventh on 17 points, will have to hope for favours from other teams if they are going to sneak into the top four.

SWD (eighth on seven points), the Leopards (ninth on four) and Border (10th on two) bring up the rear.

In George, Griquas will aim to keep the pressure on the Pumas after going down against the men from Mpumalanga last weekend, with SWD playing for pride as they can’t make the playoffs anymore.

Last year, the men from the Northern Cape won a high-scoring affair in Kimberley and they will be looking to replicate that in the heart of the Garden Route on Friday.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers will fight tooth and nail to keep their fourth spot on the log against the high-flying Airlink Pumas at Boland Stadium on Saturday. In 2024, the Pumas won the corresponding clash by 49-0, but the Bolanders’ form this year is much better and they will not be going down fighting.

The team from Mpumalanga are within touching distance of top spot on the log though and they will have all the motivation they need in the Boland on Saturday.

The Leopards can be a tricky customer at home in Potchefstroom, something the Valke will be mindful of when they travel west, but the East Randers – currently in sixth spot on the log – will also know nothing but a proper victory will be good enough if they are going to stay in the race to the top four.

The Toyota Cheetahs will be careful to be overconfident when they host the Border Bulldogs in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon, but the form book points to a big win for the Free Staters, who look set to hold onto their third place on the standings.

And in Gqeberha, Eastern Province will also be playing for survival when they host the NovaVit Griffons at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

The Griffons are fifth on the log and will want to keep the pressure on the two teams just above them on the standings, while EP’s mathematical chance of still reaching the semifinals will be blown away if they fail to beat the Northern Free Staters.

Match Information:

Phangela SWD Eagles v Suzuki Griquas

Date: Friday, 2 May

Venue: Outeniqua Park, George

Kick-off: 6pm

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Airlink Pumas

Date: Saturday, 3 May

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Kick-off: 3pm

Referee: Griffin Colby

TV: SuperSport channel 247