Northam Rhinos and Sasol Secunda romped to big victories in the North section of the African Rainbow Community Gold Cup last weekend, while former champions False Bay, Progress and Crusaders were among the most prolific teams in the South in the Round of 32.
Quarterfinal spots will be up for grabs when the top clubs in the country meet in the Round of 16 this weekend.
South Africa’s premier club tournament kicked off last weekend following a four-year break in a new format. The knockout competition will culminate with the final, scheduled for 7 October.
Northam Rhinos were among the most impressive teams on show, scoring 11 tries in the 75-7 victory over Collegians. Wing PJ Bezuidenhout racked up 28 points for his side, after scoring two tries and nine conversions in the big win.
Sasol Secunda also surpassed a half-century in their 58-17 hammering of three-time and defending champions, Rustenburg Impala.
In the South section, 2017 champions False Bay claimed a 38-17 win over Heidelberg, while Progress and Crusaders scored seven and five tries respectively in their wins against Kimberley and Tygerberg.
The Round of 32 match between Ncera Leopards and Saldanha Bay has been re-scheduled after the West Coast club’s suspension pending a hearing within the ambit of the Constitution of Boland Rugby Union was overturned and will now be played at Saldanha at 19h00 on Friday. The winner will then travel to Durban for their next clash on Sunday.
The Round of 16 will commence this coming weekend. The eight qualifiers from the North section will be gunning for a place in the quarterfinals as will the eight qualifiers from the South.
Wolverines will host Harlequins from Pretoria in the first playoff of the weekend. The winner of this clash will face the winner of the eighth fixture – either Crusaders or PE Harlequins – in the quarterfinals.
Northam Rhinos will battle Sasol Secunda for a place in the next round. The winner of this match will meet the victors of the seventh fixture – either Progress or East London Police.
Bloemfontein Police will tackle Raiders for the right to play College Rovers or the winner of the Round of 32 game between Saldanha Bay and Ncera Leopards. Naka Bulle are set to host Springs, and the winner of that game will meet either False Bay or Wesbank in the quarterfinals.
ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:
NORTH
Wolverines (Leopards) 47 White River (Pumas) 14
Northam Rhinos (Limpopo) 75 Collegians (Cheetahs) 7
Bloemfontein Police (Cheetahs) 31 Louis Trichardt (Limpopo) 24
Naka Bulle (Blue Bulls) 47 Union Milnerton (WP, wildcard) 46
Springs (Valke) 41 Pirates (Lions) 11
Raiders (Lions) 43 Vereeniging (Valke) 34
Sasol Secunda (Pumas) 58 Rustenburg Impala (Leopards) 17
Welkom Rovers (Griffons) 31 Harlequins (Blue Bulls) 59
SOUTH
False Bay (WP) 38 Heidelberg (SWD) 17
College Rovers (Sharks) 24 Centurion (Blue Bulls, wild card) 22
Progress (EP) 39 Kimberley (Griquas) 17
Crusaders (SWD) 42 Tygerberg (WP) 20
Sishen (Griquas) 26 PE Harlequins (EP) 29
East London Police (Border) 37 Bella Vista (Boland) 17
Wesbank (Boland, wild card) 21 Westville Old Boys (Sharks) 17
ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES:
NORTH – SATURDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER
15h00: Raiders (Lions) v Bloemfontein Police (Cheetahs) – Johannesburg
15h30: Wolverines (Leopards) v Harlequins (Blue Bulls) – Hartbeespoort
16h00: Northam Rhinos (Limpopo) v Sasol Secunda (Pumas) – Setaria
16h00: Springs (Valke) v Naka Bulle (Blue Bulls) – Springs
SOUTH – SATURDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER
15h30: False Bay (WP) v Wesbank (Boland) – Cape Town
15h30: Progress (EP) v East London Police (Border) – Uitenhage
TBC: Crusaders (SWD) v PE Harlequins (EP) – George
SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER
13h00: College Rovers (Sharks) v Saldanha (Boland) / Ncera Leopards (Border) – Durban