Sharks top Currie Cup table

JOHANNESBURG - Little has changed in this weekend's Premier Division Currie Cup matches and the five frontrunners in the Absa Currie Cup all still have everything to play for, albeit for different reasons.

Log leaders Sharks have to get eight points from their last two

matches against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday and Griquas

at home to ensure that they end top of the log for a home

semi-final and possible home final.

They are being chased by the Blue Bulls, who have Griquas -

often their Nemesis in Kimberley - away and the Valke at home to

gain 10 points and keep their chances alive to end top of the

log.

 

The Lions have to get two points from their last two matches and

that is easier said than done.

 

On Saturday they are at home to the Sharks and then they face

Western Province at Newlands in what could be a crucial match for

both sides.

 

The Cheetahs are 42 points behind WP in this respect, but have

the Kavaliers at home and the Valke away, while WP have to play the

Kavaliers in what is always a difficult away game and the Lions in

their final outing.

 

This past weekend's Premier Division matches saw rather average

fare in all four matches.

 

Western Province did not look like Currie Cup contenders in

stumbling to a 30-18 win over Griquas at Newlands.

 

The Blue Bulls were impressive in the first half and were well

contained by the Cheetahs in the second in Bloemfontein where the

home side again couldn't score tries.

 

Only the Kavaliers (26) have scored less tries than the Free

State side's 30 to date.

 

The Blue Bulls won 23-5 and didn't score a single point after

leading 23-0 at the break.

 

The Sharks were poor against a resolute and negative Valke side

who deserved better in going down 44-19.

 

Seven tries to three was, however, good enough to keep the

Natalians on track in what was a poor match in the first half and

barely better than average after the break.

 

The Lions, albeit it on a very wet field, again struggled in

Wellington but got that all-important bonus points after the hooter

against a side that again showed the guts that have derailed many

big-name teams before Saturday.

 

The Lions won 31-10.

 

Nampa-Sapa

 

They are being chased by the Blue Bulls, who have Griquas - often

their Nemesis in Kimberley - away and the Valke at home to gain 10

points and keep their chances alive to end top of the log.The Lions

have to get two points from their last two matches and that is

easier said than done.On Saturday they are at home to the Sharks

and then they face Western Province at Newlands in what could be a

crucial match for both sides.The Cheetahs are 42 points behind WP

in this respect, but have the Kavaliers at home and the Valke away,

while WP have to play the Kavaliers in what is always a difficult

away game and the Lions in their final outing.This past weekend's

Premier Division matches saw rather average fare in all four

matches.Western Province did not look like Currie Cup contenders in

stumbling to a 30-18 win over Griquas at Newlands.The Blue Bulls

were impressive in the first half and were well contained by the

Cheetahs in the second in Bloemfontein where the home side again

couldn't score tries.Only the Kavaliers (26) have scored less tries

than the Free State side's 30 to date.The Blue Bulls won 23-5 and

didn't score a single point after leading 23-0 at the break.The

Sharks were poor against a resolute and negative Valke side who

deserved better in going down 44-19.Seven tries to three was,

however, good enough to keep the Natalians on track in what was a

poor match in the first half and barely better than average after

the break.The Lions, albeit it on a very wet field, again struggled

in Wellington but got that all-important bonus points after the

hooter against a side that again showed the guts that have derailed

many big-name teams before Saturday.The Lions won 31-10.Nampa-Sapa

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