In a thrilling round three of the Currie Cup First Division, the SWD Eagles soared to the top of the leaderboard, maintaining their unbeaten streak with a dominant performance over the Griffons. In other action, the Valke demolished the Border Bulldogs with a record-breaking score, and Eastern Province staged a remarkable comeback to secure a win against the Leopards.
The Eagles' relentless attack was on full display in Welkom as they dismantled the Griffons 54-26, keeping their flawless record intact. The match saw Eagles' flank Ulrich Stander scoring three times, including a double in the first 17 minutes which set the tone for a high-scoring affair. Despite a penalty try and a sin bin setback, SWD took a substantial lead by halftime and never looked back.
"Once we hit our stride, there was no looking back. It’s all about maintaining this momentum now," said Stander after completing his hat-trick.
Meanwhile, in Kempton Park, the Valke put up an astonishing 96-19 victory over the Bulldogs, marking the largest win of the weekend. Right wing Ezrick Alexander was in sublime form, crossing the line four times. Flyhalf Tylor Sefoor added a personal tally of 23 points through a try and nine conversions. The Valke's victory propelled them into second place on the log, trailing only behind the Eagles.
The third match of the weekend saw Eastern Province recovering from a halftime deficit to overcome the Leopards 40-32 in Kariega. EP's flank CJ Velleman was instrumental, scoring three of the team’s six tries.
After three rounds, SWD Eagles lead the standings with 15 points. The closely contested league sees three teams tied at 11 points, with the Valke securing second place due to a superior points difference.
The season is heating up with just two rounds left before the semi-finals, promising more edge-of-your-seat rugby action as teams jostle for playoff positions.