Watch VideoSA Cup 2026: Boland Kavaliers and Pumas secure hard-fought away wins

Former Sharks flyhalf Garth April proved his worth in the SA Cup opener, slotting two conversions and two penalties for Eastern Province. Photo: Backpagepix TheBoland Kavaliers,Pumas, andValkeall gottheir2026 SA Cup campaigns off to winning starts on the road, whileGriquasand theGriffonsalso secured wins in the opening round as the 10 teams chase qualification for the Currie Cup Premier Division. TheBolanderswere off to a flying start when they defeated theCheetahs34-24 in Bloemfontein on Friday evening, while the defending championPumashad to dig deep to beat the resurgentSWD Eagles28-26 in a thrilling contest in George.Eastern Provincemade a good start but could not last the pace as theValkewontheirmatch 29-23 in Gqeberha.

Saturday’stwofixtures saw a runaway 101-7 triumph forGriquasover theLeopardsin Kimberley, while theGriffonsbeat theBorder Bulldogs36-17 in Welkom. Next weekend’s second-round action sees theLeopardshosting theCheetahsin Potchefstroom on Friday, while thePumasplayEastern Provincein Nelspruit. On Saturday, theValketake onGriquasin Kempton Park,BorderwelcomeSWDto East London, and theGriffonstravel to Wellington to take on theSanlam Boland Kavaliers.

Eastern Provinceopened the new SA Cup season with promise but were ultimately reeled in by a composedValkeoutfit.EPstruck immediately when scrumhalf Sachin Toring sniped over inside the opening minute, with flyhalf Garth April converting for a 7-0 lead. However,Valkewing Ezrick Alexander hit backfiveminutes later. The conversion was wide, but the hosts suffered a blow as centre Christiaan Potgieter was binned moments later, although April added a successful penalty goal to make it 10-5 forEP.

[paywall]

Valkewing Adrian Joubert finished smartly on 15 minutes, and playmaker Sergio Stalmeester added the extras as they went 12-10 into the lead. The half turned again whenValkehooker Pierre Rabie saw yellow on the half-hour mark andEPcaptain Laken Gray powered over from close range. April converted for a half-time lead of 17-12, but not before theValkealso lost Alexander to the bin before the break in a frenetic closing spell.

Withtheirmaul getting stronger, Rabie atoned with a try in the 48th minute, and Stalmeester’s conversion gave the visitors a 19-17 edge.EPwere determined, and April added a second penalty goal to restore the lead at 20-19.Valkefull-back Mbembe Payi answered with a penalty goal of his own as the visitors regained the lead at 22-20 as the teams entered the final quarter. EP’scause was hampered when Gray was shown yellow10minutes before the end, and theValkeruthlessly cashed in when replacement outside back Musa Tshabalala finished a sweeping movementfourminutes from time, with Payi converting for a decisivenine-point buffer. Replacement Maxwell Klaasen landed a late penalty goal to salvage a losing bonus point forEP, but theValkeclosed out a composed away win 23-29.

[/paywall]