Heyneke Meyer's Eagles to host Valke in Currie Cup First Division Final
WRAP: Heyneke Meyer’s SWD Eagles and the Valke progressed to the Currie Cup First Division Final after victories in their respective semifinals on a great weekend for provincial men’s rugby in South Africa.
SWD will host the First Division Final in George next weekend after they finished top of the log and recorded a 59-10 victory over the Leopards at Outeniqua Park on Saturday, with the Valke’s 44-12 win over Eastern Province in Gqeberha securing them a second successive spot in the decider.
The Eagles, who led 45-0 at the break, were in rampant mood and scored nine tries, while the Leopards could only reply with two consolation tries in the second half, when the home side took their foot off the pedal.
Janus Venter scored twice for the Eagles, while Divan du Toit (5) and Fred Zeilinga (2) added seven conversions. For the Leopards, Noegh Hayward and Luyolo Doyi went over.
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In the other semifinal, the Valke put on an impressive second-half display to defeat Eastern Province in Gqeberha by 44-12 after leading 19-12 at the break.
The visitors from the East Rand, who will be hoping to go one better this year after they suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2025 Final, scored seven tries to two by their hosts.
Ilunga Mkendi scored two tries for the visitors while Sergio Stalmeester contributed a try, three conversions and a penalty goal for a personal tally of 14 points.
The details of the First Division Final will be announced in due course.
EP 12-44 Valke
Scorers:
For EP:
Tries: Temba Botina, Christian Potgieter
Con: Maxwell Klaassen
For the Valke:
Tries: Ilunga Mukendi 2, Kelvin Kaneunungo, Sergio Stalmeester, Zeilinga Strydom, Eddie Evans, Adriaan Joubert
Cons: Stalmeester 3
Pen: Stalmeester
SWD Eagles 59-10 Leopards
Scorers:
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Janus Ventre, Andre Warner, Ewan Coetzee, Gunther Janse van Vuuren, Ulrich Stander, Carel du Preez, Rosco Syster, Tiaan Drotskie
Cons: Divan du Toit 5, Fred Zeilinga 2
For the Leopards:
Tries: Noegh Hayward, Luyolo Doyi
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