Griquas get their noses in front
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The Griquas ran in eight tries to beat Leopards 48-21 on Saturday in their Currie Cup qualifier to go top of the standings.
The win at Profert Olën Park in Potchefstroom moved the Kimberley side to 11 point from three matches.
Leopards, who have occupied the top spot the previous two weeks thanks to two bonus point wins, slipped down to second while the unbeaten Border jumped to third following their second win of the campaign.
The Bulldogs made it two from two with a 22-15 victory over the Boland Cavaliers at the Boland Stadium in Wellington, following their 20-13 win over Griquas in East London two weeks ago.
In the remaining clash the Falcons scored three tries to register their first win in two attempts. They beat the SWD Eagles 22-15 at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. The Eagles, meanwhile, are winless after three outings.
Griquas 48-21 Leopards
The Griquas, who lost their opening match of the campaign to the Border Bulldogs, continued their return to form as they emerged victorious in a match that had featured the top two teams on the log.
Right wing Riaan Viljoen scored twice for the visitors as the win saw them move to the top of the log. Before the kick-off the Leopards had occupied the top spot, however, they were no match for a Griquas side that raced into a 36-7 halftime lead.
The visitors made a fast start as they raced into a 24-0 lead inside just 23 minutes. Tries from Viljoen, outside centre Jonathan Francke and in-form No.8 Carel Greeff gave them a huge lead before the home side struck back with a converted try from fullback Rhyno Smith.
However, the Griquas were not done yet and soon hit back with two more tries by lock Hilton Lobberts and inside centre Clinton Swart.
The visitors continued their dominance in the second half which saw pivot Francois Brummer and flank RJ Liebenberg each dotting down. The Leopards answered with tries from replacements Damian Engeldoe and Loftus Morrison.
The scorers
For Leopards:
Tries: Smith, Engeldoe, Morrison
Cons: Engelbrecht 3
For Griquas:
Tries: Viljoen 2, Francke, Greeff, Lobberts, Swart, Brummer, Liebenberg
Cons: Prinsloo 4
Teams:
Leopards: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Rowayne Beukman, 13 Adrian Vermeulen, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Adri Jacobs, 10 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Juan Language (captain), 7 Robert Kruger, 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Francois Robertse, 4 Sthembiso Mhlongo, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Wian Fourie, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Walt Steenkamp, 19 Loftus Morrison, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Sizo Maseko, 22 Damian Engledoe.
Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 PJ Vermeulen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Jonathan Adendorf, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 18 Danie Mienie, 19 Hugo Kloppers, 20 Nardus van der Walt, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 AJ Coertzen.
Border 22-15 Boland Cavaliers
Fullback Masizole Banda scored 17 points as the Border Bulldogs made it two from two with a 22-15 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington. 
Banda scored a brace of tries while slotting two conversions and two penalties as Border followed up on their win over Griquas two weeks ago.
The result could have been different had Eric Zana not left his kicking boots at home. The Boland fullback, who also struggled with the boot against Griquas last week, missed four penalty attempts. He missed his first two attempts but succeeded in opening the scoring after 14 minutes to put the hosts in front.
However, Boland suffered a setback when hooker Clemen Lewis was yellow carded in the 29th minute, which gave the visitors control of the first half.
Banda burst through the line for the opening try on the half hour mark, which he converted, and then landed a penalty five minutes later as Border took control. Zana had the chance to reduce the deficit but failed with his third attempt as the sides swopped ends with the score 10-3 in favour of the visitors.
After the break it took the Bulldogs just five minutes to extend their lead when scrumhalf Ntando Kebe showed a burst of speed to break the Boland defence. Banda soon scored his second try following a good movement and his conversion gave Border a lead of 22-3.
Boland substitute Adriaan Carelse, on for inside centre Jos Malherbe, scored with just four minutes remaining. Flyhalf Christian Rust landed the conversion. Boland secured their losing bonus point when flank Chaney Willemse crashed over in the corner on the sound of the hooter.
The scorers:
For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Carelse, Willemse
Con: Rust
Pen: Zana
For Border Bulldogs:
Tries: Banda 2, Kebe
Cons: Banda 2
Pen: Banda
Teams:
Boland: 15 Eric Zana, 14 Senan Van Der Merwe, 13 Wilneth Engelbrecht, 12 Jos Malherbe, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Christian Rust, 9 Jovelian de Koker, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Chaney Willemse, 6 Freginald Africa, 5 Gavin Annandale (captain), 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Stephanus Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Keenan Abrahams, 18 Yves Bashiya, 19 Nicolai Lubbe, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Adriaan Carelse, 22 Ryno Conradie.
Border: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Sipho Nofemele, 13 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Ntando Kebe, 8 Onke Dubase, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 2 Mihlali Mpafi, 1 Blake Kyd (captain).
Replacements: 16 Ludwe Booi, 17 Yanga Xakalashe, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Nkosi Nofuma, 20 Oliver Zono, 21 Lundi Ralarala, 22 Logan Basson.
Falcons 22-15 SWD Eagles
The Falcons scored three tries as they got their campaign back on track with a thrilling win over the SWD Eagles in Kempton Park.
They left it late though, with wing Coert Cronje crossing in the corner with just five minutes of play remaining to snatch victory after the two teams were locked at 17-17.
The home suffered a heavy loss in their only other outing so far against the Leopards last week. The Falcons had the better of the possession, the territory and the penalty count and yet found themselves trailing 17-10 midway through the second half.
In fact, after they had gone 10-0 up with a short-range try by No.8 Friedle Oliver and the boot of Juan Kotze, the Eagles went on to score 17 unanswered points either side of halfway with tries by hooker Wayne Khan, flank Christo du Plessis and fyhalf Gerrit Smith. That was despite playing with 14 men for 20 minutes after Leighton Eksteen and Andisa Ntsila were yellow carded.
However, the pressure of playing with a man short proved too much and from another line-out scrumhalf Johan Pretorius made a neat break to put flyhalf Jaco Oosthuizen away and draw the scores level. As the Eagles faded, the Falcons launched a fine move which ended with Cronje crossing for the winner.
The scorers:
For Falcons:
Tries: Olivier, Oosthuizen, Cronje
Cons: Kotze 2
Pen: Kotze
For SWD Eagles:
Tries: Khan, Du Plessis, Smith
Con: Van Vuuren
Teams:
Falcons: 15 Jaun Kotze, 14 Coert Cronje, 13 Christopher Bosch, 12 Willie Odendaal, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Jaco Oosthuizen, 9 Johan Pretorius, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Ernst Ladendorf, 6 JP Mostert (captain), 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Thulani Ngidi, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Andries Schutte.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Hartman, 17 Nico Pretorius, 18 Jacques Verwey, 19 Andrew van Tonder, 20 Anrich Richter, 21 Grant Janke, 22 Waylon Thompson.
SWD Eagles: 15 Elric van Vuuren, 14 Brian Skosana, 13 Kirsten Heyns, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Gerrit Smith, 9 Leighton Eksteen, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Christo Du Plessis, 6 Janneman Stander, 5 Davon Raubenheimer (captain), 4 Grant le Roux, 3 Dean Hopp, 2 Wayne Khan, 1 Layle Delo.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Haupt, 17 Pieter Stemmet, 18 Alwyn Bester, 19 Andisa Ntsila, 20 Dillin Snel, 21 Martin du Toit, 22 Daniel Roberts.
Currie Cup qualifier log (Under played, won, points)
1. Griquas (3, 2, 11)
2. Leopards (3, 2, 10)
3. Border (2, 2, 8)
4. Boland (3, 1, 6)
5. Griffons (2, 1, 4)
6. Falcons (2, 1, 4)
7. SWD (3, 0, 2)
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