Rampant Boland headline Western Cape derby

PREVIEW: Unbeaten and in irresistible form, the Boland Cavaliers take centre stage heading into Round Four of the SA Cup, as their high-flying attack sets up a mouthwatering Western Cape derby against SWD Eagles in George.

With three bonus-point wins and a competition-leading points tally, Boland have emerged as one of the early pace-setters alongside Griquas, turning this weekend’s fixtures into a pivotal moment in the race for semifinal spots and Currie Cup Premier Division qualification.

Frontrunners Griquas and Boland Cavaliers have both won all their games with bonus points after three rounds, and the in-form duo will be determined to build on that momentum.

For the chasing pack – the defending champion Pumas, who are also unbeaten, SWD Eagles, Griffons, Cheetahs, and Falcons – their mission is to stay in touch with the log leaders as the race heats up for that coveted four semi-final berths, and qualification for the Currie Cup Premier Division.

Saturday’s Western Cape derby between SWD and Boland in George promises to be another lively affair in the rivalry between these two teams. The Eagles enter their fourth-round home fixture with confidence following their 26-22 success over Eastern Province in Gqeberha.

Heyneke Meyer’s men sit fourth on the log and have proven themselves to be gritty and organised, traits that will be required against the rampant Cavaliers in George.

Boland, coached by Hawies Fourie, are riding high after bagging three bonus‑point wins to date, including a 73–24 dismantling of Valke last weekend. With 163 points scored in three games, their attack will be a big test for the SWD defence. The Eagles, though, have shown noticeable improvement this year, as evidenced by their two recent wins.

Unbeaten and top of the log, Griquas welcome the Griffons to Kimberley on Saturday. Griquas’ latest win was a 97–7 demolition of Border in the Diamand City. With 250 points on the board in three matches, they have dominated each opponent so far.

The Kimberley outfit are one of the competition’s most consistent teams since its inception three years ago, winning the inaugural title in 2024 and finishing runners‑up in 2025, and are favoured to maintain their current winning streak.

But the Griffons are no pushovers and their third-round 29-23 win over the Leopards showcased their ability to grind out a result.

Also on Saturday, the Cheetahs face EP in Bloemfontein. The Free Staters will hope for a better outcome than last weekend’s no-result when lightning halted their home game with Pumas before halftime. Under competition rules, the sides were awarded two points each.

Allister Coetzee’s EP were courageous in their close-fought 26-22 home loss to SWD last week, which left them with just two points from three starts. The sixth-placed Cheetahs will target this home clash for another win in their push for a semi-final spot.

In Potchefstroom, both the winless Leopards and Border will be desperately seeking a first win of the campaign. The men from North West were edged 29–23 by the Griffons last weekend, while Border continues to struggle, so the hosts from Potch will fancy their chances.

Sunday sees the Pumas returning home to the Mbombela Stadium with the Falcons, after their lightning‑interrupted game in the previous round in Bloemfontein. Jimmy Stonehouse’s team looked menacing in their other two outings, and JP Immelman and his visiting side from the East Rand will face a stern challenge in Nelspruit.

*See all the fixtures listed below:

Saturday, March 28

Cheetahs vs Eastern Province
(Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein; Kick-off: 13.00, 11.00 GMT)

Referee: Paul Mente

Griquas vs Griffons
(Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley; Kick-off: 14.00, 12.00 GMT)

Referee: AJ Jacobs

SWD Eagles vs Boland Kavaliers
(Venue: Outeniqua Park, George; Kick-off: 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Referee: Christopher Allsion

Leopards vs Border Bulldogs
(Venue: Olen Park, Pochefstroom; Kick-off: 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Pumas vs Falcons
(Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit; Kick-off: 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys