The hosts laid the platform with a clinical second-half display at Olën Park, while powerful winger Sino Tshontyi stole the show with a superb hat-trick of tries that ultimately proved the difference.

In wet and slippery conditions, the first half was a real arm wrestle, with both sides forced to keep things tight. Handling errors crept in, but the physicality never dipped as the teams went into the break deadlocked at 14–14.

Hlumelo Ndudula - Chris Fourie

The turning point came shortly after half-time when Leopards captain Jason Alexander crashed over from a well-executed maul to edge his side in front. From there, the home side found another gear, tightening their grip on the contest and shutting the Bulldogs out for the remainder of the match.

Tshontyi’s finishing out wide added the sparkle, while outside centre Zac Bester continued to impress in just his second outing since debuting against the Toyota Cheetahs a fortnight ago. Flyhalf Jandré Burger kept the scoreboard ticking with a reliable boot, slotting four conversions as the Leopards climbed up the standings.

Meanwhile, at Outeniqua Park in George, the SWD Eagles underlined their growing credentials with a hard-fought 33–24 victory over the Boland Cavaliers — a result that will certainly please the Cheetahs.

Arminn Posthumus - Chris Fourie

Boland struck first in the Garden Route through Xavier Mitchell, with Juan Mostert adding the extras, but SWD responded to level matters at 7–7 by the break in what was a tightly contested first half.

The game ebbed and flowed after the restart, but it was the Eagles who held their nerve when it mattered most. With seven minutes remaining, they edged ahead for the first time at 26–24 before sealing the result with a late try to cap off an impressive performance. The win sees SWD surge up to second on the log, just behind the high-flying Griquas.

The game was deadlocked at 14-14 at half-time - Chris Fourie

In Kimberley, the Currie Cup champions, the Suzuki Griquas, continued their relentless march towards the semi-finals with a commanding 71–7 demolition of the Griffons.

The Peacock Blues ran in a further 11 tries to secure their fourth consecutive bonus-point victory, underlining their dominance in the competition. After four rounds, Griquas have racked up a staggering 49 tries while conceding just five — a clear statement of intent as the business end of the SA Cup approaches.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport