A home final, an opponent who had knocked out the Cheetahs, and a seven-point margin at the final whistle. Griquas keep the trophy.

23-16 in Kimberley

Griquas beat the Pumas 23-16 on Saturday in the Currie Cup final, at home in Kimberley. It is their second title in a row: they had already won the previous edition, beating the Golden Lions in the final.

A flawless run

Griquas’ path to the title was clean. They finished the regular season with a 48-17 win at Boland, then saw off the Golden Lions 52-12 in the semi-final on 6 September.

The Pumas had qualified the same day in the other semi-final, beating the Free State Cheetahs 27-24, a three-point margin.

A tighter final than the semi

The contrast between the two rounds is clear. Fifty-two points put past the Golden Lions a week earlier, twenty-three in the final. The Pumas, for their part, conceded seven points fewer than in the semi-final despite losing.

Kimberley’s province, one of the most modestly resourced in South African rugby, now has two titles in a row in the country’s oldest competition.