Currie Cup wrap: Sharks, Pumas play to pulsating draw while WP slay Griffons

Drama as Sharks and Pumas play to thrilling draw

The Sharks and Pumas played to a pulsating 44-44 draw in another high-scoring Currie Cup clash at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It's the second draw of the weekend in the competition after the Bulls and the Cheetahs drew 34-34 in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.

The Pumas looked to have the match well under control after taking a 27-8 lead into half-time, which included four unanswered tries in the opening 30 minutes. Winger Phiko Sobahle ran riot, scoring three of the four tries, while prop Eduan Swart added a fourth as the home side left the visitors flat-footed.

But Eduan Keyter pulled one back for the Sharks just before the break and they continued to ride that momentum into the second half, drawing level with three quickfire tries from Jaco Williams, Litelihle Bester and Jacques Potgieter.

Again, it looked like the Pumas had taken control of the match when they re-established a 14-point lead thanks to a brace of tries from Canadian scrumhalf Ross Braude - only for the Sharks to hit back again and draw level via tries from Nick Hatton and Dian Bleule.

The visitors looked to have completed a remarkable turnaround after Bradley Davids converted a 79th-minute penalty to give them a 44-41 lead, but there was one final twist in the tale as the Pumas were awarded a penalty of their own in stoppage time, Clinton Swart slotting it over to ensure the home side walked away with at least a share of the spoils.

WP score five tries to put away Griffons

Western Province scored five tries to record a 39-17 bonus-point victory against the Griffons in their Currie Cup clash in Cape Town.

Scrumhalf Imad Khan and centre Damian Markus each scored a brace while flank Paul de Villiers also crossed for try as the hosts comfortably saw off their visitors.

It was Western Province's second win of this season's Currie Cup campaign but they had a slow start as the Griffons took a 10-3 lead when flyhalf Andrew Kota scored a self-converted try.

The home team responded emphatically though and scored four tries to take a 29-17 lead into the halftime break.

Khan completed his brace after the interval to wrap up a convincing win for Western Province who host defending champions Cheetahs next week.

The Griffons will look to bounce back from the loss when they travel to Loftus Versfeld to play against the Bulls.

READ MORE: Report: Siya Kolisi seeks early exit from Racing 92, eyes return to Sharks