2011 ABSA Currie Cup: Round 14 Review
The 2011 season of South Africa’s domestic Rugby Union competition known as the Currie Cup is finally reaching its climax as the last round of the pool matches has been completed, in which
the top six teams have contested with each other for a place in the knockout stage of the tournament.
Following last weekend’s encounters the teams that finished in the top four have earned a place in the semi-finals of the 2011 Currie Cup. This includes Golden Lions, Natal Sharks, Free State
Cheetahs and Western Province.
All eight teams contested with each other during the weekend. The first of the four matches was played on Friday, October 14 between Blue Bulls and Leopards. Bulls earned a massive 71 points
margin victory over the Platinum Leopards to give them a real chance to qualify for the playoffs at the fourth position. The bonus point victory gave them a 4-point lead in fron of their closest contestants and eventual qualifiers Western Province. The final
scorecard read 92 – 21, at the end of fulltime at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
In the second match, Free State Cheetahs defeated Griquas by 10 points. The match was played at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein on Saturday, October 15, with the final scorecard reading 49
- 39. The win helped Cheetahs to retain their third place in the table. Cheetah finished with 47 points coming from their 14 games in the competition, which includes 8 wins.
In the third match, DHL Western Province defeated Ford Pumas 43 – 18. The bonus point victory was Province’s 8th win of the competition which has helped them to retain the fourth spot on the
table. From their 14 matches, Province earned 41 points.
In the last match, the defending champions Natal Sharks delivered a thumping 44 points deficit defeat to the 2011 Currie Cup leaders, MTN Golden Lions. Sharks hosted Lions at Price Kings Park
Stadium, Durban on Saturday, October 15. The final scorecard read 53 – 9, as the bonus point victory helped them to retain their second spot at the table.
Besides this, the week saw several teams’ first choice players returning to their respective provincial sides after Springboks 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. The return of these players has
changed the look of the competition altogether.
The Lions, irrespective of their defeat, have retained their top spot on the 2011 Currie Cup table with 50 points. Sharks, courtesy of their massive win, have finished second on the table,
which has helped them to book a home semifinal against the Free State Cheetahs.
Sharks will host Cheetahs at Kings Park Stadium, Durban on Saturday, October 22. In the second semifinal Lions will take on the Western Province at Coca – Cola Park, Johannesburg on Saturday,
October 22.
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