JOHANNESBURG: Thirty-five tries were scored in three South African Currie Cup matches Saturday as Bulls and defending champions Western Province joined Golden Lions in the semi-finals.
Leaders Lions bagged 10, all of which fly-half Marnitz Boshoff converted, in a 73-31 rout of five-try hosts Cheetahs at Free State Stadium in central city Bloemfontein.
It was also a special day -- notwithstanding the result -- for Cheetahs' debutant run-on flanker Vincent Jobo, who scored a hat-trick from driving mauls.
Province dotted down seven times and Pumas three times as the title-holders triumphed 50-19 at Newlands stadium in Cape Town after trailing by seven points approaching half-time.
Robert du Preez, the third-choice Province fly-half when the season began, was the 21-point leading scorer thanks to two tries, four conversions and a penalty goal.
Kings scored off the final move of the game against fellow-strugglers Griquas in southern coastal city Port Elizabeth to snatch a 40-37 victory after each side claimed five tries.
Centre Tim Whitehead got the crucial score for Kings after bottom side Griquas led for most of a thriller at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
On Friday, Bulls collected four crucial points in the race for second spot by grinding out a 17-13 away win over Sharks at Kings Park stadium in Indian Ocean city Durban.
Unlike the Saturday matches, this was an unattractive arm-wrestle that finished with 2013 champions Sharks in danger of missing the knockout stage.
Lions have 38 points with two league rounds left in the 124-year national interprovincial championship -- the oldest in world rugby.
Another two points for the Johannesburg-based outfit from home matches against Province and Griquas at Ellis Park will seal first place on the final standings.
Finishing top of the table brings the rewards of a home semi-final against the fourth team and, if successful, a home final.
Bulls and Province have 29 points each with the former occupying second spot because they have a plus-82 points difference compared to the plus-79 of the title-holders.
Bulls appear to have an easier run-in, hosting Kings and visiting Pumas, while Province are way to Lions and home to Kings.
The prize for coming second is a home semi-final against the team finishing third.
While all five other sides could, mathematically, take fourth place, the final-round clash of Cheetahs and Sharks in Bloemfontein should prove decisive.
And if Cheetahs defend like they did for much of the game against Lions, Sharks could snatch the last semi-finals place.
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