The Valke beat the Sharks XV 26-10 in Durban on Friday, while there were also Currie Cup Qualifier wins for the Griffons, Blue Bulls and Pumas.

Playing in a curtain-raiser to the Sharks’ Super Rugby clash with the Sunwolves, the hosts battled against the Valke who took command of proceedings from the outset.

Valke wing Christian Rust had a strong game and scored two first-half tries to give the visitors a handy 12-3 lead at the break.

The second half was dour as neither team could find a breakthrough until the 67th minute, when hooker Stephan Coetzee barged over for the Sharks’ only try. Innocent Radebe added the extras to make it a two-point game.

However, two tries in the last five minutes, by Dean Muir and Thabo Mamojele, secured victory for the Valke.

Elsewhere, Selwyn Davids bagged a brace to guide the Griffons to a 32-24 triumph over the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth, Jade Stighling ran in four tries in the Blue Bulls’ 95-12 demolition of the Welwitchias, and the Pumas edged the Leopards 29-27.

Sharks XV (10) – Try: Stephan Coetzee. Conversion: Innocent Radebe. Penalty: Radebe.
Valke (26) – Tries: Christian Rust (2), Dean Muir, Thabo Mamojele. Conversions: Warren Potgieter (3).

EP Kings (24) – Tries: Penalty try, Garrick Mattheus, Lindelwe Zungu. Conversions: Mattheus, Simon Bolze (2). Penalty: Bolze.
Griffons (32) – Tries: Selvyn Davids (2), Warren Williams, Japie Nel. Conversions: Duan Pretorius (3). Penalties: Pretorius (2).

Blue Bulls (95) – Tries: Abongile Nonkontwana (2), Alcino Izaacs (2), Andre Warner, Divan Rossouw, Jade Stighling (4), Joshua Stander, Marquit September (2), Tapiwa Tsomondo, Tony Jantjies. Conversions: Jantjies (7), Stander (3).
Welwitchias (12) – Tries: Johann Wohler, Riaan van Zyl. Conversion: Shaun Kaizemi.

Pumas (29) – TBC
Leopards (27) – TBC

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images