Wikipedia

2018 Currie Cup Premier Division

The 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division was the top tier of the 2018 Currie Cup, the 80th edition of the annual South African rugby union competition organised by the South African Rugby Union. It was played between 17 August and 27 October 2018 and featured the same seven teams as in 2017.

2018 Currie Cup Premier Division
CountriesSouth Africa
Date17 August – 27 October 2018
ChampionsSharks (8th title)
Runners-upWestern Province
Matches played24
Tries scored200
(average 8.3 per match)
Top point scorerSP Marais
(Western Province, 130)
Top try scorerSergeal Petersen
(Western Province, 8)
← 2017
2019 →

The competition was won by the Sharks, who beat Western Province 17–12 in the final played on 27 October 2018.

Competition rules and information edit

There were seven participating teams in the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division. They played each other once during the pool stage, either at home or away. Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams in the pool stage qualified for the semifinals, which were followed by a final.[1]

Teams edit

The teams that played in the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division are:[2]

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Location of teams in the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division
2018 Currie Cup Premier Division teams
Team Sponsored Name Stadium/s Sponsored Name
Blue Bulls Vodacom Blue Bulls Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Loftus Versfeld
Free State Cheetahs Toyota Free State Cheetahs Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein Toyota Stadium
Golden Lions Xerox Golden Lions Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Emirates Airline Park
Griquas Tafel Lager Griquas Griqua Park, Kimberley Tafel Lager Park
Pumas iCollege Pumas Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela Mbombela Stadium
Sharks Cell C Sharks Kings Park Stadium, Durban Jonsson Kings Park
Western Province DHL Western Province Newlands Stadium, Cape Town DHL Newlands

Pool stage edit

Standings edit

The final log for the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division was:[3]

2018 Currie Cup Premier Division log
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Western Province 6 6 0 0 276 113 +163 38 16 0 0 24 Semifinals
2 Sharks 6 5 0 1 193 133 +60 28 18 0 0 20
3 Golden Lions 6 4 0 2 239 213 +26 34 28 0 0 16
4 Blue Bulls 6 3 0 3 170 179 −9 24 25 0 0 12
5 Pumas 6 2 0 4 174 190 −16 24 28 0 0 8
6 Griquas 6 1 0 5 175 252 −77 24 37 0 0 4
7 Free State Cheetahs 6 0 0 6 93 240 −147 13 33 0 0 0 Relegation play-off
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 4 points for a win; 2 points for a draw; 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less; 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Round-by-round edit

The table below shows a team's progression throughout the season. For each round, each team's cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.

Team Progression – 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 SF F
Western Province 0
(3rd) 		5
(1st) 		10
(1st) 		10
(4th) 		15
(3rd) 		20
(1st) 		25
(1st) 		30
(1st) 		Won Lost
Sharks 0
(3rd) 		5
(4th) 		10
(3rd) 		15
(2nd) 		15
(4th) 		20
(2nd) 		21
(2nd) 		26
(2nd) 		Won Won
Golden Lions 0
(3rd) 		5
(3rd) 		10
(2nd) 		15
(1st) 		16
(2nd) 		16
(4th) 		16
(4th) 		21
(3rd) 		Lost —
Blue Bulls 5
(2nd) 		5
(5th) 		7
(4th) 		12
(3rd) 		17
(1st) 		17
(3rd) 		17
(3rd) 		17
(4th) 		Lost —
Pumas 5
(1st) 		5
(2nd) 		6
(5th) 		6
(5th) 		7
(6th) 		12
(5th) 		12
(5th) 		12
(5th) 		— —
Griquas 0
(7th) 		1
(6th) 		1
(7th) 		3
(6th) 		8
(5th) 		8
(6th) 		8
(6th) 		8
(6th) 		— —
Free State Cheetahs 0
(6th) 		0
(7th) 		2
(6th) 		2
(7th) 		2
(7th) 		2
(7th) 		2
(7th) 		2
(7th) 		— —
Key: win draw loss bye

Matches edit

The following matches were played in the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division:[4]

Round One edit

The 2018 Currie Cup kicked off with a match between the two teams that finished in the bottom two spots in 2017; the Pumas and Griquas in Nelspruit. The Pumas won the match 42–19, with fly-half Chris Smith having a Currie Cup debut to remember, scoring 22 points in his side's victory. In the other match, the Blue Bulls beat the Free State Cheetahs 34–12 in Bloemfontein, with their fly-half Manie Libbok scoring 17 points, including his team's opening try.[5]


17 August 2018 Pumas 42–19 Griquas Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela  
17:00 Try: Hennie Skorbinski   27'
Stefan Ungerer   41'
Chris Smith   55'
Neil Maritz   57'
Marnus Schoeman   61'
Con: Chris Smith   28', 42', 56', 62'
Pen: Chris Smith   9', 21', 47' 		Scoreboard[6] Try: AJ Coertzen   31'
Christiaan Meyer   69'
Conway Pretorius   71'
Con: George Whitehead   31', 72'
Cards: Liam Hendricks   60' 		Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge


17 August 2018 Free State Cheetahs 12–34 Blue Bulls Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  
19:00 Try: Joseph Dweba   2'
Shaun Venter   42'
Con: Tian Schoeman   3'
Cards: Ox Nché   15' to 25'
Justin Basson   54' to 64' 		Scoreboard[7] Try: Manie Libbok   13'
penalty try   54'
Jade Stighling   60'
Divan Rossouw   79'
Con: Manie Libbok   13', 61', 80'
Pen: Manie Libbok   50', 66' 		Referee: Dan Jones
Bye/s: Golden Lions, Sharks, Western Province

Round Two edit

The three teams that has byes in Round One all secured home victories in Round Two. Defending champions Western Province got their title defense underway with a 32–0 victory over the Free State Cheetahs, while the Sharks beat the Blue Bulls 26–10 in Durban; both teams scored four tries in their victories to secure a bonus point. The highest-scoring match of the round was the Friday evening match between the Golden Lions and Griquas, with the team from Johannesburg winning 62–41. Winger Courtnall Skosan scored a hat-trick and Hacjivah Dayimani got a brace as the Golden Lions ran in nine tries, with fly-half Shaun Reynolds kicking 17 points. Griquas fly-half George Whitehead scored 16 points for the losing team, who scored five tries of their own.[8]


24 August 2018 Golden Lions 62–41 Griquas Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
19:00 Try: Hacjivah Dayimani   5', 71'
Ross Cronjé   23'
Courtnall Skosan   29', 58', 77'
Sylvian Mahuza   44'
Len Massyn   47'
Wandisile Simelane   66'
Con: Shaun Reynolds   7', 24', 44', 48', 60', 68', 79'
Pen: Shaun Reynolds   43' 		Scoreboard[9] Try: André Swarts   14'
Khwezi Mkhafu   31'
Wilmar Arnoldi   63'
Kyle Steyn   69'
AJ Coertzen   75'
Con: George Whitehead   14', 32', 64', 69', 75'
Pen: George Whitehead   1', 36'
Cards: Wendal Wehr   40' to 50' 		Referee: Egon Seconds


25 August 2018 Sharks 26–10 Blue Bulls Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00 Try: Juan Schoeman   5'
Curwin Bosch   21'
Kobus van Wyk   37'
Aphelele Fassi   63'
Con: Robert du Preez   6', 23', 39' 		Scoreboard[10] Try: Jesse Kriel   15'
Con: Manie Libbok   16'
Pen: Manie Libbok   10' 		Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen


25 August 2018 Western Province 32–0 Free State Cheetahs Newlands Stadium, Cape Town  
17:15 Try: Ruhan Nel   40'
Juarno Augustus   46'
Scarra Ntubeni   52'
JD Schickerling   60'
Con: SP Marais   40', 47', 61'
Pen: SP Marais   8', 21'
Cards: Juarno Augustus   4' to 15' 		Scoreboard[11] Referee: AJ Jacobs
Bye/s: Pumas

Round Three edit

Round Three saw the Golden Lions, Sharks and Western Province all winning their away games to make it two wins out of two. Western Province remain top on points differential after a 57–28 victory over the Pumas, with Sergeal Petersen scoring two of his side's eight tries, and winger SP Marais contributing 22 points through one try, seven conversions and a penalty. The other two matches were closer affairs, with both home teams getting a bonus point for a loss by less than seven points; Louis Fouché scored two tries and 17 points in the Free State Cheetahs' 29–33 loss to a Sharks side for whom captain Chiliboy Ralepelle also scored a brace, while Ruan Steenkamp had a memorable match for the Blue Bulls, scoring a hat-trick before getting sin-binned, but ended on the losing side against the Golden Lions, whose eighth man Hacjivah Dayimani scored two tries to secure a 38–35 win for the team from Johannesburg in the trans-Jukskei derby.[12]


31 August 2018 Pumas 28–57 Western Province Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela  
18:30 Try: JP Lewis   30'
Le Roux Roets   34'
Trompie Pretorius   71'
Chris Smith   73'
Con: Chris Smith   32', 35', 72', 74' 		Scoreboard[13] Try: Kobus van Dyk   6'
Sergeal Petersen   14', 61'
Ruhan Nel   20'
SP Marais   26'
Ernst van Rhyn   50'
Sikhumbuzo Notshe   54'
Herschel Jantjies   75'
Con: SP Marais   7', 15', 21', 51', 56', 62', 76'
Pen: SP Marais   40' 		Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen


1 September 2018 Free State Cheetahs 29–33 Sharks Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  
14:00 Try: Louis Fouché   24', 55'
Lloyd Greeff   28'
penalty try   77'
Con: Louis Fouché   25', 56'
Pen: Louis Fouché   37' 		Scoreboard[14] Try: Lwazi Mvovo   13'
Chiliboy Ralepelle   35', 43'
Wian Vosloo   40'
Dan du Preez   67'
Con: Robert du Preez   14', 40', 45'
Curwin Bosch   68'
Cards: Khutha Mchunu   77' 		Referee: Jaco Peyper


1 September 2018 Blue Bulls 35–38 Golden Lions Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  
16:05 Try: André Warner   6'
Ruan Steenkamp   13', 40', 50'
Johnny Kôtze   28'
Con: Manie Libbok   6', 14', 29', 40', 51'
Cards: Ruan Steenkamp   53' to 64' 		Scoreboard[15] Try: Shaun Reynolds   4'
James Venter   22'
Dillon Smit   36'
Hacjivah Dayimani   64', 69'
Con: Shaun Reynolds   5', 23', 37', 65', 70'
Pen: Shaun Reynolds   43' 		Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Bye/s: Griquas

Round Four edit

The Golden Lions and the Sharks both maintained their perfect record, making it three bonus point wins out of three. The Sharks secured a 28–12 victory over the Pumas in the Friday night game, while the Golden Lions scored seven tries in a 47–14 victory over the Free State Cheetahs, with fly-half Shaun Reynolds scoring 22 points through two tries and six conversion, with winger Sylvian Mahuza also scoring two tries. The highest-scoring game of the weekend saw the Blue Bulls move up to third after a 45–40 victory over Griquas. Two tries from Griquas centre André Swarts was not enough as the side from Pretoria scored seven tries to secure the win. A bye weekend saw Western Province drop from first to fourth on the log.[16]


7 September 2018 Sharks 28–12 Pumas Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
19:00 Try: Jeremy Ward   20'
Johan Deysel   50'
Aphelele Fassi   55'
Curwin Bosch   58'
Con: Robert du Preez   20', 51', 56', 60' 		Scoreboard[17] Try: Ruwellyn Isbell   36'
Le Roux Roets   39'
Con: Chris Smith   40' 		Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni


8 September 2018 Griquas 40–45 Blue Bulls Griqua Park, Kimberley  
14:15 Try: NJ Oosthuizen   15'
André Swarts   35', 48'
penalty try   40'
Eital Bredenkamp   45'
AJ Coertzen   74'
Con: George Whitehead   16', 36', 46', 49'
Cards: Pieter Jansen van Vuren   54' to 64' 		Scoreboard[18] Try: André Warner   5'
Franco Naudé   19'
Jaco Visagie   22'
JT Jackson   25'
Edgar Marutlulle   55'
Jano Venter   63'
Ivan van Zyl   65'
Con: Manie Libbok   6', 20', 23', 26', 64'
Cards: Duncan Matthews   40' to 51'
Jaco Visagie   47' to 53' 		Referee: Egon Seconds


8 September 2018 Golden Lions 47–14 Free State Cheetahs Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
16:20 Try: Sylvian Mahuza   6', 18'
Shaun Reynolds   14', 32'
Marvin Orie   27'
Howard Mnisi   74'
Hacjivah Dayimani   78'
Con: Shaun Reynolds   8', 15', 28', 33', 74', 79' 		Scoreboard[19] Try: Louis Fouché   49'
Rudy Paige   59'
Con: Louis Fouché   50', 60' 		Referee: AJ Jacobs
Bye/s: Western Province

Round Five edit

In the biggest match of the weekend, two previously-unbeaten sides in the Golden Lions and Western Province met in Johannesburg. The side from Cape Town secured a 65–38 win, scoring nine tries in the process with Dillyn Leyds and Sergeal Petersen scoring two each, while SP Marais contributed 25 of his side's points through one try, seven conversions and two penalties. The result saw Western Province move up to third on the log, one place behind the Golden Lions. The Blue Bulls moved to the top of the log following a 39–29 win over the Pumas in Pretoria, with Jade Stighling contributing two tries. In the weekend's other match, 17 points from George Whitehead and two tries from lock FP Pelser saw Griquas move up to fifth spot by beating the Free State Cheetahs 52–24, a result which confirmed that the team from Bloemfontein won't take part in the semifinals.[20]


14 September 2018 Blue Bulls 39–29 Pumas Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  
19:00 Try: Hanro Liebenberg   8'
Jade Stighling   11', 33'
Dayan van der Westhuizen   21'
Ivan van Zyl   53'
Jano Venter   75'
Con: Manie Libbok   9', 12', 54'
Pen: Manie Libbok   38'
Cards: Johnny Kôtze   14' to 26' 		Scoreboard[21] Try: Marnus Schoeman   25'
Marko Janse van Rensburg   31'
Neil Maritz   61'
Morné Joubert   79'
Con: Chris Smith   26', 32', 62'
Pen: Chris Smith   6' 		Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge


15 September 2018 Golden Lions 38–65 Western Province Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00 Try: James Venter   7'
penalty try   52'
Pieter Jansen   63'
Hacjivah Dayimani   65'
Len Massyn   79'
Con: Shaun Reynolds   8', 64', 66', 79'
Pen: Shaun Reynolds   16' 		Scoreboard[22] Try: Dillyn Leyds   1', 14'
Sergeal Petersen   22', 72'
Joshua Stander   27'
SP Marais   34'
Juarno Augustus   55'
JD Schickerling   60'
Daniël du Plessis   76'
Con: SP Marais   1', 15', 23', 28', 62', 73', 77'
Pen: SP Marais   3', 12'
Cards: Ernst van Rhyn   52' to 64' 		Referee: Jaco Peyper


15 September 2018 Griquas 52–24 Free State Cheetahs Griqua Park, Kimberley  
17:15 Try: Ederies Arendse   7'
FP Pelser   38', 50'
Enver Brandt   52'
AJ le Roux   60'
Kyle Steyn   75'
Zak Burger   80'
Con: George Whitehead   8', 39', 51', 54', 61', 76', 80'
Pen: George Whitehead   70' 		Scoreboard[23] Try: Ali Mgijima   3'
Carel-Jan Coetzee   14', 20'
Con: Ernst Stapelberg   5', 15', 21'
Pen: Ernst Stapelberg   29' 		Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Bye/s: Sharks

Round Six edit

The Sharks and Western Province both maintained their perfect starts to the season, each winning their fourth consecutive match ahead of their meeting in Round Seven. Western Province secured a 38–12 victory over Griquas, with wing Sergeal Petersen scoring two of his side's six tries to move joint-top of the try-scoring charts. Loose-forward Dan du Preez also scored a brace, for the Sharks in their 37–21 victory over a Golden Lions side that lost their second match in a row, with Sharks fly-half Robert du Preez scoring 17 points with the boot. In the other match of the weekend, Ryan Nell scored two tries as the Pumas picked up their second win of the season, beating the Free State Cheetahs 42–14 to condemn the team from Bloemfontein to a winless season, having lost all six of their matches. The Sharks and Western Province mathematically assured their semifinal berths, while the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions and Pumas remained in the race for the other two spots.[24]


21 September 2018 Free State Cheetahs 14–42 Pumas Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  
17:00 Try: Rudy Paige   33'
Abongile Nonkontwana   63'
Con: Ernst Stapelberg   34'
Adriaan Carelse   64' 		Scoreboard[25] Try: Ryan Nell   9', 28'
Morné Joubert   16'
Neil Maritz   35'
Marnus Schoeman   66'
Simon Westraadt   73'
Con: Chris Smith   10', 17', 29', 37', 67'
Kobus Marais   74' 		Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni


22 September 2018 Sharks 37–21 Golden Lions Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
17:15 Try: Dan du Preez   23', 47'
Louis Schreuder   33'
Luke Stringer   40'
Con: Robert du Preez   24', 33', 40', 49'
Pen: Robert du Preez   3', 14', 20' 		Scoreboard[26] Try: Sylvian Mahuza   7'
James Venter   58'
Wandisile Simelane   75'
Con: Shaun Reynolds   8', 59'
Andries Coetzee   76'
Cards: Marvin Orie   38' to 47' 		Referee: Egon Seconds


22 September 2018 Western Province 38–12 Griquas Newlands Stadium, Cape Town  
19:30 Try: Joshua Stander   1'
Sergeal Petersen   14', 31'
Herschel Jantjies   19'
Juarno Augustus   24'
JJ Engelbrecht   61'
Con: Joshua Stander   2', 15', 20', 25' 		Scoreboard[27] Try: Kyle Steyn   36'
AJ Coertzen   57'
Con: George Whitehead   38'
Cards: Conway Pretorius   43' to 53' 		Referee: AJ Jacobs
Bye/s: Blue Bulls

Round Seven edit

The only match of the round saw the top two sides, the Sharks and Western Province meet in Cape Town. The home side won the match 50–28 with SP Marais contributing 20 of his side's points, securing a home semi-final in the process.[28]


29 September 2018 Western Province 50–28 Sharks Newlands Stadium, Cape Town  
14:00 Try: Jaco Coetzee   4'
Ruhan Nel   9'
Dillyn Leyds   23'
Sergeal Petersen   25'
SP Marais   64'
JJ Engelbrecht   72'
Chad Solomon   79'
Con: SP Marais   5', 11', 24', 27', 73', 80'
Pen: SP Marais   16' 		Scoreboard[29] Try: Marius Louw   1'
Tyler Paul   32'
Gideon Koegelenberg   40'
Aphelele Fassi   44'
Con: Robert du Preez   2', 33', 40', 46' 		Referee: Ben Crouse
Bye/s: Blue Bulls, Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Griquas, Pumas

Round Eight edit

Round Eight saw a full round of three matches being played, with the first of these finalising the semifinal lineup; the Golden Lions beat the Pumas 33–21 in Mbombela — with both Corné Fourie and Courtnall Skosan scoring a brace of tries — to end the latter's involvement in the competition and ensuring the Golden Lions and the Blue Bulls advanced to the knockout stage. The Sharks clinched a home semifinal by easily beating Griquas in Kimberley, with wingers Lwazi Mvovo and Leolin Zas each scoring two tries in a 41–11 win. The final match of the round between the Blue Bulls and Western Province lasted just 40 minutes; after a delayed start in the match due to lightning, some play was possible before the match was abandoned at half-time due to ever-worsening weather conditions. Western Province were leading 34–7, and this was declared the final result of the match following the abandonment.[30]


12 October 2018 Pumas 21–33 Golden Lions Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela  
19:00 Try: Devon Williams   4'
Francois Kleinhans   32'
Ryan Nell   67'
Con: Chris Smith   5'
Kobus Marais   34', 68'
Cards: Francois Kleinhans   39' to 49' 		Scoreboard[31] Try: Lionel Mapoe   1'
Corné Fourie   13', 59'
Courtnall Skosan   36', 47'
Con: Elton Jantjies   2', 14', 36', 61'
Cards: Howard Mnisi   29' to 39' 		Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge


13 October 2018 Griquas 11–41 Sharks Griqua Park, Kimberley  
15:00 Try: Kyle Steyn   76'
Pen: George Whitehead   2', 25' 		Scoreboard[32] Try: Jeremy Ward   6'
Lwazi Mvovo   14', 37'
Akker van der Merwe   28'
Leolin Zas   44', 62'
S'busiso Nkosi   49'
Con: Curwin Bosch   29', 38', 46' 		Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen


13 October 2018 Blue Bulls 7–34 (abd.) Western Province Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  
17:15 Try: Ruan Steenkamp   24'
Con: Tinus de Beer   24'
Cards: Matthys Basson   15' to 26' 		Scoreboard[33] Try: penalty try   15'
Kobus van Dyk   31'
Sergeal Petersen   33'
Jaco Coetzee   39'
Con: SP Marais   31', 33', 40'
Pen: SP Marais   7', 18' 		Referee: Egon Seconds
Bye/s: Free State Cheetahs

Play-offs edit

Title play-offs edit

Semifinals edit

The semifinal matches went according to form, with the top two teams from the pool stage and home semifinalists Sharks and Western Province both winning. Dan du Preez and S'busiso Nkosi each scored two tries in the Sharks' 33–24 victory over the Golden Lions, for whom Courtnall Skosan also scored a brace. Western Province and the Blue Bulls met for the second week in a row, but unlike the Round Eight match that saw Western Province win in a 40-minute match, this encounter finished 32–all during normal time, with the Blue Bulls' Dylan Sage scoring a try after the final hooter to level the scores and send the match into extra time. Western Province recovered and retained their lead to win 35–32 after extra time, thanks to a penalty from SP Marais, who scored 30 of his side's points in the victory.[34]


20 October 2018 Sharks 33–24 Golden Lions Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
14:30 Try: Dan du Preez   2', 74'
S'busiso Nkosi   20', 41'
Con: Robert du Preez   3', 76'
Pen: Robert du Preez   11', 31', 66' 		Scoreboard[35] Try: Nic Groom   55'
Courtnall Skosan   62', 69'
Con: Elton Jantjies   56', 63', 70'
Pen: Elton Jantjies   34' 		Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen


20 October 2018 Western Province 35–32 (a.e.t.) Blue Bulls Newlands Stadium, Cape Town  
17:00 Try: SP Marais   51'
Paul de Wet   59'
Con: SP Marais   52', 60'
Pen: SP Marais   9', 14', 30', 36', 40', 62', 94' 		Scoreboard[36] Try: Ruan Steenkamp   22'
Duncan Matthews   27'
Manie Libbok   46'
Dylan Sage   80'
Con: Manie Libbok   22', 27', 47'
Pen: Manie Libbok   34', 55' 		Referee: Egon Seconds

Final edit

The Sharks won their first title since 2013 after beating Western Province 17–12 in Cape Town. The only points in the first half came from the boot of Western Province kicker SP Marais, who slotted penalties in the 19th and 35th minutes to secure a 6–0 half-time lead for the home side. A try for Sharks hooker Akker van der Merwe, converted by fly-half Robert du Preez, saw the Sharks take a 7–6 lead shortly after the interval. A Marais penalty in the 49th minute restored Western Province's lead, but Du Preez responded in kind two minutes later to restore the Sharks' lead. The decisive score came in the 70th minute, when Sharks flank Tyler Paul scored a try — again converted by Du Preez — to make the scoreline 17–9. A penalty from Damian Willemse wasn't enough for the home side, and the Sharks secured the eighth Currie Cup title in their history.[34]


27 October 2018 Western Province 12–17 Sharks Newlands Stadium, Cape Town  
16:00 Pen: SP Marais   19', 35', 49'
Damian Willemse   74' 		Scoreboard[37] Try: Akker van der Merwe   43'
Tyler Paul   70'
Con: Robert du Preez   46', 71'
Pen: Robert du Preez   51' 		Referee: Jaco Peyper

Relegation play-off edit

30 October 2018 Free State Cheetahs 36–5 SWD Eagles Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  
18:00 Try: Penalty try 12'
Rabz Maxwane 18' c
Tian Schoeman 20' m
Louis Fouché 54' c
William Small-Smith 63' m, 78' m
Con: Louis Fouché 20', 55' 		Scoreboard[38] Try: Vuyo Mbotho 60' m
Cards: Vukile Sofisa   11' to 22' 		Referee: Jaco Peyper

Honours edit

The honour roll for the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division was as follows:

2018 Currie Cup Premier Division
Champions: Sharks (8th title)
Top points scorer: SP Marais, Western Province (130)
Top try scorer: Sergeal Petersen, Western Province (8)

Players edit

The squads and player appearance and scoring statistics for the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division are as follows:

Referees edit

The following referees officiated matches in the 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division:

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Action-packed Currie Cup Premier Division lined up" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 Currie Cup Premier Division : Teams". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
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External links edit

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