So Close Yet So Far: Leopards Denied in Welkom Thriller
- Karen Scheepers
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
For the second week running, the Leopards suffered a heartbreaking single-point defeat in the Carling Currie Cup First Division. On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the Potchefstroom-based side pushed the defending champions to the absolute limit before falling 39-38 in a dramatic clash at the Down Touch Investments Stadium.
The Leopards executed a brilliant first-half game plan to shock the hosts on their own turf. Tries from Siniothando Tshontsyi, Shaun-Christian Baxter, and Brandon Keevy, supplemented by the precise boot of Jandre Burger, allowed the visitors to roar to a commanding 26-12 lead at the halftime break. Despite the Griffons keeping in touch through early scores from Simon Westraadt and Clive Kruger, the Leopards looked well in control.
The second half, however, saw the defending champions lift their intensity significantly. Quick-fire tries from Jandre de Beer and Chris Hollis got the Griffons right back into the contest before an impressive hat-trick by Chadrack Tshimanga swung the momentum firmly in Welkom's favor.
Refusing to back down, the Leopards launched a furious late-game counter-attack. Ghudian van Reenen crossed the whitewash twice in the dying stages of the match to put the Leopards within a single point of a famous victory. Tragically for the visitors, the final conversion drifted just wide, leaving the Griffons to escape with a 39-38 win.
Currie Cup First Division: Round 2 Review
The rest of the weekend’s action saw heavy scoring and decisive victories across the competition:
Eastern Province 45–5 Border Bulldogs: The round kicked off early on Friday in East London with a one-sided Eastern Cape derby at Police Park. EP put on a clinical seven-try display, headlined by a magnificent hat-trick from CJ Velleman, completely overpowering a disciplined-challenged Border side that picked up two yellow cards.
Dotsure SWD Eagles 45–24 Valke: In George, the SWD Eagles maintained their perfect start to the season with a commanding performance at Outeniqua Park. The hosts blew the Valke away in the opening 40 minutes to build an insurmountable 35-0 halftime lead, comfortably securing another bonus-point victory.
Next Fixture: Round 3
The Leopards will have to dust themselves off quickly as they hunt for their elusive first win of the campaign. They hit the road once again for an exciting Round 3 clash:
Match: Eastern Province vs Leopards
Competition: Carling Currie Cup First Division
Round: Round 3
Venue: Bergsig Special School, Kariega
Date: Saturday, 27 June 2026
Time: 15:00
Elsewhere in Round 3 action next Saturday, the Griffons will host the SWD Eagles in a massive top-of-the-table clash in Welkom, while the Valke will entertain the Border Bulldogs in Kempton Park.
Final Whistle
With back-to-back single-point heartbreaks now behind them, the Leopards must find a way to turn their attacking brilliance into a full 80-minute performance if they hope to secure their first win of the campaign.
The team has shown immense character and point-scoring capability on the road, but discipline and late-game execution will be the ultimate focus on the training paddock this week. The Green and Red army will undoubtedly look to bounce back stronger next Saturday, aiming to quiet the home crowd in Kariega and kickstart their 2026 title charge.
All image credits: Luiperds Rugby
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