The Lions' Lionel Mapoe is tackled by Adriaan Strauss during Saturday's win over the Cheetahs © Getty Images

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News: Cheetahs maul Pumas

News: SARU confirm Currie Cup changes

Tournaments/Tours: Currie Cup

Teams: South Africa

The Golden Lions maintained their 100 percent start to the Currie Cup season with a 17-10 victory over the Free State Cheetahs at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

After the two side's respective goal-kickers, Sias Ebersohn and Elton Jantjies, had exchanged early penalties, the Lions took control of the contest with a fine try, fullback Jaco Taute streaking away down the left wing before passing inside to winger Michael Killian, who raced clear to score.

Ebersohn missed two kickable penalties, one either side of half-time, before Jantjies showed him how it was done by striking three times to extend his side's lead to 17-3. The Cheetahs kept battling and their reward was a late try through replacement scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn, who forced his way over from close range, but the end result was a fifth successive win for the Lions.

The Sharks kept the pressure on the Currie Cup leaders with a narrow 21-19 victory over Western Province in their clash in Cape Town on Friday night.

Former French international fly-half Frederic Michalak steered the visitors home with four penalties and three drop goals at a rain-swept Newlands. Western Province scored the only try of the game through prop Brok Harris with rookie No.10 Demetri Catrakilis bagging a 14-point haul courtesy of a conversion, three penalties and a drop-goal.

As a result, the Sharks strengthened their hold on second place in the table - pulling level with the Lions who have a game in hand. A losing bonus point saw Western Province remain in fourth place, four points behind their title rivals.

The Griquas remain very much in touch having scored a 32-18 victory over the Leopards in Kimberley. First half tries from Jean Stemmet and Riaan Viljoen along with further scores from Matt Rosslee and Wilmaure Louw ensured a bonus point win that leaves them one point adrift of the leaders. Rudi Vogt weighed in with two conversions and two penalties with a further conversion from Monty Dumond rounding out the scoring.

Hoffman Maritz crossed for a first half try for the Leopards with Wesley Dunlop adding the conversion but they still trailed 20-7 at the break. Two penalties from Dunlop reduced the arrears at the start of the second half but Morné Hanekom's try was not enough to overhaul the hosts.

In the day's other game, the Blue Bulls notched only their second win of their campaign with a 16-12 victory over the Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday. A try from winger Bjorn Basson and the boot of fly-half Marnitz Boshoff steered the visitors to an unconvincing win that saw them snap a two-game losing streak. Replacement Louis Fouche added a vital drop goal with Pumas No.10 Ricardo Croy leading a second half comeback with four penalties.

The Bulls opened the scoring with Basson's try just past the quarter hour that was converted by Boshoff who later added a penalty to give his side a 10-0 lead at the break. Croy clawed three points back shortly after the re-start and he added another a few minutes later to add weight to their comeback. The Pumas continued to turn the screw and Croy's third successful kick brought them to within a point only to see Boshoff give the Blue Bulls a little more breathing room with his second penalty. Back came the Pumas with Croy reducing the arrears once again before Fouche struck with a neat drop goal to seal the win.