The Pick n Pay Gold Cup quarter-finals take place today, Saturday, October 10, with eight clubs competing for a place in the semi-finals of South Africa’s premier knockout competition for non-university rugby clubs.
The quarter-finals follow a thrilling Round of 16 that included a remarkable comeback by three-time defending champions Sanlam Naka Bulls, who scored twice in the dying moments to beat fellow Bulls side Centurion 46-45.
Randfontein also secured a narrow victory, edging Vereeniging 48-47 in an encounter that produced plenty of tries and set the stage for another closely contested match today.
Naka Bulls host Randfontein at their Pretoria home ground at 16:00 in what promises to be a fiercely contested northern-section clash. Both sides had to dig deep to reach the last eight, leaving little to separate them on paper.
The other northern-section quarter-final sees Brakpan take on Northam Platinum Rhinos at Bosman Stadium in Brakpan at 16:00. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Brakpan, coached by Reghardt Botha, will look to use home-ground advantage against the Rhinos, who reached the semi-finals last year. The Limpopo side is coached by former Bulls head coach Nollis Marais and is still chasing its first Gold Cup title.
In the southern section, College Rovers host Gardens at Kings Park 3 in Durban at 15:00.
Rovers, coached by Derek Heiberg, are aiming to end a 14-year wait for a national title. Gardens, from the Eastern Province, are known for their attacking approach under coach Julian Daniels.
The sides last met in the Gold Cup in 2019, when Gardens won a closely fought encounter 30-28 at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The final quarter-final sees Roses United host Durbanville-Bellville at Pelikaan Park in Wellington at 16:00. The match will also be televised on SuperSport.
Durbanville-Bellville, coached by Marius White and captained by Tiaan Radyn, advanced after eliminating last year’s finalists, Villager. Roses United, coached by Brendon April, will be hoping to progress beyond the quarter-final stage for the first time.
The four winners will advance to the semi-finals as the battle for the Pick n Pay Gold Cup title intensifies.
Quarter-final fixtures: Saturday, October 10
North section
16:00: Sanlam Naka Bulls v Randfontein, Naka Bulls Rugby Club, Pretoria
16:00: Brakpan v Northam Platinum Rhinos, Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
South section
15:00: College Rovers v Gardens, Kings Park 3, Durban
16:00: Roses United v Durbanville-Bellville, Pelikaan Park, Wellington
