At the conclusion of week nine, only points' differentials separate Western Province, the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls on the 2010 Absa Currie Cup log.
All three sides are currently on 28 log points after the defending champions and the Bloemfontein side both recorded crucial victories in this weekend's action. However only four points now separate the sixth-positioned Griquas and WP who are in second place.
The Blue Bulls achieved maximum points in Pretoria as they returned to winning ways on Saturday evening following their 40-34 result over The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The Durban side are currently in first position on the log with 36 points.
The hosts outscored the log-leaders with four tries to three in this fixture. Springbok centre Wynand Olivier, Juandre Kruger, Ruan Snyman and Jaco Engels added tries for the Blue Bulls while winger Lwazi Mvovo, centre Stefan Terblanche and lock Alistair Hargreaves ran in five-pointers for The Sharks.
Naas Olivier of the Griekwas notched up 18 points during his side's 33-28 defeat against the Free State Cheetahs in Kimberley on Friday evening.
Meanwhile in Johannesburg, former SA Under-20 flyhalf Elton Jantjies scored 31 points as the Lions secured their fifth victory of the competition following their 46-28 win over WP at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night. The Lions pivot scored a try, kicked six penalties and converted all four of his side's five-pointers as they notched up their fifth win of the season.
In the other Currie Cup game of the weekend, the Platinum Leopards' winless run in the 2010 competition continued as they suffered a 27-26 defeat against the Pumas in Potchefstroom on Friday.
