Harlequins continued their impressive form in the Score Energy Drink EPRU Grand Challenge Top 12 club rugby competition when they beat the NMU Madibaz 20-17 on Saturday.
It was another fine all-round display from a well-drilled Harlequins outfit who are finding their best form ahead of the playoffs.
Harlequins outscored the students by three tries to two to add weight to speculation the Grand Challenge trophy may have their name on it this season.
The top four positions (with matches played in brackets) are occupied by Gardens 75 (18), Harlequins 73 (18), Progress 68 (17) and Kruisfontein 59 (20).
Bustling EP Elephants centre Sherwin Slater and powerful prop and Andrew Nyandoro were named as Harlequins' joint men of the match.
Harlequins' next assignment is a rescheduled game against Progress at the Central Field in Kariega on Wednesday.
It proved to be an eventful weekend in the race for the semifinals, with Gardens slumping to a second consecutive defeat.
Gardens had been keen to get back on the horse after their unbeaten run of 16 matches was brought to an end when they slipped to a 33-19 loss to arch-rivals Progress in the Kariega derby last week.
However, Gardens came up short again when they crashed to an unexpected 31-26 defeat against Star of Hope in KwaNobuhle.
Gardens' loss of form has come at a bad time because they kick off their Pick n Pay Gold Cup campaign with a tough away match against Groot Brakrivier on Saturday.
EP's other representatives in the Gold Cup, Kruisfontein United, are building up a head of steam before their opening match against Heidelberg on Saturday.
After a slow start to their title defence, Kruisfontein made it four wins on the spin when they beat United Barbarians 29-23.
The win has boosted Kruisfontein's chances of a top for finish in the Grand Challenge.
Park's hopes of clinching a semifinal berth were dented when they were edged 28-27 by Joubertina United in a thrilling clash that went down to the wire.
East Cape Super 14 champions Progress continued their march into the semifinals with a convincing 41-17 win over Trying Stars at the Central Field in Kariega.
Results:
Top 12: Progress 41 Trying Stars 17, Joubertina United 28 Park 27, Kruisfontein United 29 United Barbarians 23, Star of Hope 31 Gardens 26, Brumbies 28 Despatch Oostelikes 0, NMU Madibaz 17 Harlequins 20.
The Herald
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