The Jaguares XV were in sublime form in the DirectAxis Financial Services-supported competition, defeating defending champions, the SWD Eagles, 83-3 in Potchefstroom, while the Valke registered a convincing 31-17 victory against the Boland Cavaliers in Worcester to increase their log points to 20, meaning they need only three log points from their two remaining matches to guarantee a semi-final berth.

The Down Touch Griffons also remained in the running thanks to a 47-28 victory against the Leopards in Welkom, while the EP Elephants registered a 37-12 victory against Border in Mthatha to ensure that they still had a shot at a semi-final berth.

The battle for places in the top four will go down to the wire, with the Boland Cavaliers, Leopards and SWD Eagles also still in contention, with only Border out of the running.

A hat-trick by Jaguares XV winger Bautista Delguy and braces by Juan Cruz Mallia (centre) and Julian Dominguez Widmer (winger) paved the way for the team’s 83-3 romp at the Fanie du Toit Stadium, in which they crossed the tryline a whopping 13 times.

Such was the Argentineans’ dominance, they cruised to a 38-3 halftime lead, and they maintained this great attacking form after the break, while denying the visitors from adding to the three points they scored in the first half.

The Valke showed their intent early on against the Boland Cavaliers as they built up a 19-0 halftime lead in Worcester and continued to capitalise on their chances as the match progressed, which saw them out-score the home side five tries to three for their 31-17 victory.

Valke flanker Thabo Mabuza touched down twice, while the other tries were scored by three different players – as were Boland’s tries.

The Down Touch Griffons also set the tone for their victory with a strong first-half showing against the Leopards, which saw them take a 28-7 lead en route to their 47-28 victory. Ethan Williams (scrumhalf) scored two of the Northern Free Staters’ six tries, while centre Danrich Visagie kept the scoreboard ticking over as he slotted over four conversions and three penalty goals.

The Leopards fought back hard in the second half in the hope of earning a valuable victory, and they scored four tries for their efforts, but this was not enough as the hosts made the most of their point-scoring chances throughout the match.

The EP Elephants, meanwhile, staged a strong comeback from 12-10 down against Border for their 37-12 victory. The first half was tight as the teams threw everything at one another, but the men from Port Elizabeth found their rhythm in the second stanza and used their chances well, which saw them score six tries to two by the hosts – two of which were scored by winger Athenkosi Mayinje.