The Griffons remain the surprise early front-runners in the expanded Currie Cup First Division after picking up their third successive five-point haul in a 29-24 victory over the Border Bulldogs in Welkom on Friday afternoon.

In what is rapidly developing into an intriguing competition, defending champions the Boland Kavaliers slipped to their third defeat on the trot, going down 23-21 to the Leopards at the Wesbank Rugby Club grounds in Malmesbury.

Friday's other match saw the SWD Eagles move to third on the eight-team log following an encouraging 22-16 win in George against the Pumas, while the EP Kings retained their unbeaten record with a 37-20 away win over the Valke in Kempton Park that moves the men from Port Elizabeth to second place.

Currie Cup First Division Log - After Round 3:

TEAM P W L D PF PA TF TA BP -7 BP T Pts
Griffons 3 3 0 0 107 71 13 10 0 3 15
EP Kings 3 3 0 0 100 55 11 7 0 2 14
SWD Eagles 3 2 1 0 83 62 9 7 0 1 9
Leopards 3 2 1 0 75 85 11 9 0 1 9
Pumas 3 1 2 0 72 64 9 7 1 1 6
Valke 3 1 2 0 80 85 12 10 0 2 6
Boland Kavaliers 3 0 3 0 51 81 6 11 2 0 2
Border Bulldogs 3 0 3 0 43 108 5 15 1 0 1