For a second year running the Griffons have won the Currie Cup First Division title, this time after beating the Leopards 60-36 in Welkom.
As it happened, the Griffons under-20 team also successfully defended their title by getting the better of the Limpopo Blue Bulls, 29-22.
The 'Purple People Eaters' set the platform for their emphatic win with a polished first half, which they lead 25-12, before nullifying a Leopards fightback with a flurry of tries in the second half.
Griffons flyhalf Jaun Kotze opened up the scoring in the fourth minute with a penalty goal, before his captain Duan Pretorius scored their first of three first-half tries in the 12th minute. Kotze himself and winger Tertius Maarman also dotted down to stretch the hosts early lead to 22-0 -- effectively a point a minute.
The Leopards, showed that they were up for the battle with two quick tries of their own... first winger Jimmy Mpailane found space and stepped on the gas to touch down before their flyhalf Gerhard Nortier held off two defenders to close the gap on the scoreboard to 22-12.
Kotze had the final say in the half as he slotted over a penalty goal on the stroke of halftime to secure his team a 25-12 lead.
Jonathan Mokuena must have given an inspiring half-time teamtalk in the Leopards changeroom as his troops made a strong statement in the opening stages of the second half.
First Leopards winger Gene Willemse received the ball in space to score the team's third try, before hooker Dane van der Westhuyzen and replacement forward Gideon Van der Merwe also crossed the tryline to push the visiting team into a 31-25 lead.
The Griffons reacted like true champions do, and raised their game in a manner which surely pleased their coach Oerson Gorgonzola.
Their fourth-quarter exploits saw Shirwin Cupido and lock Neil Claassen score, before a double by Vincent Maruping and another by Maarman, which pushed them into a 60-31 lead with five minutes to play.
Leopards captain Jeandre Rudolph closed off the scoring, but Griffons walked off with the honours and with it a promotion-relegation match against Griquas in Kimberley on Friday for a place in the Currie Cup Premier Division next season.
Currie Cup First Division Final
Griffons 60 Leopards 36
Griffons - Tries: Neil Claassen, Jaun Kotze, Tertius Maarman (2), Duan Pretoruis, Vincent Maruping (2), Shirwin Cupido. Conversions: Jaun Kotze (7). Penalty Goals: Jaun Kotze (2).
Leopards - Tries: Dane van der Westhuyzen, Jeandre Rudolph, Gerhard Nortier, Gene Willemse, Jimmy Mpailane, Gideon Van der Merwe. Conversions: Gerhard Nortier (3).