# 2002 Vodacom Cup

The 2002 Vodacom Cup was the 5th edition of this annual domestic cup competition. The Vodacom Cup is played between provincial rugby union teams in South Africa from the Currie Cup Premier and First Divisions.

## Competition

There were 14 teams participating in the 2002 Vodacom Cup. These teams were divided into two sections of equal strength; Section X and Section Y, both with seven teams. Teams would play all the other teams in their section once over the course of the season, either at home or away.
Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that score four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams losing a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams in each section qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight competition, while the bottom three teams in Sections X and Y qualified for the Vodacom Shield competition. For both the Vodacom Top Eight and Vodacom Shield competitions, all points already scored against teams that progressed to the same competition were carried forward. Teams then played once against the teams that qualified from the other section, with the top four teams in each competition advancing to the quarter-finals.
In the quarter finals, the teams that finished first in each competition had home advantage against the teams that finished fourth and the teams that finished second in each competition had home advantage against the teams that finished third. The winners of these quarter finals then played each other in the semi-finals, with the higher placed team having home advantage. The two semi-final winners then met in the final for each competition.
The top six teams in the Vodacom Top Eight competition and the top team in the Vodacom Shield competition qualified for the 2003 Vodacom Cup, while the bottom two teams in the Vodacom Top Eight competition and remaining five teams in the Vodacom Shield competition qualified for the lesser 2003 Vodacom Shield competition.

## Teams
### Changes from 2001

* The Welwitschias withdrew from the competition.

### Team Listing

The following teams took part in the 2002 Vodacom Cup competition:
Section X :
| Team | Stadium/s |
| Boland Cavaliers | Boland Stadium, Wellington |
| Boland Cavaliers | Esselen Park, Worcester |
| Falcons | Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park |
| Falcons | Nigel |
| Falcons | Pam Brink Stadium, Springs |
| Golden Lions | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Golden Lions | Johannesburg Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Golden Lions | Bill Jardine Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Griffons | North West Stadium, Welkom |
| Mighty Elephants | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| Natal | Absa Stadium, Durban |
| Natal | Woodburn Stadium, Pietermaritzburg |
| Natal | Durban High School |
| Free State Cheetahs | Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein |
Section Y :
| Team | Stadium/s |
| Blue Bulls | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| Blue Bulls | Pietersburg |
| Leopards | Olën Park, Potchefstroom |
| Leopards | Phokeng |
| Western Province | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| Western Province | Florida Park, Parow |
| Griquas | Griqua Park, Kimberley |
| Pumas | @lantic Park, Witbank |
| Border Bulldogs | Absa Stadium, East London |
| Border Bulldogs | Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane |
| SWD Eagles | Outeniqua Park, George |

## Pool Phases
### Tables
#### Section X

2002 Vodacom Cup Section X Table :
| | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Golden Lions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 229 | 142 | +87 | 29 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| 2 | Free State Cheetahs | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 220 | 166 | +54 | 28 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 23 |
| 3 | Falcons | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 207 | 165 | +42 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
| 4 | Boland Cavaliers | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 143 | 170 | -27 | 19 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 15 |
| 5 | Natal | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 142 | 181 | -39 | 17 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 6 | Mighty Elephants | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 149 | 142 | +7 | 17 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | Griffons | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 141 | 265 | -124 | 15 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight. The bottom 3 teams qualified for the Vodacom Shield. Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match ||||||||||||||

#### Section Y

2002 Vodacom Cup Section Y Table :
| | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Blue Bulls | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 260 | 157 | +103 | 38 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 26 |
| 2 | Border Bulldogs | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 166 | 112 | +54 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| 3 | Leopards | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 245 | 153 | +92 | 35 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 4 | Pumas | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 199 | 208 | -9 | 24 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 5 | SWD Eagles | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 181 | 234 | -53 | 21 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| 6 | Griquas | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 164 | 236 | -72 | 19 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 7 | Western Province | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 168 | 283 | -115 | 18 | 39 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Top Eight. The bottom 3 teams qualified for the Vodacom Shield. Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match ||||||||||||||

### Results
#### Section Y
##### Round one
##### Round Seven
## Vodacom Top Eight
### Table

2002 Vodacom Top Eight Table :
| | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Golden Lions | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 270 | 211 | +59 | 32 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 28 |
| 2 | Boland Cavaliers | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 222 | 201 | +21 | 29 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 23 |
| 3 | Blue Bulls | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 242 | 240 | +2 | 32 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 21 |
| 4 | Falcons | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 208 | 196 | +12 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 5 | Free State Cheetahs | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 193 | 185 | +8 | 21 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| 6 | Leopards | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 224 | 170 | +54 | 28 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| 7 | Border Bulldogs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 150 | 179 | -29 | 15 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 8 | Pumas | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 169 | 296 | -127 | 21 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Cup semi-finals. The bottom 2 teams relegated to the 2003 Vodacom Shield. Points breakdown: All results from the pool phases were brought forward. *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match ||||||||||||||

### Winners

* 2002 Vodacom Cup
* CHAMPIONS
* Golden Lions
* 2nd title

## Vodacom Shield
### Table

2002 Vodacom Shield Table :
| | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points |
| 1 | Natal | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 151 | 110 | +41 | 20 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 2 | Griquas | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 156 | 154 | +2 | 19 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 3 | Mighty Elephants | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 128 | 122 | +6 | 18 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 4 | SWD Eagles | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 189 | 200 | -11 | 24 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 14 |
| 5 | Griffons | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 138 | 159 | -21 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 6 | Western Province | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 132 | 149 | -17 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| The top 4 teams qualified for the Vodacom Shield semi-finals. The top team promoted to the 2003 Vodacom Cup. Points breakdown: All results from the pool phases were brought forward. *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match ||||||||||||||

### Winners

* 2002 Vodacom Shield
* CHAMPIONS
* Mighty Elephants