The 2026 PNB league season is drawing to a close with only two rounds remaining. Dramatic results achieved last weekend in both the men's and women's divisions have caused title contenders to fight for every earned point. Races that seemed predictable just two weeks ago have turned into wide-open competitions, promising the most exciting finishes of the league in recent memory.
The most significant shift occurred in the men's first division when Umhlali significantly complicated the championship race with a brilliant home performance against the league leaders, Hillary. Scoring an impressive 13.5 points, the north coast club moved up to second place, trailing Hillary by only 1.5 points. Meanwhile, Parkhill, who held second place last week, earned 10 points in a match against Westville BC, but due to Umhlali's larger point haul, they dropped to third place. Westville moved from third to fourth place, increasing the gap with Parkhill.
This has resulted in an exciting leaderboard where the top four clubs are separated by only seven points. These weekends could be decisive, as upcoming matches promise tension from the start to the last ball. Parkhill travels to Hillary, knowing that a strong performance could change the course of the title race, while Umhlali will visit Westville BC in another critically important clash. Slightly behind are Westville CC, trailing Westville BC by only two points, and they have a chance to change their standing in the table in an away match against Northlands.
If the first division brought excitement, the men's second division presented a true theater. Last week's results completely changed the promotion scenario. Wentworth and Amanzimtoti each scored 12 valuable points in matches against Collegians and Durban, respectively. These performances propelled both clubs to the top with a combined score of 44.5 points, with Wentworth taking first place due to a better strike differential. Unfortunately, Collegians and Umhlanga failed, dropping from first and second place to fourth and third, respectively. With a 4.5-point gap between the four teams, the drama continues this weekend: Wentworth travels to Durban, Amanzimtoti hosts Collegians, and Umhlanga faces Mount Edgecombe.
The women's competitions are no less exciting. In the first division, Umhlanga maintained its leading position, securing a confident victory with a maximum score of 12 points. Amanzimtoti, preventing the leaders from pulling away too far, scored an impressive 11 points, maintaining a gap of only four points. This weekend in Hillary, Umhlanga will play against the home club, and Amanzimtoti will face third-placed Stella Park in another crucial match. In the second division, competition remains high: Westville CC strengthened its chances of promotion by scoring 10 points and remaining among the leaders. However, the main story of the weekend was Collegians, whose own 10-point victory allowed them to move from fourth to second place, trailing the leaders by only 5.5 points. Umhlali is in third place, trailing by another two points, guaranteeing another tense round when Westville hosts Parkhill, and Collegians play against Umhlanga.
The final rounds of the PNB Trips Championship playoffs will take place on Sunday: the men's sectional winners compete in Hillary, and the women's champions play at Westville Country Club. The weekends of July 25th and 26th will determine all league winners and trip champions, meaning every shot taken this weekend could influence the history of the 2026 season.
