ABSA Currie Cup First Division Preview – Round 8
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THE Eastern Province Kings will look to do the ‘double’ over reigning Absa Currie Cup First Division champions the Regent Boland Kavaliers in Port Elizabeth on Friday night when they meet in what could be a season-defining second-round match for both sides.
The unbeaten Kings edged the Kavaliers 25-20 in the first match of the season in Wellington, and are currently the overwhelming favourites for the title.
A bonus-point victory for the Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will give coach Alan Solomons’ team a commanding lead at the top of the standings, especially as their two main rivals, the Leopards and Ford Pumas, who are six and seven points adrift respectively as the expanded eight-team competition enters its second round this weekend, play each other at the same time.
The Kavaliers have had a nightmare season so far, losing their opening four matches before drawing against the SWD Eagles and showing signs of recovering in posting big victories over the lowly Valke and Border Bulldogs. But the men from Wellington still remain in sixth place on the log, a full 15 points behind the Kings and six points behind the fifth-placed Griffons.
In contrast to the Kavaliers, the Welkom-based Griffons got off to a flyer this season, winning their first four matches to lead the standings in the early stages. But three defeats in their last three matches, against the EP Kings, SWD Eagles and Ford Pumas, have seen the Griffons slip down the rankings, and they will want to get back to winning ways when they host the seventh-placed Valke.
In Friday’s other match, perennial wooden-spoonists the Border Bulldogs are at home to the Eagles, who are currently lying fourth and who remain dark horses for the title this year.
Eastern Province Kings flyhalf George Whitehead tops the First Division point-scoring log after Round 7, with 89 points made up of three tries, 16 conversions and 14 penalties. Behind Whitehead in second place is Leopards flyhalf Andre Pretorius on 74, with Regent Boland Kavaliers pivot Elgar Watts third on 67.
Leopards wing Allister Kettledas and teammate Danie Dames still lead the try-scoring stakes with seven touchdowns apiece, while Philip de Wet, also of the Leopards, and For Pumas’ JW Jonker each have six tries.
This weekend’s fixtures – Round 8:
Griffons vs Valke
Date: Friday, 17 August
Kickoff: 15:00
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistants: Jaco Kotze, Francois de Bruin
Television match official: Johan Greeff
Last meeting: 30 June in Kempton Park (First round): Griffons won 37-27
Ford Pumas vs Leopards
Date: Friday, 17 August
Kickoff: 19:00
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Ben Crouse
Assistants: Lesego Legoete, Stefan Breytenbach
Last meeting: 30 June in Potchefstroom (First round): Leopards won 32-23
EP Kings vs Boland
Date: Friday, 17 August
Kickoff: 19:00
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistants: Quinton Immelman, Fumanekile Yamile
Last meeting: 29 June in Wellington (First round): Kings won 25-20
Border Bulldogs vs SWD Eagles
Date: Friday, 17 August
Kickoff: 19:00
Venue: Buffalo City Municipal Stadium, East London
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistants: Rodney Bonaparte, Loyiso Bosman
Last meeting: 29 June in George (First round): Eagles won 46-8
Round 7 results:
Griffons 34-67 Ford Pumas
Border Bulldogs 32-39 Regent Boland Kavaliers
Valke 22-47 SWD Eagles
EP Kings 20-12 Leopards
Round 6 results:
Leopards 53-28 Border Bulldogs
Regent Boland Kavaliers 79-26 Valke
SWD Eagles 20-13 Griffons
Ford Pumas 30-30 EP Kings
Round 5 results:
Griffons 10-34 EP Kings
Valke 22-51 Leopards
SWD Eagles 21-21 Regent Boland Kavaliers
Border Bulldogs 18-51 Ford Pumas
Round 4 results:
EP Kings 56-5 Border Bulldogs
Regent Boland Kavaliers 20-23 Griffons
Leopards 68-35 SWD Eagles
Ford Pumas 36-35 Valke
Round 3 results:
Valke 20-37 EP Kings
SWD Eagles 22-16 Ford Pumas
Griffons 29-24 Border Bulldogs
Regent Boland Kavaliers 21-23 Leopards
Round 2 results:
EP Kings 38-15 SWD Eagles
Border Bulldogs 11-33 Valke
Ford Pumas 33-10 Regent Boland Kavaliers
Griffons 41-20 Leopards
Round 1 results:
Regent Boland Kavaliers 20-25 EP Kings
SWD Eagles 46-8 Border Bulldogs
Leopards 32-23 Ford Pumas
Valke 27-37 Griffons
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