Preview: First Division, Round 13
All eyes will be on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday night when the unbeaten EP Kings host the Pumas in a televised top-of-the-table First Division clash that could go a long way towards determining who hosts this year’s final.
With just two rounds remaining of the new, highly successful eight-team format, the Kings, on 55 points, hold an eight-point lead over their Mpumalanga rivals, on 47, with the match given added spice by the fact that the two teams drew 30-all in their first-round tie at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit last month.
In Friday's other match, the winless Border Bulldogs will host the third-placed Leopards in East London in a match which the Potch team can use to seal their place in the semifinals.
The seventh-placed Falcons will host 2011 champions the Boland Cavaliers on Saturday in Kempton Park, with only pride at stake. The Cavaliers have lost nine of their 12 matches this season and will want to finish on a high, but they face a stiff task against the tough-as-teak East Randers, who are always a handful on their home ground.
And in the weekend's final match, the fourth-placed Griffons will host the fifth-placed SWD Eagles in a match which may well decide this season's four semifinalists. The Griffons, who set the early pace in the competition, currently have 38 points, two ahead of the George-based side.
Pumas flyhalf JC Roos remains top of the First Division point-scoring log after Round 12, with 131 points made up of two tries, 32 conversions and 19 penalties. But joining Roos on 131 is Leopards flyhalf André Pretorius, with EP Kings No 10 George Whitehead third on 115.
Leopards wing Allister Kettledas has regained his place at the top of the try-scoring table, with 11 touchdowns. Behind him in second place is EP Kings eighthman Luke Watson with 10, while Falcons fullback JW Bell and Pumas centre JW Jonker each have nine tries.
Round 13 fixtures:
Border Bulldogs v Leopards
Date: Friday, September 21
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Buffalo City Municipal Stadium, East London
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistants: Matt Kemp, Loyiso Bosman
Last meeting: 4 August in Potchefstroom (First round): Leopards won 53-28
EP Kings v Pumas
Date: Friday, September 21
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistants: Francois Groenewald, Christie du Preez
Television Match Official: Johann Meuwesen
Last meeting: 3 August in Nelspruit (First round): Teams drew 30-30
Falcons v Boland Cavaliers
Date: Saturday, September 22
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistants: Eduan Nel, Attie Buitendag
Last meeting: 4 August in Worcester (First round): Cavaliers won 79-26
Griffons v SWD Eagles
Date: Saturday, September 22
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
Assistants: Jaco Kotze, Pieter Janse van Vuuren
Last meeting: 3 August in George (First round): Eagles won 20-13
