Preview: First Division, Round 14
Three teams, separated by just five log points, will be playing for two semi-final spots on Friday when the First Division round-robin reaches its climax with four intriguing final-round matches.
The unbeaten Eastern Province Kings, on 58 points, and the second-placed Pumas, on 49, are guaranteed of hosting home semi-finals in this year’s expanded eight-team competition.
At the other end of the table, outgoing champions the Boland Cavaliers, on 25, the Falcons, 23, and the winless Border Bulldogs, 10, have no chance of reaching the last four and are playing for pride only.
This leaves the Leopards, Griffons and SWD Eagles, all of whom must win on Friday to give themselves a chance of making it to the play-offs.
The third-placed Leopards and fourth-placed Griffons both have 43 points, with the Leopards’ positive points-difference of 65 far healthier than the Griffons’ negative points-difference of -25.
Five points adrift in fifth place are the SWD Eagles, with a points-difference of -6, but the George side do have the twin advantages of playing at home against an also-ran side.
The Eagles will back themselves to pick up a full haul of five points when they host the inconsistent Falcons in George at 17:05, which in turn would put the pressure on the Griffons to upset the Pumas in Nelspruit in a match which kicks off at the same time.
The Leopards, too, have a mountain to climb when they host the Kings in the final match of the day, which kicks off at 19:00.
And in Friday’s first match, the Cavaliers will want to finish their season on a high when they host the Border Bulldogs, who have already claimed the wooden spoon and who will want to avoid ending their year without a single win.
Pumas flyhalf JC Roos remains top of the First Division point-scoring log after Round 13, with 147 points made up of two tries, 34 conversions and 23 penalties.
Behind Roos in second place on 144 is Leopards flyhalf André Pretorius, with Kings No 10 George Whitehead third on 121.
Leopards wing Allister Kettledas remains top of the try-scoring table, with 13 touchdowns. Behind him in second place is Kings eighthman Luke Watson with 12, while Pumas centre JW Jonker has 10.
Round 14 fixtures:
Cavaliers v Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, September 28
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistants: Pieter Janse van Vuuren, Marc van Zyl
Last meeting: 11 August in East London (First round): Cavaliers won 39-32
Pumas v Griffons
Date: Friday, September 28
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistants: Francois Pretorius, Pieter de Villiers
Last meeting: 11 August in Welkom (First round): Pumas won 67-34
SWD Eagles v Falcons
Date: Friday, September 28
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistants: Joey Salmans, Cobus Wessels
Television Match Official: Deon van Blommenstein
Last meeting: 11 August in Kempton Park (First round): Eagles won 47-22
Leopards v EP Kings
Date: Friday, September 28
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
Assistants: Lourens van der Merwe, Local Referee
Last meeting: 10 August in Port Elizabeth (First round): Kings won 20-12
