Winless WP face Kings test
Defending Vodacom Cup champions, Western Province will be a looking to get their campaign back on track when they travel to Port Elizabeth to face the EP Kings on Friday evening.
Province, who have drawn one and lost one so far in 2013, can expect a tough encounter from the hosts at the NMMU Stadium, who will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to three matches, following their draw and win in the previous fixtures. Kick-off is at 19:00.
The second Friday night fixture takes place at Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom between the Leopards XV and the Falcons.
The Leopards created history last week with their massive 113-3 win over newcomers the Limpopo Blue Bulls. However, on Friday evening they can expect a much tougher examination from the Falcons, who managed to beat the Golden Lions 27-22 in a close fought affair last weekend.
A win for any of the two sides will temporarily lift them into second spot on the North Section log as the rest of the fixtures are all scheduled for Saturday.
The Sharks XV get the action underway on Saturday when they host the Free State XV at Kings Park in Durban. This fixture always produces entertaining rugby and the Sharks XV will especially be determined to keep their 100% start to the season intact.
Last season, The Sharks XV won this corresponding match 51-38 in Bloemfontein.
Up north, another intriguing clash is looming at Ellis Park between the Golden Lions and arch-rivals the Blue Bulls.
The Blue Bulls outscored the Golden Lions by 49-10 in the 2012 fixture and the Pretoria outfit will be eager to bounce back to winning ways after going down to North Section leaders, the Pumas, in a nail-biting affair in the previous round.
Four-time champion Griquas travel to Groblersdal for a meeting with rookies the Lompopo Blue Bulls. The Limpopo team has found the going extremely tough in their debut season and another busy afternoon awaits them against a Griquas outfit that is yet to fire on all cylinders.
The battle of the week in the South Section is undoubtedly the derby clash at picturesque Robertson between hosts Boland Cavaliers and the SWD Eagles.
Last week, Boland won a tough battle against the Free State, while the Eagles lost at home by just five points against the Argentine Pampas.
SWD’s two matches have only yielded a single log point so far while Boland – nowadays without the services of former captain Bolla Conradie, who has returned to WP – is unbeaten after a win and a draw.
In the remaining matches of the weekend Pampas entertain the Border Bulldogs in Stellenbosch, while the Pumas will be looking for their third successive win against the Griffons at the Nelspruit Rugby Club.
Vodacom Cup, Round Three fixtures:
Friday, March 22:
EP Kings v Western Province
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Leopards XV v Falcons
Kick-off: 19h00
Venue: Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Saturday, March 23:
Sharks XV v Free State XV
Kick-off: 14h45
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Golden Lions v Blue Bulls
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Ellis Park Stadium
Blue Bulls v Griquas
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Chris Wiid Stadium, Groblersdal
Boland Cavaliers v SWD Eagles
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Robertson Rugby Club
Pampas v Border Bulldogs
Kick-off: 16h00
Venue: AF Markötter Stadium, Stellenbosch
Pumas v Griffons
Kick-off: 16:00
Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit
