Down to the wire for SA's First Division
PREVIEW: There are some enticing matches in the First Division as five of the six teams set their sights on finishing as high as possible on the standings as the play-offs move into view.
The Falcons, currently in top spot on the log, face a tricky trip down to Gqeberha, where third-placed Eastern Province await. If they win in the Eastern Cape, the East Randers will finish first.
At the same time, the second-placed Griffons will run out in Welkom full of confidence against the Border Bulldogs, winless and bottom of the log.
The men from the Northern Free State will know that a victory in front of their home crowd, coupled with a defeat for the Falcons, will see them leapfrog to the top of the standings.
The final match is in George, where the winner between the SWD Eagles and the Leopards, fourth and fifth on the log respectively, will qualify for the semifinals.
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It’s clear that there is a lot at stake.
The Elephants will take confidence from the fact that they have won three of their last four encounters with the Falcons, with the visitors from Kempton Park’s only victory over EP since 2023 coming earlier this year in the opening round of the SA Cup.
Playing at home against the men from the East Rand, EP are on a five-game winning streak dating back to 2017. That alone should be enough motivation for the Falcons to turn the tide in Nelson Mandela Bay.
In Welkom, the Griffons should have too much firepower for the Bulldogs, who have struggled this season. Playing in Welkom last year and in 2023, Border leaked 158 points and scored only 15, which should be an indication of the big task awaiting the men from East London in the Northern Free State.
The final match of the weekend kicks off at 18h00 in George, effectively a quarter-final where the winner will progress and the loser’s season will come to an end.
Three of the last four encounters between the Eagles and the Leopards were won by the visiting team, which should give the men from Potch some confidence as they travel to the Southern Cape for this make-or-break clash.
Last year in the SA Cup, the Leopards won 45-31 in George, and they repeated this victory earlier this year in the same competition with a 47-35 win in Potch.
However, SWD won the corresponding Carling Currie Cup clash between the two teams by 45-33 at Olen Park last year, and with the stakes as high as they are for this game, the hosts will leave nothing to chance as they aim to cling onto fourth spot on the standings.
With bonus points at play there may be some mathematics involved at the end of the match, but neither team will want to risk that and will aim for maximum points.
All the match info:
Eastern Province v Falcons
Date: Friday, July 11
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Griffons v Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, July 11
Venue: Welkom Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Lulutho Matomela
SWD Eagles v Leopards
Date: Friday, July 11
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 18.00
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
