Last roll of the dice as First Division heats up

PREVIEW: The three teams in the top half of the First Division log will take the field as favourites in the fifth round of the competition this weekend, the penultimate round of league action before the semifinals.

For some teams, this will be the last roll of the dice if they are going to make it into the play-offs.

The Eastern Cape Derby between EP and the Border Bulldogs will play out in Gqeberha on Friday, with the two other matches scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

In the Eastern Cape Derby at Madibaz Stadium, the hosts will be looking to heap more misery on their neighbours. The Elephants have not lost to the Bulldogs since 2021 and have won their last four encounters, dating back to 2023, quite comfortably.

Going on current form, it will be difficult for Border to cause an upset, but with the end of their season fast approaching, the men from East London may just be motivated enough to not only claim a big scalp but also keep alive their slim semifinal hopes.

Interestingly enough, both teams have leaked 17 tries so far this season, but EP have scored 15, while Border have only crossed their opponents’ tryline on eight occasions in their three matches to date, something they will have to improve on if they are going to take the N2 back home with smiles on their faces.

With the Falcons seemingly unstoppable at the top of the log, the race between the Griffons and Eastern Province will go down to the wire, as these two sides are in a fight for semifinal hosting rights.

Victory over the fourth-placed SWD Eagles at the Barnard Stadium this weekend will confirm a top-two finish for the men from the East Rand, and it will take a big effort from the visitors to topple the Falcons.

The Eagles – whose last victory on the East Rand was in 2021 – will be desperate, though, as they can still drop out of the top four, and the Falcons will realise they can’t rest on their laurels despite enjoying a much better season so far.

The Leopards will have their work cut out for them when they host the Griffons. Since losing their opening round clash against the Falcons, the Northern Free Staters have won two on the bounce and impressively at that.

The Griffons handed their neighbours from North West a big hiding in the SA Cup in March (79-10).

The Northern Free Staters have held the upper hand against the Leopards for the last four years, with the hosts’ last victory over the Purple People Eaters in the First Division Final in August 2021 (19-18), which was their second win over the Griffons that season.

So, the Leopards will run out with the knowledge that they can beat the Griffons, but also that it will take a special effort to do so.

*Article continues below…

All the match info:

Eastern Province v Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, July 4
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Jonathan Lottering

Falcons v SWD Eagles
Date: Saturday, 5 July 5
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Kick-off: 14.00
Referee: Phumzile Mbewu

Leopards v Griffons
Date: Saturday, July 5
Venue: Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron