All to play for in Kovsies league
A very interesting last round of matches awaits the Shimlas players and supporters in the Kovsies Steinhoff Koshuisliga, with only Heimat being assured of a place in the final at this stage.
The final fixtures in the group stages take place on Thursday night, with the finals scheduled to take place on Friday, September 18.
The top two teams on the log qualify directly for the final, while number three and four will contest the plate final.
Apart from Heimat, all the other five teams in the league could either still make one of the two finals.
Vishuis and JBM, both on 35 log points, will fight things out for the remaining spot in the cup final.
JBM have the tougher assignment of the two as they will do battle with Heimat. Heimat have lost once only against a fellow hostel team – JBM in the first round – and they have won six matches in a row in all.
Meanwhile, Vishuis meet Veritas in the other crucial fixture.
Veritas are suddenly playing with renewed confidence after winning two matches in a row. Veritas, on 13 log points (and in joint fifth place with Karee) have to beat Vishuis, probably with a bonus point as well, in order to qualify for the plate final.
However, Veritas would also need Karee to deny Armentum (16 points) any log points in their fixture which kicks-off at 17.30.
Karee (pictured) pretty much have their faith in their hands; beat Armentum and deny them from a bonus point or win with a bonus point should Armentum score four tries or lose by seven or less points. In that scenario, Veritas would also have to achieve a bonus point win over Vishuis.
According to the regulations at Kovsiesport, points difference would be the deciding factor should teams end with the same amount of log points after tonight, the last round of matches in the league.
In that case it’s almost certainly going down to the wire with only two points separating Veritas (-105) from Karee (-107).
In the Vishuis/JBM scenario, Vishuis could go through should they end with the same number of log points. Vishuis’ points’ difference is +37, while JBM have a points’ difference of +23.
Vishuis might just regret the final try they conceded against Heimat last week. They desperately ran the ball from their own goalline in an attempt to score the winning try. However, a knock-on occurred and Heimat scored to deny Vishuis a much-needed bonus point for finishing within seven points.
Tonight’s fixtures:
17.30: Veritas v Vishuis
17.30: Armentum v Karee
18.45: Heimat v JBM
The log:
(Under played, won, bonus points, points difference and log points)
Heimat 11, 9, 5, +78, 41
Vishuis 11, 7, 7, +37, 35
JBM 11, 8, 3, +23, 35
Armentum 11, 2, 6, -28, 16
Veritas 11, 2, 5, -105, 13
Karee 11, 2, 3, -107, 13
By Ruan Bruwer
