EP RUGBY GRAND CHALLENGE PREVIEW FOR JULY 25
LOCKED at the top on 49 points each, there will be a fascinating battle for supremacy between Despatch and PE SAPS when the next round of the EP Grand Challenge is played on Saturday (July 25).
With just two rounds remaining, plus a few postponed fixtures, Despatch and SAPS have secured the top two places on the log and the duel now remains to see who ends on top.
Neither team have straightforward fixtures this weekend, although such has been their dominance that it is difficult to see Spring Rose or Progress upsetting the odds.
SAPS, though, will be wary of the Rose challenge, especially as they are playing in Rose’s backyard, and they will need to ensure they produce their top effort against the home side in New Brighton.
Despatch will be more comfortable at home against Progress, but even that will not lead to them taking the Uitenhage side lightly. Progress showed their ability with a narrow win against the high-riding Park last weekend.
Park, meanwhile, are lying fourth on the log and will want to regain the winning touch to stay in with a chance for the playoffs. There will be no easy pickings when they travel to Alexandria for a clash with Trying Stars, who have proved highly competitive in their first season in the Grand Challenge.
Gardens lie third on the log and also face a testing fixture against Kruisfontein in Humansdorp, while NMMU Madibaz return after a lengthy break for a clash with African Bombers in Zwide.
Harlequins will be keen to improve their position on the log with a home game against Grahamstown Brumbies, while Crusaders and Windvogel will both be fired up to move away from the wrong end of the table in their clash at Saders.
The fixtures are, kick-off at 15.30: Harlequins v Brumbies at the Adcock Stadium, Trying Stars v Park in Alexandria, Kruisfontein v Gardens at Humansdorp, Spring Rose v PE SAPS at New Brighton Oval, African Bombers v NMMU at Zwide, Crusaders v Windvogel at Saders, Despatch v Progress in Despatch.
The latest log is (matches in brackets): Despatch and PE SAPS 49 (11), Gardens 34 (10), Park 31 (11), Kruisfontein 30 (11), Brumbies 29 (12), Trying Stars 27 (10), Spring Rose 27 (11), Progress 26 (11), Harlequins 23 (11), NMMU Madibaz 22 (8), Crusaders 11 (10), Windvogel 10 (9), African Bombers 4 (10).
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