GWK Griquas and Leopards battle it out for top spot on the log
GWK Griquas and the Leopards will go head-to-head on Saturday for the top spot on the log in round three of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division qualifiers in the match-up of the weekend.
GWK Griquas and the Leopards are the only unbeaten sides after two rounds of the competition, but only one unbeaten team will remain as they will line up against each other at GWK Park in Kimberley on Saturday in a match that could place the winning team in a favourable position to secure the last remaining place in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division this season.
In Friday’s matches, the Border Bulldogs host the Boland Cavaliers at the BCM Stadium in East London and the SWD Eagles meet the Valke at Outeniqua Park in George.
The clash in Kimberley is expected to be hard fought as the teams front up physically and try to create space for their exciting backs to cross the tryline. With home ground advantage counting in GWK Griquas favour and the team determined to reclaim the top spot on the log, they will enter the clash as favourites. But the Leopards will enter the clash with confidence after their 45-22 victory against the Valke last week, which marked their second bonus-point victory in as many weeks.
The battle between influential flyhalves Francois Brummer and his Leopards counterpart, former Springbok Andre Pretorius, will be thrilling, but the forward battle is expected to take centre stage, especially with the likes of GWK Griquas prop Stef Robbers, lock Hilton Lobberts and flank Marnus Schoeman looking to make their presence felt.
The Boland Cavaliers, meanwhile, will back themselves to beat the Border Bulldogs after building momentum in the last two weeks, while they will also draw confidence from their strong first-half fight against GWK Griquas last week. Border, however, will be determined to make the most of their first home game, while they will also want to ensure that they do not fall too far behind the pace-setters in the qualifiers, which is expected to motivate them significantly. However, with the likes of exciting Cavaliers centre Richard Lawson, scrumhalf Marnus Hugo and fullback Eric Zana posing attacking threats, the hosts will have to defend like demons to prevent their second defeat in as many matches.
In George the SWD Eagles will look to build on their victory against the Down Touch Griffons when they go up against the Valke. Fortunately for the hosts they have had two matches to find their rhythm in the competition, while the Valke are still finding their feet after playing their first match last week. The battle up-front should be physical given the forwards in both teams, but the SWD backs could be the key to victory as they can be dangerous if they get the ball in space.
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Qualifiers – round three fixtures:
Border Bulldogs vs Boland Cavaliers
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Time: 18h00
Date: 20 June 2014
SWD Eagles vs Valke
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Time: 19h00
Date: 20 June 2014
GWK Griquas vs Leopards
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Time: 13h00
Date: 21 June 2014
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