Top teams look to increase their lead in ABSA Currie Cup First Division
The level of competition among the top teams in the Absa Currie Cup First Division is expected to rise this weekend as the tournament nears the halfway mark and the log-leaders attempt to distance themselves on the log standings.
On Friday the Regent Boland Cavaliers host log-leaders, the Steval Pumas, in Wellington, the SWD Eagles take on the Down Touch Griffons in George and the Valke go up against the EP Kings in Brakpan.
In the only match on Saturday, the Border Bulldogs battle it out with the Leopards in East London.
The match-up of the weekend will undoubtedly be at the Boland Stadium as both teams have been in impressive form this season. The Steval Pumas have won all five of their matches up to now, with the top point-scorer in the competition, flyhalf Carl Bezuidenhout, proving to be instrumental in their success, while the Regent Boland Cavaliers have won four on the trot.
This should set the scene for a nail-biting encounter.
The team’s effective packs aside, they also feature dangerous backs. Pumas’ wing JW Bell and Boland fullback Jacquin Jansen, in particular, will both be marked men as they are ranked among the top five try-scorers in the series.
The SWD Eagles, meanwhile, will enter their clash against the Down Touch Griffons at Outeniqua Park as favourites on form. However, the visitors boast a renewed confidence following their surprise victory against the Leopards last week, while the Eagles come off a heavy 60-20 defeat against the Pumas, which could result in a tightly-fought clash.
Apart from having to be solid on attack and defence, the Eagles will have to be disciplined as Griffons flyhalf Louis Strydom’s pin-point goal kicking has been one of their main weapons.
The Griffons, on the other hand, will have to mark SWD wing Alshaun Bock, in particular, on defence to prevent him from extending his lead as the top try scorer.
He has scored ten tries so far.
In Brakpan the EP Kings will have to work hard to recover from back-to-back defeats. The Valke produced a spirited performance to grind out their first victory of the season last week and will be keen to continue on that.
The clash between the Border Bulldogs and Leopards is also expected to be an arm-wrestle as both teams pride themselves on their strong forwards. But with the Leopards having earned three bonus points for tries in their first five matches, the Bulldogs will have to produce a solid defensive display to shut them out.
Absa Currie Cup First Division Fixtures:
Regent Boland Cavaliers vs Steval Pumas
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Date: 2 August 2013
Time: 15h00
SWD Eagles vs Down Touch Griffons
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Date: 19h00
Time: 2 August 2013
Valke vs EP Kings
Venue: Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Date: 2 August 2013
Time: 19h10
Border Bulldogs vs Leopards
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Date: 3 August 2013
Time: 16h00
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