PHOTO CREDIT: Morgan Piek
The two teams that have lifted the SA Cup and are currently leading the charge to the playoffs, Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas, clash in the headline act of the seventh round in Kimberley where the top spot on the standings will be up for grabs with the semi-finals moving into view.
This crunch one-versus-two meeting on Sunday will end the weekend’s action which will signal the third-last round before the staging of the playoffs.
The weekend kicks off on Friday in Gqeberha, where Eastern Province host provincial neighbours Border in an Eastern Cape derby, which starts at 15h00. Also on Friday, the Leopards host the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers from 18h30 at Olën Park in Potchefstroom, where the Northwest outfit will be looking for their second win of the season.
From 15h00 on Saturday, the Dotsure SWD Eagles face a crucial test at home in George when the Griffons pay them a visit, while the Toyota Cheetahs travel to the East Rand to play the Valke in Kempton Park.
However, it will be game of the weekend between the inaugural winners, Suzuki Griquas, against the defending champion Airlink Pumas taking centre stage from 15h00 on Sunday in the Diamond City.
Historically, Griquas and Pumas have traded blows as the dominant forces of the SA Cup, with each holding one title from the previous two editions.
Griquas top the standings with 30 points from their six wins, while the Pumas are second on 27 points from five wins in six games, with their called-off match against the Toyota Cheetahs logged as a draw.
In last year’s final, the men from Mpumalanga managed to dethrone Griquas as champions, so a high-intensity battle can be expected in Kimberley as both sides look to secure a home semi-final.
Just below these two front-runners, the battle for other two semi-final places is nearing fever pitch between Dotsure SWD Eagles, Toyota Cheetahs and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers.
The Toyota Cheetahs (23 points) and Eagles (22 points) currently hold the final two promotion spots, but the Kavaliers (20 points) are the dangerous “dark horses” lurking just outside the top four, but the Bolanders must follow up their dominant win last week over Border with victory in Potchefstroom to keep the pressure on SWD and the Free Staters.
The Valke will be keen to record a “Free State double” when they host the Toyota Cheetahs in Kempton Park after their win over the Griffons last week, and the visitors from Bloemfontein will know they can expect a tough challenge in Kempton Park from the sixth-placed East Randers.
Meanwhile in Gqeberha, Eastern Province and Border Bulldogs meet in an Eastern Cape derby. With a spot in the playoffs out of reach for both, pride and local bragging rights are on the line for these two sides. For Border, still winless this season, this away represents a big opportunity to get off the mark against an EP side searching for consistency.
Elsewhere, the Griffons travel to George to face the Eagles in another important clash. Both these sides were on the losing side last weekend. SWD suffered a blow when they fell to the Cheetahs in George to slip from second the ladder to third, while the Valke were too good for the men from the Northern Free State.
Under the mentorship of former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, the Eagles have undergone a dramatic transformation this year, so the Griffons can expect a big onslaught on Saturday.
Match information:
Eastern Province vs Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, 24 April
Venue: Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Sean Muller
Leopards vs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Date: Friday, 24 April
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 18h30
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Dotsure SWD Eagles vs Griffons
Date: Saturday, 25 April
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Broadcast: YouTube
Valke vs Toyota Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 25 April
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Paul Mente
Broadcast: SS Variety 2
Suzuki Griquas vs Airlink Pumas
Date: Sunday, 26 April
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Broadcast: SS Rugby