Four Bay teams have sights set on quarterfinals berth

FOUR Nelson Mandela Bay teams will be looking to finish their Eastern Cape Super 12 club rugby group stages games on a high and cement their places in the quarterfinals in tomorrow's clashes.

With East London Police and Caltex Crusaders in second and third place respectively in Group B, Saders will have their work cut out for them when they lock horns with Police at the Police Park in Cambridge.

Saders, who have been their own worst enemies in this season's campaign with handling errors, will be punished by last season's bronze medallists if they commit any errors in this crucial encounter which will decide the group's second-best team.

The East London side showed their class last week when they outclassed champions Harlequins and will go into the clash motivated and hoping to continue with their winning ways.

But Saders are no push-overs and will also be motivated after their impressive victory against Winter Rose in their last outing.

Quins, who travel to Queenstown to meet Old Collegians, will also be looking to sneak into third position and avoid the Group A winners.

In the last qualifying position, Quins – who are far from the dominant side they were last season when they went all the way – should put Collegians to the sword.

The northern areas outfit have made things difficult for themselves by not winning some of their easiest games with bonus points. They go into the game as wounded lions and will be looking to make an example of Collegians after a humiliating defeat at the hands of Police last week.

They should be able to get maximum points against the less experienced Queenstown side.

In Group A, Gardens will be looking to finish the group stages as winners when they host Buffaloes in Rosedale.

Unlike last season when they were blowing hot and cold, Gardens have been like a breath of fresh air this season.

The team seems to ooze confidence in this campaign and will be looking to send a strong message to their yet-to-be-decided knockout stage opponents. The African Bombers and Walter Sisulu University game in Zwide should be an interesting one. Both sides have not won as many games as they would have liked, but where they were victorious they got bonus points.

They are still in with a chance of going through to the next stage and will throw everything at each other as they hope to finish third and avoid the bullying Progress in the quarterfinals. Kick-off is at 3.30pm in all the games.