Champs Despatch hope to lift their performance

FRESH from an unconvincing victory in their opening Cell C Community Cup fixture last week, champions Gap Despatch will be aiming to produce a more polished performance when they lock horns with Bridgton at the Bridgton Sports Grounds in Oudtshoorn tomorrow. In their opening Pool A encounter last week, Despatch had to dig deep for their 24-6 win against Spring Rose.

But they will want to put that game behind them and focus on the task at hand – aiming not to be dominated and committing basic errors like they did last weekend.

The Cup's No1-ranked team, who are also one of the favourites for this year's title, will want to send a strong message to other sides who may judge them by their poor display last weekend.

They will be hoping to repeat their impressive run in last season's campaign when they were crowned as champions after a nail-biting 26-24 victory against College Rovers.

Rose will be looking to bounce back from the defeat against Despatch when they host Kempston Old Selbornians at the New Brighton Oval.

They will want to give their loyal fans something to smile about after travelling to Despatch in their numbers last weekend.

But their vocal supporters will sing until they run out of voice if the men in green did not learn from the last game and kick for territory instead of wanting to run the ball from their half all the time.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Super 12 club rugby nears its conclusion with the four best teams set to fight it out for a spot in the final.

Progress will host African Bombers at the Uitenhage Central Fields.

With the outfits fresh from convincing quarterfinal victories, they will both fancy their chances of qualifying for the final.

But, on paper, Progress who finished as the second-best team in last season's campaign, should emerge victorious.

However, Bombers have proved they relish the big stage as they showed with their dominant victory against champions Harlequins last weekend.

In the other semifinal, Gardens will lock horns with East London Police in Rosedale.

Gardens, who have been impressive this season, will have to dig deep to edge the men in blue, but their fans should give them an extra boost.

Police will be aiming to improve on last season's finish after crashing out in the semifinals and finishing as the third-best team.

But they will be aware that if they are to advance to the final, they will have to give more than 100% against the hosts.

With the exception of the Despatch-Bridgton game (4pm), kick-off is at 3.30pm. -