EP Grand Challenge rugby fireworks expected
WITH the EP Grand Challenge resuming tomorrow after a month- long break, club rugby sides will be hoping to hit the ground running as their search for silverware continues.
The players will be itching to get on the field for some competitive rugby after several coaches and club bosses laughed off the President's Cup, saying the teams had more to lose than to gain from participating in that event.
The last President's Cup games were played last weekend, but several clubs had already withdrawn from it.
In what is arguably the pick of the weekend's games, Progress will battle it out with Gap Despatch at the Uitenhage Central Fields. Whenever the neighbours meet, the game lives up to expectations as neither side wants to lose and more than just points are at stake.
Despatch, who are one of the league favourites, have always given the hosts a difficult time and have the greater number of wins between the two teams.
But with the backing of their passionate fans, Progress will fancy their chances of registering a victory against the strong former Cell C Community Cup champions.
Anything less than a 100% effort from either side will damage their chances of claiming the points and the bragging rights. African Bombers will lock horns with Caltex Crusaders in Zwide and with both sides not having the best first round in the Grand Challenge, they will be looking for an improvement.
Rustiness may be a factor as both sides withdrew in the early stages of the President's Cup, fearing injuries. If they can overcome that, however, the game should be a cracker once it gets going.
Strugglers Park and Harlequins will square off at Londt Park, with both teams having been regarded as the league's whipping boys at times during the season. Quins, though, have shown signs of turning things around as the northern areas side have managed some positive results in their last few games.
Park, on the other hand, have suffered a series of heavy defeats in both the Grand Challenge and President's Cup.
The in-form PE Police side travel to Grahamstown for a date with the Brumbies at the Oval. The policemen finished the Grand Challenge first half in scintillating form and are eager to continue where they left off. The Brumbies are also high in confidence after beating Spring Rose last weekend.
At the Humansdorp Country Club, Kruisfontein meet Gardens, who earlier this year annexed the Eastern Cape Super 12 title. They finished the first round of the Grand Challenge on a high note and will be hoping to continue that form.
The hosts will be aiming to put the brakes on their opponents who were unstoppable in their last five games, but it will require a mammoth effort by Kruisfontein to achieve that.
Kick-off is at 3.30pm in all the games. - Mkhululi Ndamase
