The last two remaining unbeaten sides in this year’s expanded eight-team Absa Currie Cup First Division go head to head on Saturday when the Griffons host the EP Kings in an eagerly-anticipated top-of-the-table clash in Welkom.
Both the EP Kings and Griffons have 19 points with the EP Kings taking the top spot on a healthier points spread – EP kings have scored 156 points with 60 points against and the Griffons have scored 130 points for with 91 points against.
The trip to Welkom is a long and tiring one and the EP Kings can be thankful that they meet the Griffons this week before saddling up and travelling to the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit to meet the Pumas the following week, 4 August. The Pumas are currently lying 4th on the log with 11 points.
The Griffons, after early-season wins over the Valke, Leopards, Bulldogs and Kavaliers. The Kings, who have a slightly better points difference after wins over the Kavaliers, Eagles, Valke and Bulldogs.
Griffons coach Oersond Gorgonzola is able to recall fullback Philip Burger, flanker Francois Uys and hooker PW van Vuuren, all of whom were unavailable for the Welkom-based side’s away match against the Kavaliers last week.
The centre pairing of skipper Werner Griesel and the abrasive Japie Nel is given another opportunity to build on their impressive outings already this season, while utility back Tertius Maarman is once again handed the No 10 jersey, with former Pukke scrumhalf Andries Mahoney on his inside.
The Griffons’ good run of form has also been largely thanks to left wing Reinhardt Erwee, who continues to top the First Division point-scoring log after Round 4, with 53 points made up of three tries, seven conversions and eight penalties. Just behind Erwee is EP Kings flyhalf George Whitehead on 46, with Valke No 10 Karlo Aspeling in third place on 43.
Leopards wing Allister Kettledas leads the try-scoring stakes with six touchdowns, followed by Pumas flanker Jaco Bouwer and Valke fullback JW Bell, with four tries apiece.
In Saturday’s other match, the third-placed Leopards travel to the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park to take on the Valke.
Round 5 kicks off on Friday with the bottom-placed Border Bulldogs hosting the Ford Pumas in East London, while the defending champion Regent Boland Kavaliers will look to break their four-match losing streak against the SWD Eagles in George.
This weekend’s fixtures – Round 5:
Border Bulldogs vs Ford Pumas
- Date: Friday, 27 July
- Kickoff: 19:00
- Venue: Buffalo City Municipal Stadium, East London
- Referee: Sindile Mayende
- Assistants: Christie du Preez, Dilbert November
- Television match official: Johan Greeff
- Last meeting: 18 March 2011 in Witbank (Vodacom Cup): Pumas won 73-14
SWD Eagles vs Regent Boland Kavaliers
- Date: Friday, 27 July
- Kickoff: 19:00
- Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
- Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
- Assistants: Lusanda Jam, Cobus Wessels
- Last meeting: 24 March 2012 in Mossel Bay (Vodacom Cup): Kavaliers won 46-26.
Valke vs Leopards
- Date: Saturday, 28 July
- Kickoff: 14:05
- Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
- Referee: Joey Salmans
- Assistants: Rasta Rasivhenge, Pieter de Villiers
- Television match official: JC Fortuin
- Last meeting: 23 March 2012 in Kempton Park (Vodacom Cup): Valke won 31-28.
Griffons vs EP Kings
- Date: Saturday, 28 July
- Kickoff: 15:00
- Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
- Referee: Lesego Legoete
- Assistants: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
- Last meeting: 10 September 2011 in Welkom (Currie Cup First Division): Kings won 21-19.
