After two near losses, the Ford Pumas will be looking to record their first victory of the Absa Currie Cup season against GWK Griquas in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
The team from Mpumalanga narrowly went down to the MTN Golden Lions in the first round (31-27) and The Sharks (23-22) last week.
While the Ford Pumas made a good fist of their opening round match at Coca-Cola Park two weekends ago, their opponents on Friday struggled against the MTN Golden Lions and lost by 11-49 in Kimberley last Saturday. Taking only these results into consideration, the Ford Pumas can be regarded as favourites, but things don’t always work out like that. Last year GWK Griquas won both these fixtures easily.
“It’s time we start accumulating log points, but this is also a very dangerous game this, because Griquas lost heavily last week and will be looking to set the record straight,” said Ford Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse.
“I’m confident in the way we’ve been playing, even though we’ve lost, because we’re not making the kind of mistakes we’ve made before and are competing better. It won’t be easy on Friday though, because Griquas are a top side and will test us, like they did last year.”
Speaking about playing in Nelspruit for the second consecutive week, away from they usual base in Witbank, Stonehouse said: “We really enjoy playing at the Mbombela Stadium. It’s got a great surface, is a brand new stadium and we get great support there.”
Friday 29 July: Ford Pumas vs GWK Griquas, kick-off at 19:00 in the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Referee – Marius Jonker
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
- 13 August – GWK Griquas won 58-25 in Kimberley
- 2 October – GWK Griquas won by 61-31 in Witbank
Fixtures:
- Friday 29 July: Regent Boland Cavaliers vs Valke, kick-off at 15:00 in Boland Stadium, Wellington. Referee: Joey Salmans
- Friday 29 July: EP Kings vs Tasol Solar Griffons, kick-off at 19:00 in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth. Referee: Pro Legoete
- Friday 29 July: SWD Eagles vs Border Bulldogs, kick-off at 19:00 in Outeniqua Park, George. Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
- Friday 29 July: Ford Pumas vs GWK Griquas, kick-off at 19:00 in the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Referee: Marius Jonker
- Saturday 30 July: South Africa vs New Zealand, kick off at 09:35 in Wellington.
- Saturday 30 July: The Sharks vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs, kick-off at 15:00 in Mr Price Kings Park, Durban. Referee: Jason Jaftha
- Saturday 30 July: DHL Western Province vs Vodacom Blue Bulls, kick-off at 17:05 in DHL Newlands, Cape Town. Referee: Craig Joubert
- Saturday 30 July: MTN Golden Lions vs Platinum Leopards, kick-off at 17:00 in Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg. Referee: Sindile Mayende
