PE SAPS retained their unbeaten record in the EP Grand Challenge this year with a hard-fought 26-12 win over Kruisfontein at Kemsley Park on Saturday (August 1). The police side led 14-0 at the interval and managed to stay ahead in the second half to register an important victory. Park got back onto the winning track when they produced a solid display, scoring five tries to comfortably beat Harlequins 39-16 at Londt Park. Gardens also had a good win, dousing the spirit of the impressive … [Read more...] about SAPS Still Ahead
grand challenge
SAPS Chance to get on top
With Despatch having a bye, PE SAPS should move to the top of the Grand Challenge log on Saturday (August 1) when they host Kruisfontein at Kemsley Park. Following last week's washed-out matches, each team received two points, which means that Despatch and SAPS are deadlocked at the top on 51 points. While the unbeaten SAPS team go into the match as firm favourites, they will not be making the mistake of underestimating their opponents, who will be fired up for this clash as they bid for a … [Read more...] about SAPS Chance to get on top
SAPS’ chance to top the log
Locked at the top on 49 points each, there will be a fascinating battle for supremacy between Despatch and PE SAPS when the next round of the EP Grand Challenge is played on Saturday (July 25). With just two rounds remaining, plus a few postponed fixtures, Despatch and SAPS have secured the top two places on the log and the duel now remains to see who ends on top. Neither team have straightforward fixtures this weekend, although such has been their dominance that it is difficult to see … [Read more...] about SAPS’ chance to top the log
Five Grand Challenges matches this weekend
Following postponements in June due to waterlogged fields, five matches are set to be played in the EP Grand Challenge competition on Saturday (July 18). Despatch, who have not played since their 22-22 draw with PE SAPS at the end of June, will be itching to get back into action to ensure a place in the top two on the final log when they host Grahamstown Brumbies. After this weekend's games there will be two rounds left for the teams to secure their places in the semifinals, which will be … [Read more...] about Five Grand Challenges matches this weekend
SAPS beat Bombers
PE SAPS continued their impressive run in the EP Grand Challenge competition when they comfortably doused African Bombers' challenge with a decisive 56-12 win on Saturday (July 11). The policemen are the only unbeaten team in the competition and are looking like strong contenders for the title, but they will not take anything for granted until the final matches are played. Bombers were coming off their first win of the season the previous weekend and held SAPS to 17-5 at halftime before … [Read more...] about SAPS beat Bombers
Hoping to ‘bomb’ the SAPS
Having no sooner shrugged off their disastrous losing run in the EP Grand Challenge, African Bombers have another mountain to climb when they take PE SAPS at Kemsley Park on Saturday (July 11). The policemen have established themselves as potential title contenders after a 22-22 draw with logleaders Despatch and are the only unbeaten team in the 2015 competition. Furthermore, they will be itching to get back into action after Crusaders conceded their match last week. The Bombers, … [Read more...] about Hoping to ‘bomb’ the SAPS
Grand Challenge Results
Gardens and Spring Rose, among the top four teams in the EP Grand Challenge competition, both suffered setbacks in their league games on Saturday (July 4). African Bombers broke out of their slump of eight straight defeats when they beat Gardens 22-17 in Zwide, while Spring Rose went down to a high-riding Park side 17-3 at the New Brighton Oval. The weekend's results were: African Bombers bt Gardens 22-17, Park bt Spring Rose 17-3, Trying Stars bt Harlequins 18-17, Kruisfontein bt Brumbies … [Read more...] about Grand Challenge Results
Rugby Grand Challenge Fixtures
Several teams could be facing severe backlashes in the EP Grand Challenge this weekend as the leading sides vie for the top positions in the competition. Last weekend's draw between Despatch and PE SAPS meant the status quo remained, with the log-leading Despatch maintaining a four-point lead. But that should change this weekend when the policemen run out against Crusaders at Saders in a match where they will be determined to get maximum points. Considering the fact that Saders have not … [Read more...] about Rugby Grand Challenge Fixtures
Top two clash this weekend
The EP Grand Challenge battle for supremacy reaches a mid-season highlight when PE SAPS strive to show they are worthy title contenders in a home clash at Kemsley Park against logleaders Despatch this Saturday. Even though Despatch suffered a slight stumble last week, the two clubs have been head and shoulders above rest of the teams in the competition this year and this should be a thrilling showdown with no mercy asked for or given. Despatch head the log with 41 points from nine matches, … [Read more...] about Top two clash this weekend
Gardens Upset Despatch
Uitenhage side Gardens scored one of the major upsets in the Eastern Province Grand Challenge this season when they defeated log-leaders Despatch 32-30 in Despatch on Saturday, June 20. The visitors led 25-15 at the break and withstood a second half surge by the champions to inflict the first defeat on them in the Grand Challenge this year. In Uitenhage, PE SAPS kept their unbeaten record when they piled on the points in the second half to defeat Progress 59-20 after leading 21-10 at the … [Read more...] about Gardens Upset Despatch
This weekends Club Rugby
Fresh from a morale-boosting win in their Uitenhage derby against arch-rivals Gardens, Progress will quickly need to come off that high when they take on PE SAPS in the EP Grand Challenge at the Central field in Uitenhage on Saturday (June 20). It does not come much closer than Progress's 31-30 triumph last weekend, but they will now have to lift themselves again for a tough examination against one of only two unbeaten teams this year in the competition. SAPS, with seven wins under their … [Read more...] about This weekends Club Rugby
This weekend’s Grand Challenge
After last week's setback when waterlogged fields prevented several matches from taking place, the EP Grand Challenge teams will be raring to go when the next round of fixtures takes place on Saturday 13 June. Leading the way will be the unbeaten sides of Despatch and PE SAPS, who will both be looking to keep a clean sheet heading into their showdown on June 27. Despatch take a trip into Port Elizabeth to face an old foe in Park and will be firm favourites to notch up another win. The … [Read more...] about This weekend’s Grand Challenge
Police Spank Madibaz
PE SAPS maintained their unbeaten record in the EP Grand Challenge when they produced a fine display of running rugby to defeat close rivals NMMU Madibaz 25-5 at the campus on Tuesday, 2 June. In inflicting the fourth defeat on the Madibaz this season, SAPS have firmly established themselves as the chief challengers to rampant logleaders Despatch and their clash on June 27 is shaping up to be an epic encounter. NMMU coach David Maidza was not that happy with his team's performance against … [Read more...] about Police Spank Madibaz
Madibaz seeking 4th straight Grand Challenge win
On a roll after receiving a severe wake-up call early in the season, the NMMU Madibaz will be looking to secure their fourth straight victory when they take on Gardens at Rosedale in Uitenhage in the EP Grand Challenge on Saturday (May 30). While the high-profile Varsity Cup plays a major part in the varsity's rugby structures, coach David Maidza said on Thursday the Grand Challenge was equally important in their efforts to grow rugby at NMMU. "Sometimes it is a bit of a challenge for the … [Read more...] about Madibaz seeking 4th straight Grand Challenge win
Despatch hand Stars a Trying defeat
Despatch continued their triumphant march in the EP Grand Challenge at the weekend, handing the plucky Trying Stars a 45-5 defeat in Despatch. The Alexandria rookies were coming off two impressive wins and tried hard to halt the Despatch juggernaut, trailing only 19-5 at the break after scoring the first try. But Despatch could not be stopped in the second half and surged to another emphatic win. PE SAPS kept up their challenge in the competition with a hard-fought 32-25 win over Gardens … [Read more...] about Despatch hand Stars a Trying defeat
