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 belt, are firmly focused on keeping their unbeaten record ahead of the showdown with Despatch next weekend. While that encounter looms large for the policemen, they will not want to take their eye off the ball on Saturday as that could prove dangerous against a side like Progress.
Gardens, meanwhile, face an equally testing encounter when they travel to Despatch to play the logleaders. Despite their unblemished record, Despatch have been pushed hard by both Harlequins (19-12) and Park (31-29), and Gardens will want to take a positive, attacking approach into the game.
At home, though, the odds must favour another Despatch victory as they look to show that last week’s narrow win over Park is not indicative of their form.
Despite more losses than wins, Park will be looking to build on their showing against Despatch when they take on Crusaders at Saders. The home team are hurting from a pounding against Grahamstown Brumbies last week and they will need to lift their game to handle a fired-up Park outfit.
Spring Rose will be looking to bounce back after a narrow one-point loss to Trying Stars, but will have their hands full at the New Brighton Oval against Harlequins. Quins have two solid victories under their belts in their recent encounters and this could be a contest which goes down to the wire.
African Bombers will be hoping homeground advantage works in their favour against Brumbies in Zwide, while Trying Stars, after several impressive results this season, face a big test of character in an away game against Kruisfontein.
The fixtures, kicking off at 3.30pm, are: African Bombers v Brumbies in Zwide, Crusaders v Park at Saders, Despatch v Gardens in Despatch, Progress v PE SAPS at the Central field, Spring Rose v Harlequins at New Brighton Oval, Kruisfontein v Trying Stars in Humansdorp
Last week’s results were: Brumbies bt Crusaders 55-19, Despatch bt Park 31-29, Harlequins bt African Bombers 32-22, Progress bt Gardens 31-30, PE SAPS bt Windvogel 32-24, Trying Stars bt Spring Rose 11-10
Alan Straton
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