MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

This weekend’s Grand Challenge

By

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 Park outfit will be somewhat bouyed by their second win of the season a fortnight ago when they defeated league rookies Windvogel 16-5. But they obviously know the powerful Despatch unit will present a far tougher challenge and it will be a long afternoon if they don’t show a massive commitment in all facets of the game.

They will do well to take a leaf out of Harlequins’ book after Quins pushed the logleaders all the way, but the odds are still firmly in favour of another Despatch success.

PE SAPS underlined their status in their most recent fixture when they outplayed NMMU Madibaz last week and they should have too much firepower at Kemsley Park for Windvogel.

While Despatch and SAPS are setting the pace, Spring Rose are nipping at their heels with four wins in five matches and they will be looking to maintain the challenge this weekend.

However, they have a testing fixture in Alexandria against newcomers Trying Stars, whose spirit and commitment in their maiden Grand Challenge season has been one of the highlights of the season.

Stars have lost only to SAPS and Despatch, and three wins under their belt mean that Spring Rose will have their hands full.

There’s a massive derby shaping up in Uitenhage when Gardens meet Progress at Rosedale. While the form may favour Gardens, these sorts of matches are always unpredictable and the side who can limit the errors in the heat of the occasion should emerge victorious.

Harlequins should be too strong for struggling African Bombers at the Adcock Stadium, while Crusaders are set for a keen contest against Brumbies in Grahamstown.

The fixtures, kicking off at 3.30pm, are: Brumbies v Crusaders in Grahamstown Oval, Park v Despatch at Londt Park, Gardens v Progess at Rosedale, PE SAPS v Windvogel at Kemsley Park, Harlequins v African Bombers at Adcock, Trying Stars v Spring Rose at Alexandria

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.