Valke aim to keep soaring in Currie Cup First Division

The Valke will fancy their chances to remain top of the log in the Carling Currie Cup First Division when they travel to the Eastern Cape for their third-round fixture on Friday, while the chasing pack will want to remain in the running for the play-offs.

The East Randers face the Border Bulldogs at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Friday evening from 6pm, the same time the match between the Phangela SWD Eagles and NovaVit Griffons kicks off at Outeniqua Park. On Saturday afternoon, the Leopards host Eastern Province at Olen Park from 3pm in the final match of the weekend.

The Valke have not lost to the Bulldogs since their Carling Currie Cup First Division clash in the sixth round in 2021, after which the men from Kempton Park have won six on the trot with an average score of 55-16.

After kicking off the competition with two wins on the bounce, the Valke will be regarded as favourites in their match in East London. They have the best defensive record so far and have conceded only eight tries in their two matches.

It’s more difficult to pick winners from the remaining matches as all four teams have won one of their two matches to date, which could see home ground advantage come into play.

In George, the Eagles will look to turn around their recent result against the Griffons, who will want to repeat their last victory at Outeniqua Park, when they won 36-28 in the SA Cup last year.

With good weather predicted for the Southern Cape on Friday, both teams will be keen to throw the ball around and add to their positive try tallies after the first two rounds.

The Eagles will have to limit kicking opportunities at their posts though, as the Griffons’ Andrew Kota has been on song with the boot. He leads the points’ scorers list with 25 points so far, which includes 11 conversions.

Kota’s teammate Willem van den Hever leads the try-scoring charts with five tries in two matches and he will be another player the SWD will have to watch with eagle-eyes.

Saturday’s match between the Leopards and Eastern Province in Potchefstroom should deliver some fireworks as the teams have been closely matched over the last few seasons.

They share the spoils at four-apiece from their last eight games but the Leopards won their last encounter in North-West province, last year in the SA Cup, by 43-26, which will give them confidence going into the clash.

EP, level on log points with the Leopards but one spot lower on the standings due to their points’ difference, have leaked 14 tries so far, and will want to shore up their defence on Saturday.

Fixtures

Border Bulldogs v Valke - Friday @ Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane, East London (6pm)

Referee: Charlwin Daries

Phangela SWD Eagles v NovaVit Griffons - Friday @ Outeniqua Park, George (6pm)

Referee: Paul Mente

Leopards v Eastern Province - Saturday @ Olen Park, Potchefstroom (3pm)

Referee: Lulutho Matomela