It’s still early days in the race for Carling Currie Cup Premier Division qualification, but the five teams on the wrong side of the scoreboard from last weekend’s SA Cup opening round will be eager to bounce back this weekend.
Two matches will be staged on Friday and the remaining three on Saturday afternoon.
Holders Suzuki Griquas, last year’s runners-up, the Airlink Pumas, and the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers are eyeing their second wins of the campaign this weekend, while the Toyota Cheetahs will want to atone for their stumble in the opening round.
The Phangela SWD Eagles and Border Bulldogs kick off the weekend’s action when they clash from 15:30 on Friday at Outeniqua Park in George, one of three encounters that will be streamed live by SuperSport, while the Toyota Cheetahs host the Leopards later in the day from 18:00 in Bloemfontein.
The Bulldogs gave a spirited first-half performance last week in East London against the NovaVit Griffons before running out of steam in the second stanza, while the Eagles were overrun by the Airlink Pumas in Nelspruit. Based on last week’s result, the Bulldogs will fancy their chances; but the Eagles will be equally determined to show they are capable of a much better performance in front of their supporters.
The Free Staters will be hopeful that the return to action by some of their injured regulars will boost their winning chances when they take on the Leopards at the Toyota Stadium. They came unstuck last weekend against the Kavaliers in Wellington when a high penalty count dented their hopes of an opening win.
The Leopards were on the receiving end of a big defeat against the defending champions, and the Potchefstroom outfit will have to tighten up their defence considerably if they want to deliver a surprise in the Free State capital.
Suzuki Griquas get the action going on Saturday when they clash with the Valke from 14:00 at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley, another match to be live-streamed on SuperSport.
During last week’s opening-round fixture with Leopards in Potchefstroom, the side from Kimberley, who won all their games in 2024, continued their unbeaten run in the competition by easily outplaying their North West opponents.
Based on their first-round 41-30 victory over a plucky Eastern Province, the Valke would fancy their outside chances, but they know it will take a special performance to bring down the defending champions.
The Kimberley encounter is followed by two matches starting at 15:00, between Eastern Province and the Airlink Pumas in Gqeberha, and the Welkom clash between the NovaVit Griffons and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers.
The team from Mpumalanga showed they meant business when they outplayed SWD last week in Nelspruit, and the 2023 Carling Currie Cup champions are heavy favourites for this encounter.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and NovaVit Griffons round off the weekend fixtures in Welkom which will be live-streamed on SuperSport. The Bolanders will be out to strengthen their push for a top-four place, which will guarantee qualification to the 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division – when they travel to the Northern Free State to face the Purple People Eaters.
The Bolanders started their campaign with a solid performance last week with a bonus-point win over the Toyota Cheetahs, but the NovaVit Griffons will have ambitions of their own, especially after their successful fightback against Border.
It won’t be easy though, as the Kavaliers have several dangerous strike runners, which will test the hosts’ defensive resolve.
The 10 teams will play a single round of league fixtures, and the four semi-finalists will qualify for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division while the rest will contest the First Division. The final will take place on Saturday, 24 May.
Match information:
Phangela SWD Eagles vs Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, 14 March
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 15:30
Referee: Dylen November
TV: Live stream on SS
Toyota Cheetahs vs Leopards
Date: Friday, 14 March
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 18:00
Referee: Paul Mente
Suzuki Griquas vs Valke
Date: Saturday, 15 March
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Kick-off: 14:00
Referee: AJ Jacobs
TV: Live stream on SS
Eastern Province vs Airlink Pumas
Date: Saturday, 15 March
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Sean Muller
NovaVit Griffons vs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Date: Saturday, 15 March
Venue: Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
TV: Live stream on SS