Chasing pack aim to strike

The Griffons, Cheetahs, Boland Kavaliers and Valke will be hot on the heels of SA Cup front-runners Griquas and the Pumas in round 6 of the competition this week.

The chasing pack must step up their efforts to ensure a place among top four spots on the league table to secure qualification for the Currie Cup Premier Division.

Only one match is scheduled for Friday, when the defending champion Griquas host Eastern Province in Kimberley. Pieter Bergh’s men are in rampant form and heavy favourites to extend their remarkable streak which have seen them win all matches so far since the start of the competition last year.

Saturday’s full programme will see the Border Bulldogs host the Kavaliers in East London; the Leopards face the Pumas in Potchefstroom; the Cheetahs welcome the SWD Eagles to Bloemfontein; and the Valke entertain Griffons in what promises to be an enthralling encounter in Kempton Park.

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With only a third of the league phase remaining, a fierce race is developing below the unbeaten Griquas and Pumas for the remaining two qualifying spots for the Currie Cup Division. Last year’s inaugural champions, Griquas, and beaten finalists, Pumas, lead the chase with 25 league points each from their five bonus-point wins.

The next bunch of teams will find it challenging to dislodge them from the top two spots. As things stand, the chasing pack consists of the Griffons in third place with 18 points, just one point ahead of the Cheetahs.

In turn, the Free Staters are two points clear of the Kavaliers and Valke, both on 15 points, while EP have 12 points.

SA Cup round 6 fixtures:
Friday
Griquas vs Eastern Province, Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley, 3pm
Saturday
Bulldogs vs Boland Kavaliers, Police Park, East London
Leopards vs Pumas, Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Cheetahs vs SWD Eagles, Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Valke vs Griffons, Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
(Kick-offs all 3pm)

Photo: Danie Van Der Lith/Gallo Images