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2014 Vodacom Cup heats up!

PUBLISHED: April 4, 2014


The Vodacom Cup competition is set to heat up significantly this weekend as the reality sets in that there are only three pool rounds remaining, including this weekend’s matches, for the teams to play their way into the quarterfinals.

The pick of the weekend’s matches in the North Section will be GWK Griquas against the Golden Lions at GWK Park in Kimberley on Saturday, where the favourable second place on the section’s log standings is expected to be up for grabs.

Should the winless Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls create an upset against North Section log-leaders the Steval Pumas in their match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, however, the Golden Lions or GWK Griquas could leap into the top spot on the log.

In the South Section, the clash between the SWD Eagles and EP Kings in George on Friday is expected to be thrilling. While the SWD Eagles could climb into second or third place on the South Section log depending on the other results should they win, the EP Kings will be desperate to close the gap between themselves and the top four teams to keep alive their playoff hopes following only one victory in four matches so far this season.

In the other matches on Friday, the Vodacom Blue Bulls host the Valke on the Loftus Versfeld B Field in Pretoria and the Down Touch Griffons go up against the Leopards XV in Welkom.

On Saturday the Toyota Free State XV host the Border Bulldogs in Bloemfontein, the Regent Boland Cavaliers take on the unbeaten Cell C Sharks XV in Ceres, and DHL Western Province fronts up against Kenya’s Tusker Simba XV at DHL Newlands.

DHL WP are in third place on the log in the South Section of the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, with three wins and just one defeat, and they will be hoping to add another victory come the weekend.

SA Under-20 players, Michael Willemse (hooker) and Sti Sithole (prop) are back from injury and will sit on the bench, along with DHL Stormers squad member Kurt Coleman, but star No.8 Rayn Smid is out of action with a broken hand.

Carel du Preez will slot into the No.8 position in Smid’s absence, whilst Maties forwards Lungelo Chonco and Jan de Klerk come into the starting line-up at flank and lock, respectively. (See the FULL WP TEAM here!)

* Tickets for DHL Newlands – including the Vodacom Cup and Super Rugby fixtures – can be bought online at TicketPros, or from selected Spar stores or PostNet outlets. Ticket prices start at R50 for standing and R80 for seating.

Round Five fixtures:

Friday, April 4

Vodacom Blue Bulls v Valke
Kick-off: 15h00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld B Field, Pretoria
Referee: Stuart Berry

Down Touch Griffons v Leopards XV
Kick-off: 18h30
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

SWD Eagles v EP Kings
Kick-off: 19h00

Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Referee: Ben Crouse

Saturday, April 5

Toyota Free State XV v Border Bulldogs
Kick-off: 12h40
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Rodney Boneparte

GWK Griquas v Golden Lions
Kick-off: 14h00
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls v Steval Pumas
Kick-off: 12h00
Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi

Regent Boland Cavaliers v Cell C Sharks
Kick-off: 16h00
Venue: Ceres
Referee: Jaco Kotze

DHL Western Province v Tusker Simba XV
Kick-off: 16h30
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza