Vital games for EL Police, Old Boys
CLUB rugby action is heating up as the Gold Cup enters its fourth weekend today with both East London teams set for bruising encounters.
Border's premier teams East London Police and MPM Old Selbornians are effectively entering the last chance saloon as losses this weekend could end their chances of qualification to the quarter-finals.
EL Police will be hosting Bloemfontein Police in their derby encounter at Police Park this afternoon and they will be hunting a full house of points.
EL Police are already on the brink having lost their opening two matches in the competition, despite leading both at halftime and their fate is not entirely in their own hands.
“It was disappointing to lose those games, but we know that we have to work on our discipline and also make sure we play for the full 80 minutes. Hopefully we have learnt from those matches and we get things right this weekend,” said Police coach Alistair Alexander.
PE Police, who beat them thanks to a last gasp try last weekend, are in second place on the pool D log with nine points and if they beat Belaz Sishen in their match, EL Police will be unable to catch them.
EL Police are fourth on the log on one point, equal with Bloemfontein Police but ahead on points difference.
This will thus be their best chance to get a good win and then hope that results go their way in the final few matches.
“The guys are up for it and we know we can do it,” said Alexander. “But we have to come out firing as this is our last chance to keep ourselves in it. Hopefully home ground will also help us and we can give the fans something to shout for.”
Old Boys themselves also need to win this weekend’s match – a massive battle against Durban's College Rovers – if they want to keep their destiny in their own hands.
After losing their opening match to defending champs Durbanville-Bellville (Durbell), Old Boys bounced back emphatically to claim a full house of points against Worcester Villagers to get their campaign up and running.
College Rovers lead the pool A log on 10 points, equal with second placed Durbell and a loss for Old Boys and victories for Rovers and Durbell will effectively see them both seal the top two spots.
So a win for Old Boys is very important and they will be going all out to get a positive result.
All of today's Gold Cup matches kick off at 3.30pm around the country, with EL Police v Bloem Police at Police Park and Old Boys v Rovers at Kings Park in Durban.