Police out to spoil Gardens’ party at Uitenhage Central
THEY were 12 teams when the Eastern Cape Super 12 club rugby tournament started in January but with seven weeks of action behind them, there are only two left standing after the men were separated from the boys.
And now East London Police and Gardens lock horns for the provincial title at the Uitenhage Central Fields today (kick-off 3.30pm).
It will be a battle between speed versus strength – best of Border versus best of EP Rugby – and favourites versus underdogs.
Fans are in for a treat, as the teams play contrasting styles of rugby with the police men playing a more confrontational, in-your-face type of rugby, while the hosts like to spread the ball wide and use the width of the pitch.
The competition was not without its challenges, as the semi-finals had to be postponed twice because of disputes over which teams were eligible to play in the last four.
When they were eventually played last weekend, the cops edged Spring Rose in New Brighton, while Gardens broke Progress’ hearts at the death to book a place in the final.
Gardens, the defending champions, almost lost the title in the boardroom but tournament sponsors, the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation and the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture ruled in favour of the Rosedale outfit, by booting out Park. Police coach Alistair Alexander said they were going into the game as underdogs. “The mood is high in camp. “We feel like we are little bit the underdogs but I am confident we can win because we have beaten these guys before. “Our game-plan will be simple. “We know these guys have very quick backs so we will try and keep the ball away from them and play with our forwards and mix it up,” he said.
Alexander said his inspirational captain Bonga Ntunjana will lead a relatively unchanged team from last weekend.
Gardens being the defending champions and playing at home, might make them the favourites but Police might have unlikely allies in the stands as Progress fans are expected to not fancy their fierce rivals winning the title and, possibly, the R50 000 prize money for two consecutive years.
But Gardens will be motivated to honour speedy winger, Ricardo Kiwiets, who collapsed and died after helping his side beat Cambridge 467 during week three of the competition.
Gardens coach Ronnie Korkee has previously said successfully defending the title would be a fitting tribute for Kiwiets.
Tournament director Phumelele Hlathi said they were happy with how the tournament had gone so far.
“The crowd attendance has been very good in all the games.
“We believe the tournament did what it was intended to do.’’
Before the final, Spring Rose will tussle with Progress in the third place play-off at 11.30am.
Silver medallists will walk away with R40 000, bronze medallists will be rewarded with R20 000, while the team that will finish fourth will get R18 000.
The eight teams that did not make it to the semi-finals will receive R10 000 for their participation.
The EP versus Border battle will also play out in the women’s finals when Kwaru and Penguins play for the R15 000 prize money.
The team that loses the final will walk away with R10 000.