Another snag in Eastern Cape Super 12 dispute

THE Eastern Cape Super 12 club rugby tournament hit yet another brick wall at the weekend with the Port Elizabeth High Court ruling that a dispute should first be resolved before the final could be played.

The final, which was meant to be played by Gardens and East London Police at the Uitenhage Central Fields on Saturday, could not be played as Progress lodged a dispute.

The Uitenhage outfit, supposed to play in the third- and fourth-place match against Spring Rose, claim Gardens fielded an ineligible player in their semifinal clash last weekend.

Gardens’ captain Dalington Gans was red-carded against Park on February 18 and was supposed games.

But EP Rugby are said to have written to clubs before the semifinals, letting them know that players’ red cards were now wiped clean, meaning they no longer had to miss three games and would be eligible to play in the semis.

Progress played in protest in their loss to Gardens last weekend and vowed to challenge the decision regardless of the outcome of the game.

On Thursday, Progress approached the Port Elizabeth High Court to interdict the tournament.

The court ruled in their favour and instructed EP to have a disciplinary hearing to resolve the debacle. to sit out three

The delay to the tournament comes after the semifinals had to be delayed by two weeks over another dispute about a player’s eligibility to play for Rose.

Sponsors – the Eastern Cape Sports Confederation and the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture – ruled on that dispute by clearing the New Brighton side, paving the way for the semifinals to be played last weekend.

The final, however, could not go ahead on Saturday due to the fresh dispute.

Tournament Phumelele Hlathi the court ruling.

He said the disciplinary hearing would sit tomorrow.

“The final will be played on Friday as we’re sponsored by DSRAC, so it has to be played director confirmed within the financial year.

“We will be mindful of the distance travelled by one of the semifinalists, so we’ll try and meet them halfway,” he said.

“Perhaps a more central venue for the final would be Rhodes University in Grahamstown.”

Police coach Alistair Alexander said it was frustrating to travel all the way to Uitenhage for nothing as some of his players had taken unpaid leave for the game.

“Despite everything, come the final, the guys will show they want to play and win.”

Gardens could not be reached yesterday.

There will first be a thirdplace playoff on Friday before the final can be played.

Spring Rose will either play against Progress or Gardens.