Blues, Police showdown tops Super League bill

THE third weekend of the Border Super League kicks into gear today as teams look to establish themselves on the log, with the front-runners aiming to separate themselves from the chasing pack.

A potential cracker of a match-up sees the University of Fort Hare Blues taking on Police at the Davidson Stadium in Alice.

Both teams lost their opening games of the season to massive rivals. Police were defeated by MPM Old Selbornians and Fort Hare lost to defending Super League champions Swallows.

However, they both bounced back with big bonus point wins over the past weekend, with Police thumping Breakers 44-12 at home, while the Blues hammered Winter Rose 41-7 away.

So both teams will be heading into today's match on a high and wanting to continue the momentum built from their last games.

The only two unbeaten teams in the league will also be aiming to stamp their authority and continue their unbeaten starts to the competition.

Swallows will arguably have the tougher fixture – an away match against Buffaloes at Buffalo Park – where they will need to be at the top of their game to register a third win in three outings.

Buffs will be aiming to shake off the controversy of the past weekend where their prop, Renier Schoeman, hit a referee, while the match against Ntlaza Lions was abandoned just before the end of the game. A win over Swallows would therefore be the best way for them to move on from the incident.

Old Boys will be taking on Berlin Tigers at home and will be favourites to pick up another victory, after starting their season with two massive wins over close rivals Police and the WSU All Blacks.

It would take a monumental effort for the Tigers to upset Old Boys. They will be buzzing after their past weekend’s win over Cambridge.

Ntlaza Lions should remain unbeaten as well as they led Buffs 23-12 this past weekend when the game was called off with just minutes left. However, they will have to wait for the conclusion of the disciplinary committee meeting to hear the official result of that match. They will thus be eager to continue their really good start to the season with another win over Cambridge.

“It is a very big game for us, we have a long season ahead so we want to get as many points as we can in these opening matches,” Ntlaza coach Mphumzi Ndamase said.

“Cambridge are going to be tough opposition and we have to stay focused, there are no easy matches in this league so we need to be at the top of our game.

“Our goal this season is to try and make the top three, so that is what we are working towards,” he added.

Cambridge will be hosting the match and will still be smarting from their previous weekend’s loss to Berlin Tigers, so they be keen to bounce back with a win.

The Walter Sisulu University All Blacks will have a good opportunity of bouncing back from last weekend’s loss to Old Boys with a big victory against Ocean Sweepers.

Although Ocean Sweepers will be hosting the match, they have not started the season well and will have their backs to the wall, so they will be looking for a positive performance.

The last match will see the two teams without a win so far this season, getting the chance to get themselves on the board, when Breakers and Winter Rose clash.

Both sides will be desperate for the win, however. Breakers will be hoping that home advantage gives them the edge over the challengers in what should be an interesting match.

All matches kick-off at the various grounds at 3.30pm.