Old Boys will be hard-pressed to shackle Police

THE President’s Cup stayed true to form during the past weekend’s quarterfinals, as the four form teams over the past Border Super League season progressed to the semifinals of the competition.

2017 Super League champs MPM Old Selbornians, runners-up Swallows, third on the log Police and fourth-placed Walter Sisulu University All Blacks made sure that the best four club teams on the Border would compete in the semifinals.

For Old Boys their job was made very easy as their opponents, the University of Fort Hare Blues did not pitch for their match, giving Old Boys a walkover.

It is disappointing from the Blues who also didn't pitch for their final Super League clash of the season a few weeks ago.

Old Boys may find themselves a little undercooked when they play their semifinal, as they have not played a competitive match in over a month.

Their opponents will be Police, who found things tough as they overcame a stubborn challenge from Premier League runners-up Young Leopards, eventually edging an entertaining match 26-21 at Ducats Rugby field in Beacon Bay.

Young Leopards looked like the most likely team to upset the form book as they utilised their homeground advantage well and tried to become the only Premier League team to make the semis. However, they just could not take the win.

The Old Boys v Police game will take place at Mike Pendock Motors Park.

The other match on show is set to be a cracking affair between Swallows and the All Blacks.

Swallows seemed to have no trouble avenging their defeat during the season’s pool stages against Berlin Tigers, strolling to a comfortable 2913 home win.

Swallows’ loss to Berlin Tigers during the Super League eventually proved very costly as it put them out of range of Old Boys, and the team will have been happy to have gained a bit of revenge from that.

This while the All Blacks managed a resounding 46-13 win over Premier League champions Black Eagles at the Mpongo Stadium in Chalumna.

“I am very happy with the performance of the guys. Before the game there was a lot of hype, as a number of the guys who I had coached before at the University were playing for Black Eagles, so we were happy to come away with a good win,” said WSU coach Sipho Metula.

“It was an exciting game of good running rugby and the guys are hitting great form at the right time.”

WSU will thus head into the game in solid form and they will be looking to put in a top performance against the Super League runnersup. Swallows and WSU will battle it out at the BCM Stadium for a place in next weekend’s final.

“We are really looking forward to the semifinals,” said Metula.

“The boys are ready for the game. Playing Swallows is always a massive occasion and they will also be coming for revenge after we beat them in the Super League, so we have to be up for it.”

Both matches should be exciting affairs as all four teams will be eager to make the final and will look to the form they have shown this season to take them over the line.

Due to the Springbok v Argentina game on Saturday the matches will be played on Friday evening, kicking off at 8pm.