Knockout blow as Police get the boot after use of ineligible player

IT WAS drama yesterday as Police rugby club second team was disqualified from the knockout final against MPM Old Selbornians, with Walter Sisulu University seconds taking their place.

Police had beaten WSU in Tuesday night’s semifinal 22-20 in a hotly contested match. However, WSU lodged a complaint about them fielding an ineligible player, which was then confirmed by Border rugby, and Police were thus replaced in the final by WSU.

“WSU has challenged the fact that we had a player from another club in the team. We had received a release form for the player from the club, which is what is required, but the person who gave us the release form did not sign it, so there was no physical signature,” said Police seconds manager, Andrew Fleming.

“At the moment everyone is very upset about it, but it is a technicality that we can’t fight.”

WSU will now get a second crack at the cherry as they take on Old Boys in what should be a hardfought final.

Old Boys will be looking to make it a league and cup double after they took the league title earlier this season.

They only lost one game all year, against WSU, and will now look to avenge that defeat today.

They cruised into the final with a comfortable 43-7 quarterfinal win over Cambridge and 36-0 semifinal win against Buffs.

They will now look to finish their season with a flourish against WSU.

“We have prepared the guys throughout the season. We have played well and we are prepared for whatever is brought to the final,” said Old Boys seconds coach Fred Smith.

“We are really excited for the match and can’t wait to get on the field.”

The highly anticipated Presidents Cup final will then be on show, as Old Boys and the Walter Sisulu University All Blacks look to end the day’s rugby action on a high note.

Old Boys will be eager to pick up their third piece of major silverware this season after they claimed the Super League title in July and the Flya Cup at the start of the season, which should help them take some good momentum into the coming Gold Cup competition.

For the All Blacks they will just be looking to end their 2017 season on the best possible note and they will hope their impressive win against Swallows earlier in the week will give them the momentum to upset Old Boys. The second team final will get the day’s play under way at 1pm, followed by the Bulldogs’ First Division clash at 3pm, with the Presidents Cup match then kicking off at 5pm to close out proceedings.