EP Kings need fire as division heats up

THE EP Kings will have to man up defensively against the Border Bulldogs this afternoon at the De Wet Stadium in Despatch if they want to register a first Currie Cup First Division win.

In three outings, the bottom-of-thelog Kings have leaked 148 points in matches against the Boland Cavaliers, Welwitschias and the Leopards.

But Border have found the going tough as well so far this season and are also without a win after three outings.

The last time the sides met in the Currie Cup First Division was in 2013, with Eastern Province victorious in all their match-ups between 2011 and 2013.

It is expected that the intensity of the First Division will escalate this weekend, as the competition enters the second half and the scramble for log positions builds.

In Potchefstroom, the Leopards will push to extend their winning run to three matches when they take on the Welwitschias, of Namibia.

Both sides have been in fine attacking form, with the Leopards having scored a minimum of 42 points in each of their matches and the Welwitschias 47, although the Namibians have won only one match out of three.

But with the Leopards holding the second best defensive record in the first three rounds, the visitors will have to work hard for a victory.

Today’s clash between the SWD Eagles and Falcons in George is expected to be exciting, given the close calls between the sides in the last two seasons.

The East Randers have won three of their last four matches, but the games were decided by five points or less.

The visitors from Gauteng come off a victory which they will want to build on, but SWD will be determined to return to their winning ways at home.

Tomorrow, the Griffons will have their sights set on extending their winning run to four matches when they go up against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington.

The hosts, however, have won two of their three matches this season, which will give them confidence against the log leaders – despite the Down Touch Griffons having won three of the last four matches between the sides.

Boland, however, came out tops in their last home game in the competition, in 2015, and they will go all out to repeat that feat.