Loving every minute of it all
Super 14 action delivers big win and upsets
The Super 14 has lit up the stage and the euphoria is back at full strength. This is what the rugby fraternity have been waiting for: scintillating action, big wins, upsets, and the dark horse resurfacing.
And yet we have entered an era where the Super 14 tournament feels like the equivalent of a four-hour director’s cut: brilliant but flawed, with too many throwaway scenes before the thrilling denouement.
There is a thirst for more action and now that it is here, we are loving every minute of it.
Tournaments such as these are a widely used mechanism to offer alternatives to many social ills, key among them alcohol and drug abuse.
This tournament has made a turnaround. The new format offers the best usage of limited resources.
Well, the action on the field did not disappoint, with supporters around the region treated like royalty.
The most intriguing win was when Kruisfontein United dished out a rugby lesson to EP champions Gardens, dismantling them 30-8 at Central Fields.
Kruisfontein left shellshocked Gardens supporters in a state of distress. It came from nowhere, but only the true Kruisfontein United supporters had the belief in their team.
It’s been an amazing run for Despatch Oostelikes.
The side defeated Trying Stars 23-15 to remain unbeaten in the EP Group B, and in the process secured their spot in the quarterfinals.
Easterns have brought a new dimension to the tournament,
punching way above their weight.
They certainly are the dark horse and have performed better than the so-called big guns.
PE Harlequins annihilated a hapless Parkside 61-22 to revive their Super 14 title ambitions.
It was the biggest score in this year’s Super 14 and Harlies have positioned themselves well for the final stretch.
Unfortunately, it is the end of the road for Parks, who are mathematically out of the running for the knockouts.
EP favourites, Progress, are back after suffering an unexpected first round loss to Easterns.
They have reaffirmed themselves as a champion team. This signals danger for the other competitors.
When this team is on song, they are unstoppable.
Their 17-9 win over Hankey Villagers was a kick-start to their campaign.
In the Border Conference, EL Police are marching on after another dominant performance, beating Ncera Leopards 38-25 to take maximum points on offer. It’s been business as usual
for the defending champions, who are looking as clinical as ever.
Young Leopards destroyed Swallows 41-13 to all but seal their quarterfinals aspirations.
Leopards are on a different level and should be taken seriously, and Swallows learnt that the hard way.
Swallows have been a far cry from the team we know and are on the verge of elimination.
There were first wins for Old Selbornians and Moonlight.
Old Boys dispatched Komga United 15-3, jumping to second in the group, while Moonlight cruised past Berlin Tigers with a 22-10 scoreline.
It’s do or die this weekend. Kruisfontein United, Despatch Oostelikes, EL Police and Young Leopards are through to the quarters.
It’s a tussle for survival for PE Harlequins, Gardens, Progress, Trying Stars, Ncera Leopards, Moonlight, Old Boys and Swallows who face must-win matches. We are in for an enterprising last round robin of matches, with the EP Conferences staging double headers at neutral grounds.