Watson ready for tough game

EP KINGS skipper Luke Watson says his team are under no illusions as to how tough tonight’s Absa Currie Cup First Division match against the Griffons will be at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kick-off 7pm).

With a big home crowd expected to turn up to watch them bid to extend their unbeaten streak to 12 matches, Watson said his team were taking things match by match and were not looking too far ahead.

With only three league matches left, the table-topping Kings have a healthy lead over the second-placed Pumas and are hot favourites to win the title and qualify for the Premier Division promotion/relegation match at the end of the season.

After tonight’s clash, the Kings face the second-placed Pumas next Friday in Port Elizabeth in a game that will be decisive in their bid for First Division glory. “All our focus is on tonight’s game,” Watson said.

EP’s director of rugby Alan Solomons has predicted the Kings are in for a tough game tonight because the Griffons have picked up form of late.

With the Kings aiming for consistency and continuity in their team selection the “back five” of SP Marais, Marcello Sampson, Wayne Stevens, Tiger Mangweni and Paul Perez, who all started against Border, have been retained.

Today’s programme is: 12.45: under-11 Sonop v Sunridge, 1.45: u-13 Jeffreys Bay v Gill; 2.45: u-19 EP Kings v Griffons; 4.30: u-21 EP Kings v Griffons; 7pm: EP Kings v Griffons. Gates open at noon.

The other First Division fixtures: Tonight: Leopards v Valke. Tomorrow: Pumas v Border Bulldogs, Boland Cavaliers v SWD Eagles.