Fireworks expected
Border league season kicks off
The quest to be crowned the Border league champions starts in earnest tomorrow.
Fireworks are expected as 10 matches kick-start the new Border Super and Premier League.
With every season comes excitement, with the anticipation of thrills of victory and the heartache of losing.
Most importantly, club rugby is the lifeline of many communities, who descend weekend after weekend at stadiums across the region in support of their teams.
Can EL Police make it a hattrick of titles? With current form, the double Border and Super 14 champions seem unstoppable.
They have won an astonishing 28 matches, lost only one in the Gold Cup, are unbeaten in two years in the Super 14 and have a 96% winning ratio.
The last time the Bobbies tasted defeat was in 2022 at the hands of Ntlaza Lions.
A lot is at stake, with the top two non-university teams in the Super League automatically qualifying for the Gold Cup and the top seven teams cementing their place in the Eastern Cape Super 14.
Police start the defence of their title with a home match against Berlin Tigers. It should
be a baptism of fire for the Tigers who lacked any impetus in the Super 14. This should be a walk in the park for the Bobbies.
It’s an explosive start with an exhilarating derby between old rivals Buffaloes against Old Selbornians.
Old Boys should be the favourites to win this one after participating in the Super 14.
They will want to do better than last season as they are regarded as one of the biggest clubs in Border rugby. Buffs, judged by their own standards, had a poor season, only winning three matches.
Komani hopefuls Breakers are at home at Mlungisi Stadium against Swallows. Breakers have been in a survival dogfight for
the last couple of seasons. Last year they avoided relegation on the last day.
Things do not look good, after they were beaten by the Barbarians 24-7 last weekend.
They will have to dig deep against Swallows, but Swallows will enter as the favourites to walk away victorious.
Newcomers Komga United will open their campaign against Ncera Leopards. This will be an interesting tussle as Komga have shown themselves to be no push-over. Komga are a very difficult customer, especially playing at home.
The matches between Fort Hare Blues vs Moonlight and WSU All Blacks vs Young Leopards have been postponed due to Varsity Shield commitments.
In the Premier League, Fort Beaufort United will make their long-awaited debut in the Border second tier with a clash against Africans.
A lot rests on this match with high expectations firmly on the shoulders of United.
Africans will want to kickstart the campaign on a positive note to be early pace setters for promotion, but will find themselves up against a resolute Fort Beaufort side who are eager to prove their worth.
Bussy Boys tackle Ngculu Zebras with both teams eager to do better than last season, where they ended 10th and 8th respectively.
Two teams who always find themselves in the relegation battle, Cambridge and Black Eagles, will take each other on in a vital game to score early points.
Ocean Sweepers, who let the league title slip with two games to go last season, take on Winter Rose, who themselves are desperate for promotion back to the big time.
United Brothers who were entangled in a desperate appeal for promotion, will have a chance to redeem themselves this season as they take on WSU Eagles.
Wallabies welcome Ntlaza Lions who were relegated from the Super League last season.