By Chesley Daniels
EPRU GRAND CHALLENGE GROUP A
LILY WHITE VS PROGRESS – LAVENDER VALLEY GROUND
This 6 May 2023 fixture was postponed due to the state of the field. Will the historical Lavender Valley be ready to host the EPRU Champs this coming Saturday, 13 June?
Hosts Lily White have a daunting task at hand when they hosting defending Champions Progress from Kariega on 13 June. This long awaited battle is a Clash everyone will want to witness. Progress are currently the log leaders in Group A, while Lily White is second last in 7th position. Blues are on the back foot as they lost 13-24 at home last week against Despatch, while PRO worked very hard to beat Trying Stars 17-7 in Kariega. This stage of the competition requires only bonus point wins going forward in order for teams to end in the top 2 for possible retention in the Grand Challenge that will be possibly trimmed down from 32 teams to 12.
PRO will come with fire and the intention to nail the hosts in their own backyard and to go home with a full bag of points (5). It will be very interesting to see how Lily White will approach this encounter as underdogs and will have to bring their A-Game to the party if they want to beat the Mighty PRO. It is not an impossible task as the home side’s skillful backs can make the game fast and give the ball more air to up the tempo of the game. The home side also need to improve their scrumming as it is a department of concern.
There were many speculation of this fixture that should have taken place on 6 May 2023, that PRO will come down to give BLUES a 100. Will we see the Champs handing out a 100 points against a spirited Lily White?
We will definitely see a packed Lavender Valley Field come 13 June…..
PREDICTION: PRO TO WIN WITH A BONUS POINT
EPRU SEDRU REGIONAL LEAGUE
OLD COLLEGIANS VS ROSEBUDS UNITED – OVAL SPORTS GROUND
This outstanding fixture from 15 May will take place on 13 June – OC will be at home, and it will be difficult for the visitors to enter the fortress Oval and walk away with a win. Rosebuds are last and bottom of the log, without a win in their three games played so far. They lost to Kowie last week in Alexandria and OC last played on the 27 May 2023 against Tigers away from home where they beat the hosts 23-12. OC are eager to get on to the field and register yet another win and ultimately aim for an important bonus point. Rosebuds cant be taken lightly also and will come out guns blazing when they arrive in Makhanda.
The Alicedale outfit need to register a win in the competition and will be looking to just do that on Saturday. It will be an interesting encounter as both teams like to give the ball air and play a high tempo game.
The Danger Man, Siyamthanda Wambi, will be the key player for OC, while the skilful and speedy backline of Rosebuds will hold the cards.
Will we see Rosebuds upset OC and register its first win of the competition?
PREDICTION: OC TO WIN WITHOUT A BONUS POINT
