By Chesley Daniels EPRU SEDRU REGIONAL LEAGUE NDLAMBE TIGERS VS SWALLOWS – PORT ALFRED (29 JULY 2023) The hosts, Tigers, want to settle the score with log leaders, Swallows, and are out to take sweet revenge after Swallows smashed them 36-0 at the Oval on 3 June. Tigers are a decent side at home and have the ability to upset any team. Swallows are not log leaders for nothing, and are determined to extend their lead on top of the table in their quest to be crowned SEDRU Champs. It will definitely be a physical contest, very hard up front…
Author: Chesley Daniels
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By Chesley Daniels Lily White 1st XV recorded their second win of the EPRU Grand Challenge Competition (Group A) with an impressive 30-13 bonus point win over Missionvale United from Gqeberha on 15 July at the Lavender Valley Sports Ground. A decent local, enthusiastic crowd came out in numbers to support their local rugby team that competed in the highest league competition of the EPRU. A perfect sunny winter’s day in Makhanda and good weather for rugby were the order of the day as hundreds of spectators witnessed some exciting running rugby throughout the game. Missionvale came to Makhanda as…
By Chesley Daniels Trying Stars once again retained bragging rights over Grahamstown Brumbies with a narrow 26-21 bonus point win in their EPRU Grand Challenge Group A Derby encounter at the fortress Oval Sports Ground on 8 July. This was the second close win for Stars over Brumbies in the Group A competition, and another heartbreaking loss for the Makhanda side. Stars with the win cemented their place in 2nd position on the log behind log leaders Progress, while Brumbies are still in 3rd position with Missionvale closely on their heels. This Derby never disappoints and with the main game starting…
By Chesley Daniels Log leaders Swallows put on a highly disappointing show when they recorded a scrappy 13-5 win over a determined Klipfontein United side at the Albany Sports Ground on 8 July. Swallows were very rusty from their long layoff, as they last played three weeks earlier against Rosebuds United in Alicedale. Klipfontein came to the match fresh from two close wins against Rosebuds and Tigers respectively, and gave the log leaders a fight for their money. It was somehow very disappointing for the home side as they made too many unforced errors and wasted numerous scoring opportunities. Full…
By Chesley Daniels Grahamstown Brumbies consolidated their third position on the EPRU Grand Challenge Group A log with a scrappy 8-7 win over hosts Windvogel United in Gqeberha on 1 July. United are a very difficult team to beat at home but Brumbies were confident and positive in their approach leading up to the fixture. The home side is not a walkover unfortunately and gave the Makhanda side a run for their money as the scoreboard indicated. Brumbies and Windvogel remain in 3rd and 7th position on the log respectively after the encounter. FIRST HALF The Makana side started like…
By Chesley Daniels Hosts Klipfontein United 1st XV had to dig deep to overcome a determined and defiant Rosebuds United side, winning narrowly 30-24 in their EPRU SEDRU Regional League fixture played at the “Never Loose Stadium” in Kliptontein on 24 June. It was a much-improved performance by visitors, Rosebuds United, who are bottom of the log table against a spirited Klipfontein side who played in front of their home supporters. Although losing the close encounter, Rosebuds walked away with two points (a bonus point try and a bonus point for losing by less than seven points). The victorious Klipfontein…
By Chesley Daniels In a highly closely contested Port Alfred Derby fixture between Kowie United and Nlambe Tigers on 24 June, it came down to the wire as Kowie edged out arch-rivals Tigers by 14-10, in their EPRU SEDRU Regional League match played at the Station Hill Sports Ground. This was the second win for Kowie in the competition. Both teams are now on 10 league log points after 7 games. Tigers are in 5th position on the overall log and Kowie is in 6th position. FIRST HALF The game started off like a house on fire with both teams…
By Chesley Daniels The Eastern Province (EP) Schools rugby teams are currently preparing for their respective nationaltournaments that will take place during the school holidays at various venues. For the Under 18 (u/18) boys, the Craven Week, and Academy teams, the preparation continues with matches against Border at Kingswood College in Makhanda on 24 June 2023. This past weekend in Jeffreys Bay, the EP sides were involved in matches against the highly-ratedSouth Western Districts (SWD), and got some vital preparation in for the upcoming tournaments.SWD won the u/18 match 29–10, but in the match between the Academy sides EP came…
By Chesley Daniels St Marks Alicedale 1st XV registered an important victory over hosts, Excelsior, with a narrow 27-26 bonus point win on Youth Day, 16 June. The Alicedale side travelled to Kariega to take on the favourites, Excelsior, who are normally a very difficult team to beat in their own backyard. The vital important bonus point win for St Mark’s came at the right time and moved them up into third position on the log, from sixth position the previous week. Excelsior moved down from fourth to fifth position, but also earned two losing bonus points in the process.…
By Chesley Daniels The June 16 Youth Day match at the Oval saw Kowie United’s dismal run in the EPRU SEDRU Regional League continue. They slumped to a 12-40 bonus point defeat at the hands of hosts Old Collegians (OC). The OC home side was also comfortably in front at changeover, leading 19-5. The vital bonus point win saw OC moved up to second position on the log table, nine points behind log leaders Swallows. Kowie still find themselves second last on the log with five defeats in the first round of the competition. Siyabonga Mahapi on attack from his…