After months of uncertainty, the much-maligned Eastern Cape Super 14 club rugby tournament blasted off in style with a series of exciting matches in EP and Border on Saturday.
The issue of nonpayment of travelling and participation fees had been hanging around the tournament’s neck like an albatross and resulted in four of EP’s top teams withdrawing.
However, fears the 2025 Super 14 would be delayed once again ended when organisers announced on Friday that travelling and participation fees had been made.
They said the Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts and culture had made payment to the EP and Border unions who passed the money on to their clubs.
Frustrations had been growing over the issue of nonpayment of fees and this resulted in Kruisfontein United, Gardens, Harlequins and Despatch Oostelikes opting to withdraw.
Kruisfontein are the EPRU Grand Challenge champions and were the beaten finalists in the past two Super 14 tournaments.
Though their absence will take much of the hype out of a tournament meant to showcase the best emerging talent in EP and Border, the tournament kicked off on a high note.
While eight of EP’s Grand Challenge Top 12 clubs competed in the Super 14, the remaining four played block friendlies among one another in a double-header in Despatch.
Former Super 14 champions Progress made a flying start to the Super 14 under new coach Shaun “Trok” Oliver when they thrashed Grahamstown Brumbies 51-17.
After holding a slender 13-12 halftime lead at the Central Field in Kariega, Progress turned on the afterburners in the second period to bury Brumbies in a Group A clash.
Progress have a fine pedigree in the Super 14 and were crowned champions in 2021 and 2022 when they ruled the roost over their provincial rivals.
Ahead of the clash, Oliver promised Progress would set high standards and deliver a high standard of rugby, and his team lived up to expectations.
On Saturday, Progress travel to the Jabavu Stadium to face a Star of Hope team who are licking their wounds after being edged 24-20 by Park in their opening game.
After the teams were level at 10-10 at halftime, Park managed to hold on for what could be a crucial win at Londt Park.
In a one-sided Group B showdown, Trying Stars kicked off the season with a convincing 41-17 win over Central.
Stars have assembled a strong side for the tournament and are expected to make a concerted push for a knockout berth.
In the only other EP conference clash, Joubertina United defeated United Barbarians 29-24 in a hard-fought encounter.
EP and Border teams will have their own mini top 8, then a quarterfinal (home), semifinal (cross-provincial) and final.
Super 14 Champions EL Police sent out a strong message to their rivals that they would not be giving up their title without a fight when they beat Komga United 27-20.
There were plenty of tries at the Daleview Sports Field in Kariega when the EP teams that pulled out of the Super 14 played block friendlies against one another.
In the first game of a double-header, 2024 Grand Challenge champions Kruisfontein slumped to a 20-17 defeat against Harlequins.
In the late game, beaten Grand Challenge finalists Gardens downed Despatch Oostelikes 29-11.
Saturday’s results:
EP Conference: Group A: Park 24 Star of Hope 20, Progress 51 Brumbies 17. Group B: Trying Stars 41 Central 17, Joubertina 29 United Barbarians 24.
Border Conference: Group A: EL Police 27 Komga United 20, Moonlight 13 Old Selbornians 19. Group B: Ncera Leopards 0 Fort Beaufort 18, Swallows 17 Young Leopards 26.
Block friendlies at Daleview Sports field in Despatch: Harlequins 20 Kruisfontein United 17, Gardens 29 Despatch Oostelikes 11.
In an SA women’s Premier League match, EP’s Queens slumped to a third consecutive defeat when they were beaten 40-7 by the Sharks in Maritzburg.
The Herald
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