It will be top vs bottom when all-conquering Gardens face basement dwellers Despatch Oostelikes in an EPRU Score Energy Drink Grand Challenge Top 12 club rugby clash in Kariega on Saturday.
While table-topping Gardens have yet to be beaten in 11 outings, struggling Oostelikes are hunting for an elusive first win in what is proving to be a nightmare season for the luckless Despatch outfit
With Gardens in rampant form, and with their passionate home fans urging them to greater heights, Oostelikes have a mountain to climb at “Die Hok”.
Oostelikes had been hoping to kick-start a late-season recovery when they hosted Park at the Daleview Sports Field last week.
Park, however, piled more misery on the Top 12 stragglers when they thrashed them 47-17 in a one-sided encounter.
With Gardens in an unforgiving mood, Oostelikes are in for a long afternoon against a team whose confidence is sky high.
If Oostelikes fail to turn their fortunes around, they are destined to be relegated to the lower Middle 12 Division at the end of the season.
While Oostelikes were being hammered by Park, unstoppable Gardens fought their way to a 22-15 win over United Barbarians in Patensie.
Though the win might not have been as convincing as many expected, Gardens showed they remain a force at home and on the road, where points are not always easy to come by.
Garden's dominance can also be measured by the statistic that the only time they failed to end on the winning side was when they were held to a 15-15 draw by Harlequins at the Adcock Stadium in April.
Second-placed Harlequins will be gunning to keep the pressure on Gardens when they host Star of Hope in what promises to be a thriller at the Adcock Stadium.
Last week, Harlequins edged champions Kruisfontein United 23-22 in a tense game that went down to the wire at the Sports Complex in Humansdorp.
Harlequins outscored the champions by four tries to one to make it a double over the champions after beating them 30-25 in a first-round clash at the Adcock Stadium in May.
While Harlequins continued on their winning way, Star of Hope were left licking their wounds after they were pipped 30-26 by Progress at the Jabavu Stadium in KwaNobuhle.
Buoyed by their last success, Progress will be keen to gather more log points when they face Joubertina United.
After lifting the EC Super 14 title at the start of the season, Progress are determined to qualify for the Top 12 playoffs.
Champions Kruisfontein are facing a must-win match against Trying Stars in Alexandria as they bid to recapture the form that won them silverware in 2024.
A much-needed win over Oostelikes bolstered Park's position in fourth place on the table and left them handily positioned to qualify for the playoffs.
Park will be hoping home ground advantage at Londt Park gives them an edge when they face Brumbies on Saturday.
After a break because of midyear exams, the NMU Madibaz students return to action with a match against United Barbarians in Patensie.
Saturday's fixtures:
Top 12: Gardens v Despatch Oostelikes, Park v Brumbies, Trying Stars v Kruisfontein United, Harlequins v Star of Hope, Progress v Joubertina, United Barbarians v NMU Madibaz.
Middle 12: Police/Crusaders v Kirkwood, African Bombers v Kwaru, Spring Rose v Evergreens, Missionvale v Hankey Villagers, Jeffreys Bay v Central, Despatch v Motherwell.
Bottom 12: Helenvale v Orlando Eagles, Born Fighters v Adelaide Rangers, St Marks v Middelburg Eagles, Windvogel v Suburban, Kareedouw Tigers v Aberdeen, Lily White v Easterns.
Logs (with matches played):
Top 12: Gardens 48 (11), Harlequins 42 (11), Progress 35 (10), Park 33 (11), Kruisfontein United 32 (12), Joubertina 31 (11), Trying Stars 27 (12), Brumbies 26 (12), Star of Hope 24 (12), United Barbarians 15 (11), NMU Madibaz (6 (2), Despatch Oostelikes 3 (11). Outstanding matches: Progress v Harlequins (appeals), United Barbarians v Despatch Oostlikes (disciplinary committee), Gardens v Progress (inquiry).
Middle 12: Jeffreys Bay 52 (13), Kwaru 46 (13), Hankey Villagers 42 (12), Evergreens 41 (12), African Bombers 41 (13), Missionvale 39 (12), Central 32 (11), Kirkwood 30 (12), Motherwell 28 (13), Police/Crusaders 18 (13) Spring Rose 15 (13), Despatch 12 (11).
Bottom 12: Suburban 55 (13), Born Fighters 52 (13), Helenvale United 42 (13) Middelburg Eagles 42 (13), Kareedouw Tigers 41 (13), Windvogel 34 (13) Orlando Eagles 31 (13), Lily White 27 (11), Aberdeen 25 (13), St Marks 21 (13), Adelaide Rangers 19 (11), Easterns 9 (13).
The Herald
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