Lions' partners fighting for survival

October 22 - The Lions' two franchise partners for the Super series battle it out this weekend for the right to remain in the Currie Cup Premier Division when the Pumas play the EP Kings at Witbank on Friday night  in  the first leg of the promotion-relegation series and the Leopards host the SWD Eagles on Saturday. 

The past has shown that the bottom sides in the Premier Division are difficult to dislodge from their perch, and even after a good season  by the two hopefuls from the First Division it will not be easy for them to qualify. 

The EP Kings have the more difficult task. The Pumas haver had a rather good season and will arguably be the toughest proposition of the two sides fighting for survival.

Although the Kings beat the Eagles in the First Division final, their loss to the same side a week before which saw them drop to second place on the log, could count against their chances of promotion. 

History suggests that there will be little separating the Platinum Leopards and the SWD Eagles in preparation of their Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation game in Potchefstroom on Saturday at 16h00.

The hosts ended at the bottom of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division log this season after they failed to secure one win in the 2010 competition. The visitors on the other hand ended in first position on the Absa Currie Cup First Division log.

 However recent results confirm that games between theses sides have always ended up in to closely contested battles. Theses sides have played each other eight times since 2005 with both teams securing four victories.

During the 2009 Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation games the SWD Eagles beat the Platinum Leopards by 18-17 in George. However the Potchefstroom side maintained their status as a Premier Division contender after they recorded a 47-42 victory over the Eagles.

The SWD Eagles last tasted success in Potchefstroom back in 2007 when they secured a 34-24 win over the Platinum Leopards who notched up three home victories against their George opponents – in 2009 (47-42), 2008 (41-33) and in 2006 (40-33).

 The hosts have not enjoyed any luck at home this year. They conceded seven home defeats against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (78-7), Vodacom Blue Bulls (35-26), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (45-30), Vodacom Western Province (42-23), GWK Griquas (41-27), Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-26) and the Xerox Lions (43-13).

The SWD Eagles tasted victory on the road this year. The George outfit recorded away victories against the Eastern Province Kings (25-8), Border Bulldogs (17-7), Valke (55-47) and

against the Griffons (18-14) in this season’s competition.

With a win rate of close to 90 percent, history suggests that the Barloworld Toyota Pumas will carry the favourites tag in preparation of their Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation game against the Eastern Province Kings at the Puma Stadium in Witbank on Friday (19h00).

The hosts have only lost one game against the Port Elizabeth side in games played during the last five seasons. The Barloworld Toyota Pumas secured five victories against the EP Kings in matches played in Witbank while they have also recorded victories over their Eastern Cape opponents in games played in Port Elizabeth during the 2008 (32-24) and 2005 (31-20) seasons; and in Uitenhage (27-25) during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division.

The Barloworld Toyota Pumas caused two major upsets during this season’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division after they defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls (22-21) at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit before they secured a thrilling 34-27 victory over the Xerox Lions in Johannesburg.

The Port Elizabeth side secured their first Absa Currie Cup First Division title last weekend and recorded numerous victories on the road during this season’s competition.

They defeated the SWD Eagles (16-12) in the final last Friday, and also secured league victories against the SWD Eagles (19-17) in George, Boland Cavaliers (33-22) in Wellington, Border Bulldogs (42-28) in East London and the Valke (50-35) in Kempton Park.

 How it works: 

A team with the most log points after the completion of the two Promotion/Relegation matches will compete in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division in the following season. In the event of an equal number of log points, the winner will be determined as follows:

 1. The best netto points’ difference i.e. points for minus points against, and if equal,

2. The team who scored the most tries, and if equal,

3. The status quo will remain.