THE Border Bulldogs are in a race against time with their injury list growing ahead of their Absa Currie Cup First Division encounter against neighbours Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday night.
Still licking their wounds from their disappointing 26-10 defeat at the hands of the Leopards, the Bulldogs technical staff are working overtime to assemble a team to face the Kings.
Without their first-choice kicker fullback Karlo Aspeling against the Leopards, the Bulldogs were exposed in the kicking department. The same is likely to happen when they face the Kings if playmaker Aspeling doesn’t recover in time to face the David Maidza-coached Kings.
Bulldogs coach Paul Flanagan earlier this week confirmed Aspeling will still undergo tests ahead of the team announcement tomorrow morning.
Things went from bad to worse for the struggling Bulldogs when they lost second choice kicker and centre Quinton Crocker, who was ruled out of the kicking duties against the Leopards the day before due to injury.
“Quinton (Crocker), who was the backup kicker, strained a groin muscle last Friday at a kicking practice and that ruled him out of kicking on Saturday.
“The other player that could kick was Cecil Dumond who has just returned from a torn quad muscle from kicking and therefore our kicking game was on the backfoot against the Leopards,” he added.
Some good news for the Bulldogs will be the possible return of lock forward Sithembiso Mhlongo who also missed the Leopards clash.
Another positive for the Bulldogs will be the availability of centre Chumani Booi who made his return off the bench on Saturday after a five-month absence due to a wrist injury.
Flanagan also indicated he was impressed with hooker Wayne Lemley who continued to make strides off the bench in his second game after returning from injury.
“Stairs (Mhlongo) is back running this week and may be cleared for Friday's game. However, it was a good performance from Anthonie Gronum who had his first run of the campaign covering for him. Wayne Lemley had his second run as a sub and it went well,” added Flanagan.
Also waiting to be cleared for Friday’s game is flanker Brian Shabangu, who injured his leg against the Leopards.
Injuries give Bulldogs coach few headaches
Still licking their wounds from their disappointing 26-10 defeat at the hands of the Leopards, the Bulldogs technical staff are working overtime to assemble a team to face the Kings.
Without their first-choice kicker fullback Karlo Aspeling against the Leopards, the Bulldogs were exposed in the kicking department. The same is likely to happen when they face the Kings if playmaker Aspeling doesn’t recover in time to face the David Maidza-coached Kings.
Bulldogs coach Paul Flanagan earlier this week confirmed Aspeling will still undergo tests ahead of the team announcement tomorrow morning.
Things went from bad to worse for the struggling Bulldogs when they lost second choice kicker and centre Quinton Crocker, who was ruled out of the kicking duties against the Leopards the day before due to injury.
“Quinton (Crocker), who was the backup kicker, strained a groin muscle last Friday at a kicking practice and that ruled him out of kicking on Saturday.
“The other player that could kick was Cecil Dumond who has just returned from a torn quad muscle from kicking and therefore our kicking game was on the backfoot against the Leopards,” he added.
Some good news for the Bulldogs will be the possible return of lock forward Sithembiso Mhlongo who also missed the Leopards clash.
Another positive for the Bulldogs will be the availability of centre Chumani Booi who made his return off the bench on Saturday after a five-month absence due to a wrist injury.
Flanagan also indicated he was impressed with hooker Wayne Lemley who continued to make strides off the bench in his second game after returning from injury.
“Stairs (Mhlongo) is back running this week and may be cleared for Friday's game. However, it was a good performance from Anthonie Gronum who had his first run of the campaign covering for him. Wayne Lemley had his second run as a sub and it went well,” added Flanagan.
Also waiting to be cleared for Friday’s game is flanker Brian Shabangu, who injured his leg against the Leopards.
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