A potentially competition defining weekend for Border teams is on the cards in the Gold Cup as Swallows and MPM Old Selbornians head into must-win matches tomorrow.
Current Pool C leaders Swallows head down to Cape Town for a massive clash against Tygerberg knowing that a win will seal their progress to the quarterfinals, while a loss could see them drop completely out of the running.
It is Swallows last pool stage match of the competition, so if they lose and the two teams below them win, it could knock them out of contention ahead of next weekend’s final round of pool games, where they have a bye.
Swallows slipped up this past weekend with their first loss of the competition after two wins and they will be aiming to respond well by picking up what would be a fantastic away victory.
“I am sure we will bounce back from the past weekend’s loss,” said Swallows rugby president Zuko Matyeshana.
“I think Tygerberg will be a tough game, we have to play to our strengths and we should be safe.
“We have to win our game on Saturday to qualify, it is a must-win for us as we don’t want to depend on other teams to get us through.”
For Old Boys they may already be out of the running after two one-point defeats in their first two games has left them bottom of the log, trailing Swallows at the top by seven points.
For them to stand any chance of making it to the knockouts they have to win their final two games and hope that other results also go their way.
“We have played well and lost in the dying minutes of the last two games and ultimately it has come down to a lack of will,” explained Old Boys coach James Winstanley.
“Our character is in question this week, we need to see if we have enough substance to overcome the opposition and that can only be achieved with raw intensity.
“Despite losing the last two games we have accumulated two points in each game, so looking at the log, no matter what happens in the other games we can still qualify with two wins and our focus is on this weekend and nothing else.”
They will be taking on second on the log Progress George at the Rosemore Stadium in George, which will be a massive test with Progress unbeaten after two matches so far.
“The team is heading into the toughest game of the competition with their confidence dented,” admitted Winstanley. The team need to front up, we have put ourselves in winning positions twice and need to close out. This will require enormous character as we are headed into a hostile environment of a popular community club.”
Both matches will kick-off at 3pm tomorrow afternoon and both East London teams will be hoping for solid away wins to keep themselves in the competition.
Swallows in final throw of the dice in Gold Cup
Current Pool C leaders Swallows head down to Cape Town for a massive clash against Tygerberg knowing that a win will seal their progress to the quarterfinals, while a loss could see them drop completely out of the running.
It is Swallows last pool stage match of the competition, so if they lose and the two teams below them win, it could knock them out of contention ahead of next weekend’s final round of pool games, where they have a bye.
Swallows slipped up this past weekend with their first loss of the competition after two wins and they will be aiming to respond well by picking up what would be a fantastic away victory.
“I am sure we will bounce back from the past weekend’s loss,” said Swallows rugby president Zuko Matyeshana.
“I think Tygerberg will be a tough game, we have to play to our strengths and we should be safe.
“We have to win our game on Saturday to qualify, it is a must-win for us as we don’t want to depend on other teams to get us through.”
For Old Boys they may already be out of the running after two one-point defeats in their first two games has left them bottom of the log, trailing Swallows at the top by seven points.
For them to stand any chance of making it to the knockouts they have to win their final two games and hope that other results also go their way.
“We have played well and lost in the dying minutes of the last two games and ultimately it has come down to a lack of will,” explained Old Boys coach James Winstanley.
“Our character is in question this week, we need to see if we have enough substance to overcome the opposition and that can only be achieved with raw intensity.
“Despite losing the last two games we have accumulated two points in each game, so looking at the log, no matter what happens in the other games we can still qualify with two wins and our focus is on this weekend and nothing else.”
They will be taking on second on the log Progress George at the Rosemore Stadium in George, which will be a massive test with Progress unbeaten after two matches so far.
“The team is heading into the toughest game of the competition with their confidence dented,” admitted Winstanley. The team need to front up, we have put ourselves in winning positions twice and need to close out. This will require enormous character as we are headed into a hostile environment of a popular community club.”
Both matches will kick-off at 3pm tomorrow afternoon and both East London teams will be hoping for solid away wins to keep themselves in the competition.
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