Preview: First Division, Round Six

The Eastern Province Kings will look to retain their unbeaten record in this year's expanded eight-team First Division when they travel to Nelspruit on Friday to take on the fourth-placed Pumas.


In Friday's other match, the Griffons, who have slipped from first to third on the table following their first loss of the season last week to the Kings, will play the fifth-placed SWD Eagles in George.


Defending champions the Boland Cavaliers, currently in seventh place with four losses and a draw from their five matches, will be looking for their first victory of the season on Saturday when they host the sixth-placed Falcons, with just one win under their belt this year, in Worcester.


The weekend's final match sees the second-placed Leopards at home to the winless Border Bulldogs, who have just one log point from their five matches to date.


Eastern Province Kings flyhalf George Whitehead tops the First Division point-scoring log after Round Five, with 65 points made up of three tries, 13 conversions and eight penalties.


Just behind Whitehead is Griffons wing Reinhardt Erwee on 53, with Falcons No 10 Karlo Aspeling in third place on 50.


Leopards wing Allister Kettledas leads the try-scoring stakes with seven touchdowns, followed by teammate Danie Dames with six and Pumas flanker Jaco Bouwer, Falcons fullback JW Bell and Griffons flyhalf Tertius Maarman, who each have four.


Round Six fixtures:


Pumas v EP Kings

Date: Friday, August 3

Kick-off: 19.10

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistants: Rasta Rasivhenge, Stefan Breytenbach

TMO: Johan Greeff


Last meeting: 4 May 2012 in Nelspruit (Vodacom Cup): Pumas won 40-19


SWD Eagles v Griffons

Date: Friday, August 3

Kick-off: 19.10

Venue: Outeniqua Park, George

Referee: Lusanda Jam

Assistants: Christie du Preez, Cobus Wessels


Last meeting: 16 September 2011 in George (Currie Cup First Division): Griffons won 39-27


Boland Cavaliers v Falcons

Date: Saturday, August 4

Kick-off: 14.45

Venue: Boland Park, Worcester

Referee: Matt Kemp

Assistants: Joey Salmans, Linston Manuels

TMO: Deon van Blommenstein


Last meeting: 10 September 2011 in Kempton Park (Currie Cup First Division): Cavaliers won 55-28


Leopards v Border Bulldogs

Date: Saturday, August 4

Kick-off: 19.10

Venue: Olén Park, Potchefstroom

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe

Assistants: Lesego Legoete, Sieg van Staden


Last meeting: 26 February 2011 in East London (Vodacom Cup): Leopards won 27-21