NuPower/Tuks Series Fixtures for 2013
Last year’s losing finalists in one of the most exciting finals in the history of the NuPower/Tuks competition Waterkloof of Pretoria will not take part in this year’s tournament. Centurion defeated Waterkloof 49-47 in a high-scoring final last year. Klofies however decided not to take part in this year’s tournament, but will take part in the Beeld Trophy later in the year.
Only 15 sides played in last year’s competition so there are two newcomers in this year’s tournament. They are Vereeniging Gimnasium and Garsfontein. Vereeniging Gimnasium was formed this year with the amalgamation of Vereeniging HS and Vereeniging THS.
The defending champions, Centurion are drawn in Pool A with Monument, Pieterburg HS and Vereeniging Gimnasium. Monument is always one of the tougher side’s to beat in the tournament and their campaign was only derailed last year due to a lot of injuries they suffered.
In Pool B Nelspruit, Transvalia, Marais Viljoen and Garsfontein will fight it out. Garsfontein might surprise a few sides after a good season last year in which they were crowned champions of the Pukke competition. They also defeated Centurion (33-28) and Eldoraigne (37-6) during last season.
Kemptonpark is the favourites to come out on top in Pool C. They will face Eldoraigne, Rustenburg HS and Ermelo. In Pool D Middelburg THS, EG Jansen, Florida en Klerksdorp will take each other on.
The semi-finals of the competition will be played at the LC de Villiers Stadium in Pretoria on 27 April 2013. The final will be decided at the same venue on 11 May 2013.
The Pools:
Pool A: Monument, Pietersburg HS, Centurion, Vereeniging Gimnasium.
Pool B: Nelspruit, Transvalia, Marais Viljoen, Garsfontein.
Pool C: Kemptonpark, Eldoraigne, Rustenburg, Ermelo.
Pool D: Middelburg THS, EG Jansen, Florida, Klerksdorp HS.
The fixtures:
9 March 2013
Monument vs. Vereeniging Gimnasium
Pieterburg vs. Centurion
Marais Viljoen vs. Garsfontein
Transvalia vs. Nelspruit
Kemptonpark vs. Ermelo
Rustenburg vs. Eldoraigne
Middelburg THS vs. Florida
EG Jansen vs. Klerksdorp HS
16 March 2013
Monument vs. Pietersburg HS
Centurion vs. Vereeniging Gimnasium
Marais Viljoen vs. Transvalia
Nelspruit vs. Garsfontein
Eldorraigne vs. Kemptonpark
Ermelo vs. Rustenburg
Klerksdorp HS vs. Middelburg THS
Florida vs. EG Jansen
20 April 2013
Centurion vs. Monument
Vereeniging Gimnasium vs. Pietersburg HS
Nelspruit vs. Marais Viljoen
Garsfontein vs. Transvalia
Rustenburg vs. Kemptonpark
Ermelo vs. Eldoraigne
Middelburg THS vs. EG Jansen
Florida vs. Klerksdorp HS
By Hannes Nienaber