The SWD Eagles will be aiming to secure their third Absa Currie Cup First Division title while the EP Kings will be out to achieve their maiden title on Friday when these sides go head to head in the final at Outeniqua Park at 19h10.

The George side will play in their fourth Absa Currie Cup First Division final while the EP Kings will make their second appearance in a final. The Port Elizabeth outfit conceded a 41-20 defeat to the Blue Bulls during the 2000 First Division final.

The hosts secured a 32-30 semi-final victory over the Griffons last Friday to book their place in this weekend’s final. They previously claimed the Absa Currie Cup First Division title in 2007 when they defeated Eastern Province 38-3 at Outeniqua Park; and in 2002 when they recorded a 29-20 over Border to secure their first title.

The EP Kings, despite featuring in two finals, have not achieved any silverware in the history of the competition. The visitors conceded a defeat against the Eagles in 2002 and also suffered a 41-20 loss to the Blue Bulls back in 2000.

The SWD Eagles will also have the advantage of playing the final at Outeniqua Park where they have only lost three home games in the last two seasons. They secured home victories over the Valke (57-35), Griffons (42-27), Border Bulldogs (33-12) and the Boland Cavaliers (45-36) in this season’s competition, but conceded a 19-17 defeat to the EP Kings in week six of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup First Division.

The hosts defeated the Griffons (32-30) in their semi-final game last weekend. They only suffered one home defeat against the Pumas during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division and against the Griffons in the 2008 season.

The Eastern Province Kings suffered only one defeat on the road during this year’s Absa Currie Cup when they conceded a 27-18 loss against the Griffons in week eight in Welkom.

EP Kings winger Norman Nelson is currently the joint-leading try-scorer along with the Valke’s Coert Cronje in the Absa Currie Cup First Division – nine, while the SWD Eagles’ Ambrose Barends is the leading points’ scorer in the competition – 127.

The last time these sides last met at Outeniqua Park: A missed conversion in injury time by replacement SWD Eagles flyhalf Eric Zana gave the Eastern Province Kings a 19-17 victory in this game, which was dominated by the boots of Ambrose Barends (Eagles) and Donald Stevens (Kings) who each kicked four penalties for their respective sides.

Only two tries were scored in that game, by Norman Nelson (EP Kings) and Baldwin McBean (Eagles).

In the Absa Under-21 Championship, Eastern Province who ended the league phase in first position, will take on the Valke in the final of the B Section. This game kicks off at 16h30 and will be the curtain raiser to the Absa Currie Cup First Division final.

The other fixture at Outeniqua Park on Friday afternoon will feature the SWD Eagles and the Valke who will battle for silverware in the Absa Under-19 Championship. This game kicks off at 14h30. The Eagles U19s ended the B section in third position on the log while the Valke finished in fourth place.

Absa Currie Cup First Division History (Finals):
2009 – Barloworld Toyota Pumas 47 SWD Eagles19
2008 – Platinum Leopards 26 Griffons 31
2007 – SWD Eagles 38 Eastern Province 3
2006 – Platinum Leopards 13 Boland Cavaliers 37
2005 – Valke 16 Pumas 25
2004 – Boland Cavaliers 23 Border Bulldogs 22
2003 – Platinum Leopards 25 Boland Cavaliers 27
2002 – SWD Eagles 29 Border Bulldogs 20
2001 – Boland Cavaliers 41 Platinum Leopards 27
2000 – Blue Bulls 41 Eastern Province 20