Motorvaps False Bay beat a hapless CPUT in a Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) Super League A fixture last Wednesday night.
The final score was 54-5 after the Bay led 35-5 at the break.
Those braving the cold at CPUT’s Bellville campus were treated to an entertaining night of rugby as the Constantia club returned home with four out of four wins.
In the main contest, the visitors rocked their hosts back on their heels, running in eight tries to one. Yet it would be unfair to create an impression of a one-sided match, as CPUT proved that they are not out of their depth in the SLA, rather that it is a quality competition contested by capable teams. They were perhaps guilty of individualistic play, and had that final pass just been made, their score should have reflected more than the paltry five points it did.
CPUT posed a “banana-peel” challenge to the Constantia team, facing the trap of losing direction after their loss to Uni-Mil at home the Saturday before. That loss took the chances of qualifying for the knockout stages between the top six finishers after the round-robin stage, out of the control of the Bay as the other contenders entered their closing stages too.
No matter how it unfolds, if the Bay qualify for the Top Six, they would not be out of place nor undeserving. SLA2024 has been a closely contested league and in fact any of the top eight teams are deserving of a place in the knockout stages.
The competition to date has been a little disjointed with weather interruptions but has been enthralling, nevertheless.
In recent years the make-up of the President’s Cup, the knockout stage competition, has been settled by Round 12 or 13. To add more spice to the pot, had Ikeys not experienced an ordinary start to their SLA campaign, the elbowing for the six available spots, could so easily have been greater.
There are three matches taking place in this week which could have a bearing on the final top six places.
Last night Helderberg hosted Maties in their final match of the season. Closing the door on what they feel is a disappointing season with a win is a way of redemption and Maties will undoubtedly be aware of this.
Then on Saturday Villager RFC travel to the cauldron, which is Gustro Park in the Strand, home of St George’s, who stunned False Bay a fortnight ago in the mud. Their campaign has been outstanding and they are not averse to ending it on a high with another big scalp in the pouch.
The match of the day belongs to that between Tygerberg and Hamilton at Florida Park. The Sea Pointers lost their unbeaten tag last week when they went down to neighbours SK Walmer at the Green Point Track. They will certainly look to return to their winning ways, but the Tiere are a tough opponents at home, and a bonus point win will be a massive undertaking.
Then there is the match between hosts Durbell and UCT, while having no bearing on the top six, promises to be massive, the Ikey Tigers wounded and proud.
In terms of knockout qualification, matters are out of False Bays hands. Of course, there is the need to beat their hosts NTK and collect a bonus point in the process. NTK are relegation-bound, equal on league points with Kuils River, who host Uni-Mil and have a better points difference than the boys from Parow.
Bay coach Ashley Wells knows that no matter their dire situation, NTK finish well, rise to an occasion and are not averse to shocking more fancied opposition.
By its nature Club Rugby is about the complete entity and its success. Four league points on Saturday secures False Bay Second XV the title for the season. It would be a send-off of note for popular skipper Dustin Andrews. Their Third XV, lying second on their table are in a neck-and-neck race with Durbell, with Helderberg hovering, for that title. The Bay under-20As could also be league winners by the end of the weekend, again dependent not only on their own result, but log leaders Hamilton faltering at Florida Park.
Hamilton and Durbell are in similar vein to the Bay, the positions of their standard-bearers a cherry on the cake. As the round-robin stages of SLA2024 draws to a close, and the main body of players don their kit for the last time, False Bay hold their heads high along with these two giants of the club game in the Cape.
Matches at NTK in Parow kick of from 1.25pm with the main game at 4pm. For lovers of club rugby and those whose interest may have been piqued, some of these contests will streamed.
- Jon Harris is a member of False Bay RFC.
