Out-weekend blues hit the Cape
With an overwhelming proportion of the Western Province trialists – and a good few of the Boland ones, too – enjoying the predetermined mid-term Paarl-Wellington-Worcester out-weekend or hitting the N2 to Riversdale, there are few real highlights down south on Saturday 19 May 2012.
In the only all-Premier A fixture SACS welcome Bishops to Newlands with the Young Ikeys starting as favourites (among neutrals, at least) for the first time in ages. This game is previewed elsewhere.
Otherwise, the best match in the province takes place in Riversdale where Oakdale face Paul Roos.
Both sides are loaded with provincial representatives, with Oakdale’s most prominent performers being No.8 Jandré Rudolph, tighthead Kabous van Schalkwyk and outside centre Lex Botha, who, despite the Bulle having played fewer matches than most of the bigger Western Cape outfits, tops the try-scoring charts with 12 five-pointers.
Paul Roos can bank on the accuracy of full back Jason Worral’s place-kicking, a facet of Oakdale’s play which has caused concern, and the inspirational ball-in-hand acumen of flank Ramone Samuels.
Samuels prompts a dilemma in the minds of some observers in that he started the season at hooker ahead of last year’s incumbent, but has blossomed on the side of the scrum. Whether he wouldn’t in fact be more fruitfully employed in the No.2 jersey for Western Province is the subject of some controversy, bearing in mind Western Province’s opener at last year’s Craven Week.
For the rest, it depends on which of the other Young Maties are fit, although, with their virtually unlimited resources and a strong desire to atone for losses against Tygerberg and Paarl Gim in the last fortnight, they are bound to assemble a formidable fifteen.
The Premier B meeting of Tygerberg and Strand in Parow could produce a thriller too. The Tygers are starting to show a frightening new resolve, thanks in part to the resurgence of the talismanic Edwin Sass, but Strand have put together an impressive run in recent weeks, seeing off DF Malan, Primrose, HTS Bellville and Monument Park, all in convincing fashion.
Neither Quiwen Bauman (Strand) nor the hosts’ Shane Grundlingh needs directions to show them how to find each other’s trylines, while the visitors’ centre Deon Taljaard has been the most reliable performer in either team when it comes to goalkicking.
There should be quite close affairs out in the Boland when Charlie Hofmeyr visit Malmesbury to play Swartland, Hermanus hit the road for the coastal derby against Bredasdorp and two tiny neighbours, Montagu and Bonnievale, both of whom are playing with commendable flair this year, clash in the Land of Dried Fruit and Muscadel.
The two Boland giants were both in action on Wednesday, ahead of the out-weekend.
In Paarl Hugenote enjoyed a comfortable 38-3 win over hosts Klein Nederburg. Six of the Blackies crossed their opponents’ line in a generally unremarkable match. Captain Gideon Koegelenberg took line-out ball at will as the home eight battled unsuccessfully to keep their opponents in check. The try of the day was the culmination of a 50 metre solo run by no 8 Larnelle Maralack.
Over the mountains HTS Drostdy were not quite as generous towards their visitors, Swartland, who had been enjoying a pretty successful season. Until now. The Donkeys kicked into top gear to register eight tries, each by a different player, in a 57-0 demolition job. Flyhalf Kelly Olivier pocketed 17 points from the kicking-tee.
Needless to say, excitement is mounting ahead of the meeting of these two giants in Wellington on 26 May.
Western Cape Fixtures for Saturday 19 May
(Home teams first)
Bredasdorp vs Hermanus
De Kuilen vs Bellville
DF Malan vs Oudtshoorn
Die Brandwag (EP) vs Langenhoven Gym
Durbanville vs Wynberg
Langenhoven High vs Sentraal (Beaufort West)
Montagu vs Bonnievale
Monument Park vs Fairbairn College
New Orleans vs Vredenburg
Oakdale vs Paul Roos
Outeniqua vs Brackenfell
Primrose RFC vs HTS Bellville
Punt vs Stellenberg
SACS vs Bishops
Swartland vs Charlie Hofmeyr
Swellendam vs Overberg
Tygerberg vs Strand
Vredendal vs Piketberg
By Tony Stoops
