Maties back in action
FNB Maties, the reigning Varsity Cup champions, will get their 2009 WP Super League campaign underway this weekend when they host Kraaifontein in Stellenbosch.
The Maties have had a longer break than most teams – except Vics and UCT – due to exams, but the students will be back in action against the bottom-placed Men from Kraaifontein on Saturday.
Stellenbosch are currently in third place on the log – behind SK Walmers and Hamilton’s, the former, of course, having qualified for the 2009 National Club Championships ahead of the defending league and Varsity Cup champions.
Lock De Kock Steenkamp, who played for Western Province against the British & Irish Lions in June, is back in the mix for the Maties, along with powerhouse centre Paul Bosch, who has had a bad run with injuries this season.
WP front row forward Schalk Ferreira, who is in the process of moving from prop to hooker, has been named on the bench – presumably, one would think, as the official hooking replacement to Mathew Dobson.
Adnaan Osman, Wilhelm Loock, Jean Stemmet, Cameron Peverett, Wesley Wilkins, Jaco Nepgen, Andréw Crausaz, Mathew Dobson, Mike de Neuilly-Rice, Jonathan Adendorf, Donald Stevens and Hayden Groepes – all of whom featured in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International – have been named in the matchday 22 to take on Kraaifontein.
The Maties team: 15 Adnaan Osman, 14 Wilhelm Loock, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Louw Schabort, 10 Andries Volgraaff, 9 Henoe Stoffberg, 8 Bennie Booysen, 7 Cameron Peverett, 6 Wesley Wilkins, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Andréw Crausaz, 2 Mathew Dobson, 1 Mike de Neuilly-Rice.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Ferreira, 17 Gerrit Jacobs, 18 Bertho van der Westhuizen, 19 Jonathan Adendorf, 20 Donald Stevens, 21 PJ Vermeulen, 22 Hayden Groepes.
The WP Super League log:
(Under played, won, points)
1. Hamilton’s 11, 11, 51
2. SK Walmers 14, 6, 37
3. Maties 8, 6, 31
4. NNK 11, 6, 30
5. Vics 9, 5, 27
6. UCT 8, 5, 26
7. ‘Durbell’ 10, 5, 25
8. Villager’s 13, 4, 20
9. Helderberg 10, 3, 15
10. Kraaifontein 10, 0, 1
