Maties v Hammies SF in the offing
There will be no complacency when defending champions Hamilton’s face Progress in the pick of the quarterfinals at the SAA National Club Championships at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.
Hammies coach Anton Moolman said he was satisfied with his team’s 83-25 first-round win over Limpopo Blue Bulls champions Noordelike on Saturday, but added that he was under no illusions as to what to expect from the Eastern Province giantkillers.
“It was great to get a win under the belt and we can build from here, but I wasn’t happy defensively,” said Moolman.
“I’m disappointed with that aspect of our game and I also think that we left a lot of tries on the field,” he added.
“But it’s a great start to the tournament and we’re looking forward to Progress on Monday.
“For now we will recover and get our minds right for that game. But it’s nice to get that monkey off our back. We’re the defending champions and it’s Club Champs and everyone wants to get one over us. But I think we put in a really solid performance.”
Progress, who shocked Maties at the 2006 Club Champs, required a try after the hooter to beat Border’s Police, and Moolman said he would study the video of the match to figure out the best way of neutralising their off-the-cuff style of play.
“I think they will play a typical brand of rugby which we all know,” he said.
“We are just going to have to knuckle down and do what works for us, and trying to eliminate what they do.
“They’ve got a big travelling band of spectators so it will be a great challenge for the boys. I think it will be a fantastic occasion.”
Hammies were decimated by injuries during their Western Province Super League campaign, which saw them lose six matches and surrender their title to the FNB Maties – the reigning Varsity Cup champions, who have won three titles in a row.
But the coach said such concerns were a thing of the past, adding: “A guy like (centre) Clinton van Rensburg has been out the whole season but he had a good 80 minutes against Noordelike and I think our backs scored some very good tries.
“A lot of guys who have come back from injuries got a good run and hopefully we can carry this forward.”
Should Hammies overcome Progress, they will face the winner of the Maties-Springs fixture in Wednesday’s semifinals.
The Stellenbosch students kicked-off their campaign for a 13th national title with a clinical 99-12 demolition of Kimberley Police – in front of their home fans – and are looking for a first-ever title double in one season; the Varsity Cup and the National Club Championships trophies.
Last week, Maties coach Chean Roux told varsitycup.co.za: “Some people are already talking about the possibility of us playing against Hamilton’s in the semifinals – I can tell you, we’re not!
“I was the coach when we lost in a first-round match at the Club Champs a few years ago – it’s a cliché and I apologise for using one, but we are simply taking the week on a game-by-game basis.”
Maties’ opponents on Monday, Springs, clocked up 80 points against Mossel Bay Barbarians on a day of largely lopsided results – the only surprise coming from Boland’s Roses United, who eliminated Varsity Cup team, FNB Shimlas.
Monday’s main match sees KZN champions College Rovers, who reached the 2006 and 2008 Club Champs Finals at the same venue, up against UJ, whose low-key opening-day victory over Tukkies suggested that the Johannesburg students may just be the dark-horses for this year’s title.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s first-round fixtures, UJ head coach Hugo van As told this website: “On the whole, our squad is quite healthy, but the Club Champs is a tough tournament…
“I mean, you play four matches in a week – so you need more than just a good group; you also need that bit of luck.”
Fixtures for Monday, September 20:
Plate quarterfinals:
F field: Noordelike v SAPS East London – 10am
G field: Middelburg v Shimlas – 10am
F field: Mossel Bay Barbarians v Kimberley Police – 11.45am
G field: Bethlehem Oud-Skoliere v Tuks – 1.30pm
Cup quarterfinals:
B field: Springs v Maties – 11.45am
B field: Puk v Roses United – 1.30pm
Danie Craven Stadium: Hamilton’s v Progress – 3.15pm
Danie Craven Stadium: College Rovers v UJ – 5pm
