Bobbies deny Tuks... just
Varsity Cup semifinalists, FNB Tuks, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2009 National Club Championships – meaning just two Varsity Cup teams, Pukke and Shimlas, have made it into the Club Champs.
Pretoria Police Rugby Club will return to the SAA National Club Championships for the first time since 2006 after they beat Tukkies, the defending Blue Bulls champions, 31-28 (half-time 6-12) in a dramatic Carlton Cup Final that was decided in the final two minutes of extra-time.
In doing so, the Bobbies not only dashed Tukkies’ dreams of an historic hat-trick of Carlton Cup titles, but also the chance of challenging for the most prestigious trophy in South African club rugby in front of their home fans.
The 35th edition of the tournament will take place at the University of Pretoria’s LC de Villiers sports grounds from September 20-26.
The Carlton Cup is one of the most sought-after trophies in club rugby circles and the final lived up to its pre-match billing as a clash of the Pretoria heavyweights.
The sides were deadlocked at 21-21 when the full-time whistle blew but in the end it was the boot of Police’s Mike Erasmus, who contributed 16 points, that made all the difference. For Tukkies, fullback Justin van Staden scored 18 points – including a try.
The scorers:
Police 31 – Tries: Jacques Erasmus, Eugene van Niekerk, Heinrich Rademeyer. Conversions: Mike Erasmus (2). Penalties: Mike Erasmus (4). Tukkies 28 – Tries: Juan Palm, Quintin Skewes, Justin van Staden. Conversions: Van Staden (2). Penalty: Van Staden. Drop goals: Van Staden (2).
East London’s Police club wasn’t as fortunate as their upcountry namesakes, losing 35-21 to Buffaloes in the Border Premier League Final, which was played at the Border Rugby Stadium last Saturday.
Buffs did what Tukkies couldn’t do – they won their third consecutive Border title (and completed a hat-trick of victories over Police in 2009), after trailing by 13 points going into the final quarter. A try by centre Dylan Swartz drew matters level at 21-21 before Buffs’ flyhalf Dennis Taylor gave the champs the lead for the first time. Wing Grant Cottrell then scored in injury-time to seal the win.
Another noteworthy achievement on the day was the performance in the curtain-raiser of Fort Hare University’s Under-21 team, who beat Police 19-14 in the provincial age-group final.
Pretoria Police and Buffaloes bring to 13 the number of provincial qualifiers now confirmed for the tournament, with only the Eastern Province title to be decided in the coming weeks.
Interestingly, 11 of the 14 provincial champions that will travel to Pretoria did not appear in last year’s tournament, with only defending champions NWU-Pukke (Leopards), 2008 losing finalists College Rovers (KZN) and Buffaloes making the return trip.
The Eastern Province Grand Challenge semifinals are due to take place this coming weekend, but defending champions Despatch are no longer in the running after losing heavily (43-15) to Progress last Saturday. Instead, the winners of the Park v Progress and Gardens v Police semis will fight it out on August 29 for the right to represent EP at the Club Champs.
Tukkies’ loss in the Carlton Cup Final also means that only two Varsity Cup teams – NWU-Pukke and Shimlas (Free State) – have managed to qualify.
Joining Pretoria Police, Buffaloes, College Rovers, Pukke and Shimlas in the capital next month will be Hamilton’s (Western Province), Pirates (Golden Lions), Great Brakriver (South Western Districts), Rovers (Griffons), Springs (Valke), Kuruman (Griqualand West), Rawsonville (Boland) and Middelburg (Mpumalanga).
In other countrywide club rugby action, the KZN Murray Cup semifinals saw College Rovers remain on course for the league and cup double with an 18-13 win over defending champions Zululand Rhinos. In the other match, Old Boys beat Durban Collegians 22-18 in extra-time after the teams finished 15-15 after the regulation 80 minutes.
The final will be played at the Durban University grounds on Friday, August 14 with kick-off at 8pm. In the curtain-raiser, the second XVs of Rovers and Old Boys will contest the Peter Taylor Cup at 6.30pm.
At the same venue on Saturday, a number of other cup finals will bring the curtain down on the KZN season: Vryheid v South Coast Warriors (First Division Junior Murray Cup); Pongola first XV v Amanzimtoti second XV (Second Division Keith Parkinson Trophy); and Drakensberg v Matatiele (Third Division Findlay Cup).
Hamilton’s remain on course to win their first Western Province Super League A title since 1936.
They have a six-point lead over second-placed SK Walmers at the top of the table, but ‘Hammies’ have played five fewer matches.
Their closest rivals, Maties, still have a mathematical chance of claiming the title, but the Stellenbosch students did themselves no favours last week when they lost 32-28 away to Durbanville-Bellville.
This Saturday’s fixtures see Maties at home to SK Walmers, ‘Hammies’ travelling to Parow to play NNK, Kraaifontein hosting Vics, and Helderberg at home to Villager’s. All matches kick-off at 4pm.
