Busy start for Ikey Tigers
FNB UCT will make a busy start to their 2009 Super League campaign with three games in the space of just one week, starting with this Saturday’s clash against Durbanville/Bellville (‘Durbell’).
The Ikey Tigers – who went down narrowly to FNB Pukke in the semifinals of the 2009 Varsity Cup – will travel away for this fixture, before hosting Victorians (Wednesday, April 22) and arch-rivals Villagers (Saturday, April 25) in a busy few days at the Green Mile.
Head coach John Dobson – who will once again look after this talented UCT side, along with backline coach Robbie Fleck – has retained the core of his Varsity Cup squad for Saturday’s encounter with ‘Durbell’.
Dobson has, however, called upon veterans Dave Clayton, Dave Edgar, Bodo Sieber, Herbert Mayosi and Vakai ‘Fish’ Hove – all of whom were too old to play in the VC – to bolster his side’s resources.
Therlow Pietersen – who was voted as the 2009 Varsity Cup’s Back of the Tournament – gets a well-deserved break on the bench, whilst highly-rated centre Tim Whitehead, who has battled with a groin injury this season, makes a welcome return to first team duty – albeit it from the bench.
Speaking after the Varsity Cup, Dobson told this website: “I am proud of UCT given our resources that we can compete so well, but we now have to think about the local WP league which is arguably the toughest in the country with a helluva high standard amongst some great clubs.
“In fact, I think it is a property that WP Rugby could do more with – given their struggles to win major trophies of late. Last year we battled in the local league as it started just days after the Varsity Cup Final and we never found our feet. But the slightly longer break now should stand us in good stead as we would like to do well in it.
“At the end of the day, the Varsity Cup is the sexy product and the glamour event, but we have to pay our rent in the Super League.”
Saturday’s match, against ‘Durbell’, kicks-off at 4pm.
The UCT team (v ‘Durbell’): 15 Dave Clayton, 14 Marcello Sampson, 13 Dave Edgar, 12 Sean van Tonder, 11 Marvin Christians, 10 Matt Rosslee, 9 JP Robert, 8 Nick Fenton-Wells, 7 Don Armand, 6 Kuselo Moyake, 5 Bodo Sieber (captain), 4 Michael Passaportis, 3 Herbert Mayosi, 2 Dayne Jans, 1 Vakai ‘Fish’ Hove.
Replacements: 16 Mark Goosen, 17 Dylan Rogers, 18 Craig Kleu, 19 Michael Morris, 20 Tim Whitehead, 21 Kyle Wickens, 22 Therlow Pietersen.
