Pukke, Shimlas to headline 'Champs
Clubs from ten of South Africa’s 14 unions – two of which are top Varsity Cup teams – have already qualified for the National Club Championships to be held at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria from September 20-26.
This is the first time since 2004 that the event, now in its 35th year, has been held at a venue other than the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. It is also six years since the Blue Bulls Rugby Union has hosted championships.
Defending champions Pukke (Leopards), Pirates (Golden Lions), Great Brakriver (SWD), Rovers (Griffons), Springs (Valke), Shimlas (Free State), College Rovers (KZN), Kuruman (Griquas), Rawsonville (Boland) and Middelburg (Pumas) are the sides that have qualified.
Of those sides, Pukke and Shimlas are Varsity Cup ‘regulars’; with Pukke playing in the 2009 Varsity Cup Final (where they lost to the Maties) and the Shimlas just missing out on a play-off place after a superb end to their ’09 VC campaign.
The remaining four provinces – Border, Eastern Province, Blue Bulls and Western Province – will confirm their representatives in the coming weeks.
In SWD, Great Brakriver caused a major surprise when they finished top after the first round of the Premier League, ahead of the more fancied defending champions Bridgton and last year’s runners-up, Barbarians, who attended the SAA Club Champs as one of four teams invited to take part in a successful Bowl section of the competition.
One team that will return to the SAA Club Champs after a two-year absence is Rovers, who beat Bethlehem Oudskoliere 39-25 in the Griffons Cup Final in Welkom last Friday. Rovers reached the Cup semifinals at the 2006 competition, but had to play second fiddle to Northern Free State arch-rivals Welkom in 2007 and 2008.
The same goes for 2007 Valke champions Springs, who were edged out by neighbours Brakpan last year. Springs beat surprise finalists Vereeniging 46-10 last Saturday to book their place in Pretoria and they will be hoping to emulate Brakpan’s impressive showing at the 2008 champs, when they reached the semifinals.
The Border qualifier will be known on Saturday, August 8, when defending champions Buffalo and Police contest the province’s Premier League Final.
The match will take place at the Border Rugby Union Stadium with kick-off at 3pm. Buffaloes reached the final thanks to a one-sided semifinal 52-3 victory over Wallabies, while Bobbies beat Old Boys 24-10 in the other knockout match.
In the Eastern Province Grand Challenge, Park remain on top of the Super Six log after the latest round of matches. SAPS and Gardens – another 2008 Club Champs Bowl team – drew 12-12 last Saturday, while Varsity Cup team NMMU beat PE Harlequins 40-7.
A number of intriguing matches are scheduled for Saturday. Park host 2008 champions Despatch, whilst SAPS are at home against fast-improving Kruisfontein.
But undoubtedly the biggest club match in South Africa this weekend is the Uitenhage derby between old foes Gardens and Progress, who famously knocked Maties out of the 2006 Club Champs in Stellenbosch.
The Blue Bulls’ Carlton League is also reaching its climax over the next two weeks. Saturday’s semifinals see Pretoria Police host TUT and defending champions Tukkies will be up against Centurion.
In the Western Province Super League A, unbeaten Hamiltons (who have already qualified for the Club Champs as WP’s top team) have a 14-point lead over second-placed SK Walmers, the current Club Champs Plate title-holders, and a 25-point lead over champions Maties, who have played four fewer matches.
