PREPERATION VERY IMPORTANT
The first round of club rugby matches in the Western Province produced excellent rugby.
In some of the matches the point difference between the teams was rather large. This just shows how important it is to prepare 100% for the new season. The teams that won with a big winning margin were the teams that did a lot of work during the off-season.
DISCIPLINE OF TEAMS
In general the discipline of the teams was of a high standard and we hope that this may continue for the rest of the season.
The bulk of the red and yellow cards that were dished out by the referees manifested in two problem areas for the players during week 1 of the 2012 club rugby season:
players who were penalised for the same infringement time and again;
Inaccurate decisions at the breakdown-point.
HELP MR REF
Whose job is it to keep score on the field?
During a club rugby match this week-end a penalty was awarded to one of the teams with a minute to go. The captain of the team was not sure about the score and was therefore uncertain to kick for goal or not.
He asked the referee for the score.
The referee declined to give him the information and added that it is not his job to give information to players to make a decision on the field.
The poor captain now had a huge problem, because he did not keep count of the score he did not know what to do.
The moral of the story is: captains and players – you must make sure that you know the score. It can prove very costly if you don’t!
I ENJOYED THE MATCH
I attended the Super League B match between Collegians and Primrose. It was a very exciting match with many attacking movements. I really enjoyed to mingle with the big crowd and chuckled quite a lot for all the witty comments I heard. To view some short video clips courtesy of Cape Rugby TV please click on this linkwww.wpclubrugby.co.za/TV/Cape-Rugby-TV-shorts.aspx
RUGBY MUSEUM NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
I had a very interesting conversation this week with Hendrik Snyders, Curator of the SA Rugby Union’s Museum. The new Museum in the Waterfront will be opened in September this year. Hendrik is looking for rugby memorabilia like old club jerseys, programmes, jacket and ties, trophies and match programmes. If you can help him, pse contact him at: [email protected].
BOKSMART – BE READY
It is counter-productive for a club to attend the Boksmart Course, but not have all the first-aid facilities available at club matches. SA Rugby has appointed a staff member to monitor the Boksmart project at club matches.
To all the clubs – prepare in advance and follow all the guidelines of Boksmart. Otherwise you will be caught out.
The 50 people that wrote the Level 3 First Aid Exams are eagerly waiting for the results. My best wishes for this group of 50. And also my best wishes for the next group who will attend a First Aid Exam.
STORMERS MUST STAND UP
On Friday the Stormers will tackle the Reds in Brisbane. After their defeat against the Crusaders it will be very important for the Stormers to come back with a victory.
The injuries to their captain Jean de Villiers and stalwart lock, Andries Bekker, will be a big blow for the Stormers, but they have the depth. They just need to dig deep, because they have the talent and the skills to beat the Reds at home.
A WORD TO BOB SKINSTAD AND MATTHEW PEARCE
I disapprove when the crowd jeer (boo) the kicker of the visiting team when they kick for goal. Rugby does not need this kind of “spectator support.”
The last year or so the Supersport commentators, Bob Skinstad and Matthew Pearce showed their irritation with the jeering at Newlands and they commented that this is a Western Cape “thing.”
Well Bob and Matthew did you hear the last two Saturdays the supporting crowds of the Highlanders and the Crusaders “boo” the Stormier kickers. As well as the “boo’s “ in the Bloemfontein where the Cheetahs played against the Chiefs?
This ugly and unnecessary boo’s are not only heard at Newlands – please take note Mr Skinstad and Mr Pearce.
GOOD LUCK TO THE VODACOM TEAM
The WP Vodacom Cup team will travel this week-end to George where they will play the Eagles. After their victory last week-end over the Argentinean Pampas the WP side is still unbeaten. Good luck boys!
SCHOOL TOURNAMENT
The annual WP u.13 Schools Tournament will also take place this week-end. All of the best to the organisers and the participating schools.
MATCHES THIS WEEK-END
SUPER LEAGUE A
A big clash this week-end will be the one between Tygerberg en SK-Walmers. We’re very excited to say that Cape Rugby TV www.wpclubrugby.co.za/TV/CapeRugbyTV.aspx will be covering the game, so we hope fans will come and attend in mass. Both teams started the 2012 season with a defeat. Tygerberg lost against the Ikeys, whilst SK Walmers were beaten by Vics.
The Tygerberg team will be at home, and this might give them the edge in this match.
The match between Vics and Durbanville/Bellville will be a tough one. Durbell beat False Bay last week-end, but were a little bit disappointing in the second half.
Hamiltons will play False Bay, whilst Belhar will face Ikeys.
Villagers will have an uphill battle against the strong Maties team.
There will be another 3 matches on Wednesday:
Maties will tackle Hammies at the Craven Stadion and this could be one of the most important clashes of the year;
Tygerberg play at home against Vics; and
Villager host UCT.
SUPER LEAGUE B
NNK and Helderberg started the 2012 season with a bang.
NNK thrashed Kuils River, whilst Helderberg looked very sharp against newcomers, Goodwood.
Brackefell was also in great form with a convincing victory over Pniel/Villagers, whilst Bellville had to work hard to beat Hands & Heart.
This week-end Kuils River will tackle Helderberg, whilst Hands & Hearts will play against NNK. Goodwood is at home against Collegians, whilst Primrose will tackle Brackenfell. Pniel/Villagers play at home vs Bellville.
PREMIER LEAGUE A
In this league Hamlets will play against Scottsdene this week-end whilst Langa will clash with St Georges. Rangers play at home against Kraaifontein, whilst UWC will clash with Elsies River.
Paarl started their 2012 campaign with a big bang with a victory over the rated team from St Georges.
Kraaifontein, Scottsdene and Elsies River will also be very confident after good victories last week-end.
PREMIER LEAGUE B
In Premier League B Sir Lowrians got off to a fast start with a convincing victory over Milnerton. Stellenbosch Coronations, Franschhoek, Maccassar and Strand United also started the 2012 season with victories.
This week-end Eerste River will tackle Van der Stel, whilst Franschhoek and Sir Lowrians will clash.
Tweets
This past weekends club rugby activity went crazy in the social media space, with the newly engaged media representatives from each club tweeting scores and more from each game. It was fantastic to monitor in real time what was happening at the other games. Please keep up this conversation stream and remember to include the #hastag #wpclubrugby in your tweets. The remember to retweet and share the content with our own followers.
Have you filled in our survey
We are still getting more input from the world of club rugby to better undertand the landscape so we can make better decisions. click here to participate www.wpclubrugby.co.za/Site-info/Questionaire.aspx
Rugby greetings
Herman Abrahams
