A rugby column by Mr H
WE ARE PROUD
Well done to the WP Vodacom team for winning the finals of the Vodacom Competition. To go to Kimberley and play the Griquas in the finals is a big task. To beat them in the finals are awesome!
My congratulations to each and every member of the team. And a special word of congratulations to the winning captain, Nic Fenton-Wells.
Well done also to the head coach John Dobson and his assistants, Dawie Snyman en Labeeb Levy as well as manager, Cassiem Barnes.
This victory was the result of very hard work during the off-season and the season.
The match itself was a thriller and the elderly supporters of Western Province had to reach for their heart pills at the end of the match.
I want to take my hat off to the young WP team. The intensity and vigour of this final was equalled (maybe more than was seen in the Stormers match vs the Waratahs.
I think that the Stormers and WP Currie Cup selectors can have a look at a number of the WP Vodacom players when they need players for the reserve bank.
Also – every WP Vodacom player that was part of the winning team now has the experience of winning a final – and that is a huge advantage for them. When they play in a Stormers or WP Currie Cup Jersey in a final they will have that in the memory bank – and that is a huge advantage.
They say “Success breed success” and I agree!
It was also great to see the number of WP club rugby players that were given an opportunity to play for the WP Vodacom Team (a player like Ederies Arendse from SK Walmers for example excelled when he got the opportunity to play for the WP Vodacom Team).
I want to thank the head coach John Dobson for giving the opportunity to a number of club players to play in the Vodacom League (in the matches against Free State and the Eagles the majority of the WP Team consisted of amateur players!). This is a great inspiration to all the club players in Western Province.
STORMERS
Well done to the Stormers for winning their match against the Warathas, but what a second half!!!! We went home without nails and the faithful sitting on the Grand Stand had stiff necks (from having to turn their necks to the right (Craven Stadium) most of the second half. Good luck Stormers for your match against the Sharks on Saturday.
SUPER LEAGUE A
There are winners and there are losers. That is the name of the game of sport.
The pressure is starting to build for the teams at the bottom of the log. Therefore the victory of Belhar over Villager gave them a lot of satisfaction. The main thing is that it means that Belhar is moving to the right side of the log.
Villagers, although they are performing much better than at the beginning of the season, will have to beef up and get some positive results.
Dangerous signals are coming out from Florida Park, home of Tygerberg. They were thrashed at home by Durbanville/Bellville and find themselves right at the bottom of the log.
Hamiltons beat SK Walmers in a very hard match. Although they have played well against all the teams, SK Walmers are also finding themselves at the bottom of the log and they will need to turn the season around very quickly – otherwise that damned relegation train will come and collect them!
SUPER LEAGUE B
Helderberg and NNK just keep on winning.
Helderberg were too strong for Primrose, whilst NNK had a tough match against Collegians.
Pniel/Villagers troubles are continuing with a loss against Kuils River, whilst Hands & Heart gave a good performance in their match against Goodwood.
A LESSON FOR ALL THE TEAMS
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
This saying applies to many clubs in the WP who focus entirely on their first team.
Depth and experience is vital for clubs if they want to succeed.
Look at all the current log-leaders in the WP.
Maties are at the top of Super League A as well as their 2nd team, 3rd team and u.20 (jointly with Ikeys).
Helderberg, log-leagers in Super League B, also lead in the 2nd league, 3rd league and u.20 league, whilst all the teams of NNK (second on the log) are also amongst the top 2.
In Premier League A UWC are far ahead of their next rivals, and the UWC 2nd and 3rd teams are also running the show in their respective leagues.
And in Premier League B Sir Lowrians are showing that they have depth in the club. Their 1st team, 2nd team as well as the 3rd team are all at the top of the log.
Clubs need to take a long term view. If you want to have a strong first team then you need depth in your club. It means depth of players as well as depth in the coaching staff.
GOOD NEWS
Clubs are very grateful for the fact that the WP Union are supporting them to cover the cost of travelling for away matches (this project was launched with the help of a Lotto Award). They can concentrate on the game and don’t need to worry to get to the game! This is good for the game of rugby.
TRIALS
The WP Union are busy with the u.19 and u.21 trials.
But we have a problem that can be sorted out. The problem is that clubs sent promising players (in their point of view) to the trials without really communicating with the WP selectors.
That is why you can get 10 wings and 10 hookers at a trial but only 1 tight-head and 1 lock.
I suggest that club representatives communicate on a regular base with the selectors. Tell the selectors to come and watch your promising player in a club match.
If this promising player catches the eye of the selector then he will get an invite to the trials.
The selectors must also make the effort to communicate their needs to the clubs.
PAARL RANGERS AND CITIES
The Executive Committee of the Western Province have given permission for Cities and Progress to join up as one club to play in the WP League (they will play in the league designated for Progress).
Also it was decided that Paarl Rangers will be allowed to move from League 2 to the Paarl Region.
All results of Paarl Rangers and Cities thus far in the 2012 season will be scrapped.
JUNIOR WORLD CUP NEWS
Just to remind each and everyone – the Junior World Cup will be held in the Western Cape this year.
Herewith the programme for the first round of matches.
Pool A
04 Jun, 14:45 Wales – Fiji Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
04 Jun, 16:45 New Zealand – Samoa Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
08 Jun, 14:45 Fiji – Samoa University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
08 Jun, 16:45 New Zealand – Wales Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
12 Jun, 16:45 Wales – Samoa University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
12 Jun, 18:45 New Zealand – Fiji University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
Pool B
04 Jun, 16:45 England – Italy University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
04 Jun, 18:45 South Africa – Ireland Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
08 Jun, 18:45 South Africa – Italy University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
08 Jun, 18:45 England – Ireland Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
12 Jun, 14:45 Ireland – Italy Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
12 Jun, 18:45 South Africa – England Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Pool C
04 Jun, 14:45 Australia – Scotland University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
04 Jun, 18:45 France – Argentina University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
08 Jun, 14:45 Australia – Argentina Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
08 Jun, 16:45 France – Scotland University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
12 Jun, 14:45 Argentina – Scotland University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
12 Jun, 16:45 France – Australia Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Our interactive sat Twitter feeds has been fantastic. Everyone on Twitter can now watch the scores on the back channel live just look for any text contaiing the hashtg #wpclubrugby. Read, Retweet and share… its been a fantastic new inovation, which is brining WP Club Rugby together in way such as we have never seen before. Now no need for SMS across clubs.
TV Coverage
This week Cape Rugby TV will be filming the derby match between Sir Lowrians and Maccassar. You can watch the highlights on Cape Town TV on Wed night at 9pm. Yo can also view the highlights from the Belhar vs Villagers match bby clicking on the YouTube link below.
Rugby greetings
Herman Abrahams
Watch the latest WP Club Rugb clips and subscribe to the WP Club Rugby YouTube channel for the latest clips.