Festival of rugby at Constantia
A festival of rugby at Constantia this weekend will start on Friday night and end with Motorvaps False Bay squaring up against unbeaten Hamilton on Saturday.
The False Bay women’s team will host the highly-rated Busy Bees of Khayelitsha.
The match kicking off proceedings on Saturday is the eagerly awaited under-20 clash. The Hammies juniors have over the last number of seasons been perennial contestants for league honours, and are reigning under-20 champions, while coaches Ashley Pears and Kwakona Ngwanya have in a short while, built a thriving sector of the Bay community, with league honours a silent dream of all in that league.
Although Hammies have played one more match than their hosts and allowing for a five-match-point projection, the Bay are a single league point behind their opponents. Not only their A-group, but the other two Bay under-20 teams, competing in the UCT Internal League, are thriving.
Derbies are not about one team, they are in a sense a festival of rugby wherein all levels of teams enjoy the experience of pitting themselves against foe for eighty minutes, who immediately revert to friends after the shower. The Second Teams of both clubs will continue this thread, this time the host’s second stringers holding the log table edge over their guests. False Bay currently lie third, five points ahead of fifth-placed Hammies.
Reverting to the weather, when the Bay hosted Maties three weeks ago, former players and members took the opportunity to enjoy the day, contributing to a thoroughly enjoyable day of camaraderie. Saturday promises much of the same, this time with many Hamilton members and supporters well within travel distance to Constantia.
The Sea Pointers have been quietly getting on with the business in the Super League A, almost unstated in approach yet lethal in execution. Their pack is solid, their basics in this department sound, physical and uncompromising. Behind them is a game playing off that platform with an energetic and exciting scrumhalf, Conor van Eden combining well with a rangy eighthman not afraid to run with ball in hand.
Motorvaps False Bay too have an exciting line-up, although the loss of standout hooker, Jacques Goosen for this encounter could be felt. Their pack is effective, their three-quarters settling into a rhythm and style with which they are comfortable. There is a healthy balance of experience and youth, specifically in key positions and as demonstrated against Maties, the Bay back line can hit their straps and split defences somewhat on the day. Their bench also ups the ante when introduced in the second half.
The under-20 clash kicks off at 1.25pm and the main game at 4pm. Entry is R20 an adult and R20 a car. Pupils enter free.
