False Bay Rugby Football Club

 This is how the Super League A table stands as at 28 August 2010.

Stellenbosch University have wrapped up the title for the umpteenth year, ending yet another rare and brief reign as champions of WP Club rugby by another club, in this case Hamiltons.

Let’s take a look at the standings above and note a few things from a False Bay perspective.

The first and obvious one is that the Bay is guaranteed a Top 4 finish. UCT, in fifth position can only muster a maximum of 53 points upon completion. Ironically, they are the only club in the top 5 who the Bay could not beat this year(although False Bay did beat them in the Mark Jordaan Cup).

Dur-Bell will end second, a fine showing. They are a well-drilled outfit and a very good coach. Conversely to UCT, they were unable to beat the Bay this year, losing in Durbanville and then drawing at Constantia.

False Bay travel to Parow to face SLB bound NNK. The result will by no means be a fait accompli. NNK are unlikely to capitulate. They are a tough team to play at Parow. They have a wily coach in Francois Bonthuys, who perhaps has had not had the talent at his disposal this year, but who certainly oozes pride and who won’t allow his boys to skunk off with their tails between their legs.

As far as the Bay goes, the players see this game as all-important. A loss in this match will put a damper on their season. “We can’t lose there”, says Ryan Williams. “The supporters will remember the season by the last game and they will see it as a negative”, he continued.

That apart, a full five league points gives the Bay a Top 3 finish ahead of National Club Champs, Hamiltons, who have had a disappointing season despite the talent in their ranks.

Helderberg have two more games to play, first against Maties (a derby for them) and then UCT. They’re a good outfit, and their trademark of the season has been strong second half displays. They have scared the living daylights out of many a team and their analysis of the season must surely include why they start a match so slowly. If they manage to take 3 league points out of these next two fixtures, they leapfrog SK Walmers who have long finished their season.

Nevertheless, this is a Bay website, so back to us.

Our first year back in SLA and we have done exceptionally well. All too often last year and during the off-season, the warning that the SLA is a tough league and False Bay will find themselves back in the SLB within one season was sounded. These sage words were uttered by many, mostly in conversations which were overheard, but sometimes in after match functions in the SLB, uttered by envious opposition, themselves desperate for the chance to compete in the best club rugby division in the country.

There were many highlights of the 2010 season. The opening win against Hamiltons, followed up by the Bay’s “Student Orientation Week”, three matches within seven days against student teams. First there was the heart wrenching loss to UCT by a meagre point. Then the dazzling demolition of Victorians was three days later. Next the mighty battle a further three days later against now Club Champs, Maties, in which the Bay made everyone sit up and take notice with a fine one-point victory.

Later, following a disappointing loss to Villager at Brookside, False Bay turned the tables and beat them at Constantia in a wonderful day of competitive rugby and club activity. Both clubs played their part in making this one of the standout days of the season.

And then to Coetzenburg, the Bay quietly confident of yet another upset only to be smashed by a rampant Maties team. This had followed a most disappointing loss to UCT, ending the season against the Ikeys without a victory from two league matches(but one in the Mark Jordaan Cup).

Ten days after the Maties match, the Bay had to return to the student town to face Victorians on a cold Wednesday night. The way they started the match may have send shivers down the spines of all present, but the Bay turned on the taps and returned a fine result from a power performance to beat Vics 38-20. The turnaround was immense.

Saturday’s final match against NNK is big for reasons mentioned before. A 5-point victory is the minimum. It will not only give them a top 3 finish, but will also cap a wonderful return to the top flight for the Bay.

Make an effort to get to the Jan Burger Stadium in Parow. It’s a nice venue and the Bay can use your support. Then join in the celebrations as the club hosts their end-of-season party that evening.