False Bay Rugby Football Club

To the nervous Bay support, a six-point difference did not appear sufficient; especially considering the ascendency the home team seemed to have in the forwards. The Durbell scrums were solid and sometimes stronger than the usually even encounters and then, even more ominous was the way the big home pack rolled their mauls almost at will, indeed scoring two tries through effective rolling mauls off lineouts which were set up from penalties.

Let’s clear that up. On two occasions Durbell had goalable penalties and opted to kick for position. From the ensuing lineouts, they effortlessly mauled the ball over the line to score. If this was to continue in the second half, with the stiff breeze and a Bay pack sterile in defence of a rolling maul, the hosts were certain to score more tries.

In the first half, the Bay was the more enterprising team with ball in hand. Although their forwards may not have been dominant at all times, they did create opportunity for the Bay backline to launch attacks on the advantage line. Here Brendell Brandt excelled as did fullback Riaan van der Vyver, whose enterprise on counter attack continues to cause excitement and consternation at the same time.

The Bay’s first try was a clever use of the rolling maul to draw defence and suck numbers in, with a break by captain Justin van Winkel against the maul into space. A few minutes later, Riaan van der Vyver countered from his 22 and fed off to Vlam van Vuuren, then to Danie Roux, and Rhidaa Damon was on hand to score the try of the day.

Flyhalf Dimitri Catrakilis converted both, and also added three penalties and a well-taken drop goal. He was the kingpin in the Bay team, controlling proceedings with confidence and wisdom beyond his age. This lad has it all, an ample boot, vision, pace and the time only true talent possesses.

Durbell, renowned for being nigh invincible on their own turf, were a controlled team in the first half. They appeared to possess the confidence that they will rein in the end, a scary attitude for the visiting support to witness. It was palpable and quite honestly, it looked as if it would prove true.

As the first half progressed and the Durbell pack rumbled on, this looked to be the case, especially considering that the wind would be at their backs. One literally envisaged penalty after penalty being put out on the corner and a try being scored from the lineout with their effortless maul.

Two things stopped that vision from materialising.

Inexplicably the strong breeze died down and the Bay pack discovered some heart and a plan to negate the home pack. Not only were Durbell negated, they were dished up a healthy helping of their own dish as the Bay forwards rolled and mauled for metre after energy sapping metre. This, together with the Bay backline enterprise, meant that the Durbell line was more often under threat than the Bay’s.

Durbell did attempt the plan of kicking for touch off a penalty. One particular kick for touch was deftly played inside from the touchline by Bay wing, Jaco Roux and van der Vyver cleared most effectively. This was a crucial bit of defensive work. Had the home side scored then, the scales could have tipped in their favour.

False Bay on review will recognise at least three tries wasted through wrong options or inaccurate passing. They deserved this victory, which so nearly could have ended as a ‘sister’s kiss’, a draw. Durbell were hard on attack in the closing moments of the contest and only some resolute defence by the entire Bay team kept them from scoring a try, which would have shared the spoils.

For Durbell, fullback Warren Abrahams was enterprising and exciting with ball in hand. His pace and agility ignited those around him and had defenses stretching somewhat. Lock Gerry Sifoko also caught the eye, as did Danny Theron, replacement scrumhalf.

For False Bay, Catrakilis was outstanding, as were Whalied Heyns, and Riaan van der Vyver. Others to catch the eye were van Winkel, whose work rate is exceptional and flank Ryan Williams, whose big hits were devastating. Vlam van Vuuren, replacement hooker showed up nicely in the loose, Ryan Olivier ran hard with the ball in hand, and Rhidaa Damon was his usual industrious self.

False Bay’s tries were scored by Damon and van Winkel, with Catrakilis scoring the rest through two conversions, three penalties and a drop goal.

Durbell’s points came from tries by Pieter Wium, Gerry Sifoko and Wayne Torrenson. Morne Vletter converted two.

After six matches, False Bay finds themselves in second place on the SLA table.

They play NNK at Constantia on Saturday, and then have a bye. They host SK Walmers on 29 May and then travel to Villager on 5 June for the first Derby between these two clubs in 9 years.