False Bay Rugby Football Club

BAY SHUT VILLAGER OUT

False Bay completed a resounding victory over Southern Suburbs rivals, Villager RFC in the derby at Constantia on Saturday. The final score was 35-13 after the Bay led 22-6 at the break.

After a disappointing loss to UCT the week before, the Constantia unit was in a determined mood, keen to impress the large crowd in attendance. Not only were they intent on a resounding victory, they sounded a strong intention to entertain with an expansive, fast paced game.

This delivered some exciting rugby but many chances went a begging as attempts at switch passes and acute running angles resulted in numerous spilled passes and wasted opportunities.

Again following the emphatic performances of their Second and Third Teams, both of whom delivered clear victories in the curtain raisers, the Bay First XV set about attacking the visitors with a combination of power play up front and quick-paced backline moves.

The Bay forwards were combative, with locks Jaco Nel and Graham Knoop carrying the ball strongly. Knoop, a standout player throughout the season was all over the pitch, his experience as a loose forward equipping him to anticipate play well. Nel, a Bakkies Botha look alike, has grown in presence on the pitch as his game time has increased in the latter stages of this season. He charged at the opposition whenever the opportunity presented itself, accumulating valuable running yards in the process.

In contrast Villager tried valiantly to compete and they did so well. The Claremont based club appears to lack confidence, with a little self-belief all that seems to be amiss at times. Indeed this became apparent when the Bay were stalled on a twelve point lead, and Villager sensing that all was not lost, took the challenge to the hosts.

This said, if the home side had banked their numerous chances at scoring tries in the first half, the contest would certainly have been over by the drinks break. Their apparent decadent squandering of possession showed their superiority in the contest.

With flyer  Gafhoor Luckhan moving to centre, Liaan Scriven attacking the gainline at ten, and two extremely rapid wings in the Roux cousins, Danie and Jaco, running the ball was the only option. Had the execution of the moves been more accurate, the sizeable club rugby crowd would have witnessed a feast of running rugby.

The Bay’s opening score came from a quick penalty by Knoop, who charged over the line unchallenged. Jaco Roux later added another try and then combined with Danie to give the Bay the 22 -6 half time scoreline. Scriven had converted two as well as a penalty. Warren Edwards made kicking into the wind look easy with two well-taken penalties, a  reminder that while he was on the pitch the scoreboard would continue to roll.

Villager showed better composure when the match resumed, delivering a more focused attack. Fullback Shane Stewart caught the eye with some strong and elusive running. Edwards, ever the maestro, kept his team going forward with some clever kicking and astute distribution. Inside him scrumhalf, Christo Terb tried hard in the face of some tough in-your-face opposition play. Up front lock Rito Hlangweni delivered his standard classy performance and warhorse Neil Cleghorn was an inspiration to his team mates.

The Brookside front row of Ryno van Rooyen, Ricus Rossouw and Dave Geffen, performed well against an experienced outfit. Villager coach, former French International Pieter de Villiers was acknowledged as the strongest tighthead prop in his day, and his influence on the technique of his charges is obvious.

Only a cynic would deny the Bay’s dominance in every phase barring the scrums (which were level). The home side’s forwards were mobile and busy, their loose forwards pests at the breakdown, and their backs innovative and hungry for work.

Bay eighthman Ryan Williams revelled in the contest against his old club, picking up and driving with force and tackling with even more of it. At the back, the Roux wings, Luckhan, and fullback Damien Janse van Rensburg launched wave after wave of attack on the Villager lines. Of course what would a match report be without the mention of scrumhalf Ridhaa Damon.

False Bay scorers: Tries by Knoop, Jaco Roux, Danie Roux and Ryan Williams. Scriven converted two as well as two penalties. Pieter Benade succeeded with a conversion.

Villagers scorers were a try by Stewart with Edwards converting two penalties and the try.

False Bay travel to Green Point to face Hamiltons on Saturday. Kick off is at 4 pm.