Excitement galore down South

Last week's Western Cape fare appeared relatively unappetizing, even if it did toss up a couple of major surprises. Very few people could realistically have foreseen the Tigers' spirited renaissance, the tactical brilliance of Worcester Gym against HTS Drostdy or the margin of Gim's dominance over Bishops.

This weekend, in marked contrast, offers a wide variety of thrilling prospects. The crunch match, possibly of the year - although Boishaai do host Grey (Bloem) in a few weeks' time - will be Paul Roos's visit to Paarl Gim, which is covered more fully elsewhere.

However, the other Premier A sides are all involved, mostly against each other for a change.

HTS Drostdy make a belated first local appearance with a visit to Bishops. The hosts will need to use their perennial strength, their backline, to full effect if they are to tame this beast. In a forward vs forward confrontation, they stand as much chance of success as a narcoleptic tightrope walker. Worcester Gym solved the puzzle last week to gain an astonishing 15-15 away draw. Now, can Bishops exploit the same cracks? Promises to be a fascinating clash.

SACS welcome the gentlemen of Paarl Boys' High with last year's 75-0 Brug Street battering still fresh in everyone's minds. The Young Ikeys have a few concerns to take care of, the most obvious probably being the inability to find touch from penalties, but otherwise they are a far more spirited, up-beat and talented unit than last year's crew. Then again, Boishaai have had twelve days' rest since Wildeklawer and word is that, like on a clear night after weeks of cloud, there should be lots of stars on view again.

Rondebosch appear to be treading water at this stage. A medium-term injury to captain Danie Krynauw will be offset by the return of, inter alia, halfbacks Luke Houba and Tyren Lee, the former after several weeks on the touchline, but the Canigou Carnivores are still going to have to show masses of character if they are to make a dent in Boland Landbou out at Windmeul. Gone are the plodding forwards and little-used backs of bygone years: this Landbou crop plays a beautiful flowing game of a quality to which any team would aspire. Newcomer Danïel Minnaar adds a nice attacking edge at inside centre to what is already a smooth-running back division.

This leaves Wynberg. Well, actually Wynberg leave Cape Town, huge numbers of their learners making the trek up to Grey High in Port Elizabeth for the latter's birthday celebrations. The 'Berg have plotted this year's campaign trail meticulously, leaving themselves a smooth path up to this point. It is hardly surprising that they remain unbeaten. Grey were too until Queen's put in a great second half surge last Saturday. Such is the slick operation of the Cape Town unit, one is tempted to suggest an away win could be on the cards. A titanic battle, without a doubt.

Even the Premier B offers one enthralling prospect as Tygerberg entertain Stellenberg. The Tygers nearly destroyed the form book against Waterkloof in March, only to totter dizzily two days later. Last Saturday they were back in top gear against Paul Roos. Their supporters will be holding thumbs that they don't produce another post-climactic dip, although, with 2011 SA Schools B centre Edwin Sass fully fit following a nagging shoulder niggle, the chances of that happening are pretty slim.

There's lots to get excited about up the Garden Route. Two top-flight derbies see Langenhoven Gym face Oudtshoorn and Outeniqua host Punt. The first is going to be nail-bitingly close, one suspects, while the latter is played against the backdrop of last year's shock home win by the Mossel Bay boys. The Quaggas will want to bury this one deep. Well-travelled and highly qualified Punt supremo Tian Stemmet is sure to have a plan to outwit their opponents.

Oakdale entertain in-form Uitenhage unit HTS Daniël Pienaar in Riversdale for a game in which both sides will be hell-bent on establishing their credentials as possible national top 20 sides.

There's even a cliffhanger for Boland rugby fans.

Worcester Gym may have nabbed a draw against HTS Drostdy on Saturday, but this week, at Bosvarkpark, they cross swords with an ominously well-balanced Hugenote side whose colours have only been lowered once this season, 15-10 by Paul Roos, in a 20 minutes each way affair.

Inspired by prolific flyhalf Nelius Hauptfleisch and forwards of the quality of lock Gideon Koegelenberg and no 8 Larnelle Maralack, the Blackies have been playing the kind of expansive rugby that has yielded 46 tries in eight full-games.

Who will win this battle of wits: Bankies van der Bank or Lance Sendin?

This side of those mountains Schoonspruit hit the road to Piketberg for a Classic Clash. Neither side has really fired this campaign. They may both have won six days ago, but, just before that, Piketberg were whacked 42-12 by Charlie Hofmeyr and Schoonspruit conceded the Malmesbury derby 15-29 to Swartland. A case of even-Stevens if ever there was one.

Still up for more? Next Tuesday there's the Vredenburg derby (Vredenburg vs Weston), while, on Wednesday, HTS Drostdy are at home to plucky Swartland, Labori's trip to Stellenbosch High looks promising and Klein Nederburg host Hugenote in a Boland league encounter.

Western Cape Fixtures for Saturday 12 May
(Home teams first)

Augsburg Gym vs Charlie Hofmeyr
Bishops vs HTS Drostdy
Boland Landbou vs Rondebosch
Brackenfell vs Primrose RFC
Bredasdorp vs Overberg
De Kuilen vs HTS Bellville
Dirkie Uys vs Fairmont
Grey High vs Wynberg
Jan van Riebeeck vs DF Malan
Labori vs President
Langenhoven Gym vs Oudtshoorn
Langenhoven High vs Knysna
Montagu vs Hermanus
New Orleans vs Hawston
Oakdale vs HTS Daniël Pienaar
Paarl Gym vs Paul Roos
Parel Vallei vs Stellenbosch
Piketberg vs Schoonspruit
Porterville vs Hopefield
Punt vs Outeniqua
Robertson vs Montana
SACS vs Paarl Boys’ High
Seavuna vs PW Botha
Strand vs Monument Park
Swartland vs Bellville
Tygerberg vs Stellenberg
Vredenburg vs Durbanville
Worcester Gym vs Hugenote

By Tony Stoops