Open clubs eyeing Varsity Cup scalps
It has been eight years since a non-university team won the National Club Championships, but the open teams are determined to beat the Varsity Cup teams to the silverware in 2009.
With 11 of the 14 provincial qualifying slots now confirmed, defending champions NWU-Pukke (Leopards) and Shimlas (Free State) find themselves in the rare position of being the only Varsity Cup teams - currently - in the draw for the 35th edition of the tournament, to be held in Pretoria from September 20-26.
With the Blue Bulls champions yet to be crowned, that figure looks set rise to three with the possible inclusion of Tukkies - but what is not in doubt is that this year's event will feature the strongest field of open clubs in many years.
Topping the list of challengers are South Africa's oldest rugby club, Hamilton's (Western Province), and the equally famous Johannesburg-based Pirates (Golden Lions).
For 'Hammies', established in 1875, this will be their first-ever visit to the Club Champs after finally getting the better of perennial champions Maties by winning the first round of the WP Super League A.
"It's a goal we've always had in the front of our minds, but we've never managed to achieve it," said Hamilton's President Dave Kagan.
"We are over the moon - but we haven't won the Super League yet and haven't done so since 1936. We are therefore working hard at keeping our players focused on the league first, and then the Club Champs."
Unbeaten Hammies hold a commanding lead at the top of the Super League, and are likely to be confirmed as champions should they continue their run of form and beat archrivals Maties (the double Varsity Cup-winning team) on Friday, August 21 in their return match at Green Point.
Pirates are Johannesburg's oldest club and the last open club to win the Club Champs.
Coached by current Springbok assistant Dick Muir back then, they beat Tygerberg 37-13 in the 2001 final and will be looking for a second national title after edging out another Varsity Cup team, UJ, in the Golden Lions' Grand Challenge.
"It's a massive surprise that Pirates have qualified," said Wynand Moolman, the Golden Lions' manager of amateur rugby.
"To beat a team like UJ, which plays in the Varsity Cup and has so much depth, is an incredible achievement."
Hammies and Pirates will face NWU-Pukke, Shimlas as well as Great Brakriver (South Western Districts), Rovers (Griffons), Springs (Valke), College Rovers (KZN), Kuruman (Griqualand West), Rawsonville (Boland) and Middelburg (Mpumalanga) at the most prestigious tournament on the club rugby calendar.
Interestingly, nine of the 11 teams did not play in the 2008 tournament, which suggests that the various provincial leagues have become increasingly competitive over the past couple of years and that generally no one team is dominating.
The only two sides thus far who are guaranteed of returning are NWU-Pukke and KZN champions College Rovers, who contested both the 2006 and 2008 finals.
Rovers, who won the competitive Moor Cup for the fourth time in a row this year, will also fancy their chances of finally winning a trophy that has always eluded them.
Three provinces - Blue Bulls, Border and Eastern Province - are yet to crown their champions.
The Border Premier League Final takes place on Saturday between champions Buffalo and Police. The match is at the Border Rugby Stadium with kick-off at 3pm.
The Blue Bulls' Carlton Cup Final also takes place on Saturday, between champions Tukkies and Police. The venue is Loftus Versfeld and kick-off is at 3.30pm.
Tuks beat Centurion 26-25 in a nail-biting first semifinal last weekend, thanks to 16 points from the boot of Justin van Staden. In an equally enthralling match, Police edged out another Varsity Cup side, TUT, 16-13, with Mike Erasmus kicking 11 points for the Bobbies.
The Eastern Province Grand Challenge semifinals will take place on Saturday, August 15 and Monday, August 17, with the final to be played on August 29. Park enjoy a seven-point lead over SAPS with only two matches to play in the Super Six.
Gardens host Park and Progress are at home to 2008 champions Despatch, with both matches taking place on the public holiday, Monday, August 10.
In the Boland Premier League, Rawsonville might have qualified for the Club Champs, but Robertson have a five-point lead at the top of the log with two rounds remaining. Rawsonville are third, 12 points adrift.
Five matches are scheduled for Saturday: Villagers Worcester host defending Club Champs Bowl champions Wesbank, Black Leave are at home to Wellington, Delicious travel to champions Roses United, Robertson host Abbotsdale, and Rawsonville are at home to Ceres.
In the KZN Murray Cup quarterfinals, champions Zululand Rhinos edged Crusaders 19-14, College Rovers beat Jaguars 27-6, Old Boys hammered PMB Varsity 61-0 and Durban Collegians got the better of Harlequins, 33-5.