SK Walmers are yet to record a win in this year’s Western Province Club Rugby Super League A season after they were beaten 22-7 by Villagers under the Brookside lights on Friday night (17 June).
Having secured a healthy sponsorship, Villagers have acquired several top-class players, including former Boks Rudy Paige (scrumhalf) and Roelof Smit (flank) as well as former Stormers fullback Grant Hermanus.
This meant Villagers held too many aces for the visitors as they built up a 22-0 lead at the half-time interval.
Smit was a tower of strength in the loose and capped a fine performance with a hat trick of tries.
In the second half, it was a different story as the Bo Kaap side played with more intent.
They scored the only try of the second stanza via centre Shaheem Ismail.
Union-Milnerton moved to the top of the Super League A Division by virtue of their 37-7 bonus-point win over the visitors Brackenfell on Saturday 18 June. They now lead UCT by a single point, but the students have a game in hand.
Brackenfell was disappointing and failed to replicate the form they displayed a week earlier when they beat False Bay.
The margin of victory – five tries to one – spoke volumes. Uni-Mil’s forwards were in a rampant mood, dominating the set pieces, especially in the set scrums where the front row, comprising Tiny van Wyk, Xander Kuys and Kevin Nqindi, had the Brakke on the back foot.
They were also collectively quicker to the point of breakdown to secure ample second-phase possession.
Among the backs scrum-halves, Labib Kannemeyer was elusive as usual and kept the Brakke defence on its toes. While fullback Alroy Brandt scored his customary try.
For Brakke, Dan Aspeling at centre tried hard until he was yellow carded.
Tygerberg, at home, gave an improved performance by beating NTK 36-20.
After a layoff of four weeks, they played with more cohesion and discipline with flyhalf Adrian Roberts providing a steady flow of possession to his fleet-footed backs.
Hooker Colwyn Manchest was like an extra loose forward about the park and made his presence felt at the breakdown.
He capped a fine performance with a try.
In the remaining Super League A fixture, Kuils River gained much-needed points at the expense of Paarl, winning a closely contested game 31-28 away from home
In the Super League B Division, Helderberg overwhelmed Vineyards 85-24, while Collegians lost to visitors Hands and Hearts 36-24 in a game that produced thrilling running rugby.
In the Super League C Division, Rangers are still unbeaten following their 25-13 win over Albions of Paarl.
Super League A:
Paarl 28, Kuils River 31
Tygerberg 36, NTK 20
Union-Milnerton 37, Brackenfell 7
Super League B:
Collegians 24, Hands & Heart 36
Helderberg 85, Vineyards 24
Langa 44, Primrose 12
St. Georges 27, Franschhoek 9
Super League C:
Albions 13, Rangers 24
Blue Jets 17, Raithby-Universals 12
CPUT 45, Kraaifontein 26
Kylemore 60, Blue Stars United 45
Macassar 27, Morningstar 24
Pniel Villagers 22, Eerste River 8
