Maties Set Benchmark

Defending champions and 12-time winners Maties sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the field on the opening day of the 34th SAA National Club Champs, when they crushed invited team Raiders 65-11 at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

There were also first-round wins for Tukkies, College Rovers, Roses United, University of Johannesburg, CUT Ixias and Pukke, while Valke champions Brakpan emerged as dark horses for the title after a clinical display against two-time champions Despatch, who were making their first appearance at the tournament since 1993.

In the Bowl competition, there were wins for SWD’s Barbarians and Boland’s Wesbank.

Brakpan, led superbly by provincial lock Nico Luus, set an early benchmark as far as the tournament’s open clubs are concerned, while Tukkies showed enough in their nailbiting 31-28 win over WP’s SK Walmers that they, too, can be counted among the possible title contenders.

The SAA Club Champs resumes at 10am on Tuesday, when the Plate quarterfinals and the second round of the Bowl kick off. The first of the Cup quarterfinals start at 1pm at the Danie Craven Stadium, with the main match kicking off at 5.30pm.

College Rovers (24) 45 Buffalo (13) 26

In an match in which both coastal teams gave the ball plenty of air, KZN champions College Rovers ran in seven tries against Border champions Buffalo to qualify for Tuesday’s Cup quarterfinals.

Rovers, with Sharks players Chris Jordaan (fullback), Riaan Swanepoel (centre) and Sandile Nxumalo (scrumhalf) at the helm, raced into a commanding lead at the break against a Buffs side that were slightly outweighed up front but certainly not lacking in experience, thanks to the presence of former Springbok hooker Delarey du Preez in the No 1 jersey.

Rovers’ tries were scored by centre Jarryd Nash and Swanepoel, wing Wesley Bodmer, eighthman Abonga Nkwelo, flanker Justin Downey, and replacements Neil Cole and Maluzi Zuma. Flyhalf Andrew Borgen kicked three conversions, with Jordaan and replacement back Chris Micklewood, the former KZN Schools fullback, slotting one each.

For Buffalo, left wing Dennis Taylor and hooker Sean Hoole touched down while flyhalf Rynard Gerber kicked three penalties and two conversions. Fullback Jeff Taljaard also kicked three points.

Other Day One Results:

Barbarians (12) 0 Eersterust (0) 0
Wesbank (25) 38 Gardens (5) 10
Brakpan (21) 31 Despatch (6) 18
Pukke (15) 42 Bridgton (0) 5
UJ (17) 17 Welkom (5) 8
CUT Ixias (12) 29 Kimberley Police (13) 13
Roses United (8) 32 Nelspruit (13) 20
Tukkies (10) 31 SK Walmers (5) 28
Maties (34) 65 Raiders (6) 11

Fixtures for Tuesday 9 September:

BOWL (second round):
F field – 10am Gardens v Barbarians; 11.30am Wesbank v Eersterust

PLATE (quarterfinals)
C field – 10am Welkom v Bridgton; 11.30am Kimberley Police v Despatch
B field – 10am SK Walmers v Buffalo; 11.30am Raiders v Nelspruit

PREMIER (quarterfinals) Danie Craven Stadium
1pm – UJ v Pukke
2.30pm – CUT Ixias v Brakpan
4pm – Tukkies v College Rovers
5.30pm – Maties v Roses United

- ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY UNION