Round 5: 31 May 2006


This wednesday heralds the last round for this semester with Round 5 taking place on the 31st of May. I don't want to tempt fate and build it up too much, like say a Super 14 semi-final and then end up watching something like White Squall but there are some big match ups so its going to be a cracker.


See you there!

Wrap: Round 4…

It’s pretty impressive to think that nearly half of the round matches have already been completed and we are that much closer to the play-offs. After a week lay off big fireworks were expected to get the League up and running again and they certainly came.

In the A League Marquard ran in 4 tries to beat the Rochester Rhinos 24 – 0. Usually the winning side gets lauded but this week the hapless Rhinos get a consolatory pat on the back for only leaking 4 tries and actually coming very close to scoring one themselves. Rochester has been pretty dismal so far but what you can’t take away from them is the fact that they even arrive, which is more than we can say about Kopano. Both residences have the same amount of beds but we know Kopano has more boys (more boys than beds probably) so it is a shame they can’t produce 15 guys to come play some rugby on a Wednesday night. Barbarians walked away with 4 point without getting dirty.

In the B League, the Panthers back to their winning ways trounced College House 17-0 but were unable to secure the bonus point. They do seem to be over their earlier midseason upset and back to full form. Hidding then forced a come from behind draw when flyhalf and captain James White crossed for a late game try under the polls to end it 7 all against Smuts. Hidding were upset at having to come away with the ‘kissing your sister’ feeling although the Smuts guys were content in that any action is good action. The draw does open up the B-League log though.


In the two key matches, Shebeen Boys managed to lay claim to the Sobhar Shield for a 3rd successive week by convincingly beating the Spanners. They do look like parting with their prize very easily. The A-league Shield game was epic with the Cobras taking it in a come from behind win at the death. It was an incredible game of rugby and awesome to watch. Neither side baulked at any opportunity to run the ball and the entire game was played at a frenetic pace. The challengers Soco Thocos looked too good in the early stages but never managed to get out of distance on the scoreboard. Their first try was a touch of magic from captain Dale Owen but didn’t silence the hissing Cobra crowd long as they mounted their comeback. With the score against them at 10-5 the Cobras forced a tighthead on the 5m directly under the Soco Thocos poles and underrated flanker Dougal MacDonald crossed for the winner.

It was an awesome round of rugby marred only by Kopano’s failure to produce a side. The rest of the season is set to be a cracker.

Team of the Week: It’s a tricky one this week as it was hard to separate the teams so through default it will have to go to Marquard Lions after a valiant 4 try victory...

Try of the Week: The first try by Soco Thocos, it came from counter attack and Dale Owen’s stop go, step and weave before the perfectly weighted kick for the scorer to dive on was priceless. You can’t coach that.

Round 4: Hey Halo, let’s go...

It seemed pointless having a two week lay off so close to the commencement of this years League, but in retrospect it couldn’t have come at a better time. The weather has been absolutely atrocious and the fields drain like a bath full of water without removing the plug.


I am looking forward to the first winger running in a try through a puddle and waiting for the Jesus comments...

There are some big match ups on the card tonight; Marquard hosting Rochester for the wooden spoon honors and Kopano facing the Barbarians in the other A-league game. In the B-league College are going to try improve on their 60 point drubbing against the Panthers from last year whilst Smuts and Hidding will have it on for the 8pm fixture.

The 2 celebrity death matches this week are between the Shield holders and their respective challengers. The Purple Cobras have just managed to get their hands on the Shield and have to ward off the challenge from the 'other bishops old boys side' Soco Thoco’s to keep it. Look likes it is a rematch of the 2004 house match final. Meanwhile in the B-league the Shebeen Boys look to extend their record grip on the Shield for another week when they face the not so threatening Spanners.

However, from a spectator point of view, we are safe in the knowledge that the nature of the now famous Sobhar Shield is similar to that of Nadoe guys pulling chicks in Sobhar, the underdog always stands a chance…

And with that in mind, GO THE HURRICANES….

Wrap: Round 3...

What a night of rugby, or at least so I heard. Couldn't make this weeks round due to prior commitments in that place, with that girl, doing that thing but you know how it goes. That is the reason the highly sought after Medalist balls weren't available, but I'll make it up to. Hence I am wrapping this round vicariously...

As you can see from the results there were some close encounters and some not so close encounters. The Sobhar Shield seems to be injecting the extra impetus it was meant to with both of those games being tighter than a nun's...habit. The Purple "slap slap hiss" Cobras robbed Baabaas of their coveted Shiled depsite been outscored 4 tries to 3. The hapless Barbarians' kicker (if you can call him that) just had to knock one over for the win. Unfortunately for them regular kicker and star flyhalf Jamie Shaw was out with concussion. In the other game the Shebeen Boys retained the Shield for the 2nd consecutive week (a new record I might add) by beating off the contenders, Hidding Hall. The game could have gone either way with the Shebeen Boys scoring off a charge down and Hidding from an intercept. Ah, such is the nature of the game.

In the A League a fired up Ubumbo put the Marquard Lions to sleep with a convincing win, but were unable to gain the valuable 4 try bonus point. Nadoes swept through the Rochester Rhinos somewhat easily 55-0. This was expected though, and it was heard said on the touchline that spectators wished that the Rhinos' defence wasn't as pregnable as their first year girls...

In the B League, Panthers resurged from last rounds defeat to claim 5 log point after beating the Turtles 29-21. It was definitely a better result for the Turtles after some hapless wins and mention must go to Craig Heymans (related to cedric???) who scored all 3 of their tries. Not since the Kulula Dragons dominated the B-league has such a feat been repeated. (think it was their lank goodlooking rockstar fullback) Wildboys also chalked up a 5 point win against College House. Wildboys certainly have their eyes set on higher honours this year...

Prizes to follow...

Round 3: It's time...

We have been going through rounds like the Hidding Hall flyhalf goes through match balls and we are already onto Round number 3...

Last week's action is a precursor to what can only be described as a massive Wednesday night of rugby. There are some big pressure games for sides looking to edge into the final four come play-offs and getting the result now will be crucial.

Over and above this pressure we have the monstrous Sbhar Shield clashes again this week as the Baabaas defend their A League title and the Shebeen Boys look to do the same in the B League. The challengers this week are the highly rated Cobras and the age-old Hidding Hallers.



I fear sounding like an infomercial but I’ll take the risk. BUT wait there is more!!! Unfortunately the winner of the Sobhar Shield clashes will only be able to collect their prize at Sobhar after 10pm? You see the problem is that there is a huge White Tigress event at Sobhar and doors only open at 10pm.

Okay that needs clarification. The doors only open to GUYS at 10pm. Girls have been there since 7pm enjoying their ladies night. So basically you do the math: Sobhar packed with gorgeous women who have been drinking and partying it up for 3 hours and now we are releasing the Shield holders in to claim their prize. Like lambs to the slaughter…

Round 2 done…

The waterhead idiot that predicted no rain for last night is probably the same guy who predicted the Stormers would never beat the Crusaders. He couldn’t have been further from the truth…

One finds it difficult to say whether it actually rained last night or not. There was certainly some form of precipitation but it kinda just swirled and floated around instead of actually doing anything. Come to think of it, it was very similar to the Rochester defence.

From the results you will see that the wet conditions weren’t exactly conducive to champagne running rugby and only Ubumbo, aka the Junior Spears, managed to secure a 4-try bonus point. The weather did permit underdog sides to play above the level they were rated before the game and forced some tight results.

- The Nadoes bench practiced so hard, that rain wasn't going to stop them!

In the A-League Soco Thoco kept the highly rated Nadoes very honest and only went down 12-0. It was great to see a new side in the league giving the old guard such a good run for their money. Kopano also kept the table-topping (albeit after 2 rounds) hissing not-so-purple Cobras from reproducing their round 1 flurry of tries.

In the B-league, Smuts narrowly beat Turtles, in a game wrought with big hits, big runs and plenty of scrums. From the 3 inch ledge of shelter the ivy covered walls provide spectators would have been forgiven for thinking they were watching Phil Kearn’s DVD ‘The Best 100 Reset Scrums Ever’. Hidding Hall then produced an effective victory out of a tight game with the Spanners. Brett Roux crossing over for both of their 2 tries.


The final game in the B-league was an absolute upset with the Klippies & Cola Wildboys holding out 11-0 to the highly rated Pulse Panthers. This brought an end to Pulse’s 10 game winning streak since the beginning of 2005. The Wildboys strayed from the brand of rugby you would expect their brand sponsorship to suggest and played some entertaining rugby in the first half including a cracking try. Laddbrokes have been up all night re-thinking the odds they are now giving for the 2006 B-League.

Team of the Week: It was a toughie this week with sides like the Wildboys and Hidding sticking up their hands, but the prize has to go to Ubumbo for managing to score 5 tries in those conditions. (4 out of 5 were scored by forwards, but in support play not like Bulls forwards score) Yes, we wish our fields were as porous as Rochester D so the rain could drain away but take nothing away from Ubumbo, especially their case of zamaleg.

Tries of the Week:
3rd place: The game changer, Brett Roux’s first one for Hidding Hall.
2nd place: The game ender, Nadoes’ second and final try. Every player should get a mention except Ricketts.
1st place: I think it was Ubumbo’s 3rd try but when Phil Kearns edits his ‘Best 100 tries’ dvd it’ll be there.

Round 3 on the Green Mile next week, 10 May.

TEAM of the WEEK: Round 1

After much deliberation (and many public holidays) managment is glad to inform you that the winner of the 'Team of the Week' for round 1 is none other than, the side originally known as the Blacks, formerly known as the Southern Stylerz and currently know as Soco Thoco's...!!!

Yes they have changed their name more times than the Springboks rotate coaches and flyhalves but it seems they have stuck with this one harder than they stuck it out against a defiant Kopano side last week. The games ended 24-12 in their favour and they scored 4 great tries. Hopefully they can continue to attain results like this throughout the season but against the Nadoes tonight it could be an ask...

Your prize will be delivered shortly...

Round 2...

Big games, big hits, big party...