Wrap Round 9:

Round 9 was like Lote Tuquiri and Internal League was Richie Macaw last night, the former turned the latter on its head. The difference however lies in the fact that the braided freak got an eleven week lay-off and the league only got 2.

As was built up preceding last night it was always going to be the fat lady before the sides were cut to the final four. In both leagues the 4th finalist wasn’t secured and there were plenty outsiders in with a chance. Those chances were laid on the mile last night and some teams stood up and took them whilst others couldn’t get a firm enough grip.

Bad luck to those that have been excluded. Have a sweet off-season (College have a good building year) and we will see you in 2007. Just to let you in on a secret. 2007 is a world cup year so things may become a little interesting!!!

The fact the green mile also had to host an under 20 club game last night meant the round was going to be a shambles from the start but the late (and non-) arrival of refs made it fairly chaotic. Thank fully the side involved were fairly relaxed about it and just want to play so sport so the delay wasn’t material in the end.

Every game last night besides the Nadoes Kopano game was to be played for more than the mootness of points difference. The carrot of making the semis gave extra impetus to the importance of each game. First up saw the Turtles aspiring to a 5 point victory against the Spanners to force themselves into 4th spot contention. They played some good rugby and scored 3 tries in the first half but were unable to secure the bonus in the second. They won 17-0. The Spanners weren’t perturbed by the score line and their new jersey strip was enough to keep them happy. Such would be the case for anyone I suppose who waited 9 weeks for their jerseys.

The first up game was set to be an epic tussle between Barbarians and Ubumbo, with Ubumbo looking to secure a valuable win to make the semis. Unfortunately the hype of the game turned into a damp squib as the game was marred with unnecessary violence and some hot headed play that is more appropriate in a cage fight than on the green mile. Both sides can be embarrassed that they brought that type of conduct to an establishment with a proud rugby history that is so averse to the type of play that is synonymous with the rest of the Western Cape’s rugby. Barbarians won 12-8. Funnily enough the ref was blamed but I didn’t see him throw one punch so the shame rest on either team.

The next game in the B League saw Smuts up against a resurgent College side and looking for a few points to secure a semi place. The mighty College side has been unbeaten on the B field so far this year and Smuts had their work cut out for them. Smuts defended well in the first half and didn’t allow College any points despite the heavily advantageous wind. In the second half College did the same to keep it tight but Smuts scored to cracking friggan tries in the space of 5 minutes to take the lead and the win. 13-5.

The next A League game saw Marquard up against Soco Thoco for the semi finals place. Marquard needed a 5 point win (ie: four tries) and couldn’t allow ST to stay within 7. Simple enough right? Get 5, don’t let them get 1. Unfortunately the academic acceptance streaming process amongst residences is no more apparent than at Internal League as Marquard fielded a host of u21A1’s players meaning an automatic docking of a log point and reducing the total they could claim to 4. They followed up this stroke of genius with a ‘lets do it for the semis’ war cry before running on. They loss 5 zip anyway, and still managed to blame the ref.

The final B league game was a pressure cooker with the Wildboys hosting the Shebeen Boys on the B field. I love alliteration. Both sides were through to the semis but a win would dictate who would play the easier game against Smuts. Playing with the wind in the first half SBs struggled to put enough phases together to breach the impressive WBs defence. However 2 WB were binned for a crunching tackle, despite the 2nd not been anywhere near it and now the SB were only faced with 13 defenders. I think the tackle was so big the ref decided it warranted a double punishment so sort a scapegoat. Harsh but fair. Bizarrely SB opted for a shot at goal out front which even more bizarrely hit the upfront. I wasn’t joking than upfront. It was more direct than a Carinus girl with a jug of beer in her. However the ref called a retake since a WB player moved. The second attempt was successful. Many would have questioned this decision but her boyfriend was sideline and looking fairly menacing and a lot like Wylie Human. Actually it was Wylie Human.

SB then scored an important try on the stroke of halftime but a stingy 8-0 lead was not enough in the wind. WB came back strongly with their full compliment and scored 2 good tries to take them into a 12-8 lead. Not so surprisingly they also took a shot at goal from a penalty that made the drunken Carinus girl look like a challenge it was so easy. He hit the cross bar. Penalties are boring in their own right but missing them is actually rather enjoyable as a spectator.

- Carinus girls: Drunk, easy and super keen for a semi....

The final A league game saw Nadoes fire up the old engine to put 45 point past Kopano. The game was a tad sluggish in places and the Kopano defence disrupted the play sufficiently to prevent an outright blow out but it wasn’t ever an even match. Kopano’s biggest highlight was certainly their vocal supporters. They have dropped the push up act (think they didn’t expect to score) and resorted to hilarious sideline commentary. Rather funny actually.

Team of the Week: The UCT RFC u20 Cubs. They dominated the C-field from 7pm and came back, into the wind, to beat an undoubtedly over-aged Primrose RFC team 20-15. By far the best game of the night. Wildboys get a close second and the case of beer.

Tries of the Week:
3.) College’s 16 man push over try was a beauty. Good forward play is hardly appreciated enough so to turn a backline more into a maul and roll it over with the whole team is a sight that would make Phil Kearns squeal like a pig. Chief Vass can definitely be credited with the score, since he is the only backline player that actually looks like a forward.
2.) Warren Kelly gets an award for the best try and best non-try of the night for his efforts fro Soco Thoco. He scored a cracker, then went over for another cracker and didn’t prove to the ref enough that he put it down. He claims it was.
1.) Shared between the two Smuts tries. They were actually fucking brilliant. Both expertly executed pieces of interplay with guys running on from depth and proving that skill is still a requirement to play rugby. Lovely!

Hit of the week:
Shebeen Boys were down 12-8, in the final minute, and searching in the Wildboys 22m for a gap in the defence to take the win. They produced a 4 on 2 out wide and spread the ball wide. With 2 mean outside him the ball carrier decided to draw the last man before floating the pass. I don’t think he will recall that because from out of nowhere Kenny Kirkby put in an absolute Samoan of a hit cutting the guy in half and forcing the knock on and final whistle. It was one of those silence hits, it was so hard the crowd felt it and didn’t have the wind the cheer.

So there we have it. Finals four now and then on to the Finals.

See you on the Mile….