UCT Internal League Rugby

2007-09-27T11:08:00.000+02:00

The Final Wrap.

“There has to be a loser, and the important thing in this setup is to be able to play good clean rugby with mates and enjoy it…”

Walking the Green Mile!

The man who smsed me these words is a man that falls into the wise campaigner category. He has seen it all, played it all, experienced it all and more than qualified to make those profound statements that cut straight to the truth and that are void of clichés.

The Finals Round last night was the finale to an exceptionally long season of rugby and we can be proud to say that the spirit and the vibe on the Green Mile last night is testament to the notion that the values that underpin fair contest and sportsmanship are a running strong in our Internal League rugby.

The Green Mile was a hive of rugby and social activity last night with the on field antics a very appreciable spectacle for the off field masses. On occasion the poor guy in the stand had to do is utmost to concentrate on the game as opposed to on a pom-pom armed Wadda angel but either way he got his monies worth for the ticket price.

The revamped format for 2007 saw all 16 teams playing 9 games amassing a record 72 fixtures through the season. This is more rugby than has ever been hosted on the Green Mile and a very subjective opinion maintains that it was probably the best level of rugby ever.

Last night was no different and although many sides were feeling the affects of a long season or weren’t playing in the final that they would have aimed to play in they still came out with equal gusto as if it was the first game of the season.

The Wooden Spoon Final saw the brave but now somewhat dejected Kopano side turn out for one last valiant effort to get that elusive W on the scorecard. Through sheer divine intervention the Spanners came to the party with a run on side and allowed Kopano the opportunity and even scored two tries themselves. Kopano winning 38-12.

The Spanners: Proffessionalism is overrated.

The Can Final turned out to be a test match spectacle as Smuts took on Ikhaya in a monumental game. Ikhaya certainly boast the biggest traveling off field entourage and their yelling supporters urged them to a last gasp buzzer try in the corner to win 8-7. Smuts led 7-3 for much of the game with captain Mike Vice having a storming game but unfortunately sans the support necessary to convert line-breaks into tries.

The Funnel Final is the most sort after plaque to add to the trophy cabinet and Clarendon took on College for the honours. Unfortunately the game soured with the ref handing out cards like the RWC citing commission was handing out week bans and they were deserved too. College won 12-5 but the College red card lock gets special mention for being the only prick on the Mile last night.

The Bowl Final has replaced the traditional minnow’s league title and has a reputation as being as hard fought and fiercely contested as any higher contest battle. The Shebeen Boys have been losing semi-finalists in the bottom 8 since we stopped playing with a leather ball and this year they reproduced their off field unity between the white lines. In a performance dictated by strong forward play and backline accuracy, Shebeen held out the Eastern Cape 2 Rios 19-10 in a typical final. An excellent result on all accounts.

The Mug Final is the equivalent to the top 8 spoon and the Turtles took on the Barbarians in an energetic game. Both sides were oh-so-close to higher honours but lost narrowly in the play offs to end up playing this game. It was an even contest that Barbarians came from behind to win 12-7.

The Plate Final was between Wildboys and Marqaurd and was a try thriller. Both sides play an offensive ball style of play and the result was a far cry from the blanket rugby (at any stage all 30 players would fit under a duvet) that internal league sometimes slips into. Wildboys were like Nigerian immigrants in Long street and ran everything with perennial attacking force Warren Oupa Kelly carving up defenders at will. The Wildboys won convincingly 29-5.

The 3^rd/4^th playoff saw Ubumbo and the Panthers return to meet each other after both coming so close in the hard lost semi finals only just a week before. The physicality of last weeks semis would crumble lesser men but both sides returned gracious losers to fight it out for 3^rd without shying away from the same body on the line effort from the previous games. It was a tight a fair that the ref managed to cock up by blowing the first half 10 minutes too early but Ubumbo came back from 0-5 at the half to win 12-10.

The Cup Final was a highly anticipated affair. Nadoes have a play off record that would make any Australian national team (bar the socceroos) nod and whistle in respect but the Cobras were definitely the form side so far this season. As with the 3^rd/4^th play off both sides tested in emotionally and physically draining semi-finals the week before and matching those performances would be tough.

In the opening 5 minutes Nadoes combined unbelievable luck, crazy skill and great vision to score two freak tries. Standing under your uprights 14-0 down only 5 minutes into a contest cannot be the warmest place in the world. What was going through the heads of the young side will remain a mystery but you can be certain you are glad it wasn’t you.

Cobras showed why they were playing in the final and came back strongly. They used the wind well to get good field placing but weren’t able to convert territory into scoreboard numbers. They recovered admirably to right the ship but were struggling to get momentum in the sails.

The 2^nd half was upon us like a prurient Carinus girl and both sides dead locked each other. The Nadoes defense closed up shop like the English batting side when they are 400 runs behind on the 5^th day of a test match and the Cobras were unable to score. A rare incursion into the Cobras half saw the Nadoes pick up a shot at goal that was successfully landed to give them a 17 point lead and one hand on the trophy.

The game was then marred by some senseless late charges from the Nadoes loose 3 that earned the one a yellow and then the ref showed consistency in binning the Cobras flank for a similar, albeit weaker, challenge.

The shut out effect of the Nadoes defense frustrated the Cobras attack. They made some excellent line breaks and half gaps but never from a field position they could convert into points and the Nadoes cover would then just shut it down. The Cobras were running out of time and started attacking with reckless abandon. Passes didn’t go to hand and they paid the price of all risk rugby as the Nadoes scored twice at the death to take it 27-0.

The night was over in a flash and the party began in earnest. It was the perfect end to a long season. Regardless of whether your side won or lost that is all forgotten once you’re huddled around a waist high pile of SAB products, singing raucous songs you wouldn’t repeat in front of your mom and holding the back of the jersey of the guy who may turn out to be the god-parent of your son.

Pain is weakness leaving the body, chicks dig scars, glory lasts as long as memories do, and good times can only be had in the present but best friends last forever…

The Green Mile is closed for renovations, so I’ll see you on the sandy Clifton mile…

2007-09-25T11:24:00.000+02:00

The Finals...

The finals are far bigger than this picture. Please note starting times and field allocations.

2007-09-21T12:29:00.000+02:00

Semi Final Wrap...

At 17h30 there was an eerie silence over the long Green Mile that separates UCT from the rest of the world, but within minutes this change to a cacophony of raucous sideline support, loud on field game talk and the pumping beats of the Sound Guy testing Bokjol Sokkie Treffers Ses on his newly erected sound stage...but focus mustn't be taken away from the games that separated the men from the boys...

The Semis lived up to the hype and expectation and the evening was the busiest one down on the Mile for the entire season. The vibe was tangible and the rugby entertaining...

Apart from the Spanners no-show the evening was one played in the true spirit of the league bar one or two minor incidents and generally, in fact overwhelmingly so, the night was one for what Varsity Internal League is all about. Sure, there will always be critics but those that have not found favour in the league and its new format are unsurprisingly the ones with a L ticked in the results column. Stop bitching and come back next year prepared...

Marquard v Turtles was a great spectacle of rugby. The young boys from lower campus came out playing a rugby brand that you usually wouldn't associate part timers with and it showed on the scoreboard. Their first try was champagne 7 pointer that wouldn't look out of place on a shelf of Dom Perignon. It start from a long down field Turtles kick. Marquard fullback Ed Scuur through a long ball infield to flyhalf William Nesi Ryder on the run. He stepped it up into the opposition half where quick ruck ball saw Marquard attacking up the left flank. Again involved, Scuur made a linebreak got the offload, the ball went from 13 to 11 who streaked away to send the ball back infield to charging GQ lock Brett Snjders who dotted down under the posts.

Marquard scored again but Turtles reiterated why they had got this far in the league with heavy defence and clawed back into the game when they scored a brilliant try straight after half time. Marquard resurged though and scored a further two tries, both again from William Nesi Ryder magic.

The 18h30 games entertained a back to form Easterns side handing it to the Clarendon Knights (22-0) and the Barbarians getting schooled by the Wildboys (19-5). The latter game was a match between two sides that had higher hopes that a semi final place but the result means the Wildboys will play Marquard for 5th place whilst the Barbarians must beat the Turtles for 7th.

At 19h30 the Shebeen Boys beat College House to advance into the Bowl final. The game was tighter than Os Du Randts jersey going into the half but Shebeen scored twice in the second to win 12-0. The other game was found in the Oxford Concise dictionary for Advanced Learners under "contest".

Con-test:, (kon-test') n. - 1. struggle between two rivals, namely the Nadoes and Panthers for higher glory. 2. Hard fought battle. The game was titanic. Both sides attacked and defended recklessly with the game flowing at a high pace for long passages of play. The Panthers have an impressive Internal League record but have never played out of the anachronistic B League structure. Here they stepped up and showed that top side monikers don't by default fall to the traditional A league sides as there are other sides that are more capable. Backline talisman Scott Dyson was again the trigger that shot the Panthers scoreboard to an impressive 10-3 lead late in the second half.

The Nadoes aren't 10 time world champions for nothing and they came back strongly having to show serious mettle to get the necessary field position from which to launch an assault on the Panthers goal line. Eventually they broke through to score under the poles. 10 all! Panthers had a last minute penalty attempt from far far out that definitely sent the Nadoes minds back to similar circumstances versus Ubumbo in the pool matches and even employed unnecessary sideline "gamemanship" (an Aussie term for puss like unsporting behaviour) in refusing to lend a kicking tee. The kick didn't have the legs and it went to extra time.

Extra time was uneventful. And as per the IRB rules in regard to perpetual deadlocks it went to the Kick out. The soccer-esque penalty kick out isn't the best way to decide an encounter but it is the only way the International Rugby Board has come up with so we do it. The fact remains, only one side can advance to the finals so it had to be decided. Nadoe supporters had a glum look of defeat on their faces when they were down 3-1 after 3 kicks after the two experienced kickers Myles Brown and Pietie Olivier pushed their efforts wide but the Panthers did the same in their last two attempts and it was 3 all after 5. Straight to sudden death and the Panthers missed their second shot. The relief in the cheers of the Nadoes family was resonance.

As if the crowds had not been treated to enough already then came the semi final that would cap the evening brilliantly. Ubumbo and Cobras drew 12-12 in the Pool stages and were amped to set the record straight. Unfortunately the long wait for the kick off was taxing on the teams and more so on Ubumbo in their new tight fit Reflex Nutrition sponsored white strip, (just a question: if we eat 'tomorrows nutrition today', what will we eat tomorrow?) as Cobras scored two important tries in the first 15 minutes.

Up 12-3 the Cobras were looking dangerous. The pinpoint accuracy of their kicking kept the heavy Ubumbo forwards stranded in their own 22m and the loss of inspirational captain and pressure relieving flyhalf Skud Mateza to concussion crippled Ubumbo. The Cobras prodded through a deft attacking kick the bounce right back into the hands of flying burly prop Craig Smith as he reached the goalline but a feat of super human strength from the Ubumban right winger lifted the massive prop clear off his feet and drove him back into the field of play. The trystopping effort sparked an Ubumbo resurgence.

Speedy fullback Khwezi finished a sick touchline effort to scored under the poles with a rocket man dive that would have impressed Joe Rokocoko to even it up 12-10 at halftime.

The second half was a repeat of the first with neither side yeilding an inch of territory or a minute of possession without a fight. The deadlock looked unbreakable with the Cobras holding on by 2 but not even remotely keen to play defensive rugby. They went wide with everything and their faultless skills allowed them to do it with purpose. Eventually their width gave them a linebreak far out wide that got moved back in to an unknown supporting runner who threw the crispest contact offload as two defenders merged onto him to put a runner away under the poles. 19-10.

Ubumbo didn't come to be beaten and came back to score an excellent try in the corner that couldn't be converted, but that was the ball game. 19-15.

The semi finals were without doubt the most closely contested semi finals that the league has ever witnessed and the most spectacular. All sides must be given full credit for a superb display of rugby and friendship.

The finals have been decided. Please keep an eye out for the details of those for next week.

See you on the Green Mile.

2007-09-19T12:09:00.001+02:00

Semi Final Time...

Here we go for the 8th time, hand grenade pins and every line, throw them up and let the semis shine, going out of our fuckin mind...

Big wins in the pool matches are forgotten, who was England anyway! The odd loss and confusing draw also all means nothing. Everything means nothing now, except for the next 60 minutes that lays before each and every side on the Green Mile tonight.

It's semi final time, and if you're not first you are last...

"Reuters: Hot off the press- long serving player manager Jordan B Pam has been struck down with a nasty bout of flu (wadda some bird flu) at the 13th hour, leaving an odour of suspicion wafting through the Cobras Camp and it smells worse than the Ubumbo tight-five. His involvement will be limited to shouts from the touchline during this crunch semi-final, which now promises to deliver even more so amid this weeks backroom board meetings regarding the hostile take over bids from rival sponsorship companies.

A spokesperson for Panther Rugby, Mike Galatis, said yesterday that the proposed new deal would relieve financial burden of the hilton-michaelhouse based outfit. He further averred that the Panthers fiscal mismanagment has reduced the team to training in their 'steamy disco heels' after superclub Pulse closed down last year. Nonetheless their match up with a new look Nadoes outfit has to be dubbed a monster of a clash. Semi retired players and school teacher Graham Barrat quoted his Grade 4 textbook when he referred to the Panthers going down like lambs to the slaughter!"

Game of the Night: Ikhaya v Spanners

Ikhaya held Ireland to only a 4 point margin over the past week losing 14-10, which included a rousing push for the line in the dying minutes that even earned a TMO referral. Likewise the Spanners have been brave with a big loss to the All Blacks but a brilliant still to come performance against Romania. Both sides meet tonight on a playing field that is more leveled than a stoned first year Film and Media students after a bar brawl with a Wadda bouncer. Flat and fair...

2007-09-06T09:29:00.000+02:00

Postponements:

So last night was a wash out and we still have two Wednesday nights of rugby to fit in. After much deliberation and consultation we have looked at all the options and settled on this:

19th September 2007: Semi Finals

See you on the Green Mile.

2007-09-05T09:52:00.000+02:00

Semi Finals POSTPONED..!

Sorry to have to do this but mother nature is not playing the game. We really can't bitch at the deluge though as this is the first time it has rained like this on a Wednesday so I guess it was inevitable.

The fields are, much like a Baxter first year, unplayable...unless you're wearing gumboots, and we all know how average it is showering with a rain-jacket on. Okay I have now lost myself.

Bottom line: The Semis are postponed and the date will be confirmed asap!

Won't see you on the green nile...

2007-09-03T09:48:00.001+02:00

Semi Finals...

Here are the fixtures for Wednesday night: 05/09/2007.

Now, like most Marquard boys after a bottle of crackling wondering around Graca, are at the Semi stage but raring to go. The teams are starting to gain meaningful momentum that was cut short by the long vac but are looking on top form and the games are getting more physical and better contested at every bounce of the ball.

Unfortunately however, history and form count for zero now as anything can happen in an hour to end World Cup dreams. Its the knock-outs and a side just has to be better for 60minutes to advance as winners.

The games to watch out for:

Barbarians v Wildboys: The old v the new. Wildboys have impressed beyond expectation this year whereas Barbarians couldn't match their achievements from last year. Both will be bleak at not making the winning semis so will want to prove something. It should be monumental.

Ubumbo v Cobras: They drew when it didn't count but now it does. It will be epic.

College v Shebeen: College have never been favourites going into a game, and probably aren't in this case either, but they are hardly underdogs. This gun fight is equal, making it a classic clash.

Kopano v Smuts: The game isn't as high up on the Internal League hierarchy as other games but it certainly doesn't count for less. The old res rivalry is strong and has a tradition that escapes any other match up on the dance card. Nadoes might have children, but Smuts has ivy. They're old school, and The Belsen Boys are their greatest rivals.

And a special note to all your girls and mainly boys, Ollie and Tim should be sideline again this week.

See you on the Green Mile...

2007-08-30T14:21:00.000+02:00

Field Report: Sideline Interviews by Ian Jones.

Media Box: You're good to go Jonesie.

Jonesie: Good evening all and welcome to tonight internal league rugby fiesta. We have a massive line up this evening and have already bared witness to victories from Clarendon, Easterns and Ubumbo but still have tonight's big match up ahead. Here I stand right now adjacent to the B field soaking up the atmosphere with two of the games greatest representatives watching from the sidelines. Ladies and Gentleman at home, please meet Ollie B and Timothy. Evening Guys.

Ollie: Yeah, howzit.
Tim: (cough) Hi.

Jonesie: Well men, it is a special night for both of you. Tim your Clarendon side has already advanced into the winners Semi and Ollie your side is about to run out against a tough looking Marquard outfit.

Ollie: Yeah!
Tim: (cough) Hi.

Jonesie: Of course tonight is extra-special because so I hear it is also your guys anniversary today. Congratulations men.

Ollie: Yeah!
Tim: (cough) Hi.

Jonesie: Its a pity neither of you fine players will take the field tonight though and entertain this massive crowd here but the viewers at home must know it is because you both 'are so hardcore and talented that you're too good for this level of rugby and your side concedes the result if either of you guys play!' Kinda similar to how Graham kept the ABs out the super 14 back home. You guys must feel main to be so good that you're not allowed to play?

Ollie: Yeah!
Tim: (cough) Hi!

Jonesie: Well guys, its been great chatting have you got any predictions for the next game?

Ollie: I love waterbottle.
Tim: Actually, certainly Ian. Playing into this stiff head wind to start the young men from the Cobras have a big task a head in breaching this formiddable Marquard defence but if they keep their structure and can a handle on the set piece they may sustain the necessary forward momentum to get the rhythm they will need to convert opportunities into points. Oliver, take your hand out your mouth. Thanks Ian. All the best.

2007-08-30T09:31:00.000+02:00

Wrap: The Quarter Finals…

Anyone who has had the opportunity of experiencing it, will tell you that getting dragged home on a Tuesday night from Tiger to the room of a Carinus girl is a life changing experience. So I hear, it is fast, competitive, sweaty and over before you know it.

I am now under the impression that quarter-finals are pretty similar to Carinus girls, the only difference being the rugby can only happen 8 times in one night...which is far less than the res-food fuelled Carinus lass.

With the League now split into The Cup (top 8) and The Bowl (bottom 8) competitions the ¼s involves sides pushing for a win to be in the winning semi-finals as opposed to in the losing semis next week with other ¼ final losers.

The first four games of the evening (early afternoon thanks to having to accommodate an extra game on each field) were the ¼ finals for The Bowl. The League is more fairly split now according to a strength v strength division. The leveling of the playing fields as such only made the competition fiercer.

First up Clarendon battled impressively to win a tight 7-0 game against Kopano. It was a very physical games but unfortunately many individuals preferred the abrupt ‘high school trials’ approach to the game and never looked to pass before contact. In a free flowing game, the nippy Clarendon 13 ran from deep out of his goal dead ball area before off loading to the hard working number 8 who had a Juan Smith style run up field before ignite another series of offloads all the way into the Kopano 22m, whereby some bonehead knocked it on. Kopano countered the advantage running it all the way back to Clarendon line where another bonehead knocked it on. The passage of player was longer than this paragraph but credit goes to the hard running Clarendon workhorses especially since they spent Tuesday night with Carinus girls.

The other game saw College sustain their very rare and mildly rich vein of form and continued there winning streak by defeating Spanners, 19-7.

In two of the not-so-close contests of the night Easterns sneaked home 26-10 against Smuts. Smuts scored two great tries but could never hold their fleeting dominance for any consistent time period. Easterns were very chilled in their approach and can blame their own finishing for repeatedly letting Smuts back in the door.

Ikhaya were on the receiving end of a 5 try routing courtesy the Shebeen Boys. Ikhaya set a powerful platform through excellent scrumming but never did anything beyond that. Shebeen Boys were far stronger and blatantly weird on the sidelines. It could have been half-price ribs and draught night at the Cattle Baron if you didn’t notice the rugby.

The rugby this week was of a clearly higher standard than normal and it would probably be on account of the more reflective match ups. The other factor was of course that the business end of the competition attracts more prestige. Prestige attracts women. Women attract men. Basically the guy that was happier on the couch during the pool stages whilst his mates battled it out scrumcap and gumguard in the pouring rain and toxic mud has now PVRed Survivor and decided to try use his rugby boots to become famous…again.

Its the same guys every year. No where when there is no glory involved and a little bit of precipitation; but in full flight during the play-offs sporting his new (and for some reason always white) rugger boots, gelled hair and shoulder pads. He inevitably passes a ball behind his back and craps on his mate that doesn’t catch it but is more astute and reloading his depth when there is a ruck to hit. Who are you phantom player? Come do the hard work next year.

In The Cup competition Ubumbo stamped on the dreams of the little train that could and schooled the Turtles in a blazing display of powerful rugby. The only thing worse than the Turtles performance was their Officer-in-charge of Editing and Spelling for their PR department’s upper campus poster nightmare. It was amusing watching the octogenarian referee call the game as it literally looked like he was there to oversee a child playing with its ninja turtle figurines. But credit must go where (wear?) its due. The B League minnows never even made a semi-final down there but here they are fighting with the big dogs.

The headline game of the evening was a repeat of last years final and lived up to the grudge behind it. In the end the Nadoes walked away comfortable 13-6 winners over the Barbarians despite been deservedly down to 14 men for more than half the game, after senior player Graham Barrit suffered a nasty brain freeze and earned himself a very red card. The game didn’t erupt thankfully but the tension of the game did destroy the rugby part of the game and the contest ended up tight and hard, but rather bland. The Barbarians took terrible decisions sending the ball wide when it should have stayed tight, or keeping it tight when it should have gone wide and early. Nadoes on the other hand were very astute in their decision making but faltered when it came to finishing and building momentum. Barbarians flyhalf Mauro Ciochetti, had a main performance and held his side together with a great deal of balls, maturity and two wonderful place kicks off old school sand.

The rise of the Purple Cobras continued in full force as they breezed past a very bold Marquard side 28-7. The hard hitting lower campus boys managed to stem the flow that the Cobras usually generate but didn’t play with the same accuracy on attack.

The last game of the evening managed to fly under the radar of my less perceptive co-writer who failed to tip it as a major game of the night as it was in fact the replay of last years B League final. Over the past three years the Wildboys and Panthers have developed a competitive comity build on respect and rugby. They are the epitome of rivals. In 2005 the Panthers beat the Wildboys twice to take the league honours, but then Wildboys bounced back in 2006 when they beat the Panthers in the Finals to displace them on the podium. This was their first encounter in 2007 and it was frantic.

In the first half the Wildboys scored two brilliant tries through fullback, and the League’s leading try scorer, Warren ‘Oupa Ohata’ Kelly with the Panthers only scoring through a seemingly innocuous (well at that stage anyways) 50metre drop goal Francois Steyn style from fullback Hilton Brown.

The second half saw a resurgent Panthers (I am going to say it) 'claw' their way back into it. Once again through clever use of rolling subs their impact men, Sbu Thusi and Scotty Dyson, were sub-fuckin-blime. They scored an incredible try to get back into it, 12-10, and then after relentless pressure the Wildboys ran out of ‘get out of jail’ cards and Scotty D broke the line to score under the polls. 17-12 Panthers.

It was an epic game. The great thing about watching two evenly matched sides fight it out is that it can go any way. Unfortunately, it sometimes goes to an uncontrollable, like a ref missing something, or a straight judicious error from the ref, but sometimes it goes to something special like a solo try or a heart stopping drop-goal.

Bring on the World Cup…and more Carinus girls…

Tries of the Week: All game changers.

3^rd place: The one that broke the horses back! Straight after the red card, the Nadoes struck back with a typical SA backline try. Straight up line speed pressure to force the loose pass that Lomu Winger Greg Gray (back from the Belly-dancing world champs) picked up to gallop home for the try that would win the game.

2^nd place: Kopano-Clarendon was tighter than sitting next to a fat chick on a Jammie and a half break from Clarendon 13 JP was enough to give the ball to lightning fast fullback Thando that sped the ball over for the game winner.

1^st place: Panthers were down 12-3 and unable to break the C-max Wildboys defence but quick ruck ball enable a runner to come off the stand offs shoulder, come around the corner and put winger Murray Beattie away on the outside. The work wasn’t done and Murray Mentz took it up quickly, held is line, looked at his inside support and advancing 1-on-1 defender and boldly chipped him, recovered and scored the try that turned the game.

Hit of the Week:

There were some big Chabalesque knock overs but the biggest hit came from the Barbarians scrumhalf, Mike Terrablanche who put in a monster front on hit on a bulky Nadoe runner.

Team of the Week:

Clarendon 8/10. College 7/10. Easterns 6/10. Shebeen Boys 7.5/10. Ubumbo 8/10. Cobras 7/10. Panthers 9/10. Wildboys 8.9/10. But the Nadoes get it. Not for the manner of their win but from the context. Beaten in the last outing against Ubumbo, the detractors were singing ‘the end to the Nadoes day’ but they faced adversity, pulled together and playing with 14 men stepped up and beat last years runners up for a momentous win. They stumbled, but maybe that just woke the sleeping giant. Watch this space.

See you on the Green Mile, but until then, see you in the Carinus hallways… Hifive.

2007-08-29T09:36:00.000+02:00

Rage rage against the dying of the knock out.

Can you feel how palpable the pressure is? Win - top 4, lose - bottom 4! It's plain and simple and that is the reality of tonight for the 4 games in either Cup and Bowl competitions.

Sure success is measured on how you finish and not how you start but lets be honest, you can't win a trophy if you aren't in the final and a silver medal is the same as last! However, despite our craving for success we are a league for all and everyone is set to win something.

First place: The Internal League Trophy 2007
3rd place: 3rd Place
5th place: The Plate
7th place: The Mug
9th place: The Internal League Bowl 2007
11th place: The Can
13th place: The Funnel
15th place: The Famous Gold Plated Wooden Spoon

Ucha cha: Another one for the Nadoe cabinet courteous Greg Gray.

Come the 19th September 2007 all this will be up for grabs as each side will battle it out for one of these coveted trophies. As time stands immemorial the Nadoes have held a firm grip on the Internal League Trophy but every year sides surface to try wrestle it from the vice like clutches. This year is no different and the men will be sorted from the boys this evening.

The Wildboys are the current Internal League Bowl holders but they have graduated to higher honours as have the runners up to it last year the Panthers. The title race for the Bowl is a tight one and again the first leg of the race will be run tonight.

The key match ups tonight have to be the Nadoes v Barbarians clash, and the Easterns v Smuts game. Nadoes-Barbarians is a replay of last years finals although both sides are far different from their 2006 outfits. It will be an almighty clash. The Easterns v Smuts clash is off such importance since the winning side will probably find itself with half a hand on the Bowl for 2008.

We're looking forward to fireworks on the Green Mile, and the odd cracker...in a short skirt.

See you on the Mile...

2007-08-27T09:00:00.000+02:00

Play Offs: Times and Field

Here we are at the quarter fields, and here we are, is the schedule:

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGED STARTING TIMES...!!!

2007-08-24T11:30:00.000+02:00

Rule Awareness....

Please consider this important excerpt from the 2008 Rules. It's important:

The Finals

As stated all 16 teams will participate in the quarter-finals with the winning and losing teams both advancing to the semi-finals and then onto the final. For this reason certain policies have had to be implemented in regard to the selection of players not permitted to play and to uncontested scrums.

A team that participates in a game in the final that selects a player who under point 2.2 is not permitted to play for an Internal League side will automatically forfeit the opportunity to advance as a victorious team, instead they will advance as the losing side. If both sides field such a player they both will advance as losing sides and the teams in the corresponding match will automatically proceed as winning sides.

If a team doesn’t adhere to the rules under 2.2 in regard to the selection of two front row players on the bench which leads to the requisition of uncontested scrums not through injury that team will forfeit the opportunity to advance as victorious irrespective of the result.

These seemingly harsh rules are in place to ensure that our Internal League is played in the high spirit and regard in which it has traditionally been played whereby the competing teams do so on the level playing field as rugby teams and nothing else.

As with all play-off games the event of a draw will be dealt with in the manner that is in accordance with the IRB and this league. If the scores are tied at full time, in a play off game, extra time will be played.

Extra time will consist of two halves of seven (7) minutes each with a two (2) minute period of half time between them. It will be played according to the Golden TRY rule, whereby the first team to score a TRY during the period of extra time will be declared the winners, and the game will end.

If at the conclusion of the first half of extra time one team has more points than the other, (with no tries having been scored in the first half of extra time) the second half of extra time will be played. The team that is thus leading at the conclusion of both halves of extra time shall be declared the winners.

Should there be no further score after both periods of extra time, OR should the scores be equal, each team will select five (5) members to take penalty kicks at goal. Kicks will be taken on the 22m line, directly in front of the poles. Kicks will be taken by a member from each team of 5 alternatively. Only players having played for some period in the match (either regulation or extra time) will be permitted to take kicks at goal. A toss of the coin will decide which team kicks first and at which end the kicks are taken. At the end of the ten kicks the team with the most successful kicks will be declared the winners. If the teams are level at the end of the ten kicks, the same five kickers from each team will compete in the same order in a sudden death shoot out, whereby the first team successful where their opponents are not will be declared the winners. The kickers will keep kicking until this end is reached.

All of the Final games will have the duration of 25minutes per half.

2007-08-16T11:43:00.000+02:00

The Play Off Scenario...

Listen up, this is straight forward but very important.

As outlined, every side still has three games to play. Check out the Play Off spider below. Check the dates. Check where you side is. If you win you advance and play the side that won the game adjacent to you. If you lose you advance to play the losing side.

This continues all the way to the Finals. However, it is at this point pertinent to stress that each side must familiarize themselves with the rules for the play offs and especially be aware that because there are now 4 games on each field per night we play at 17h30, 18h30, 19h30 and 20h30.

Rest week next week. Play Offs start on the 29th August. Lovely.

2007-08-16T10:53:00.000+02:00

Wrap Week 8: And that is a wrap ladies and gentlemen!

Last night saw the 2^nd round of pool matches culminate in emphatic fashion as the weather held long enough giving the players a perfect canvas to show off their skills and team play.

Unlike a PWC warm up again against the 4^th tier desert region rugby playing nation with less professional rugby players than at the Makro games last night, being the final week in the pool stages, actually meant something. Every side last night had a reason to win, or in some cases just not to lose.

Pool A was settled last week but every other pool had something to play for. Cobras Wildboys were playing for top spot. Barbarians were securing place 1. Kopano needed to win. Marquard just had to. Turtles needed at least 4 but 5 would be better. Panthers needed one. Easterns had to win with a bonus. Anyway some of that happened, and some didn’t.

Pool B. Barbarians struggled with their run on 15 against a small and determined Kopano side and only led 5-0 at the break. The first period of the 2^nd half wasn’t much different, although the Kopano attack never looked like scoring. The game swung on the scoreboard with the entrance of some super substitutes. For every line break that Kyle Dutton engineered and didn’t cough up the Barbarians scored or looked like they were going to. First Dutton cut an outside gap and slipped the ball to winger Redders who showed clan heels despite the mud to score under the polls. From there the flood gates opened with Sean Shields in particular making some charging runs. Barbarians scored 3 in the final 10 minutes to wrap up the game, 31-0.

Elsewhere in Pool B, an under-strength Marquard side came home clean against Ikhaya scoring 4 tries and earning themselves a place in the final 8.

Pool D was an intricate affair with more possible mathematical permutations than a hot girl’s chance of coming right at Tiger. Turtles needed a 5 point win to ensure top 8 status and did so in expansive style by scoring 8 tries against the Spanners. That result meant Eastern Cape not only had to win but had to do so with a bonus point, or by not allowing the Panthers a bonus whilst beating them by 29 points. With much riding on the game the Panthers came out firing scoring two excellent tries in the first period, both of which were converted. Panthers then clicked and gave the performance of their season. Loose forward Sbu Thusi was uncoachable and the strong running and defence of centre Scott Dyson compliment him brilliantly. Thusi and model-slash-hooker Dayne Jans even combined their astute knowledge of the laws when they took a quick 50m lineout off a long kicked restart and raced 49m down the park to come up just short of what was one of the nearest chances of the night. Panthers were sublime and showed they are a massive underdog side to the Top 8 Cup title.

It was an epic night for Pool C. Cobras and Wildboys had already booked their tickets to France and just had to fight over shotgun, whilst the Shebeen Boys and Smuts were also tussling over the coveted 3^rd spot. Shebeen Boys gave probably their best effort of the season winning 31-0.

The headline clash of the night lived up to expectations. In reality the results was for academic and pride purposes but neither side was going to concede to this reality. They came out blazing with neither side looking to yield an inch.

The Cobras ball security in this first important period was telling. They kept the ball for long periods and gave it plenty of width as they attacked phase after phase after phase. The pressure was relentless and Cobra star centre Cian spotted the no one sweeping behind the line of red jerseys and weighted a perfect chip kick into the vacancy that he collected on the bounce and made a cobra offload to a supporting runner that crossed under the posts. 5-0.

Wildboys fought back hard and scored in reply to lead 7-5. In the remainder of the first half the Cobras showed why they can swagger in purple hoops up and down Jammie plaza and they played top class rugby. They gave the Wildboys nothing but scraps and the lack of possession and territory frustrated them. Cobras scored twice more before the half taking themselves 19-5 leaders into the half.

Cobras then won the game in the crucial ten minutes after the break when they scored first up. The playmaker General at ten, Warren Butler, took the ball to the defence in the red zone and slid through a perfectly weighted grubber kick that ‘oh-my-god-he’s-quick’ impact player Jordan Biderman-Pam collected to swan dive under the posts to score off. 26-5.

It was a crippling deficit on the scoreboard and meant a fight back seemed improbable. Wildboys however weren’t prepared to listen to better judgment and didn’t give up. They finally only found some momentum in the second half and looked their usual dangerous selves on attack a few times. They scored a great try and numerous other chances were halted by persevering Cobras cover defence.

In one particular turning point, Wildboys fullback Warren Oupa Kelly made a classy break and a great link pass but the support runner was brought down by an unknown Cobras defender grass blades away from the chalk. That instance was an accurate snapshot of the game, Wildboys doing lots right but the Cobras just doing a little bit more.

Check out either teams webblogs for less objective write ups. Just kidding on the subjectiveness but check it out anyways…

Team of the Week: It was hard to call with so many sides earning great results but it has to go to the Panthers just because the opposition they beat was hardly a substandard outfit.

Hit of the Week: An upright running tall skinny glass of Barbarians lock water was pole-axed by a Kopano midget in an aggressive hit but the award has to go to Panthers flank Sbu Thusi. The Easterns metro leg shaven winger was flying down the touch line and got monstered by a flying black missile. The poor winger got about 3m airtime has he flew over the touchline and even got his bright access park raver soccer boots muddy.

Try of the Week: The Barbarians scored some great ones, as did a Marquard flier and a few Turtle guys but the award goes to the Cobras toe poke and dive as mentioned from the Butler and Biderman combo as the importance of it was game closing.

If you're confused about where we go from here. Watch this space..!

2007-08-14T16:25:00.000+02:00

FNB CLASSIC CLASHES:

With One round of pool games left before the play-offs the magnitude of what lies at stake isn't far from the magnitude of a Butcher Boys steak..!

Urgent Press Release: Retuers online just minutes ago...

"Rumours are flying about possible spies lurking around the training fields of the Wildboys at their captains practice on sunday at bishops ahead of their crunch encounter against arch rivals, The Purple Cobras. Experienced centre and the 2007 season's biggest transfer from dissolved team Soco Thoco, Dale Owen, was unable to comment, literally unable... Cobra's captain, and sturdy first five eight Warren Butler denied the rumours, however it remains to be seen if the Cobras have the upper hand come set piece time at 8pm tomorrow. Dubbed the do or die game of Group C, this speculation will no doubt stand to add to what will inevitably be a fiery contest from start to finish/death"

To add truth to the rumours amidst tomorrow nights Main Game clash we spoke to Ashfak Mohamed from the Cape Times. Unsurprisingly, he blamed, a lack of transformation as the key reason behind the rumour mill. Thanks Ashfak. We will consult with the 3rd Force to try rectify this.

Unconvinced we spoke to Luke "I pay, I order" Watson whilst he enjoyed his Luke sandwhich (the stormers special with extra ham) and USN shake at Nino's to try get to the bottom of the rumour barrel. He quoted scriptures and referred to himself in the 4th person (I am Luke's Luke) and called the waiter his disciple. We were left disheartened but without the bill, he did order afterall..!

Undeterred we went for the jugular. Straight to the players!

Dale Owen was unavailable as he was involved in some serious Fijian Off Field training methods so we left him alone, and spoke to Hard man Wildboy tight-forward The Big Show. The interview last 45 minutes and all he managed to spill out his mouth, besides T-sauce onto his shirt was, "No comment sir"!

It seems the Fire in the Engine Room, the architect of Wildboys success off field captain Matt Borne has sworn the side to silence, although he was seen in earnest conversation with Eddie Jones this morning in a first year Information Systems tut. Kenrick Brown was also present!

In a last ditch effort we knocked on the doors of the Cobras High Performance Training Center at O'Hagans below Newlands Stadium. (close enough to Sports Science you can feel the rehab). Inside were Cobras masterminds Dougal "They retired my jersey with me' McDonald and Ian "I am kissing a nazi" Armstrong. Both were sprawled over a cocktail table licking up a spilled draught. A lost opportunity some might quip!

But then, Hallelujah a break through. Sports celebrity personality Jordan Jose Biderman-Pam was seeing fighting off an orange sweater clad angel in the reference section of the upper campus library and forced to comment.

Author: Jose, what say you about tomorrows big 8pm show down?

Jose: CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS...CAN"T LOSE..!

2007-08-13T09:19:00.000+02:00

UEFA Draw...

With the Top 8/Bottom 8 split looming around Wednesday's corner we had to engineer the fairest and simplest system whereby we could arrange the quarter final setups for the play-offs. Since we can't use previous years seedings like they do in the RWC we went abroad and employed complicated algorithms and expanding notations to devise what I flatly believe without fear of contradiction is the best stolen method available. Thanks UEFA!

We put the first position seed of each pool in a hat, and put the 2nd position seed of each pool in another one and hey presto:

The formula was then just substituted into the Bottom 8. You can now look at the logs and the soon to be posted fixtures for Week 8 and hit the tote with your predictions.

For clarity now: Semi Final 1 = WQF1 v WQF2 and Semi Final 2 = WQF3 v WQF4!

2007-08-10T11:00:00.000+02:00

Wrap from Week 7:

We seem to have unearthed that the rise in the intensity of our internal league rounds is directly proportional to how we advance further down the competition calendar. Week 7 was faster, harder and more enduring than a night with a Tugwell girl and more so than any other round we’ve had so far…

Also within the vein and spirit of our league was the cancellation of all the refs for Wednesday night but we managed to sidestep that hurdle by the reintroduction of our A list reffing crew. Once again thanks to all those guys…

You have to be a man bigger than the rest if you have the balls to pick up the whistle and field constant abuse from every supporter of the losing side when no one else sticks their hand up…

In Pool C we had two sides that have their eyes on a play off spot prize, the Purple Cobras and the Wildboys, facing up for their first matches in a while after having a bye last week. The Cobras played entertaining rugby scoring 49 unanswered points against the Shebeen Boys. The Cobras brand of rugby is so marketable it might be used for the 2008 Super 14 ad campaign. Their conversion of ‘no look’ offloads, in and before contact, is astonishing and something the Shebeen Boys found very hard to defend.

The Wildboys came up against the resilient Smuts side but just had too much firepower out wide and ran in a routing 72 points. The Wildboys aren’t doing anything special, but just doing the basics especially well. They create space outwide and then crucify the shoulders of the guy working the scoreboard as they finish just about every opportunity.

Pool D produced our first upset of the season with the Eastern Cape 2 Rios side taking 5 tries from lowly underdogs the Turtles. Easterns are a new side but proved more than formidable with some big results earlier this season but fell far short of their own benchmark when they let the Turtles walk all over them. The Turtles used the wind well to go up 10-5 into the break but then showed how pressure and ferocious defence can lead to points as they ran in a further 3 tries into the wind, coming up deserved 27-5 winners. In the other game the Panthers were at their clinical best with a 27-0 defeat over the Spanners, with David "Peter Hendriks" Finch scoring a double!

Pool A started with a massive result as College beat Clarendon 24-5, which is only the second win for the men in blue in their 110 year history at internal league. Besides a 0-0 draw against Van der Stel by the mighty 1906 side, captained by Jan Van Riebeeck Jnr, College only other non-loss came last year. Hence the magnitude of the victory this week will echo down the corridors on their Main Rd abode for another hundred years to come

The headline game of the week has undoubtedly been one of the most exciting games of Internal League rugby I have ever witnessed. Pool A's top of the table clash saw the Nadoes competing against Ubumbo for pool seeding honours. The game was physical to say the least. The wind was howling down the C field end of the Green Mile and the Nadoes used it to their advantage and went into the break 13-0 up. Ubumbo soaked up serious pressure on defence and were lucky not to concede more points.

The blustery gales that funnel down our channel of greenery nullify any attack beyond the 2nd channel when you are playing into it and kicking is really no option. Ubumbo were heroic into the wind on defence but their creative attack was a non-entity. The game threatened to spiral into a demise at the hands of ill tempers and reckless disregard of the laws at the tackle but ref Sean Shields didn't back down and kept consistency on his side when he punished offenders.

The second half chapter of the game's story might as well have been an entirely new book it was so different. The wind picked up and was now behind Ubumbo and flying hard into the faces of the Nadoes. The men in red and white were rock solid on defence without detracting from the clinicalness of their pattern but the constant pressure was too much and replacement outside centre Dan Watson made a telling run into the 22m brushing off defenders to score. 13-5.

With their tails up Ubumbo increased their intensity and played everything down in Nadoes territory. Ubumbo missed a few long range penalty shots, but eventually scored when Lyle 'Is he human?' Claasens picked up at 8 and drove through numerous defenders to score close to the polls. 13-12 Nadoes lead.

Minutes later Ubumbo goaled a penalty (through lock John Eales) to snatch the lead 15-13 with 8 minutes to go. Losing the lead was the trigger the young Nadoes side needed to get their game together and show why they proudly wear the reputation they have earned over the years. They played precise rugby attacking with accuracy and important ball control to get within range, get a penalty and bang it over to retake the lead 16-15.

With 1 point in it and the clock counting down the euphoria around the C field was incredible. Each side had brought its entire entourage and it seemed there were far more than 30 hearts involved on the field, although literally there were often more than 31 people on the field.

Ubumbo flew into everything and eventually earned the field position for another goalable effort which came at the death with a Nadoe infringing at a ruck. The African John Eales stepped up again and sailed the kick over from an acute angle to steal the win 18-16. Mayhem ensued.

Ubumbo deservedly won the pool stage battle and lets hope these side meet again somewhere in the play off to showcase for all us involved another rugby spectacle. Nadoes were gracious in defeat and showed their true champion colours. I think it is the first time they have lost since the last league game before the semis against the Squirrels in 2004. That's one impressive record.

Watch this space. See you on the Green Mile...

2007-08-07T16:26:00.000+02:00

Week 7: Fixtures...

There are some massive fixtures this week. Look out for Nadoes v Ubumbo. It reeks of potential...

2007-08-02T12:13:00.001+02:00

Wrap Week 6:

Os Du Randt took off a decade to go and farm and is now training for France, a world cup that is 12 years after the first one he played in. Luke McAllister’s dad told him if he wanted to make it he should take a year off and just gym, his legs now weigh 90kgs each. Chris Latham took 11 months off for a knee reconstruction, ran on in a test against the All Blacks and his first touch was a 60m touch finder…

We were forced to take an exceptionally long 9 week break and the League got up like a sleeping, conditioning, or injured giant to run amok up and down the Green Mile. A length lay-off does zero for momentum or continuity but it can rest tired bodies and refocus tired minds. Players came back eager and super keen to get stuck in.

It is an interesting aside that WP has decided to do the same. They have taken off this years Currie Cup and haven’t pitched up to any matches. I think they are focusing on Super 14 2008.

Sides how ever weren’t indolent however during this long layoff and some were in fact very active. The Nadoes and Purple Cobras went off on a whirlwind tour of the Eastern Cape playing such rugby stalwarts as Plett RFC, each others and the bouncers at Dropzone. Whilst Kopano and Smuts also enjoyed a quaint weekend away together at an undisclosed venue to hone the mauling skills.

The Wildboys entered the Knysna half en masse with most players walking straight from the starters pistol to the gates of the Crabs Creek after-party and the Shebeen Boys spent the winter posing for their upcoming 2008 Get naked for charity calendar, which is apparently meant to be the xmas present of choice this year.

Of course the Panthers returned to their summer houses in the south of Spain but this time not with rugby objectives but for the World Mullet Pageant where they impressive took First, 3rd and all the number from 5th-10th.

Unfortunately the lay-off wasn’t as lucrative and enjoyable with other teams as College, Marquard, Clarendon and Ikhaya all had to stay and do winter school, whilst the Turtles went back to Zimbabwe and are still hitching hiking back, pushing your car takes too long.

The Spanners were invited to an International Engineering Summit but were too disorganized to arrive. Ubumbo spent the break investing at the JSE and as an accumulative now have more preferential shares and board room seats in South Africa’s big businesses than Premier League football owners have in European equivalents. Most of the Eastern Cape to Rio’s (and hence the Barbarians since I'm not convinced they're separate entities) got arrested for drunken driving so spent 9 weeks bulking up in the awaiting trial prisoner’s gym facility at Goodwood prison.

Last night was the Week 6 of 2007 which to get technical was the 2nd week of pool matches in Round 2 leading up to the play-offs. Now that it is done we have two more weeks of pool matches (August 8th and 15th) and then we’re into the Play offs.

With the top 2 sides of every pool advancing to the Cup competition and the bottom advancing Bowl competition sides are playing attacking rugby to finish as high up there pool as possible.

In Pool D the Eastern Cape 2 Rios were horribly let down by a Spanner’s no show, so took the full points and nothing else from the disappointment. Panthers and Turtles then had a very physical encounter that was tight until deep into the 2nd half when the Panthers scored (through so excellent footwork) but the Turtles bounced back to score, convert and take the lead. Panthers then scored twice more near the death to give the score line a fair assessment of position and territory but an unfair testament to some staunch Turtle defence. The only difference between numerous Panthers line breaks and points on the board was relentless Turtle tackling.

In Pool B a very new look (new in appearance not new in age) Ikhaya side battled hard against little side Kopano but to no avail as the determined boys that spend all day trying to look into the windows of Graca Michel wouldn’t let anyone over their try line and they walked away 5-0 winners. I didn’t see the next game but heard it was a classic examples of hard, fast and attacking Internal League rugby when Barbarians took out Marquard 6 tries to 2.

In Pool A Nadoes ran riot against a brave Clarendon side. I am not using brave euphemistically to pander a team that took 50 as the Clarendon boys could easily have woken up in Carinus this morning and looked themselves in the mirror with pride. They were heavily outgunned but totally undeterred and gave everything for all 60 minutes. Concurrently another bravely fought losing battle was meted out by College against a more and more deadly looking Ubumbo outfit. College played an impressive amount of rugby but the Ubumbo charge was just too fast, too aggressive and too organized to halt.

This has become a reoccurring theme but massive thanks and congratulations must go out to our ad hoc refereeing committee that has been summoned for the 2nd round in a row and which has performed with such class and control we are deeply indebted. Chad, Stu Mac, Sean, Burt, Mike and Pig thank you so much guys. In my eyes you are the only guys justified to abuse the officials from the sidelines from now on.

Team of the week: Kopano. Traditionally a very strong team the boys from Belsen always arrived and stamp themselves underdog status but then perform to the potential and have more ‘shut outs’ on defence this season than many sided. And also because baby blue is so 2008.

The WP team of the week: Spanners – see you next week.

Massive apologies: Eastern Cape 2 Rios – you guys are used to getting all dressed up and going home along but not when it comes to rugby. Sorry dudes.

Try of the week: Nadoes, Ubumbo and Barbarians scored some crackers and the interplay of the one Panthers try was sick but it’s going to an individual today. Taking flat fast attack ball at first receiver Edward (someone) in the mauve of College house, showed the ball inside, looked for a man outside, and went himself straight through a flummoxed Ubumbo defence. Touches like that are priceless…

Celebration of the week: The Marquard fullback crossed over for a cracker against the Barbarians but then did everything short of a victory lap in his whooping hi5 throwing end zone dance. He should have got 6 points not 5…

2007-07-30T13:16:00.000+02:00

Important Meeting 2008...

Attention all rugby teams: Very important meeting.

Date: 2nd August 2007 Time: 12h45 Venue: Lower Council Room

A senior/competent representative from each team must be present. The meeting is at lunch to accommodate everyone and will not run longer than 1 hour.

2007-07-27T13:56:00.000+02:00

And here we go…

After a break that was long enough to put Bobby Skinstad’s exile from international rugby to shame we are back on the waterlogged Green Mile to finish off our league. All but one Pool has played one of their 3 pool games before we lead into the knockout stages.

How it works from here on in is:

We continue with three more rounds (weeks 6-8) in our current format.

We then move into quarter finals. The top 2 sides from each pool will play in the Cup finals and the bottom 2 to will play in the Bowl finals. A UEFA style draw will take place to determine which pool will face which pool.

Then semis and finals.

It’s that simple! The weather is going to be testing, disenchanted Currie Farce Cup spectators will pour onto our stands and hopefully further inroads will be made into the emerging afterparty concept. What lies ahead we look at with relish. It should be fantastic.

Yours in rugby!

Week 6 fixtures:

2007-05-24T08:55:00.001+02:00

Wrap Week 5:

The league is in recess now until August due to our long winter exams and looming examinations but it went to sleep on a high note last night with the first weeks match ups of Round 2.

The purpose of Round 1 was to seed the teams into pools of equal strength so that the pool games leading up to the play-offs would ensure the match ups in the knock out stages would be as equal and as competitive as possible.

This structure would obviously enforce traditional minnow sides to face off against more established sides and despite what scoreboards reflect the games were hard, fast and very competitive.

The off field issue last night was the lack of organised referees. Usually Western Province Society refs come out to get blamed for losses but a major oversight by management meant that this was not the case and we had to beg, borrow and persuade refs to depart from the warm comfort of the sidelines and take up the most high profile job available.

Gracious thanks must be extended to Stu, Chad, Tom, Mike, Sean and Burt for being courageous enough to take up the whistle and give every player there last night the opportunity to actually play!

The games of Pool A saw Nadoes roll out an emphatic victory over College House in a very physical encounter and Ubumbo running away with a very tight match against Clarendon. Both games were punctuated with some entertaining interplay and individual touches of brilliance. Special mention must go to Clarendon, historically a very underprivileged side yet this year have been more than impressive.

Pool B entertained a strong Barbarians win over Ikhaya, and the very important res derby where Marquard beat out Kopano in a close game. Ikhaya having been struggling to grapple with the harships of Internal League rugby but there raw enthusiasm bodes well for a new side and if there were prizes for team spirit and support they would certainly walk away with top honours.

Pool C hosted the continuances of the points machine, the Purple Cobras, as they chalked up a big victory over Smuts Hall and another 'point-o-meter' the Wildboys scoring 7 unanswered tries against the Shebeen Boys.

The log after Week 5:

There were too many good tries this week to try and rate some higher than others and it was very difficult to single out a specific side to award the honours of team of the week. With that in mind Clarendon must walk away with more than special mention as they really were brilliant in never giving up against a very strong Ubumbo side and making it a contest all the way to the final whistle.

"Player of the Night" however, definitely goes to the exciting supersub inside centre for Ubumbo, Lebo. The guy came on and showed some individual brilliance with a pace to burn, feet and skill. The crowd weren't joking when they referred to him as SA answer to Luke McAlister.

The Warren "Bad Boys" Brosnihan commentary award:
There were multiply entrants last night and I think they should all humbly accept their award and spend next Wednesday night wondering the Green Mile alone repeating their comments to themselves. If you said one of these, please don't come back for Week 6, because rugby is policed by laws not rules.
- The ref doesn't know the rules...
- The ref forgot his rule book!
- Atleast the refs last week knew the rules..!
- Come one ref, is passing forward a new rule?

2007-05-21T09:18:00.000+02:00

Round 2 -

The first Round was a success and now we have reshuffled the pools with a side from every tier in each pool and we are repeating the process but this time for money!

So the top 2 sides from each pool at the end of Round 2 (ie: after 4 weeks of rugby) will advance into the Cup finals whereas the bottom 2 will advance to the Bowl finals.

So basically, you need to win twice in 3 games to advance into the top 8.

Let's get ready to do this...

2007-05-17T09:54:00.000+02:00

Wrap Week 4:

Unfortunately I have to keep this brief as I have an important pending date with a very important female lecturer. I know you understand.

Week 4 wrapped up the Round 1 last night and did so in fine style. The rugby was of an impressive standard with all sides coming to the party. If I use another cliché I might as well be Graeme Smith. Here are last night’s results:

The scoreboard tells a story that not even the embellish-king Dan Brown can expand on and judging by the amount of support that was up on the Mile last night I figure if you reading this you not looking for a match report since everyone was there to witness the events.

Okay, truth be told there were plenty blonde angels there not looking to see which team was playing the best pattern but if they didn’t come for the rugby they’re in bed at home right now recovering from what they did go for…

The end of Week 4 left the log standings looking like this after Round1:

We’re now ready to move onto Round 2 with the logs reshuffled. As explained ad nauseam, the logs are still premised on the same format of each consisting of a 1st rated, 2nd rated, 3rd rated and a reach for a dream team:

The fixtures for week 5 (which is next week by the way) will be out soon, but if your eagerness to work it out outweighs my inclination to take up my rendezvous with said female lecturer then I can tell you that it is the same format from week 1. Ie: 1 plays 4, 2 plays 3.

Here is more info for all you ESPN stats sluts out there. Since we advocate running rugby with a modicum of strong defense I think this table speaks volumes:

As mentioned the contests last night were fierce and physical. The “Hit of the Night” goes to the imposing inside centre figure of Scotty Dyson for the Panthers. If there was a silver award he would take that too, actually both his hits would tie for Gold. He smacked the counterattacking Baabaas fullback with such force the ref mentioned it at halftime and a 1st year girl was seen crying behind the floodlights pole she was in such shock.

“Try of the Night” has to go to the podium because there were so many:
3.) Brad Milne streaking away for a 55m against the run of play try for the Cobras that looked to sway the tide of the game against Ubumbo.
2.) The Clarendon right winger who scored a sick, game winning buzzer beater at the death to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Smuts.
1.) Ubumbo’s 2nd try. From where I was standing all I could see was the back of 400 supporters standing on the field but judging by their reaction the importance of the try to comeback and seal a draw spoke volumes. If the sides meet again it will be a cracker.
Special mention to Ikhaya has they actually scored a try, and then scored another….!

2007-05-16T09:50:00.000+02:00

Week 4:

Lock up your daughters, switch on your PVR, sit down and shut up. It’s game time people…

The Green Mile is going to be rugby havoc this evening with 3 Pools playing the last game in this Round to determine the pools for the next 4 weeks of rugby. It is still earlier stages in the competition but ask the Crusaders how important these stages are if you want a home semi final.

Here are tonight’s match ups:

This is a blue print of how the Pools will reshuffle after this Round. As you will see Pool W has already booked their round place and now it is up to the rest to determine where they fall. Now lets given thanks to the weather gods for coming to tonight’s party!

See you on the Mile…

2007-05-10T14:29:00.000+02:00

Wrap Round 1: Week 3

If you braved the icy weather to come see what was out and about up on the Green Mile last night your hunger for some impressive rugby action was certainly satisfied. Last night we witnessed 6 internal league games and two further friendly games between UCT u20s and the new WP Academy sides.

Rugby was up in the air and everyone was breathing hard...

Despite it only been Week 3 teams had thrown off the preseason jersey and were looking far sharper and better prepared. Teams also had to trade in the multistud option for the more effective 6 stud stewel as Cape Town has definitely taken a wintery turn and the conditions under foot aren't exactly akin to playing Craven Week in Rustenburg.

For Pool W it was a massive week with them not having had their bye yet the log at the end of Week 3 would determine their positions in Round 2. The top of the table clash was a tight affair with incumbent A League champs the Nadoes keeping out their incumbent B League counterparts the Wildboys 8-3. Contesting for an important 3rd place in the pool the once formiddable Leo Marquard Lions scrapped together a side and a victoy beating the Spanners 17-5.

With Pool X having a bye week, that left Pool Y and Pool Z to play their 2nd games. The in-form Wadda Purple Cobras side took apart the hapless defence of the Turtles side winning 29-0. In the other game, Ubumbo continued their attacking form of rugby outscroing the Ikhaya Shake and Bake Day Residence by 7 tries to zero to claim an important bonus point. Incidentally this pool is responsible for the lack of match day programmes being printed as the document centre doesn't have A3 paper. A formal request has been made for them to shorten their names like Sri Lankan cricketers do.

Pool Z was tighter than a 2nd years leotard with Kopano taking an important victory against Clarendon 7-5 to cement themselves firmly in 2nd place to hopefully springboard themselves toward the top 8. The new comes Eastern Cape 2 Rios were looking in impressive form needing no introduction into UCT Internal League as they lead their pool after a 2nd victory from two, this one against Smuts 17- 0.

I am afraid this weeks wrap is just about the numbers but I guess they are paramount at this stage. Having said that quick acknowledgement must be made regarding the refs that so selflessly take time out to run around in the pouring rain to officiate our fixtures. We are extremely lucky to have Matt so well connected at the ref's society to get us ref's of these calibre.

Now just because someone is off a high calibre doesn't mean they are going to perform well. Just ask Kobus Van der Merwe about the side he coaches and you will get what I mean. I just want you all to remember two things. Firstly, out of all the Internal League games I have watched, I have never seen a ref drop a ball, miss a tackle, be too lazy to hit a ruck, thrown a ball skew in the lineout or collapse a maul. I did see a ref make a tackle once but that was just as much the fault of the Rochester flyhalf as it was his. The second thing is that if the ref was as good as Mark Lawrence he would be going to France in September, and if you were as good a player as he was a ref, then you'd also be going...

Look forward to a post soon about how the Pools for Round 2 are going to be organised. Once week 4 is completed we reshuffle the pools to go for weeks 5 until 8 before splitting in the quarter finals. So watch out for the new pool draw and for the draw of which pools from Round 2 will meet in the quarter. It has to be done UEFA style otherwise it wouldn't be fair...

Check you on the mile...

2007-05-07T08:14:00.001+02:00

Kick-off

Here we are back for week 3. The wrap for Week 2 wasn’t forth coming after a key link in our journalistic chain was overseas, (you need a passport to visit Potch) but we are back in action for the highlites of what promises to be an exciting round this week.

Eight sides will be looking to play their 3rd game out of 4 for Round 1 and a victory will certainly be needed to squeeze your way to the top of your pool for the upcoming reshuffle.

There was a certain amount of confusion last week with some managers being unaware or just plain illiterate to not realise a round of matches was never scheduled due to Intervarsity over the weekend. Hence a few sides arrived on Wednesday expecting a game. So to once again smooth out the bumps of confusion that persists in the minds of some.

This Wednesday is Week 3 of Round 1:

The remainder of the scheduled fixtures:

Bring your lady friends, this week is looking promising…

2007-04-19T10:38:00.000+02:00

Wrap of Round 1: Week 1

Morning sports fans! I can admit without fear of contradiction that I am pretty sure last nights opening round of the 2007 UCT RFC Internal League can be accountable for many a sore head wandering around campus this fine morning..!

Amongst the copious amount of alcoholic concussions frequenting the plaza is the odd bruised, battered and stiff feeling that every rugby player sports after the seasons first real contact session. Never fear ailing men, you did yourselves proud last night and girls love scars… Okay maybe a sub muscular soft tissue injury doesn’t get a girl flowing but the odd wince of pain never hurt.

For anyone who managed to make their way up to the Green Mile last night they got ring side seats to vintage Internal League rugby. The blustery south east confirmed its omnipresence and it felt like the Korean indoor track team was training around the park the chill was so nippy.

But neither the cold nor the breeze could dissuade some hard running rugby and abundant warmly clad first year girls coming to expect the new crop of rugby talent.

All the sides from Pools W, X and Y had a go last night with only the exception of Pool Z sitting out, although they chose to sit it out on the sideline with cooler box and Weber at close at hand.

In Pool W the Nadoes fought off a stern challenge from the Spanners and then ran away with it scoring 5 tries to win convincingly 33-0. In the other game the Wildboys who are the incumbent B league trophy holders emphatically beat a flailing Marquard side 34-5. The real difference in that game boiled down to team work and cohesion with Marquard playing a lot of the rugby albeit as individuals compared to the unity of the Wildboys.

In Pool X the losing finalist of 2006, the Barbarians, recorded a comfy 28-0 victory over College House. Don’t let the score lie to make you think the game wasn’t hard or was one-sided. College pushed Barbarians right to the death and kept them honest for 60 minutes. The next game saw the rivalry between two B League superpowers continue with the Panthers edging out the Shebeen Boys 15-7, just denying them the valuable bonus point.

In Pool X the exciting Purple Cobras trounced newcomers “Ikhaya Shake and Bake” (yes, that’s their full name) 65-0 in a high energy match. Hats off must go to the ISB Boys who took their initiation into the League with their heads held high. The final game was a spectator thrill with Ubumbo beating a tough Turtles side 17-3. Ubumbo scored 3 cracking tries but still manage to blow hot and cold although that could be down to early season jitters. The pack for Ubumbo was devastating in the tight loose and very efficient in open play, an aspect of their game which could be menacing for their future opponents.

Last nights results vindicated the somewhat controversial decision to mix up the leagues this year and move away from the traditional A and B League structure. The Nadoes, a bench mark of excellence of Internal League rugby, only put 5 tries past the Spanners a perennial social side from the B league that has never played a semifinal before. The Wildboys, winners of the B in 2007 and runners up in 2006, put 5 tries on Marquard who placed 6th in the A league last year. The Barbarians, 2007 losing finalist, beat College house by only 4 tries (burglering the last one at the death) and up until last year College had never won a B league game since Cecil Rhodes captained the Nadoes.

The IRB is faced with the problem that come World Cup time they have 3 nations that can compete for the Webb Ellis and maybe another 4 or 5 that can ensure the spectators get their ticket price worth. Argentina is one of these fringe 5 and don’t be surprised if they upset Ireland in the Pool Stages. The only way talented sides that are bubbling under the pace of top nations are going to get competitive is through exposure and playing beyond your watershed.

When an underdog warms up in silence on the Green Mile and then takes it to pedestaled top sides do they learn to up their game and learn how to win at that level.

Game of the Week: The Panthers v Shebeen Boys tussle. Having cast aside last years childish off field niggle in favour of going out their with rugby alone at the fore the game was an intense affair and great to watch.
Team of the Week: It goes to Ubumbo for pure passion. The play with an energy that excites the ground into delirium and never ease off the gas.
Try of the Week: Warren Kelly’s 60m effort showing that class doesn’t diminish with age.
- Bubbling under: Little Goldberg’s 50m break from a scrum on the halfway and of course “two tries with my first two touches” Jordan “Impact” Biderman-Pam.
Comment of the Week: It came from a member of Ikhaya’s impressive bench: “ya…they called me bullet at school cause of…I passed so quickly..!” Not the most eloquent of first language English speakers I have heard but certainly entertaining to watch guys come out and relive the glory days…

See you next week for more impressive rugby…

2007-04-12T08:41:00.000+02:00

Moments away...

With less than a week to go until Kick-off, sides, supporters, families, talent scouts, bartenders and the nurses at Claremont mediclinic casualty ward nervously await the first week of big matches.

Thanks must be given to the power suit, power tie wearing committees that pronounce and sign off on all things attached to UCT for the extremely long holiday we have in june-july. It gives students ample time off to spend at home or overseas doing sweet nothing but also screws up our internal league fixture picture. And unlike the pictures on the back of residence lavatory doors (with the exception of Smuts of course) ours is not a pretty one.

-----------------------------A pretty one!

Our 11 weeks of rugby is split into two Rounds of 4 pool games and then the remaining 3 are the play-offs. Round 1 (in blue below) is then weeks 1-4, with Round 2 (in green) being weeks 5-8. Over 8 weeks, each side will play 6 games and have 2 byes and then each side will play 3 play-0ff games.

The problem arises is that June and July are write off rugby months because of exams and holidays so we only really playing in May and August with spill overs into April and September. I wasn't joking when I said it was going to be a long season.

Here are the fixtures for Round 1: [ie: Weeks 1-4]

Please bear in mind that the dates are subject to cancellation due to factors such as torrential downpour and unforeseen stuff like bird flu or a College victory. After the results of Week 4 we will reset the Pools for further games in Round 2.

Now that the administration is aside, let's play some footie.

2007-04-02T09:00:00.000+02:00

The Taste of 2007…

After an 8 week banishment from Super rugby to take part in reconditioning and skills programs certain All Blacks returned to the fray with a competitive fire burning inside their newly constructed cores. Ricky Macaw made his first turnover in 2min 37s and made 12 tackles in the first half alone. When you keep a man away from something he loves, he comes back firing…

Speculation abounds whether the same rigorous training schedules were adhered to by the men of the Internal League rugby fraternity and although they might not look as attractive in a tight fitting adidas driFit jersey, I think there is little doubt that when they run out next week they’ll will be firing on all cylinders!

The off-season for many is a time of introspection and down time punctuated by hard kilometres on the road and hard sessions in the gym. The other 99% spend it hovering around the bars of Tiger or pressing the up-down button of ski lifts in Aspen. Regardless of which group you fall into, your mental mouth salivates at the thought of hitting that first ruck, making that first in contact offload or singing that first down-down song. The 18th of April is around the corner, and it’s time to let the games begin…

No matter how things change down on the Green Mile, everything seems to stay the same. Tries happen and are forgotten, fines meetings are had and cleaned up, players make their mark and graduate (unless they’re a nadoe), teams come and go, first you girls come and come again…but at the end of it all it just a team of friends playing the game of gods against another team.

The format of this years competition has been reconstructed to hopefully allow a structure that is more conducive to ensure the longevity of the brand of rugby that is associated with varsity rugby. A free flowing spectacle of fast paced running rugby where sides take on each other with skill and finesse thrown in amongst the standard SA approach of maul and kick. If you aren’t familiar with the new format scroll down to the post below and educate yourself on it.

The next 8 rugby weeks are dedicated to two sessions of Pool Stages (Round 1 and Round 2) where sides will compete against the sides in their pool to establish the draw for the knock out stages.

The pools are:

There are a few knew names in there including the readmission of Clarendon from Carinus Village, a side from the new day res, Ikhaya and the much talked about Eastern Cape 2 Rios. Clarendon’s absence from 2006 was missed heavily although probably by virtue of their travelling supporters club of golf5 sporting blonde haired beauties and not their substantial contribution to the rugby. Ikaya are an unknown quantity although we are predicting a similar impact to the Western Force in their first year of Super rugby. As their sponsorship suggests the EC2R’s have off field targets that may eclipse their on field antics but having signed many of the out casts from the Eastern Cape Spears they should have an impressive go of it.

The regularity that Wednesday night rugby will have on our calendars is stemmed somewhat by varies factors such as lank long varsity holidays, Intervarsity and other UCT RFC home games but spectators can diarised 9 such Wednesday’s and hence cancel 9 Thursday morning first periods. Since you can’t catch it on ESPN or at Tiger with $1 draft and free buffalo wings you will have to come catch all the action live. And if only half of you respond we will still probably get more bums on seats than if you hosted the ICC in the Windies.

See you soon, on the Mile….

2007-03-28T12:15:00.000+02:00

About effing TIME...!!!

MANAGERS MEETING

DATE: 29th March 2007

TIME: 16h00 sharp

VENUE: THE LAB (postgrad pub above the Rugby Club)

Please send a representative. It's important...

2007-02-13T10:52:00.000+02:00

It's a WORLD CUP YEAR...

Greetings all of the UCT Rugby fellowship. A new year has dawned and with it a number of exciting prospects to take us up and down the Green Mile for many months to come. I am going to continue rolling out the cliches so that you will be forced into thinking you are overhearing a conversation between Graeme Smith and Luke Watson at Nino's but you know what they say hey, when in Rome speak Romanian...

"I think the boys dug deep when our backs were against the wall and gave 110% but at the end of the day the bounce of the ball will determine whether you win or lose or don't win...umm...ya. I'd like to thank the crowd..."

I am blacklisting my number because some of you retards rate your rugby needs higher than my sunday afternoon exploits. Please if you going to call, do it during business hours..! You think I am joking?

Not so recently I got a call from a private number at 2am whilst I was recruiting some first year girls brother for the up and coming rugby season. (she said her brother was in matric, I figured 2008) Anyway, my point is some group of drunk screaming 'rugby' enthusiasts decided internal league was for them and they wanted to vindicate their decision by phoning me at 2am. Funny thing was they were on the balcony at Tiger and I was inside...

Moving along to the business end, now get your pencils and paper ready boys and girls:

Internal League Structure 2007:

Round 1: 16 Teams will be sorted into 4 pools. Each team will play 3 games over a 4 rugby week period against teams in their own pools. Teams will be sorted into pools according to the position they ended 2006 in.

Round 2: According to the results of Round 1 teams will be sorted in 4 different pools. Again each team will play 3 games over a 4 rugby week period.

Quarter finals: Every side will play. All the teams in 1st position of each pool will play against the teams in the 4th position, and every 2nd placed team will play against every 3rd placed team. Hence the 1st & 2nd placed sides from Round 2 will be competing for the Internal league Cup and the 3rd & 4th placed sides will be competing for the Internal League Bowl.

Semi finals: The Cup winners from the quarters will play the other Cup winners, whilst the losers will play each other. The same applies for the Bowl.

Finals: We are left with 8 games with each side competing for a place from 1 to 16.

Therefore each team will play two rounds of 3 pool games (ie: 6 pool games) and then contest a quarter, semi and a final game. In total each team will play 9 games during the season. If you haven't noticed this is based on the IRB 7's structure they use at their tournaments. A details breakdown of how this changes rules etc will be provided shortly...!

Essentially not much is different except the traditional distinction between an A and a B league has been discarded for two Pool Rounds. This will be reverted to from the quarter finals onward with the Cup being the traditional A league trophy and the Bowl the B league honours, except the sides will be correctly sorted into a top and bottom 8 according to merit.

Lovely. For any further questions listen to the detailed recording on my voicemail!

IMPORTANT DATES:

23rd February 2007 - Entrance forms available from Rugby Club Offices.

16th March 2007 - CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES and PAYMENT!!!

18th APRIL 2007 - ROUND 1 starts. First pool matches...

The managers meeting date still has to be confirmed! Please note that the entry form must be fully completed, incompleted forms will not be accepted. Selection criteria for sides has not changed from last year.

Since I am such a good oke and assuming you are possibly too lazy to fetch your entry forms, you can email me and request me to forward you one which you must then print out and complete yourself.

See you on the Mile...!

2006-09-28T09:39:00.000+02:00

Season 2006 wrap...

I will not be lying when I say that the bleakness one experiences when a good thing comes to an end, in this case, in tempered with a healthy dose of relief and satisfaction that the League is actually over and went down bar any serious hang ups.

It was a great way to end a long season this past saturday with two epic finals and I look forward to a bumper season 2007 filled with the usual internal league-esque attributes. Do watch this space!

The games were hard fought contests to which thankfully I needn't dwell due to the lovely spate of media attention the League has been incurring of late. We've become like Paris Hilton's drinking habits and get more backpage exposure than other UCT internal leagues. I would send out a hearty pat on the back but Varisty newspaper won't remove it's hand...

I must say I was a little bleak that the B League didn't get as much newspaper noise as the A League which is a tad unfair since their final was slightly more entertaining. Nothing should be taken away from them although we might have to amend something to get them some print time.

My work is done here, [Ya lank, I have to plan next year] so just going to hand out some obligatory awards to cap off the season.

Champions 2006:
A-League - The Ucha cha Nadoes.
B-League - The Wildboys.

Wooden Spooners:
A - The 'please don't come back' Rochester Rhinos.
B - College House. (still unbeaten on the A field)

The Team Spirit Award:
A - Ubumbo
B - Shebeen Boys

Worst dressed Team:
A - Barbarians (I didn't know they made pastel grey. Should have stuck to colours)
B - The Turtles. (just look at your sleeve)

Drinking Team Award:
A - Cobras/Soco Thoco (sharing parties, sharing awards)
B - The Wildboys (only team this side of the wors curtain to drink pre-mix brandy and cola)

Hottest supporter base:

Management (by default)

See you on the clifton mile...

2006-09-19T11:20:00.000+02:00

The Finals countdown...

The business end is over now ladies and gentlemen, it's all about glory. Here we go..

2006-09-07T10:56:00.000+02:00

Wrap of the Semis…

The green mile was silent for much of last night. The teams warmed up in silence, lineouts were executed in silence, scrums were engaged in silence, tackles were no more audible than the thud of bone to muscle, the kickers lined up the balls in silence and bar the odd round of applause celebrating the awesomely planned balmy weather conditions the crowds were silent too…

The stillness that lay over the mile was like the foggy blanket that usually covers it in winter. The eerie calm must have emanated from the unusually high stakes that every passage of play had on it, but however unlike the relentless fog this stillness was intermittently punctuated by friggan loud raucous cheers and support from the massive turn out of spectators…

Every dropped ball, every yard lost, every tackle missed, every kick cooked meant one thing to sides last night, and that was the disappearance of a shot at higher glory. Every side made mistakes but some held on, to retain the passage into the final.

The games kicked off punctually at 20h00. Last night was not a night of frivolous excuses like usual, guys were there to play and play they did.

The two epic encounters at 8 were between the 2nd and 3rd placed sides in either league. They were always going to be the closer matched games, although the results proved they all were.

The Cobras after dominating the league in their inaugural season hosted the Barbarians in the first A league semi. The slap slap hiss purple cobras have been to the UCT RFC internal league what Isaia Toeava was to Graham Henry’s sleepless nights. Young, talented, enthusiastic and spirited the team has shown up many sides to claim the 2nd spot on the log but they were faced by the mighty Barbarians side that arrives and plays the way their names suggests.

The Baabaa’s outfit changes its line-up more often than Dick Muir on a Thursday and they brought in the big guns for the semi. Their early dominance proved successful and they scored an impressive try out wide through Adrian Rheeder although the whole team gets lauded for the result. 5 zip down the Cobras fought back when Brad Milne crossed over to make the large support base erupt with noise and the score 5-5.

The score remained 5-5 at full time and initiated the new ‘draw procedure’ that has been brought into align with IRB standards. They sides played a further 7 mins each way of extra time and although opportunities came, no tries did.

The sides then had to battle it out over a goal- kicking shoot out. Much sympathy should be extended to the crowd (and players and other brainless rugby I-think-I-know-it-alls) who criticised this options saying ‘this has no place in rugby’! Well you should familiarise yourself with the IRB procedures then buddies before July next year, and in future please remain your side of the wors curtain.

The shoot out was nail-biting with the Baabaas shanking the first 2 attempts but then hitting the next 3 whilst the Cobras missed the crucial 2nd, 4th and 5th attempts to lose 2-3. Sure it’s a tough way to end a season but it’s the lesser of two evils.

The first semi of the B-League was a much hyped up grudge match between the Pulse Panthers and the Shebeen Boys. Playing in the same colour strip is about the only thing these two sides share and the animosity off and on the field retarded the game from turning into a spectators dream. The pre-match antics of the Shebeen Boys with online taunts and a ‘flyers on campus’ attempt to build support raised the game from been one about rugby to one about off the ball scuffles.

Scuffle would be the correct word here because despite all the time spent away from the ball not one real punch was thrown. The game could have been decided over Tekken 3 since that’s how close any physical confrontations came.

The little rugby that was played was very tight. SB spent the entire first half in the opposition half of the field but failed to turn pressure, possession and territory into points. Actually on the stroke of halftime the Panthers managed to get just out of their half for the first time but conceded a penalty that the SB kicker nailed, despite fluffing an earlier one from right in front.

The second half saw much of the same antagonistic play from both sides; which was only broken by the only score of the match. SB were attempting the outside up-and-in rush defence (although I doubt they practiced it, let alone knew they were doing it) off a scrum in their own half. The outside backs went up quickly to close down the outside space but the insides backs didn’t close the seam and Panther flyhalf (and Tiger cult hero) Greg Bastard scythed through, showed pace (which must be new) and stormed up field to draw both the cover and the fullback in contact to release a sneaky offload that supporting fullback Bruce Johnson glided onto to finish in the corner. Greg the General then middled the conversion from the touchline amongst heckling SB support to take the lead to 7-3 and the man-of-the-match title.

SB had plenty of time and possession to strike back but were denied the success due to strong Panthers defence and the inexplicable insistence of trying to goal every penalty instead of keeping the pressure on. They took 5 shots at goal and only got 1.

The second B-League game was another close thriller but played in a much better spirit. Smuts pulled together another awesome effort but weren’t able to breach the Wildboys defence or prevent them scoring twice through Jonty Rhodes-Harrison and Mike Davies.

Wildboys always played the subsidiary role to the Panthers last year but have emphatically proven that this year was to be different. They topped the log and have really progressed into the later stages as a side that has the balance to kick ass in defence and offence. The final is set to be a cracker.

The second semi in the A league saw the minnows Soco Thoco up against the ‘can anyone stop them’ Nadoes. ST are the second new comers this year that have made the semis on their first attempt (like the Cobras) and refused to let the result reflect their underdog status.

Looking at full strength the Nadoes came out firing dominating all the phases of the game. It was one of those dam-bursting games where you expect floodgates any second but the ST wall held time and time again.

The big Nadoes pack had gained immensely from their week live scrumming against the Bulls and were in usual impressive form. They reversed the ST pack back into their 22 like a little red mini and out came hooker and party liaison Renzo Puccini careering toward the line, he was held up virtually over the line but Nadoes recycled fast enough to send the ball out wide for fullback Pietie Olivier to cross for another try this season.

However the score line didn’t advance from 5-0 up for the Nadoes and the second half lost much impetus when the game was forced into uncontested scrums. Besides some good interplay and some stellar line running from Nadoes Neil Quayle the Nadoes didn’t score again. Soco Thoco were awesome on defence putting in hit after hit after hit and despite the odd go wide effort never looked like putting together a score.

However the meagre result stands and begs the question whether the Nadoes can in fact be beaten and whether the Barbarians (or the side that arrives) can do it?

It has been a tough route getting to the finals but the four sides contesting the cup (read beer and cane) certainly deserve to be there!

Try of the week: Only 6 were scored so lets give it to all 6.
Kick of the week: Too many to call.
Miss of the week: Even more, to call
So lets do, Quotes of the week:

5.) “Sorry do you know if Nic Fenton-Wells playing here?” – Fat blonde girl to just about everyone.
4.) “That’s why you don’t go for polls in internal league you moron” – Panthers centre to forlorn SB kicker after missing the sitter.
3.) “God the cane is going to taste good after this” – Renzo after a leg drive.
2.) “Walk it off!!!” – Spectator to a player that had badly twisted his ankle
1.) “It was a try, it wasn’t given but it was a try!” – Unmentioned semi-final loser. (surely it has to be given to be a try?)

After the holidays, see you on the mile.

Finals 23rd September!!!!

2006-09-05T07:57:00.000+02:00

Half finals, whole party...

Forget the bus been full, the train is now full...

Usually good things happen in threes but this is certainly not the case tomorrow evening, because we have 5 good things happening:

20h00 Cobras v Barbarians.
20h00 Panthers v Shebeen Boys.
21h00 Nadoes v Soco Thoco.
21h00 Wildboys v Smuts.

That's four right? Well try this out for number 5!

The kind people from the Opium Group through their famous party and event organiser Renzo have guestlisted ALL 8 semi-final teams at HQ for wednesday night!

So what does that mean for those rugger buggers that haven't ever left the Mont to travel via de waal to the 'other' side of the mountain? Well if you knew Renzo's reputation as a party organiser it is very simply this:

Loads of hot chicks, loads of cold beer, loads of good music!

So you're thinking apart from the load of hot chicks it is no different from where you usually drink? Well here is the kicker!

HQ on a wednesday is 'all you can drink cane night', you pay 20ZAR entrance and cane is FREE. (yes they do have cream soda) And since Renzo guestlisted all your ugly ass that makes it fully gratis... In addition to this it is the first night they have started such a promo, so they have generously allowed players to bring a date. (she only has to pay R10) Please make sure its a girl, and one that you won't be too bleak at if she comes right with another player. Seems fair.

Let the games begin.

2006-09-01T09:19:00.000+02:00

Semi-Finals...

Please note the later starting times. See you on the mile!

2006-08-24T13:48:00.000+02:00

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….

2006-08-21T15:27:00.000+02:00

The bell has rung...

The barmen have rung the bell and it's time for the last round, Kopano and gentlemen. [I hope you appreciate my sneaky pun with the use of Catherine from JAG instead of a picture of a bell. Well I'm bleak if you didn't cause because looking for the appropriate picture took a 'toll' on me...oh god I'm getting worse.]

Moving along, the bell has rung and I am afraid it is a death knell for most sides and they are going to have to pack up the boots until 2007. As promised here is a little mathematic breakdown of who is in contention for semis, along with the details for Round 9.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS LANK IMPORTANT. There is a varsity game at 7pm on the C-field this wednesday so times have been shuffled to accomodate this. ALSO, the B League games are taking place on the B field and the A league games on the C field. Get that soldiers? Read the purple stuff...we're having a purple patch!

If you sitting there wondering that this makes as much sense as a 'do not touch' sign written in Braille I'll let you in on the reason. 2007 could see the home fields of the A and B league swopping so we thought we'd guinea pig it out now... Do enjoy!

The Chances:

A-League:

Contrary to populat perception Rochester do not have a chance of making the play-offs. Just thought I'd clear they up. In fact they have more chance of playing A league next year! Along with them, neither do Kopano. The Nadoes, Cobras and Barbarians are all guaranteed a semi spot. This leave Ubumbo (13), Soco Thoco (13) and Marquard (9) fighting out to see who can lose to the Nadoes in the semi. There log points are in brackets.

This gets more interesting when you hear that the Barbarians play Ubumbo and Marquard play Soco Thoco. So Marquard can make it if they beat Soco Thoco by more than 7 points (and don't leak four tries) and if Ubumbo lose. If Ubumbo and ST both get the same log points St will go through as they have amassed 3 bonus points this season...

B-League:

Panthers, Wildboys and Shebeen Boys are all already through. Wildboys have a game in hand so just one log point will give them the top spot and the 'easier' game. If not Panthers stay at the top and play the 4th side. Smuts is virtually assured a 4th spot but the Turtles can take it if: Smuts lose to College by more than 7, they score 4 tries and against the Spanners and make up an 11 point points difference against Smuts. Yes its complicated but they have more of a chance than Hidding, College and the Spanners...

Interestingly enough Smuts can also make 3rd spot if they win with 4 tries and the Shebeen Boys lose without a bonus to the Wildboys! Of course this means Wildboys will go 1 and face the Shebeen Boys again in the semis whilst Smuts will face the Panthers. This won't be good for Smuts after Panthers caned them earlier in the season.

Just for some clarity. If sides end on the same number of log points the leader will be decided by bonus points, then tries, then points difference, then season result! The rules regarding semi-finals, pertaining to the event of a draw have been brought in line with the IRB this year so look forward to an update on that next week.

See you on the Mile...

2006-08-17T07:58:00.000+02:00

Wrap Round 8:

It has been a long 6 months of rugby that has only yielded eight rounds spent tossing the pigskin out on the Green Mile. For some sides last night they played their 7th and final game of the season, whilst other sides played their 6th with one remaining and then the rest also have that one remaining and then will have to determine their own destiny come the play-offs.

7 games of rugby over 6 months is hardly a recipe for player burn out but if you witness how hard these men throw themselves at the game each week you can understand why the pictures of internal league sides hanging on the dormitory walls of Tugwell girls are littered with tired, battered and bruised men.

I thought about not raising this next point because I don’t want to tempt fate but stuff it I am going. I would like to point out that not once yet this season has a round or game had to be rescheduled, cancelled or postponed to a later date. This is in stark contrast to the constant upsets we toiled with last season so must thank all those involved in allowing this.

Round 8 was pre-empted by nervous play-off jitters with sides doing the mental arithmetic to calculate their play-off chances. Obviously some sides struggled more than others as MAM102W was such a long time ago they have even changed its name. Lucky that Nadoes are top of the log because some of them last did first year math nearly a decade ago.

In the A-League, Round 8 saw the Cobras and the Barbarians cement their position next to the Nadoes in the semi-finals. The Cobras had a come-from-behind victory over an impressive Marquard outfit which they won 26-21. Had I paid closer attention to the game I would write a more detailed account of it but that would be blown out of the water by the Cobras’ website write up anyways so you can rather check it out at uctpurplecobras.blogspot.com. It’ll be like listening to Phil Kearns and Greg Clarke in the commentary box at Stadium Australia, one eyed but good for a laugh. The Baabaas’ beat off the challenge of Soco Thoco and the latter’s chance at securing a semi by a tight 12-0 margin.

The final game in the A-league was a wooden-spoon contest with the only two beaten (as in the opposite to unbeaten) sides left on the log. Fate wanted to force a draw but Kopano rose above it and convincingly beat Rochester 43-7. They actually showed that they were an unlucky good side this year and could have been far more competitive.

In the B-League Smuts forced themselves into play-off contention with a rousing 14-0 victory over the Shebeen Boys. Unbeaten before round 7 the Shebeen Boys have now lost 2 on the trot and face the still unbeaten joint log leaders the Wildboys next week in what looks to be a cracker. Smuts haven’t won a game since Round 2 and in their last 3 have drawn with Hidding, narrowly lost to Wildboys and being pumped by Panthers. However they just need 1 point next week to make the play-offs.

The Panthers had a rusty start to their game against a struggling Spanners side but turned it on in the end scoring 3 tries at the death to win 27-nil. That secures them a semi-final place and the top of the log although Wildboys have a game in hand. Maybe they will spend their three week break practicing goal kicking or just let their good looking once off fullback try slot a few?

The result of the last B League made many a hair on the back of little grey history proffessors’ necks stand on end. College won a game. I’m not lying. College won a game. The History department in Beattie was thrown into utter chaos with profs ordering strippers and beer kegs to mark such a monumental moment in history. Not since a try was 3 points has such an event occurred. College’s victory drought was longer than Dylan Rogers’ drought at Tiger but sadly for Drunkguy he is alone now. Actually College didn’t just win, the produced a clean and precise 19-0 victory over Hidding Hall with both tries coming from the Vass brothers.

A detailed analysis of play-off contention will be posted soon and we will talk to some experts, old hands and fans to try and predict what next week will bring.

Team of the Week: College House. Nothing else has to be said.

Tries of the Week: The Solo Week
(1) Quarmi Antwaan – the skinny Smuts winger definitely spends more time on the sprinting track than in the gym and it pays off. He scythed through the Shebeen Boys defence to score a cracking 55m try. There is no substitute for pace.
(2) Scotty Dyson – the perennial panthers try scorer took a flat ball from a lineout deep in his own half and covered the distance untouched to score under the sticks. Solo is the theme today and his effort reeked off it.
(3) Khotso Micha – the nuggety Kopano hooker wasn’t born with selflessness as a rugby quality but he certainly got the rest. He scored a try from 40m out where he seemed to get stopped every 5m but would still stay on his feet and heading for the line.
(4)* Since its solo week we have to make special mention of Kyle Dutton’s pseudo-girlfriend that came all the way out to the Green Mile on her OWN just to watch him play. Pity he didn’t play well enough to score.

2006-08-15T11:28:00.000+02:00

Round 8 it is...

The penultimate round is underway this week and some sides have to take 5 points to even sniff a chance of play-off glory. Watch out for the big match up between Soco Thoco & the Barbarians and between Smuts & Shebeen Boys.

Rumour has it the Panthers have a guest star making a bench appearance tomorrow but no one can confirm it...

2006-08-10T14:15:00.000+02:00

Wrap Round 7...

Rounds have been flying past us quicker than Christian Cullen on the outside channel of a drifting centre. Not even a Women’s Day hangover was going to prevent sides from upping the ante and forcing themselves into final four contention.

The knock out stages are just two rounds away, leaving some sides with only two or one game left before closeting the Copa’s for another season. For the sides that do make the final four they are in with some heavy challenges as the sides that have already cemented a place are looking mighty daunting to knock over.

In the A-League the Nadoes have sewn up the log like Sri Lanka did the Test Series. Ie: With emphatic purpose. They steamrolled a valiant Marquard side last night 40-17 to notch up their 6th scalp this season and to retain the Sobhar Shield for the second, of what could be many, weeks. The Cobras had to be a Nadoe notch last week but came back to winning ways in Round 7 with a sterling effort to beat Ubumbo 14-0. In the other game the Barbarians took on Rochester and were 69 for nought at the end of the days play, lucky for Rochester it wasn’t a five-day game.

Actually the Rhinos are getting rather devious in defeat, they are employing the Australian tactic of delaying kick off so as to shorten the game time and therefore the amount of time they have to spend watching the opponents take conversion. Pretty sneaky if you ask me. Jake White is looking into it...

Last nights events leave Ubumbo, the Barbarians and Soco Thoco all hovering around mid-table seeking to secure the remaining two play off spots. Ubumbo are certainly at the disadvantage of having 1, as opposed to the others having 2, games left but knowing the nature of the League anything can happen.

The B-League is similar to the A-League except 3 sides have pretty much sewn up the play off berths and only one is on auction to the general public. Wildboys recorded another victory, this time over Hidding winning 20-3, and stay unbeaten at the top of the table. The Panthers then fought out a hard victory to take the Sobhar Shield away from the Shebeen Boys and the second spot on the log.

The race for the remaining position is between Hidding Hall and Smuts although the Turtles put themselves in with an outside chance after their first career win last night against College in a 10-8 nail-biter. Spanners and College have less hope of a play off spot than Rochester do at a free case of beer at the Sobhar Bar, or at scraping together 15 guys for that matter but they’ll still turn out for a jol.

Team of the Week: The Turtles squeezed out their first victory and for that they deserve a case. The imbalance in regard to strength in the B League is worse than the Genie Coefficient of South Africa so to hand out a beating after 6 unsuccessful attempts is laudable. However beating College doesn’t deserve a case. However, swallowing your pride deep enough to run around a field for 60 minutes in a bright red jersey with the Ninja Turtle insignia on your skinny gun and a half shell on your back takes balls. Congrats…err… Turtles.

Try of the Week: There were long rang efforts, there were tight five push overs, there were solo magic tries and there were killer angle great support tries. However there was no ‘try’ better than the 6 Rochester team member who, for the second week in a row, tried their level best to stay in res. And they succeeded…

Hit of the Week: This is one for the record books. As stated last week this award is very rare but for the same person to get it in two consecutive weeks is borderline hot Carinus girl aka unheard of. The hit was executed by, you guessed it, Dan Watson on the hapless Cobra left wing who looks like a dark haired Peter Crouch. Ol Crouchy shepherded the big rig into touch and then fell on top of him in the mud, and for his troubles got a steroid fuelled rage hit to the nose. Not quite the sporting behaviour we expect on the green mile…

2006-08-08T08:45:00.000+02:00

Round 7:

Isn't a little game of rugby a great way to spend women's day! We think so. That's why round 7 is tomorrow. The game times have been brough forward so we can get it all over sooner.

There are some heavy matches but none more so than the B League repeat of last years semi-finals. The Pulse Panthers beat of the Shebeen Boys twice last season during the perfect nadoe-esque season but so far this season they have already lost one, whereas the Shebeen Boys haven't. What a match up it should be! Plus the Shebeen Boys are the incumbent Sobhar Shield holders, and Pulse want to add another Cape Town club to their name. Look out for a cracker...

2006-08-03T11:07:00.000+02:00

Wrap Round 6

Welcome back to the news site that is UCT RFC Internal League Rugby. What a ripper of a round after such a long lay-off. Who knew the powers that be that instituted varsity’s latest money-spinner Winter School would have such an impact on the happenings of Internal League.

Eight weeks of hard gym and no rugby outlet through which teams could vent their new found Floyd Landis testosterone meant that when sides hit the ground last night they hit it running…and passing and diving and tackling and some even flying…

A few sides had the foresight to organise mid-season friendly matches and tours to keep their rugby selves occupied. The Nadoes swept through Plett and Knysna like one would expect them too, Smuts thought about hitting Knysna but apparently there is a better and pinker time of year to do so, so they cancelled that, the Shebeen Boys had their normal practice matches against the Olympic Gentlemen’s Club first cricket XI and the Pulse Panthers went abroad to play in Spain. Panthers narrowly lost to the Bulls which is disappointing as no one like it when the Bulls win…

---------------------------------------Tours are always fun!

Moving back to last night's round, it was inevitable that it wouldn't be without some mishaps. Rochester arrived with their best 9 players and had to borrow a passer by so they could forfeit the points in style by playing 10s against Soco Thoco. ST are without a doubt the worst side to be forced to play the open style of 10s against and they racked up 65 points before the rotund ref had to call it early from sheer exhaustion.

The first B league game saw the Wildboys rack up 36 unanswered points against the Spanners attributing the victory to their new playing strip. Who knew Tiger Woods’ 4th round red colour mind games would have such an impact on worldwide sport although the WB might have taken it to far, from a distance it looked like Mao Tsedong’s red army was doing infantry drills on the C field.

The 7pm time slot was stacked with real viewing pleasure. The A league fixture between Kopano and Ubumbo was a titanic struggle and with 7minutes left the score line was still nil all. Kopano then dropped their Belson mobile into 6th gear and scored a cracking try in the corner that was unconverted giving them a tight 5-point advantage. It was then with their backs against the wall that Ubumbo resurged to gain important territorial advantage and sneaked one under the polls that was converted for the win in the final minute. I was going to use the phrase on the ‘stroke of full time’ but silly jokes like that can be deadly when the ref was as old as Doc Craven himself. Not only was ‘that’ era so far ago but he also seemed to want to enforce the ‘laws’ from that era.

The B league game was the one sided affair of the Pulse Panthers back to true form as they ran Smuts ragged for their four try win. Panthers played some rugby of the sparkling wine variety scoring some breath taking tries and showing that there is a place for a skilled, expansive game in SA. Smuts are no meek opposition so Panthers victory should send a severe play-off message to the other sides.

The final B league game of the night saw Hidding Hall and the Turtles grind out to a misfortunate 7 all draw. Hidding looked to have a handle on the game with a laudable first half and a good try but the Turtles showed some heavy mettle to get back into the game with gutsy forward play, good pressure and there own try. Incidentally that is the Turtle first non-loss of the season.

The big game of the night was always going to be the top of the table show down between the two remaining unbeaten sides in the A league, which was also the contest for the Sobhar Shield. Well they were both unbeaten until the Nadoes showed their superiority to comfortably beat the Purple Cobras 35-0. The score line does no justice to the Cobras loss as they kept in it everywhere else but on the scoreboard right up until the crusader-esque last 15min performance of the Nadoes. You can’t beat experience.

The score at half time should have been 0-0, except the Nadoes had magic in their line-up. The magic came in the form of the mercurial feet and brain of flyhalf Paddy Fitzgerald. He scored an amazing solo effort cutting through the defence like Dan Carter going through a green wall and then had the deftest of touches to reward a killer running angle for the blind side wing to score. Paddy 14 Cobras 0. Pressure and experience meant the Nadoes cruised the second half for another impressive victory.

There are only 3 Rounds left before the play offs and the fat lady has certainly not begun to sing, although she was present there last night. She came dressed in white to support her young Cobra (snake?) loose forward Nic Fenton-Wells.

See you on Women’s Day.

Team of the Week: The Nadoes were once again very impressive, Ubumbo had a come from behind buzzer victory but the award goes to the Spanish inquisitors, Pulse Panthers. It was nice seeing a solid team victory and not the usual solo efforts from a few individuals. Ciao.

Hit of the Week: This award isn’t as constant as say a Carinus girl, but like a Carinus girl when it appears everyones glad it wasn’t them. The receiver of the biggest hit and the accompanying award was big Ubumban winger Dan Watson. He had an impressive run up the nasty touchline of the B Field before getting stopped in his tracks by a monster hit from the lanky outside Kopano centre Rolo Louw. Just shows some things aren’t genetic.

Try of the Week: Slow ruck ball in the 22. Bad ball delivery. Off side rush defence. These usually contribute to going backward or a turnover. Not when Paddy Fitzgerald is your first five. Cobras I would like to introduce you to my left foot, this is my dummy, this is my right foot, this is my jink, this is my swerve, Mr 15 please meet my step and thank you very much I’ll convert it too. If only Dave Mallet was watching…

2006-08-01T11:58:00.000+02:00

The Second Half Begins...

Here are the updates and official fixtures for the remainder of the season. Hopefully they will not have to be amended but that is beyond our control. Round 6 is this week with the fixtures posted in the post below and here are the times for Rounds 7, 8 and 9.

Please note the usual times in Round 7 and 9. Round 7 is a public holiday and games are starting at 16h00 and in Round 9 there is a League fixture on the B field at 19h00, hence the reshuffle.

The semi-finals will take place on the 6th September and the finals on saturday the 23rd of Septmeber.

2006-06-27T13:02:00.000+02:00

Holiday Break...

Everyone loves a break from having to go to lectures, do tutorials and attend those stupid class work groups some courses impose on us but you have to admit you miss the big things on campus. The big things? None other than, chicken burgers, thursdays at tiger, that little blonde girl with the recklessly low skirt on jammie stairs and of course... Internal League rugby...

If you were looking for a sporting substitute in the June home test matches, crumbs you must be disappointed but then again you should have been watching the All Blacks instead anyway. At least we have the Bledisloe Cup to look forward to and things like this from Germany 2006...

As you should know the next round (round 6) kicks off on the 2nd August:

And the rest of the season looks like this:

See you up on the Mile!

2006-06-01T10:40:00.000+02:00

Wrap: Round 5.

Halftime it is ladies and gentlemen! We are officially past halfway through the league with all sides having played 4 games out of 7. The logs finally have some structure as you can compare the teams on an equal playing field.

Round 5 was always going to have a big impact on certain sides when it comes to the business part of the league so teams had to group together and pull something out the bag, and they did. Unfortunately Spanners and College grouped together at the wrong time and missed the 6pm kick off so forfeited the game. One can only conclude that it was either a sneaky way to avoid a loss or Kopano’s no show tactics last week has filtered down to the C-field…

The A-League kicked off with an absolute steamer of a game with the Barbarians coming from 12 duck down to even the score against Nadoes with the minutes dying quicker than Internal League support during exams. Nadoes kept their nerve, forced the penalty and kicked to win a heavily ‘fought’ fixture. Barbarians will take nothing from the game but other sides will, as it seems; the Nadoes may not be as invincible as they seem.

The next game was even more immense is nature as it was the local lower campus derby. Usually Marquard and Kopano boys fight for the affection of Baxter girls but this year it would seem the Clarendon guys (and the odd Tugwell girl) have won that battle leaving the men to fight it out on the Green Mile. Kopano have been a shadow of their traditional selves this year and their injury-hampered side took a beating at the hands of a far superior Marquard team.

----------------------------Baxter girls: Who wouldn't want to compete...

In the last game of the night Soco Thoco beat off the ardent Ubumbo spears out scoring them 3 tries to 1. The harry-casual approach of the Soco Thoco’s proved effective this week and their numerous attacking forays from behind their own goal line made the game highly entertaining. Ubumbo had a spirited 2nd half but could only manage the 1 try despite many opportunities.

In the B-League both unbeaten sides carried on true to form and notched up another victory each. The Wildboys subdued an obviously exam distracted Smuts side 14-5, and then Shebeen Boys managed a tight victory against an unlucky Turtles side. Still winless this year the Turtles haven’t been as bad as results would lead you to believe and have been very competitive in every game they’ve played. For the Shebeen Boys Tim Vann, for a 2nd time this season, scored all their points.

We break now for exams and then a very long holiday and no games will be played in June or July. However the first Wednesday night of August is the first week back at varsity and the date of Round 6. Each side has only 3 more games to get into the play-offs. Take care!

Team of the Week: Baabaas proved the impossible isn’t. Nadoes showed class and experience. Marquard won a derby. Soco Thoco were good. Ubumbo play rugby that is awesome to watch. Shebeen boys are still unbeaten, as are the Wildboys but…this week, none of them get it. Team of the Week Round 5 goes to Rochester, cause it’s the first time they haven’t lost…

Tries of the week:
3.) The ref awarded a scrum to the Turtles despite their fullback knocking it on into touch. The Shebeen Boys forced the tight head, and on the reset it wheeled blindside. Tim Vann knocked it on at the base, picked it up and sniped over blindside ala Peter Stringer Heineken Cup Final for the only try of the game. It gets a mention just cause the comedy of errors in the build up shows what a funny game it is we love.

2.) As the Nadoes stamped their early up dominance over the Barbarians young fullback (only Nadoe who is still u23) Pietie Olivier, made a clean break out of his half and cantered through the heavy quagmire of the nearside B-field touchline before breaking two tackles and stepping another to dot down under the sticks. Pure class.

1.) There were many classy tries this round but this one was a cut above the rest. A coast-to-coast effort from Soco Thoco. Fullback Thando Jacobs broke from behind his own tryline, gave the big stop and go and was away, he hoisted a kick down the right field that was collected and fed inside to Warren ‘Oupa’ Kelly that had come off his left wing. Oupa then beat defenders like Ronaldinho in the midfield and cruised over to complete the try. It was sensational. What was more impressive was the pace Oupa then showed to get his lighter from the change rooms so he could have a stuyvie break.

2006-05-29T13:23:00.000+02:00

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!

2006-05-26T10:45:00.000+02:00

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.

2006-05-24T10:08:00.000+02:00

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….

2006-05-11T09:33:00.000+02:00

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...

2006-05-08T10:15:00.000+02:00

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…

2006-05-04T10:17:00.000+02:00

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.

2006-05-03T10:56:00.000+02:00

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...

2006-05-03T08:43:00.000+02:00

Round 2...

Big games, big hits, big party...

2006-04-28T12:33:00.000+02:00

Wrap: Round 1...

It is no secret that the opening round of Internal League was ran smoother than an All Black backline at a friday captain's practice. I won't lie but we were a little nervous before it all began as things have a tendancy to go pearshaped very quickly but thankfully it all went okay!

The most important thing, however, was the fact that the rugby looked good. Besides a few guys giving evidence that the off season was not one of a very physically demanding nature and the probability that a ball was tossed around during summer is as probable as the Force getting a home semi-final, it was on the whole pretty impressive.

Apart from a few exceptions most games were a contest until the final whistle with most sides claiming the ‘lose within 7’ bonus point. Out of the 4 new sides in both leagues 2 came away with wins but I think they all realized that the level of play required from them is of a high standard. Having said that, the old guard sides definitely had reason to stand up and recognize that some of the new sides have talent to offer.

The introduction of the “Sobhar Shield” has been momentous. A College side that is looking far stronger than it has EVER, was unable to ward off the challenge by the Shebeen Boys who are now the holders going into Round 2. In the A-league, the Barbarians stamped there authority all over the claim to their Shield and it will take some serious play to take it away from them.

The winning sides enjoyed their iced beer and VIP treatment at the kick ass Tequila and Red Bull party at Sobhar afterward. Word on the street is that the bevy of admiring females looking to sponge on the fame of the new Shield holders was larger than the group standing outside Dan Carter’s hotelroom at the Vineyard. That’s got to be worth something!

The season looks to be great! Round 2 is next week on the 3rd May. See you all there.

2006-04-25T18:13:00.000+02:00

The Sobhar Shield...

This post is going up because this is a serious event. Anticipation and excitement are all over campusgoers lips of late as the hype for Round 1 of Internal League reaches a crescendo. The league kicks off tomorrow with some pretty big match ups, but with two especially momentous games.

Ubumbo v The Nadoes is going to be a cracker with both sides been A League semi-finalists last year, (the latter obviously champions) and in the B League the clash of the minds with Smuts Hall taking on the EBE Spanners. The Spanners are representatives of the Engineering and Built Enviroment Faculty where academics are just as important as sport. It definitely promises to be a game with more thinking than say last weeks Bulls-Cats clash...

However those two fixtures pale in significance to the real big classic clashes. The two matches fighting it out for the Sobhar Shield this week are Marquard Lions v Barbarians (17h00) and College House v Shebeen Boys (17h00). The winner of each game will be the first winner of the new Sobhar Shield and each team will incur a case of ice cold Sobhar beer for their efforts...

If you're so jealous you aren't in the running for the prize but sufficiently so that you want to get close to the action head to Sobhar after the games to check out the R6 brand cover-charge free student night. For details check out www.sobhar.co.za!!!

See you on the Green Mile.

2006-04-21T09:51:00.000+02:00

Here comes Round 1...

The league kicks off in less than a week now with Round 1 being played this Wednesday 26th April. (the next day is Freedom Day) It promises to be a huge event with all 16 sides featuring in the round.

But wait there is more. This year also sees the introduction of many other features to make Wednesday nights at the Rugby Club, somewhat more, of a social event.

Round 1 is the inaugural opening of a new addition to the prize roster with sides competing for the weekly ‘Sobhar Shield’. Based on the NPC Ranfurly Shield, the Sobhar Shield starts in the hands of the side that finished closest to the bottom last year and the side that beats them, becomes Shield holder. Sides hold the Shield until they are beaten.

-------------------------------She isn' the Shield unfortunately but you get the point.
Playing for the Shield this week in the A League is challngers, the Barbarians, vs arch-rivals (stroke brotherteam) the holders, the Marquard Lions. In the B League, title holder the fierceless College team will be holding off the challenge of the Shebeen Boys...

However not only are the players blessed with new things this year but so to are the fans. Yes, I can put truth to the rumour that Ash the Chicken Burger Man will be there and the bar has decided to open a satellite bar between the B and C field. Now you won’t have to miss valuable rugby watching time to go on a beer run. There will also be huge bar specials…

See you Wednesday!!!!

2006-04-18T11:01:00.000+02:00

MANAGERS MEETING!!!

We are just 8 days short of the opening of Internal League and what a cracker it looks to be. PLEASE note that the very important manager's meeting is THIS thursday (20/4) at 16h30 in the Rugby Club Pub...

The crowds are waiting with abated breath...

2006-04-04T12:01:00.000+02:00

And the gate is closed...

Yesterday was the closing date for entry form and fees into UCT internal league and as with the many elated sides there are a few dissappointed sides. Hard luck to those who tried, better luck next year.

A total of 12 sides have kept their places from last year leaving us with 4 new teams. Three of these teams are contesting the A League whilst the other is in the B League. It was no surprise that the majority of teams wanted to play B rather than A league rugby this year. Some have speculated it is in fear of another year of Nadoes domination although more practical schools of thought have advocated the argument that the B league rathers allows less practice and more beer drinking... Time will tell.

Congrats to all the new sides and good luck to you all.

A-League
Tornadoes
Ubumbo
Barbarians
Kopano
Marquard Lions
Soco Thocos*
The Purple Cobras*
Rochester Rhinos*

B League
Panthers
Smuts
Wildboys
Hidding Hall
Shebeen Boys
EBE Spanners
College
The Turtles*

Please keep an eye on this site and your emails for news about the very important upcoming Managers Meeting.

Lata.

2006-03-06T13:18:00.000+02:00

Defending Champs...

Last year the Nadoes confirmed itself as an Internal League dynasty and captured the A-League trophy with a 20-3 win over the Shamwaris.

The B-League honours were taken by a new side to the League the Pulse Panthers. Still waiting for them to get their photos published. Apparently they do feature in a cover spread in this months SA GAY Times so you can check them there...if you really want to

2006-03-02T10:37:00.000+02:00

Entry Rules:

As explained by the beautifully composed entry form you can collect from the Rugby Club there are a few amendments and clarifications around the rules governing entry into a League. We know that positions in our hallowed Leagues are as rare as hot girls in Tin Roof and so the competition for these places will be fierce.

However, we praise ourselves in having a degree of organization that surpasses that of SARU so the competing for our limited places is governed more strictly than say...the four Super 14 franchise spots. Here are the rules:

Rule 1: To be illegible for entry FULL payment of the League fees must be made to the Rugby Club by 12h00 on the 3rd April 2006, proof of deposit plus this entry form need to be returned.

Rule 2: Primary preference for selection into a league will be given to Residence sides that competed in 2005 and to the defending champions.

Rule 3: Secondary preference into a League will be given to sides that competed last year and then to residence sides that didn’t compete in 2005.

Rule 4: The organisers reserved the right to make the final decision for the duration of the league. All decisions are final.

Please note that for Rule 2 or 3 to work in your favour you need to comply with Rule 1 and that if you do comply with Rule 1 but fail to gain selection due to Rule 2 or 3 your league fees will be reimbursed to the full amount of R2500.

2006-02-27T10:18:00.000+02:00

The Start of Internal League:

Entries are available from the UCT rugby offices from the 1st March 2006. They have to be back and full payment made by the 3rd April for your side to be illegible.

Round 1 commences on the 26th April....

2006-01-05T01:20:00.000+02:00

Updated Blog:

All the relevant, uptodate and exciting Internal League info will be available on this site...

Bring on 2006.

R.