Maties make opening statement
2008-09-07 20:54
Stellenbosch - Defending champions and 12-time winners Maties sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the field on the opening day of the 34th SAA National Club Champs, when they crushed invited team Raiders 65-11 at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
There were also first-round wins for Tukkies, College Rovers, Roses United, University of Johannesburg, CUT Ixias and Pukke, while Falcons champions Brakpan emerged as dark horses for the title after a clinical display against two-time champions Despatch, who were making their first appearance at the tournament since 1993.
In the Bowl competition, there were wins for SWD's Barbarians and Boland's Wesbank.
Brakpan, led superbly by provincial lock Nico Luus, set an early benchmark as far as the tournament's open clubs are concerned, while Tukkies showed enough in their nailbiting 31-28 win over WP's SK Walmers that they, too, can be counted among the possible title contenders.
The SAA Club Champs resumes at 10:00 on Tuesday, when the Plate quarterfinals and the second round of the Bowl kick off. The first of the Cup quarterfinals start at 13:00 at the Danie Craven Stadium, with the main match kicking off at 17:30.
Tukkies (10) 31 SK Walmers (5) 28
The odds on Blue Bulls champions Tukkies winning this year's tournament shortened after they pulled off a nailbiting victory over Western Province Super League club SK Walmers in the main curtain-raiser.
The University of Pretoria students opened up an early 10-0 lead but Walmers clawed their way back into an absorbing encounter, before losing their way in the final quarter against a streetwise and super-fit student outfit.
In a fast-flowing and open game, both teams looked dangerous in broken play but it was Tukkies who were just that bit more clinical when it came to finishing off their opportunities.
That said, Walmers almost pulled the match out of the fire when, trailing 31-14, they scored two quick tries in the dying minutes, but Tukkies hung on at the end to progress to the last eight.
For Tukkies, centre Franco Booysen, left wing Oscar Mfundisi, eighthman Sisa Mafu, flanker Gert Lubbe and lock Devin Oosthuizen scored tries, while elusive flyhalf Shaun Davids kicked two conversions and replacement Chandr Bosshoff one.
For SK Walmers, right wing Raithaan Petersen, centre Cleopas Makotose, and replacement hooker Hugo Lambrecht scored tries. Flyhalf Adnaan Osman kicked three penalties and two conversions.
Maties (34) 65 Raiders (6) 11
Maties, the defending champions, easily swept aside Saru invited team Raiders in the main game of the opening day, to set up an intriguing derby quarterfinal against Boland champions Roses United.
Raiders, who only managed to finish seventh in the Golden Lions' Pirates Grand Challenge league this year, were never going to trouble the Western Province champions, who went into the match on the back of a 102-0 WP Super League A win over Tygerberg.
Maties scored their 10 tries through fullback Therlow Pietesen, centre Jean Stemmet (2), left wing Louw Schabort, flankers Chase Minnaar and Wesley Wilkens, lock Bertho van der Westhuizen (2), prop Pieter van Eyssen and replacement wing Wilhelm Loock. Right wing Henoe Stoffberg kicked six conversions and one penalty for a personal haul of 15 points.
For Raiders, flyhalf Russel Mouton kicked two penalties while left wing Gerald Sibanda scored a well-taken consolation try.