The Western Province Club Rugby league session is just about done, with the Super League competitions now almost complete, while the regional competitions continue with plenty of rugby still to be played. The current logs are beginning to give a much clearer picture at both ends of the Super Leagues, with the league winners effectively decided in several competitions and the battle for the remaining positions becoming increasingly important.
In Super League A, Villager have effectively secured the league title after completing their league programme. Their 47-26 victory over Stellenbosch in their final league match capped another outstanding campaign and means they can be regarded as the unofficial Super League A league winners. Villager have claimed the fact that they are back to back champions and have not done so in ninety one years.
Villager end on 61 league points, ahead of Helderberg on 53. SK Walmers are third on 46, with Durbanville-Bellville and Hamiltons both on 45. Tygerberg are next on 41, while False Bay and UCT are both on 38.
That also means there is still plenty to play for immediately behind Villager. With clubs having played different numbers of matches, the remaining fixtures can still change the order considerably. Durbanville-Bellville, Hamiltons, SK Walmers, Tygerberg, False Bay and UCT are all part of the battle for the leading positions behind the league winners.
There was plenty of action in Super League A last weekend. Tygerberg edged UCT 20-19 in one of the closest matches of the round, while Hamiltons recorded a convincing 40-14 victory over Stellenbosch. Primrose claimed an important 47-33 away win over Union Milnerton, while Durbanville-Bellville produced a big 68-24 victory over Tygerberg. UWC were dominant in a 139-0 win over Van der Stel Evergreens, while Helderberg came away with a narrow 26-24 victory over UCT.
The battle at the bottom of the Super League A log is equally important. UWC currently sit 12th on 17 points, just one ahead of Primrose on 16, with Franschhoek on 15. Union Milnerton are on eight points and Van der Stel-Evergreens on one. With the bottom four positions carrying relegation consequences, there is very little separating the clubs immediately around that cut-off.
That makes this weekend’s meeting between UWC and Primrose one of the most important matches of the round. Only one league point currently separates them, and the result could have a major influence on who survives and who finishes in the bottom four. It is effectively a relegation and survival game, with both teams knowing that league points at this stage of the season are crucial.
Franschhoek are also firmly involved in that battle on 15 points and face Durbanville-Bellville at 15:00 on Saturday, 22 August. Elsewhere, SK Walmers face False Bay, Union Milnerton meet Stellenbosch and UCT take on Hamiltons. With the Super League A programme almost complete, every point can now have an impact on the final positions.
Super League B is also moving towards its conclusion, with Collegians having effectively secured the league title. They strengthened their position with another convincing performance last weekend, beating NTK 40-17. Elsewhere, Vineyards defeated Violets 34-24, while Hamlets came through a high-scoring encounter against Hamediehs with a 42-36 victory.
In Super League C, Rangers have effectively secured the league title as that competition also approaches its conclusion. Rangers edged Kylemore 31-28 last weekend, while Busy Bee defeated Raithby Universals 36-22 and Gardens recorded a 31-7 victory over Caledonian Roses.
The picture at the top of the three Super Leagues has therefore become much clearer. Villager have effectively won Super League A, Collegians have effectively secured Super League B and Rangers have effectively secured Super League C, subject to formal confirmation of the final standings. The remaining Super League matches now become particularly important for the final positions behind the champions and, in Super League A, the fight to avoid the bottom four.
The regional competitions, however, are at a different stage of their season and continue with plenty of rugby still ahead.
In the Central Region, Young Stars beat Temps-Cities 17-14 last weekend, while Lavis edged Suburban Warriors 15-14. Young Ideas recorded a 36-10 victory over Thistles, Elsies River United beat Silverleaf 34-7 and Manenberg Rangers defeated Northerns 21-12.
Another full Central Region programme follows this weekend, with Temps-Cities facing Silvertree, Young Ideas meeting Suburban Warriors, Lavis taking on Young Stars, Manenberg Rangers playing Silverleaf and Northerns facing Thistles. Unlike the Super Leagues, these regional competitions continue beyond this round, meaning there is still considerable movement possible in the regional standings.
The Northern Region also produced an entertaining set of results. Stellenbosch Coronations beat Cloetesville 34-27, Police-Blackheath defeated Excelsior 16-10 and Whistling Wheels recorded a 24-18 victory over Blue Stars United. Fisantekraal came out on top in a high-scoring 53-35 win over Faure, while Morningstar defeated Gordons Bay Pioneers 36-20.
Northern Region rugby continues with Excelsior against Cloetesville and Stellenbosch Coronations against Blakes on Friday evening. On Saturday, Blue Stars United face Police-Blackheath, Gordons Bay Pioneers take on Fisantekraal and Morningstar meet Whistling Wheels.
In the Southern Region, Retreat recorded a 31-12 victory over Titans, while Young Wesleys edged Peninsula 36-31. Lagunya won a tight contest against Blue Jet 15-13, while Rocklands recorded a 36-19 victory over Imiqhayi.
The Southern Region continues with another busy programme. Masi face Rocklands, Retreat take on Khayelitsha, Blue Jet meet Peninsula, Imiqhayi face Titans and Lagunya play Young Wesleys.
There were also some big results in the Paarl Region. Violets Paarl beat Simondium 29-17, Young Gardens edged Perel United 39-36 and Lower Paarl recorded an impressive 69-15 victory over Windmeul United. Albions completed the weekend’s results with a 50-24 win over Riverstones.
The Paarl Region continues with six matches this weekend. Albions face Drakenstein RK, Perel United meet Simondium, Violets Paarl take on Paarl Rangers, Riverstones face Windmeul United, Young Standards meet Young Gardens and Lower Paarl play Paarl.
The women’s competitions are also continuing. In Women’s League A, Brackenfell recorded an emphatic 50-0 victory over St Georges, while in Women’s League B Delft United defeated UCT 37-5.
This weekend sees St Georges face Bellville, CPUT take on Elsies River United and UWC meet Up and Under in Women’s League A, while Eersterivier face Stellenbosch University in Women’s League B.