It was an eagerly awaited derby between teams separated on the Super League A table only by points difference and come the sounding of the final whistle, just two points separated the Southern Suburbs rivals.
The difference was on the league table as Motorvaps False Bay bagged five league points against the Villager RFC solitary point for a loss within seven points. The scoreboard showed False Bay 27-25 winners over Villager RFC at Constantia on Saturday. The visitors led 13-12 at half-time.
Derbies are unique no matter the sport. In WP club rugby terms, it is not about the results only. It’s about the occasion. The match programme, normally four matches between the clubs, none less important in the minds of their participants than the other, is the essence of a club rugby derby.
By the time the main match commenced, False Bay had a “W” alongside their under-20, Third XV and high-flying Second XV, but like it or not, the day’s success is judged upon the result of the main event of the day.
For club rugby fans nothing beats a derby. Is it the familiarity of those involved; the history of the rivalry; or perhaps even the banter between opposing camps of players and supporters which builds the occasion? The cliché is disliked for its excessive modern use, but it is what it is and in this case it adds a potpourri of spice to the cauldron.
The build-up to the contest was an integral spice to the dish. False Bay, after a slow start to the season, had found their feet over the last number of their nine games hitherto, shaking off the effects of losses-that-could-have-been-victories such as those against Maties and even the early season match against DurBell.
In their most recent match, that against SK Walmer at the Green Point Track, the Bay stood tall against a top-quality Walmer who would have not been deemed lucky if the result went their way. The flip-side to this coin of course is that quality prevails, and that False Bay are beginning to peak.
Their opponents on the day were pretty much the same. Losing finalists against Maties in the Presidents Cup 2023 final last September, Villager had ended clear leaders on the SLA table, only to forfeit the title to the students based on that President’s Cup loss.
The format of the competition is known to and accepted by all those participating, but that makes the result no less painful and the 2024 Villager is a determined unit, their 45-12 victory over Maties testimony to this.
Even though only a single point separated the teams on the half-time scoreboard, that half probably belonged to the Dirty Whites, the affectionate nickname of the Brooksiders.
Their big pack of forwards were utilised to great effect. Undoubtedly their standout forward was flank Dyla Untete, a massive, muscular man with a big engine that does not stop pumping and a determination to succeed. Their big, strong centres, Dan Aspeling and Andries Viljoen, and pivot Devon Lailvaux, effectively applied the game plan to run the ball up while remaining in close proximity to their forwards to maintain a cohesive unit. It was a ploy effectively employed but with a single point separating the teams at the break, that lead was unlikely to be sufficient.
In the second half, False Bay settled into a dominant pattern, frustrated by some inaccuracies, two of which resulted in the Bay playing with fourteen men.
The Bay’s tenuous half-time lead was extended to fourteen by midway through the second half, unassailable in the minds of the spectators, but perhaps not to those closer to the field of contest.
Villager reduced that lead to nine with a try by wing Guilliano de Franchie but even the least partisan in attendance would have placed money on a Villager victory at that stage.
For False Bay, the full squad list would probably qualify to be mentioned, but former Villager player, hooker Jacques Goosen, marked by two defenders any time he touched the ball, eluded tackles, dissected defences, and quite simply made a nuisance of himself.
Veteran Ryan Olivier was possessed at lock, his partner Josh du Toit, on the other end of the age spectrum, was a bundle of energy. At the back so many contributors, but Ewan Adams, the flyhalf of choice, again proving his versatility with another outstanding performance at fullback.
Again, but this time to the vocal acknowledgement of the local support, left wing Daniel Hayes stole the show with a nuggety, industrious and very busy performance, capped by an intercept try, a result of a determined Bay defence.
False Bay’s five-point haul now elevates them to fourth place with four matches to go. Much water to flow under the bridge yet no remaining match will be easy.
False Bay now enter a three-week furlough although some matches at other levels still take place.
The False Bay women’s team host Busy Bees at Constantia at 2pm. Accept the challenge to watch this form of rugby and be surprised by its entertainment value.
