False Bay eye Top 6 spot but there's still work to be done

Jon Harris

You know you have received value for your entrance fee when two teams vying for a Top Six finish in this season’s ultra-competitive Super League A competition rack up ninety-two points between them and only four separate them when the final whistle is blown. This was the case when visitors Motorvaps False Bay scored in the last play of the day to exit the field at Theo Marais Park in Milnerton as victors over their hosts, Uni-Mil on Saturday.

After leading 29-24 at halftime, the Bay secured a 48-44 victory.

Social media across the club rugby system agree on one obvious fact, that SLA2025 is the most competitive this league has been in several seasons, with at least ten of the fifteen competing clubs in with a chance, some mathematically, of qualifying for the knockout Top Six phase of the competition. This has ignited the league and every week sees clubs pitching their marker for post-round robin participation.

For those sideline warriors who venture out to the clubs, often in competition to the enticement of their couch and the plethora of international rugby available on the goggle box, they are treated to a surprising feast at most matches and the beauty of the club game means that it is not just one match on the program which delivers. Match day schedules are not one-game affairs, typically involving at least five matches on the day and by time the main encounter begun, False Bay were five from five, including a hard-fought win for the Bay Women.

 For the Constantia club, their campaign was precariously positioned. Having suffered a home loss to Tygerberg a fortnight earlier, the Constantia team could simply not afford another loss.  Uni-Mil had soundly beaten False Bay and Fortress Constantia in their corresponding fixture in 2024, and Millies are tough to beat under the gas flames of the Milnerton Refinery. In the context of the visitors, this was an enormous banana peel strewn across their path.

Going into the match, Millies were consistently in contention. among the top ten vying teams. A Bay loss and five points to  Uni-Mil  would see a substantial shake-up mid-table, and a mountain to overcome for coach Ashley Wells and his team.

With more than a smattering of players unavailable for selection, the hungry players pushing for selection grabbed their respective opportunities to impress and boost Wells' player coffers.

The match itself produced thirteen tries, seven to the Bay and six belonging to the hosts, in a running display of quality rugby. Led by eighthman Shaine Orderson, elected by his peers to lead the Bay for the rest of the season in place of injured skipper Darren Japhta, False Bay played to a plan and kept their scoreboard ticking over. Unfortunately, in true honesty, they contributed to keeping the numbers rolling on the side of their hosts through the creation of yawing gaps in following clearance kicks, impossible to defend when opponents are swarming up and gaps simply refuse to close.

Nevertheless, in hindsight it added to the allure of the contest. Never-say-die play from both teams, Millies had a slender one-point lead with a minute to go and found themselves defending their line against a team that had proven to be lethal in crossing that same line as the contest entered the final quarter. The home side wilted and False Bay crossed for a match-winning try.

It was an effort of remarkable proportions, truly every member of the squad doing his bit to carry the win over the line, making the singling out of any players, even as point scorers, perhaps unfair in the analysis. This applicable to both teams.

No, not a flawless performance by any means, but certainly an enjoyable contest none-the-less. The win now places False Bay fourth on the SLA table, but with four more matches to play, three of which are mammoth, their path to the playoffs is by no means smooth.

The Bay travel to Durbanville to face log-leaders Dur-Bell on Saturday. The northern suburbs giants are unbeaten in their ten matches thus far are a well-balanced team, albeit that balance leaning towards a hefty, mobile and powerful pack.

It promises to be an enthralling club day with each of the clubs' teams occupying positions at the top of their respective logs, further proof of the quality of rugby on offer on our doorstep.

First games kick off at 1.25pm. The main game is at 4pm. Visas are not required for travel to Durbanville.

• Jon Harris is a member of False Bay RFC