UCT A ease into friendlies

UCT A – a mix of experienced players, available Varsity Cup squad members and youngsters have started their series of friendly matches with the demolition of Paarl’s rugby side. UCT A – B and C matches were hosted by the friendly Bolanders and played at +30C in the cooking Paarl stadium.

Paarl of course are a third division side who have come second ,in the Premier league A twice in succession looking to get promoted to the Super league B. The students A team coached by Ant Fenton Wells and Phil Venter just had too much firepower – despite the early season and obvious rustiness – when they ran in a ton of great tries and beat the willing home side 55:10.

For UCT A scrumhalf Nic Groom showed his quality, as did flyhalf Mike Nel who topped a skilled performance with an excellent 60m solo try in the dying moments of the game. Winger Zubair “Egg” Abrahams was dangerous with the ball in hand, as was Paul Cohen, who also showed a steady boot kicking for posts, both made sure they added their names to the score sheet.

In the pack it was great to see tighthead prop Shane Mayer back in action, he dominated the Paarl scrum, together with fellow prop and Paarl local Spike who did plenty of damage on the loosehead side. A new kid in the club Danger – Danyne Jans’ brother Ryan the “Ranger” Jans had a busy day in the backrow scoring a beaut of a show and go try after running a great support line and also proved to be a great addition to the club after the match.

Captain Bodo Sieber had some charging runs and crashed over for a rare try, first team stalwart and Vice Captain Luzuko Panya showed his Currie Cup pedigree with a solid all round display, lethal at the breakdown and a hard to stop with the ball in hand.

Next week the UCT teams take on Van der Stel on the Green Mile. Van der Stel of course are a Super League B team and will offer more of a challenge for the varsity sides, as they build up to their annual friendly against newly promoted False Bay the week after.