The Maties men’s rugby team recently secured their first provincial title since 2018 following a victory against Helderberg Rugby Club.
This was according to Drikus Hancke, head of rugby at Stellenbosch University, in an interview with SMF News.
Maties clinched the title after a 26-13 win in the final of the Western Province (WP) Super League A at City Park Stadium in Athlone, Cape Town on 23 September, said Hancke.
University and club teams around the Western Cape participate in the WP Super League A, according to the WP Club Rugby website.
The Maties men’s rugby team secured the Western Province Super League A title after a 26 to 13 victory against Helderberg Rugby Club on 23 September. This was according to Drikus Hancke, head of rugby at Stellenbosch University. VIDEO: Daniel Roodt
Ending on a high
The team’s season didn’t start well after losing the Varsity Cup semi-final in April, but Maties “picked themselves up” and won the University Sports South Africa rugby tournament in July and then the Super League, stated Siya Matanda, flanker for Maties, in an interview with SMF News.
Maties scored two tries in the first half, with both coming from hooker Willem van den Heever and converted by flyhalf MC van Heerden-Smith.
“Winning the game feels like a big achievement because we’ve worked really hard this season,” said Matanda.
The Maties men’s rugby side won the final of the Western Province Super League A against Helderberg Rugby Club on 23 September, said Drikus Hancke, head of rugby at Stellenbosch University. Pictured above is Maties centre Aydon Topley scoring the final try of the match in added time in the second half. PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
This was the final fixture of the season for the Maties team, said Hancke.
“It’s a fantastic feeling. It means a lot for the growth of this team going into the Varsity Cup next year,” stated Hancke.
Playing with the wind
“It was very difficult for us because we were playing against the wind in the first half,” said Matanda.
However, though the wind affected the team’s kicking, they were still able to emerge with a 14-3 lead at the end of the half, which is where Maties “won the game”, said Matanda.
“To play against clubs in the Western Cape Super League is difficult because you’re playing against former professional players,” said Siya Matanda, flanker for the Maties men’s rugby side. Pictured above is Gift Dlamini (left), Maties captain and Aydon Topley, centre for Maties holding the WP Super League A trophy after their victory against Helderberg Rugby Club on 23 September. PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
Despite playing against the wind, Maties came up with a better game plan and executed it well, something that Helderberg was unable to do, said Michael Visser, scrumhalf and vice-captain for Helderberg Rugby Club, in an interview with SMF News.