Brakpan Rugby Club to face Vereeniging in cup final
The first team beat North West University on Saturday.
Brakpan Rugby Club’s first team has passed its first big test of the year. They booked their place in the final of the Presidents Cup when they beat North-West University (NWU) 34-31 at Bosman Stadium on Saturday.
Brakpan led 22-6 at halftime. Keegan Balfour, Brandon Swart (twice), Tjaart Scheepers and Ruben Beytell all got over for their tries. Beytell kicked three conversions over. The club will face Vereeniging in an away final on Saturday.
“It was close like we predicted,” said the club’s vice-chairperson Sarel Korf.
“I think we performed very well especially if you consider that a couple of our first team players weren’t available over the weekend yet we pulled it through. Overall it was a good weekend. For the first time in 10 years, all three teams beat NWU.”
Brakpan’s second team won their match 19-7 while the U21 side were 15-12 victors. Korf is proud of his club.
“I think the players stood up well and were rewarded for it. The first real test (of the year) and the scores speak for themselves because we passed the test,” he said.
This weekend they will face a team that was in the final of the Valke Peregrine League last year.
“They (Vereeniging) have had the easier route into the final, in my opinion,” said Korf.
“Last weekend they demolished Nigel 66-13. If you look at the bigger picture they had the easier route to the final.”
Nigel plays in the second tier league while NWU plays in the Peregrine league during the regular season.
“That could count in our favour as they are much more relaxed than we are,” he said.
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“Plus, we feel that we are going in as the underdogs. But based on our performances the last couple of weeks, we are definitely going there to bring the cup home.”
The Presidents Cup may be a pre-season tournament but it clearly means a lot to those taking part in it.
“This tournament has given us a gauge of where the other clubs are compared to us,” Korf told the Brakpan Herald.
“But when you go into the Peregrine, everything changes. That’s still the premier and prestige cup to win in the Valke region.
“So I think some clubs use the Presidents Cup as an opportunity to test combinations before the season. Everything remains to be seen in terms of the Peregrine.”
