Rugby players honoured for great year
This was one of Brakpan Rugby Club’s biggest years and concluded with the club’s annual prize-giving, that paid tribute to the men who brought success to the club.
The “Panne’s” excellent year saw the first team win bronze in the 2013 Cell C Community Cup, first place in the Valke Peregrine League, a semi-final place in the cross-border Predator League and qualification for next year’s Cell C Community Cup.
The u-21 team also secured qualification for the Community Cup next season.
Brakpan’s captain, Francois “Bones” Robbertse, was awarded as the club’s Senior Sportsman of the Year title for a second consecutive year.
He did well to hold off the challenge from star players like Jacques Nieuwenhuis, Wikus van den Berg, Jaco Lotter, Gido Horn and Christo Joubert.
In fact, the competition for awards was so tough this year that the talented Franco Booysen did not receive a single award.
Nieuwenhuis, a player who has represented Namibia at test level, won the Players’ Player of the Year award and Loose Forward of the Year award, while his fellow flanker, Wikus van den Berg, was the Point Scorer of the Year.
Van den Berg scored 18 tries in total this season.
Jaco Lotter was the Forward Player of the Year and Gido Horn the Backline Player of the Year.
There was also a special award for Christo Joubert, who represented the Valke this year.
Winners of other awards on the night were:
Tobie Strydom (“Stoutgatbeker”), Jansen Nel (Spirit Trophy), Vernon du Preez (Most Dedicated Player), Christo Joubert (Most Promising Player), JP Steyn (Junior Sportsman of the Year).
