The Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) Super League A (SLA) newcomers NTK suffered their eighth loss of the season when they went down 45-15 against third-placed False Bay at the NNK Stadium in Parow, at the weekend.
The loss meant that the Parow-based side are now in a dangerous 12th position on the 15-team SLA log.
And, despite having a decent start to their campaign, the side has struggled to get positive results in recent weeks. Their lack of experience at this level quickly became apparent.
They have now collected a total of 17 points after winning two, drawing one and losing eight of their 11 matches.
The side now needs to do something drastic if they want to make sure they remain in the SLA come next season. And, they don’t have much time, as the season is slowly approaching business end. They have six matches to go before the end of the season. And, if they are able to get a couple of good results in those matches, then Parow will still have a team in the SLA come next season.
It is going to be an interesting battle for survival as anything can happen at the foot of the table. The Parow side are tied with 11th-placed Villager at 17 points. Below them, at number 13, is
St George’s, who have collected 12 points after winning one, drawing one and losing eight of their 10 league matches.
Below St George’s is UWC who have collected 11 points, after winning two and losing seven of their nine matches.
At the foot of the table is Belhar, who never really found their footing this season. The side simply struggled to get results to go their way and the numbers say it all.
They have only collected one point all season. This is after losing all 10 matches so far this season.
Meanwhile, as much as the battle for survival is getting hotter at the foot of the table, it’s as exciting at the top half too.
Defending champions Maties are looking good, occupying the number one spot, with 46 points, having won nine and lost only one of their 10 matches.
They beat NTK 79-13 on Wednesday before humiliating Belhar 148-3 at the weekend. That scoreline summed up Belhar’s season.
Maties, alongside False Bay, are the only two sides who were able to beat second-placed Durbell this season. The Durbanville-based side, who had a great start to the season, are trailing Maties by four points – they have collected 42 points, after winning eight and losing just two of their 10 matches.
Hot on Durbell’s heels is the former champions, False Bay. The Constantia-based False Bay is one of only two sides that have lost only one match this season. They are on 38, points having won eight of their nine matches.
Not to be ruled out, in the battle for top honours are Hamilton, Uni-Mil and UCT who are occupying positions four, five and six respectively. The coming weekend fixtures are going to be a matter of do or die for most of the sides. NTK are not in action this weekend, which gives the sides below them a chance to make up some ground.
Belhar and UWC will lock horns in Belhar, in what is a must-win for both of them. Tygerberg will welcome SK Walmer, UCT will host Durbell, while Maties will travel to Brookside to take on Villager.
In other action, Brackenfell, who beat UCT 22-10 midweek, lost 34-28 against Vics. UCT lost 39-17 to Hamilton.