Hammies and Dur/Bell close in on club Cup final

SO FAR so good for Hamiltons and Durbanville/ Bellville at the Community Cup now being contested by four of the eight teams who started out on Thursday at the Impala Rugby Club in Rustenburg.

Both Mother City clubs came out on top in their quarter-final matches on the opening day.

Hammies had to work ever so hard to get the better of plucky Western Cape counterparts Wesbank 34- 26 while Durbanville/ Bellville beat College Rovers of KwaZulu- Natal 30- 25, though it wasn’t all straightforward.

Having built a commanding lead, they allowed Rovers back into the contest and just ended up prevailing against the Durban club who were champions in 2010 and 2012.

Whether the two Cape sides can go all the way, only time will tell, but they look as though they’ve got the manpower to set up a final between themselves.

But first there are semifinals to be won.

Durbanville/ Bellville face 2013 winners Despatch of the Eastern Cape, while Hammies, winners in 2009, are up against Rustenburg Impalas, the defending champions.

Last year’s triumph earned Impalas the right to host this year’s third edition of the annual competition that featuries the best club sides in the country with the exception of university teams.

Hammies were pushed for most of the 80 minutes against Wesbank, who could have made a tighter contest of it, and possibly won it, had it not been for some clumsy play from their outmuscled pack.

The Malmesbury side’s back seven ran it wide at just about every opportunity and cashed in with all three tries scored, with fullback Anvon Davids, Chrislyn van Schalkwyk and Ronnie Appolis dotting down.

They can rightfully point the finger of blame in the direction of the engineroom staff who coughed up a slew of unnecessary penalties when placed under pressure at the ruck and tackle points, which sealed the fate of the Bolanders.

Hammies, while solid and on top in the physical exchanges, were made to look defenceless when stretched wide.

It was thanks to two quick tries (three in total) in the second half and three penalties, as well as a strong fourth quarter, that they were able to get the job done.

Earl Lewis ( fullback), Francois Esterhuizen (prop) and hard-working No 8 Jody Burch scored tries and flyhalf Monty Dumont – a man with Super Rugby experience – kicked four penalties and two conversions for a personal haul of 16 points.

He was the man that landed a last-minute penalty to win the cup for Despatch.

Hammies coach Anton Moolman, who steered the side to the title in 2009, will no doubt be issuing instructions to his players to be sharper with their structures without ball in hand.

Maybe the hot conditions on the opening day played a role because they looked a tired lot at times, and, as to be expected from the men from Green Point, there were momentarily lapses in concentration when in the driving seat.

It did them in last year when they ended up third, so tighter, more constructive play from the side as a unit will be required if they are to get the better of the host team who can count themselves fortunate to have won through against Pretoria Police 30- 28, a last- gasp penalty sealing their place in the penultimate round.

Dur/Bell looked impressive in dealing with the Rovers threat, at one time leading 27-11. Fullback Raymond Olivier goaled tries by Danwel Demas, Marius White and Marnus Hugo, as well as three penalty goals for a 15-point haul.

Having comfortably seen off the holders in the prequalifying group stages, Dur/Bell could well be the team that goes on to lift the Gold Cup.