Will the pride of Villager come before Maties’ fall?

VILLAGER have only pride to play for in their Super League A match today. Anything less and their opponents, defending league champions Stellenbosch, will cane them severely.

It will require an enormous leap in performance from Villager to avoid another embarrassing defeat in their final match of the season... a campaign that has been one of ups and downs for the Dirty Whites.

Up against the students on their home field at the Danie Craven Stadium, where they will be crowned champions for a fourth year running should the men from Stellenbosch prevail, is a tough way for the visitors from Claremont to sign off – and it would be something if they can limit defeat to less than 50 points.

The country’s second-oldest rugby club have had 80 points put past them during a campaign that has delivered only four victories from 13 starts.

So Villager has a chance to redeem themselves and regain some of their lost pride.

Maties will, like last weekend, field a weakened side, as coach Chris Rossouw wants to give some of his senior personnel some rest, and his fringe players an opportunity to get some game time.

The students lead the 15-team standings by two points on 60 ahead of former, long-time front-runners Hamiltons, who have completed their 14-game schedule.

Hammies are locked in battle with False Bay to secure a spot at the next edition of the Community Cup.

The leading open club will be the Cape representative at the tournament that features club winners from around the country – Durbell were crowned 2015 champions – and there’s little in it between the two candidates.

The Bay play away to Sir Lowrians and a bonus- point victory for the fourth-placed visitors would take their points tally to 57, one shy of Hamiltons and with a game in hand.

The final outing for the Constantiabased club is against UCT, a game they would have to win to edge Hammies.

At Florida Park, 5000 fans are expected to watch hosts Tygerberg take on Belhar.

Victorians welcome Primrose to the Coetzenberg A field, while Durbies are at home to SK Walmers in the other two fixtures of the day.

UWC, who announced former Springbok wing Chester Williams as their new head coach for 2016, were in action last night, at home against lastplaced Helderberg.