Abbotsdale win Swartland’s first Mayoral Cup
Press release
Swartland Municipality hosted its first ever Mayoral Rugby Tournament over the past weekend. This tournament brought together 15 teams (last minute withdrawal – Broodkraal) from across the Swartland to compete and bring together old and new rivals in the highly competitive world of club rugby in the Swartland.
Following discussions and agreements by all the clubs the competition was structured for the 8 higher league teams to compete for the Mayoral Cup Trophy and the lower league teams competed for the plate and bowl trophies. This made for an incredibly exciting day filled to the brim with games being played throughout the day on the A and B fields of the Alfa Street Sports grounds. SA Almost 3000 supporters from across the Swartland came out to support the various teams.
The unexpected surprises of the day included a message of support for the tournament from Springbok and Rugby World Cup champion, Pieter-Steph du Toit, all the way from Japan as well as the in-person attendance of Swartland’s two Springbok women’s team members, Macaela Samboya & Kirsten Conrad, and SARU vice president Francois Davids.
Mayor Harold Cleophas thanked all the teams for their willingness to participate and emphasised the incredible power of sport to bring together people from all walks of life. These words were echoed by Davids, who pointed out that sport is more powerful for nation building than politics.
The tournament consisted of 30 minute games, including a half time break, for the play-off rounds and 40 minute games for the three finals. Bloues (Malmesbury) won their final against White Spirits (8 points to 7) to clinch the Bowl trophy while Coronations from Kalbaskraal won the Plate final against Flying Eagles (15 points to 7).
The highlight of the tournament was the nail-biting final to be the first winner of the Mayoral Cup between Abbotsdale’s Lillies and Wesbank. The latter still led 3-0 at half-time. But Abbotsdale came back in the second to win the game and trophy with 12 points to 3.
The player of the tournament was Deston Welman of Wesbank and forward of the tournament was Shelton Appolus of Abbotsdale. Juhein Bitterhout of Never Despairs was the back of the tournament with Conray Koopman from Young Eagles the upcoming player of the tournament.
Municipal manager, Joggie Scholtz, donated a cash prize of R1000 for the Fair Play Team of the Tournament to recognize the team who embodied the true spirit of good discipline and sportsmanship on and off the field. The prize went to the rural team White Spirts.
At the end of the tournament a Mayoral Team was selected from all the clubs present on the day. This team is: 15. Jayden Markus (Moorreesburg), 14. Reduwaan April (Abbotsdale), 13. Juhein Bitterhout (Never Despair), 12. Wiaan Syster (Abbotsdale), 11. Brandon Appolus (Wesbank), 10. Dashtom Wellman (Wesbank), 9. Juwell Sameuls (Wesbank), 8. Uclan November (Never Despair), 7. Ranfred Adams (Darling), 6. Wesley Lang (Never Despair), 5. Andrew Jantjies (Abbotsdale), 4. Fiaz Moosa (Wesbank), 3. Jacquen Rolter (Wesbank), 2. Shelton Appolus (Abbotsdale) and 1. Colin van Schalkwyk (Darling).
16. Andre Faroa (Abbotsdale), 17. Jarcquin Fortuin (Wesbank), 18. Arnold van der Merwe (Coronations), 19. Gershwin Swarts (Abbotsdale), 20. Branwill Julius (Moorreesburg), 21. Taylor Johannes (Bloues), 22. Paul Toontjies (White Spirits), 23. Cenwyn Langeveld (Young Eagles), 24. Connor Abrahams (Abbotsdale) and 25. Enrico Arries (Flying Eagles).
Swartland Municipality would like to thank all the sponsors, clubs and other stakeholders as well as the spectators who helped to make this day a success. (press release)