picture: withers and son photography
The final score was 99-11 after the Bay led 40-11 at the break.
The Bay has had a stop start season to date, winning all five of their matches but only having played four, this anomaly caused by the withdrawal from the SLA by Victorians of Stellenbosch.
Considering that the season is now two months old, one would understand their hunger to get onto the pitch, and judging by the look on the faces of the players as they took to the pitch, there was no intention to field the opportunity to play.
NTK are without victory this season and were expected to fold against the much stronger False Bay.
The visitors were willing to run the ball, their burly forwards more than ready to front up to their opponents.
False Bay’s front row of Dave Geffen, Vlam van Vuuren and Wesley Futter laid a solid foundation for those behind them to launch waves of attack, themselves carrying the ball with zeal when given the chance.
The NTK pack were just as willing to do the same, tight-head prop Daryn Casswell ran strongly and eighthman Brandon Grant also shone in the loose.
In the backs Andy Huysamen and centre Francois Joubert were enterprising with wing Pedren Dido scoring his team’s only try of the day.
False Bay’s focus on the task at hand was palpable and as the first half progressed and they dealt with the passion and vim of the visitors, they upped their game to deliver a complete 22-man performance.
In all, False Bay scored 15 tries, with three hat-tricks.
Eighthman Ryan Olivier topped a fine performance with his haul, while young flyer Chadleigh Cloete registered his third trio for the season.
Centre/wing Danie Roux bagged four on the day as his NTK handlers lost control of him as the match progressed.
Flyhalf Siya Alam, Van Vuuren and wing Mustaqeem Jappie added their names to the list, with Jappie bagging a brace as he set the pitch alight with his pace and sheer bravado.
Fullback Adnaan Osman converted six while replacement pivot, Ewan Adams steered three between the uprights.
It was a complete performance by a team relishing their time on the pitch. The Bay ran from all positions of the pitch, a number of their tries starting well in their own territory. They spread the ball, ran straight and appeared secure in the knowledge that there was someone in support when delivering a pass.
Coach Johnno van der Walt may have been a happy man on Saturday but he is not a man prone to resting on his laurels and would have turned his mind to the upcoming derby against Villager RFC at Brookside.
Jon Harris is a member of False Bay RFC.
Up front lock Graham Knoop was all fire and brimstone, clearly enjoying his time back on the field after a legthy injury break. Flanks Lukhanyo Nomzango and skipper Thabo Ngcongo completed a power-performance from the starting loose trio.
Coach Johnno van der Walt may have been a happy man on Saturday but he is not a man prone to resting on his laurels and would have turned his mind to the upcoming derby against Villager RFC at Brookside.
The Claremont side have two victories from their five fixtures to date, one being a walkover against the afforementioend Victorians. They narrowly lost to Brackenfell in the deep-North but derbies are a strange phenomonen. They take no heed of form, reputation and last week’s score and van der Walt is all too aware of this.
The Brooksiders will be up for this one, their forwards solid and physical, with sound all-round defence. Club Rugby fans who have not donned a jacket and gone to their local venue in a while, would be well-advised to make the effort and get on down to Claremonth this Saturday.
King of the Air gets under way