ONETIME - VARSITY DOWN THE DOLPHINS

Durban was the place to be this weekend, with the Durban July and Mr. Price Pro taking place in superb weather. Pocket Power… Dancers Daughter… there was nothing to tell them apart! This was only the 2^nddead heat in the 112 year history of the race. Bound by Honour and River Jetez came 3^rd and 4^th. It must have been a bookies nightmare excuse the pun as they would have had to pay out double for two winners.

 

Australian surfer Chris Davidson beat South Africa’s hopes of a second ever South African winner at the Mr. Price Pro, defeating World No. 41 Travis Logie before a patriotic crowd on New Pier beach in Durban, today. I went down to New Pier earlier this morning and although the waves were not the biggest I have ever seen the weather was perfect and the sights where very soft on the eyes.

 

Ferrari had a shocker of a British grand prix today. Sending Kimiout withbalding intermediates withrain only minutes away was beyond logic. Surely one would think that if a driver is losing 10 seconds a lap it is time to change them. Only once Hamiltonwas 80 odd seconds ahead did Ferrari bring in Kimi. Hamiltondid drive a very good and fast race, at times I think McLarenwere very worried that he might lose it when he was posting flying laps withover a 30 second lead. Nike Hiedfeld in a BMW was 2^ndand Rubens Barrichello was 3^rd in a Honda. The points now leave Massa and Hamilton joint top of the drivers table.

 

In Englandthe SouthAfrican batting lineup seems to have struck form with another hundred for Amla and Prince hitting his first ton on tour. He was also the pick of the bowlers by taking 2 wickets yesterday. Steyn and Ntinidid not impress at all. Just hope they find form before the 1^st test at Lords which starts on Thursday. We have had 3 opportunities to beat England in a series, on tour and on all occasions we have managed to choke. Let’s hope this is a thing of the past.

 

At Wimbledon Venus Williams took her 5^th title and her third against her sister Serena. Federer and Nadal are busy playing at the moment, with Nadal leading 2 sets to one. If Federer wins he will have made it 6 in a row a new record, however I don’t think it is his year with his form being far from satisfactory.

 

Onto rugby let’s face it if you are a Springbok or Sharks fan, there was nothing to cheer about. If you are a Varsity supporter and you were in Balitothis weekend you should still have a sore throat from all the cheering. It started off as a dark, windy, rainy at times night and the stars where also out. Did I mention it was dark? Yes there were lights but the condition of the lights was shocking. Hopefully next year Balito’s new lights will be up and running and we can see the game properly at night. Anyway besides that, Varsity 2^nd team beat the Dolphins 8-3 to maintain their unbeaten status in the Bottom 5 and to keep them in Top Spot. The 1^st team was on fire and in a high tempo game that saw the ball go out wide and up and down the field saw Varsity come out tops with a 22-16 win, out scoring them but 4 tries to 2. Backs and forwards linking so well it was like watching an orchestra in action.

 

The Springboks were nowhere against the All Blacks 19-8. The Bok front row was murdered and it all boils down to team selection. Beast was the most dominant lose head in Super 14 andhe did not start let alone form part of the bench. Conrade Jantjiesthought he had a ripper, well guess what Conrad “NO” you did not. His positional play was terrible play Monty he has not played 97 tests for nothing. Big games need players with BMT; Jantjies is good but not the best. Even Stephan Terblanche is playing better rugby than him. We are missing Fourie Du Preez at scrumhalf and not playing Spies or Kankowski was a mistake. But all is not lost; we still have a chance as it was only the 1^sttest of the Tri-Nations. Australia thumped the frogs again 40-10, and are starting to hit their straps.

 

In the Currie Cup we witnessed a pharsefarce of a game with the TMO adding another 21 minutes to a 80 minute game. The was a yellow card given to Kuun in the 1^stminute and nobody could see why. The Sharks were properly out played by the Blue Bulls going down 35-14 at Loftus. WP beat the Cheetah’s 9-3. Not a very inspiring game, but then again it was WP playing rugby. The Kavaliers and Griquas drew 9-9 and the Lions beat the Valke35-23. This leaves four teams at the top of the log on 9 points, with Bulls, WP, Sharks and Free State in that order holding the fort.

 

Well until next week; wish me luck with my road trip down to Kokstad for Varsity’s final league game of the season. It will be long, cold but full of fun. Anybody wants to come along for the trip, we will be leaving at 07H00 on Saturday, bring your own booze…

 

Have fun enjoy the Tour de France.

 

ONETIME

 

Think beyond the horizon and you will find success!