Fort Hare have a dream
The most keenly-contested Border Super League in many years reaches its climax this week with two previously unfancied sides, Winter Rose and Fort Hare, both looking to qualify for their maiden National Club Championships.
A fascinating season has boiled down to an unlikely two-horse race, with Winter Rose (11 wins from 13 games, 50 points) enjoying an eight-point lead over the only team that can still overtake them; Varsity Shield side, Fort Hare University (nine wins and a draw from 12 matches).
Winter Rose can seal their maiden title in Mdantsane on Saturday with victory in their final league match, against fourth-placed Old Selbornian (NU 1 Field, 3.30pm).
However, a Roses loss will open the door for Fort Hare, provided they win both their remaining fixtures - against East London Police on Wednesday night (Police Park, 8.30pm), and against bottom-placed Swallows in Alice on Saturday (Davidson Field, 3.30pm).
Bonus points and points difference may yet play a crucial role in deciding the title, but Fort Hare coach Elliot Fana is philosophical about the permutations.
"We've spoken about the fact that our fate is no longer entirely in our hands," he said on sarugby.co.za. "As much as I hate that situation, it's still up to us to put ourselves in contention by beating Police and Swallows."
Fana has masterminded Fort Hare's league charge after absorbing lessons from his team's maiden Varsity Shield campaign, which saw the side win only two of their eight matches to finish bottom of the table.
"We leaked a lot of points in the Varsity Shield but in the league we have the best defensive record and have conceded the least amount of points," said Fana.
"The players have grown and are now ready for this week's challenge," he added.
"Whatever happens, I'm very proud of the students I've worked with, all of whom have been with me since last November's pre-season training. None of them have even been home in that time."
Fana added that Fort Hare, who won last week's Gonubie Tens event, would soon begin their preparations for the 2012 Varsity Shield.
"It doesn't take one season to build a winning team," he said.
"You have to build on your experiences. The team isn't yet the finished product but things are coming together. We just have to keep the momentum going."
* With just six weeks remaining until the 2011 Club Champs, in Stellenbosch in September, six teams have already qualified - two of them Varsity Cup sides - for the tournament.
The teams that have qualified thus far, are (VC teams in bold): College Rovers (KZN), Roses United (Boland), Maties (WP), Progress (SWD), Shimlas (Free State) and Kimberley Police (Griquas).
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