Bitou extends its unbeaten start

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Bitou Rugby Club last weekend continued its bright and unbeaten start to the 2023 SWD Rugby club season, thumping Arrows 39-14 on their home turf in Slangrivier.

While not unbeaten, Sedgefield Eagle Stars have also had a solid start to the season, winning last weekend's tussle with Collegians.

Bitou (SWD First Division B West) and Eagle Stars (SWD First Division A) have been the shining lights among the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay rugby clubs so far this season, with Jaguars in the SWD Super League and Knysna United also in SWD First Division A suffering faltered starts to their campaigns.

Knysna United will likely not be best pleased with their performance so far, considering they find themselves ninth on the log and were competing for semi-final spots last season. Jaguars meanwhile have continued their trend of battling at the lower end of the Super League log.

Len Mels (right) plays a pass to a Bitou teammate against Black Birds two weeks ago.

In the latest round of games, played on Saturday 13 May, it was only Bitou and Eagle Stars who were scheduled to enjoy a home fixture, but Bitou's matches were postponed due to the heavy rains last week that rendered their field unplayable.

Eagle Stars hosted Collegians in Smutsville, Knysna United faced Prince Albert in Prince Albert and Bitou took on Arrows in Slangrivier.

Prince Albert were in fine form with their B team narrowly beating Knysna United 17-15 while their A team ran away with a 21-0 victory – not a great day out for the men from Knysna. Over in Slangrivier it was yet another tight affair between the B teams, as Arrows and Bitou's second sides played out a nail-biter that saw the home side emerge 13-12 victors.

Determined to avenge their colleagues, Bitou's A team put in a dominant performance and won the game 39-14. This keeps them top of the log.

Meanwhile in Sedgefield, Eagle Stars were determined to right the wrongs from the week before when they lost to Seagulls in Melkhoutfontein. As is the trend, it seems, a tight B-team game was played that saw Eagle Stars grind out a 16-12 win. Determined to return to the top four,

Eagle Stars' A team displayed a spirited showing, overcoming Collegians 26-17. This triumph saw them jump from sixth to fourth on the log.

Bitou's B team standing proud after their victory against Black Birds two weeks ago.