Up at the Constantia sports complex, Motorvaps False Bay RFC has been a hive of activity with all levels of competitors buzzing around the available pitches, preparing for the upcoming 2024 season.

There is the False Bay Kids Academy on Fridays, which cater for those from the very young to under-17; to the women’s team, under-20s and seniors.

Alec Young holds on to the ball during his sides pre-season friendly match against Masiphumelele. Picture: Gavin Withers Photography.

The under-20 section recently hosted Hamediahs RFC. The two clubs have forged a strong relationship over the years, germinated by the participation of Kippie Berdien at the Bay, in the mid-2000s.

They enjoyed a friendly contest a fortnight ago, where measurement of depth and ability was more important than the scoreboard, and the further cementing of warm relations continued.

Another burgeoning inter-club relationship is the one between False Bay and Masiphumelele RFC in Noordhoek. On the surface, the contest was an obvious mismatch, but for Masiphumelele coaches Jonny Rafael and Morne Smal, both former Bay players, the value in the fixture was never about the result.

False Bay’s Connor Ross looking dangerous with ball in hand. Picture: Gavin Withers

“The Bay were good and we were impressed by their intensity this early in the season. Lots of youngsters stuck their hands up for them”, said Rafael.

“We took a large number of lessons from the match. We haven’t had a truly physical hit-out since September, so this was something we desperately needed. We have also struggled with consistent numbers down at practices this season and it has hampered our preparation in terms of organising key components of the game to ensure we are ready to face the season.

False Bay’s Muji van der Hooven gets the ball away to Mikyle Jafta during their side’s friendly match against Masiphumelele. Picture: Gavin Withers Photography.

“The game showed that up, yet in saying that we have shown great improvement in many areas since we took over last season. It is our improvement in these areas from which we take encouragement and we look forward to our next friendly encounter which is against Rocklands Rugby Club.”

For the Motorvaps Bay Boys, it was an opportunity to give players who have been impressing at pre-season training a chance to display their skills and talent and Bay coach Ashley Wells was certainly given the confidence boost he so eagerly wanted heading into a friendly match programme, which includes Durbell, Helderberg and Brackenfell in consecutive weeks. The Bay’s only victory in their corresponding league fixtures in 2023 was against Brackenfell at Constantia, with the away fixtures against the other two teams proving to be tough, physical encounters in which the Constantia lads gave some ground.

False Bay RFC coaches gather for a group photo. Picture: Gavin Withers Photography

“We had a very successful fixture against Masiphumelele, which gave our younger players the chance to express themselves as Bay-men”, said Wells, who has focused, amongst other things, on the culture of club pride, fun with fitness and camaraderie amongst all.

“I was very impressed with how our group stuck to structures and the executed our game plan. It is great to see how our group adjusted and the confidence with which they moved throughout our match”.

This Saturday Motorvaps False Bay travel to Durbanville for a full complement of matches against their northern suburbs rivals.

“Durbies” are habitual slow starters to their season, their massive engines requiring some running in before reaching the dangerous levels of efficiency that they do, but it would be churlish of any of the Bay’s five teams to use that approach in the build-up to this club day. Friendly rivals they may be. A friendly match it may well be, but that is only in the context of available log points.

“It will be a tough day at the office for us all in Durbanville”, said Wells, “but we are excited to see how our group will cope with physically tougher opposition and the step up in intensity”.

Meanwhile, three Bay players were included in the Western Province squad which faced Griquas yesterday. Prop Nazaar Naziem started in the blue and white hooped shirt at loose head, while new prop Duncan Edwards and flanker CJ Vellerman got some time off the bench.

Motorvaps False Bay’s pre-season friendly programme includes matches against Rangers, Retreat, and SLA clubs Brackenfell and Helderberg, all of which are at Constantia.

Saturday’s five match programme in Durbanville kicks off at noon, with the main event starting at 5pm.