Roses plan to blossom this season
2006-02-16
THE rugby club of Roses United have big plans for the coming season, the biggest of which is to win the A1 Boland Super League.
Roses have finished the 2005 season in the third spot after winning 12 matches and losing six, and are dead set to improve on this performance.
“The club’s mission is to become the best club team in the country. Our short-term goal is to win the A1 Boland League and qualify for the 2006 Club Championships,” says the club’s vice-chairman, Willie Small.
The club made the news a couple of seasons ago for the wrong reasons, following fist fights on the field as well as the unruly behaviour of its spectators.
But, says Small, the club has gone to great lengths to bring back discipline and respect among the players and their supporters.
The club has already reaped the rewards of this mindshift with several of their players earning their provincial colours.
Last season Roses United produced one u.19 Boland player (Franzel September), five u.21 players (Burton Abrahams, John-Lee Nortje, Mervin Manus, Claude Arendse and Deon Williams), seven Boland Amateur Squad players (Denvon van Wyk, Alrich Muller, Clemen Lewis, Danie Roman, Earl Manie, Quiwin Hendricks and Michael Abrahams), two Boland Sevens players (Deon Williams and Michael Abrahams) and one Boland Cavaliers player (Claude Arendse).
Head coach Abé Davids was also appointed to coach the Boland Amateur team for 2005.
The club’s first team will also have some extra depth this season after newly signed Boland Cavaliers, Willie Bower, Sebastian Hilpert (both from EP) and Ricardo Pietersen (SWD), joined their ranks.
Randall Julies (Eagles) will also be making his return to the province and play for the club.
The club celebrates its sixth anniversary this year following the amalgamation of the Roslins and Rosebuds rugby clubs.
The club currently has 76 players who mostly hail from the underprivileged communities of Egoli, Mbekweni, Van Wyk’s vlei, Newton and surrounding farms.
Roses United have friendly matches lined up for 25 February (Silvertree), 4 March (Pniel Villagers), 11 March (Tygerberg) and 18 March (Belhar).
Their official season gets underway on 31 March against Darling.
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