Jaguars stalking return to Moor Cup rugby
Jaguars were relegated to first division club rugby in 2011 and suffered a loss of players and coaches as a result.
However the last two years have seen the club enjoy a resurgent period culminating in silverware. Their U20 side claimed the Junior Murray Cup in 2014, while the 1st and 2ndst XV won the Keith Parkinson knockout Cup.
In 2015, their 1st XV won the South Section 1st Division Cup and went unbeaten, bar a draw with Hillcrest Villagers.
Jaguars club chairman Vuyo Matomela said the club had overcome a trying period and their recent success was just reward for their perseverance.
“2011 was not a successful year; in fact it was a disaster. That year we played in the Premier League and got relegated to the 1st Division. Ever since then it’s been a challenge to be part of the club. We lost a lot of players and administrators as well. These tough times lasted up until the middle of last year,” Matomela told East Coast Radio Sportswave.
“We picked up good form mid-2014 and results started coming. This year we kept the same formula and started 2015 where we left off and we just kept winning.”
Not only did Jaguars go unbeaten in the First Division but they managed to get all the way to the Murray Cup knockout semi-finals, beating two Premier Division sides to get there. They nearly made it to the final, but narrowly lost 36-26 to Nashua Crusaders – their first and only loss of the season.
With a great deal of momentum behind them, Matomela was quietly confident that the club could beat Maritzburg Collegians and regain their spot in the Moor Cup.
“It’s a once off game and anything can happen. We played them early on this year, it was a tough game and we had home-ground advantage. But our achievement in the Murray Cup has given the boys some self-belief as well as the experience that is required at that level.”
"It’s going to be emotional. After we were relegated five years ago, we lost a lot of personnel. I used to get calls from guys saying ‘are Jaguars still in the bush’? We want to play Premier Division Rugby, and for us it will mean a lot to get back there.”
“Our coach is already getting a lot of calls from guys wanting to join next year. It will only benefit us. Everyone is looking forward to it but its not done yet, we’ve got one game left.”
Maritzburg Collegians host Jaguars at Woodburn Stadium tonight. Kickoff is at 20h00.
Jaguars are proudly sponsored by Fidelity Security.
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