For all its troubles, the Mother City is still host to the best amateur rugby players in the country.
The Western Province Emerging squad has dominated the amateur provincial tournament for years now.
And while it’s still early days in this season’s Gold Cup, it’s clear the Cape Town clubs are just a cut above the rest.
Evidence of this could be found last Saturday already when False Bay played host to Boland champions Roses United.
Even with a Springbok in Cornal Hendricks in their midsts, the Boland champions were no match for the Cape runners-up.
Instead of Hendricks stealing the show on the day, it was the right wing in the False Bay team, Danie Roux, who shone.
A strong runner with good pace, Roux dotted down four times as last year’s Gold Cup runners-up ran in seven tries in the 43-19 demolition job of Roses.
Explosive back Mustaqeem Jappie also got his name on the scoresheet along with Ryan Olivier and Taps Tsomondo.
Then on Sunday, Ravensmead’s Tygerberg played host to PE’s big team, Progress.
The Tiere, who finished fourth in the Western Province Super League A and were invited to the competition, proved that they’ve got some bite, eventually grinding down Progress Uitenhage 54-27 at the end of a hard-fought encounter.
It was a day for the Tygerberg front-row, as captain and hooker Shameeq Allen dotted down twice with his prop Tiny van Wyk also getting his name on the scoresheet.
It rained tries at Florida Park, with 10 touchdowns being scored in total – six of them belonging to the hosts.
Centre and goal-kicker Deon Taljaard scored 24 of his team’s points.
Tygerberg will play their first away game of the tournament this weekend when they travel to George to face the Uitenhage team’s namesake Progress.
The latter team had a bye for the first round, but the Tiere – despite being the wildcard side – should still be favourites for the encounter.
False Bay, meanwhile, take a long trip to Kathu where they will cross swords with Sishen in what will be an interesting encounter.
Roux and company, though, will again be favoured to bag the win.
Last weekend’s Gold Cup results:
Welkom 24 Secunda 40
Vaal Reefs 21 Rhinos 27
Old Georgians 57 Raiders 36
Swallows 25 Old Selbornians 24
False Bay 43 Roses 19
Western Suburbs 17 College Rovers 46