Coach Isma-Eel Dollie and his UniMil team are writing quite a story this year.
A few seasons ago the men from Milnerton would not have been talked about in the big circles of Cape club rugby.
They weren’t in the Super League A and they had no right to think that come 2018, they would challenge for the title of being Western Province club champion.
But as Dollie and his team moved through the ranks since the coach joined the club in 2012, they have made waves.
And after effectively ending UCT’s hopes of winning the title with a well-deserved 31-24 win last weekend, they now prepare for their biggest game, arguably in history.
Hosting Hamiltons for the right to play in the SLA semifinals is no easy feat for Dollie, who is joined in the coaching team by former Springbok midfielder Adi Jacobs.
With the experienced Monty Dumond – former Sharks flyhalf – running the show for Milnerton, they have proven that they’ve got what it takes to cause the odd upset and have no reason to back down from the challenge.
Hammies, meanwhile, will not be happy with their fifth-placed finish to the regular season and will be hoping that their players have left their best for last.
In the meeting between the two sides earlier this year, Hammies came out on top – albeit narrowly – with a 22-19 scoreline at the Stephan Oval.
It’s on the road, though, where Hammies have had some difficulty this year.
After defeats to UWC (35-24), SK Walmers (26-29) and False Bay (23-16) away from home, they will know that travelling to Milnerton will be a challenge.
With Maties and False Bay already waiting in the semis, the other “quarterfinal” will be contested between Durbell and Victorians in Durbanville.
Stellenbosch has two teams in the top six of the competition and in terms of competitiveness, the neutral will surely back 2015 club champs Durbell in this encounter.
Having finished third in the league during regular season, flyhalf Angus Cleophas and his teammates will be turbocharged for the match against Vics.
They will, however, take confidence out of their recent run of three wins in a row.
As the season entered its final turn, coach Johann Kotze’s side started accelerating.
They suffered a rude awakening against holders Maties, who beat them 82-5 last month.
After that, though, Durbell managed to get the better of Hamiltons (12-7), SK Walmers (62-12) and UCT (31-12) and will be hoping to continue their good run.
UWC 39 NTK 29, UniMil 31 UCT 24, SK Walmers 50 Belhar 38, Durbell 19 Tygerberg 19, Brackenfell 24 False Bay 38.
All first team games kick off at 4pm UniMil v Hamiltons, Durbell v Victorians.