June should be dubbed the Month of the Tiger in Western Province club rugby circles.
And it must have the coaching staff and players at the club in a complete spin.
After finishing second from bottom in the Varsity Cup tournament earlier this year, Ikeys are currently in sixth place on the Western Province Super League A log.
But while most of the other clubs’ players around Mother City will sit with their feet up in June, Ikeys have an unthinkable five matches to play during that period.
And it’s not the easiest ones at that.
First up this weekend is a big clash against log leaders and rivals Hamiltons.
The form book suggests that even though they will travel to the university, Hammies are favourites to win the match and extend their lead over
Maties at the top of the table.
Hawies Fourie’s students from Stellenbosch are among those that will not play this month and are once again set for a late-season onslaught on the league title.
Back to Ikeys, though.
After facing Hammies on Saturday, they then host Pniel Villagers before travelling to Ravensmead where they will battle fellow tigers – Tygerberg at Florida Park.
The month of horror will then be completed against northern suburbs rivals Brackenfell and Durbell.
So while it’s make-or-break for the Cape students in terms of regaining some lost pride, the next two weeks is also a big one for Pniel Villagers.
Winless in four matches and at the bottom of the log, they are already hot favourites to be relegated at the end of the season.
Unless, of course, things start to turn around soon.
And there’s no better way to turn it around than against fellow strugglers Parow NNK.
That clash takes place at the Jan Burger Sports Complex in Parow on Saturday, and with the hosts having lost all six of their matches to date, they will know that losing this encounter all but guarantees relegation.
To Wilbur Kraak and his team it will have to be the match that can turn around their season after fighting off relegation so bravely last term.
The only other Super League A match on Saturday takes place at the Philip Herbstein Stadium where hosts and defending champions False Bay will look to continue their climb up the table against Belhar.
Currently in 12th place after two wins from four matches, Belhar isn’t expected to trouble the Bay much.
The champs will also be full of confidence heading into the encounter having handed Tygerberg their first defeat of the season last weekend, while Belhar will look to recover after losing 23-27 to UCT.