Langa RFC will have their work cut out this season to ensure their safety in the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) Super League B after a not-so-stellar start.
Despite their fighting spirit, as evidenced at the weekend when they took on the visiting Collegians, they were unable to secure a victory.
The Langa crowd was buzzing with every possession, and every score was met with vigorous cheers, but it was not enough to overcome Collegians, who won the game 26-17.
This latest defeat means Langa has dropped all four of their games to start the current campaign. Collegians did much of their scoring in the first half and went to the break leading 19-7, with Langa taking charge in the second half. However, their comeback was insufficient as they were outscored by four tries to three.
The visitors secured their first win of the season in two outings.
Langa’s upcoming bye week may work in their favour if they use it as a chance to re-evaluate their strategies and regroup. It’s still early days, and there’s no need to hit the panic button yet, but the sooner the club gets the scoreboard ticking, the better. No side wants the pressure of coming from behind when wins become a necessity.
Langa is currently one of three sides still winless in the Super League B, along with Hamediehs and Strand. Hamediehs put on a spirited effort against Franschhoek in their 34-37 loss away from home, showing that the competition in the league is fierce and any team can push the others to the limit.
The students of UWC are currently setting the pace in the division with six wins in as many matches. Their dominance early in the season pressured other teams to step up their game. For Langa, the key will be finding consistency and converting their fighting spirit into real results on the scoreboard.
With a long season ahead, Langa has time to turn their fortunes around and can feed off the big support they enjoyed in their home base.
