picture: buntu gotywa
The 31-45 defeat means that something drastic needs to be done if the side is to survive the dreaded relegation, at the end of the season. And, that has to happen fast as there are only six matches to go.
The Jukskei-based side are skating on thin ice as they occupy the 15th position in the 15-team standings with seven points, having won one and lost seven of their eight league matches.
They are four points behind fellow strugglers Hands & Heart who are, coincidentally, also from Kraaifontein.
The Eikendal-based Hands & Heart have lost six and won two of their eight matches so far this season.
This paints a clear picture that Kraaifontein sides are going through a rough patch this season.
In Kraaifontein’s match against Rangers, they struggled to cope with the pace and skill of their hosts, especially in the first half, but to their credit, came back strongly in the second half to keep the score respectable.
Rangers, in the end, were able to score seven tries against Kraaifontein’s five.
The side has to now get up, dust themselves off and get ready for the next assignment against second placed Franschhoek, at the weekend.
The result against Kraaifontein left Rangers occupying the ninth spot on the log with 24 points. They won three, drew one and lost four of their eight matches.
They are, however, only 12 points behind log leaders Paarl, who have 36 points after winning seven and losing two of their nine matches. With six matches to go, Rangers still have a lot to play for.
Rangers coach Shukr Hartzenberg said their aim, going to the match, was to bounce back from the previous result against Vineyards, a week earlier.
“What helped us was that we are in a good building process. Our attack, against Kraaifontein, dominated the contact points,” he said.
Although happy with his side’s performance, Hartzenberg was quick to point out that the game is not over until the referee blows the final whistle.
“We allowed them back in the game after doing most of the work in the first half. We thought we had the game in the bag,” he said.
Kraaifontein’s next match is another difficult task as they take on second placed Franschhoek away from home. Their opponents have won six of their nine games so far and Kraaifontein will have to pull off something magical to get results in this encounter.
Rangers’ next match is against Hands & Heart, also at Surrey Estate, on Saturday August 18.
And, Hartzenberg said they were aware that the game would be another bruising one for his charges.