With only a few fixtures remaining in the Weatern Province club rugby season the stakes could not be higher for clubs from the Helderberg basin.

While top-tier contenders are riding high, others are locked in a desperate fight to avoid relegation into lower divisions – and for some in Super League C, demotion to Super League D (SLD) next season is becoming an alarming reality.

In the top league, Helderberg showed why they remain one of the premier club outfits in the union on Saturday (18 July). Overcoming a shock 0-14 opening deficit within the first four minutes against Kuils River at Charles Morkel Stadium in Strand, Berge produced a dominant display driven by a standout individual performance by Michael Visser.

Helderberg rallied to take a 24-17 lead at half-time before pulling away to seal an impressive 50-27, eight-try victory. The result leaves Helderberg comfortably in second place in the SLA standings with 48 points from 13 matches.

The team will enjoy a bye weekend before hosting SU Maties in an evening encounter next Wednesday (29 July).

In Super League B, local rivalry took centre stage in Strand as log leaders Macassar met lower-placed St George’s at Gustrouw Sports Ground. Though clear favourites on paper, the MC Boys had to fight relentlessly to break down a resolute Lulu defence. Leading 0-6 at the break, the visitors saw their lead cut to 8-9 late in the second half after a Raees Collins try.

However, a late converted try from replacement prop Hewson Petersen secured the 8-16 victory for Macassar.

The victory keeps the MC Boys equal at the top of the log with 48 points, but in second place on points difference behind Belhar. The defeat leaves the Lulu Boys languishing in 13th place with 18 points from 12 matches, firmly inside the red demotion zone to SLC.

All Saints put up a brave fight against table-topping Belhar, but fell 39-29 short. Despite the loss, the Olla Boys are safe in sixth place with 39 points, but must win their next matches to avoid the danger zone.

In one of the most thrilling matches of the weekend, Strand United hosted Sir Lowrians in an epic derby at Abattoir Sports Ground. United looked set to clinch a vital win, but Sir Low snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a try in the dying minutes followed by a calmly slotted conversion to seal a 15-17 win.

The result provided a massive boost for Sir Low, who moved to 10th on the log with 30 points in an impressive display in SLC following their promotion at the end of last season.

For winless United, the last-minute heartbreak leaves them grounded in 15th position with just six points.

Strand RFC suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of league leaders Rangers. The loss leaves Liga trapped in the bottom four in 13th place with 23 points.

Meanwhile, Raithby Universals earned a crucial win by outlasting Eerste River 39-29 at the Raithby Sports Ground. The victory elevated RU to ninth place on the table with 30 points.

. Fixtures for Saturday 25 July:

– Super League B: St George’s vs Collegians, Violets vs All Saints;

– Super League C: Raithby Universals vs Strand RFC, Sir Lowrians vs Delft; and

– Northern League: Gordon’s Bay Pioneers vs Excelsior.