CALBI’S Progress Rugby Club made history by becoming the first winner of the Eastern Cape Super 14 trophy.
“This local champion club removed this monkey off their backside by beating Border champions, Swallows, in an emphatic fashion,” said Phillip Josephs from Calbi’s Progress Rugby Club’s management.
“No longer can it be said that Colbi’s Progress freezes when it comes to winning the Super rugby title. Over many years, this blue machine club could not manage to win the coveted Super 12 trophy.
“Now the club had made it even more spectacular by winning the expanded and an even stronger field 14 club competition,” said Josephs.
This was the first year that both EP and Border’s champions played in the Super 14 competition and it was only fitting that the two met in the final – with Colbi’s Progress now the best rugby club in the Eastern Cape.
From March 2019 till March 2020, Colbi’s Progress has not lost a single EPRU Twizza Super League or Eastern Cape Super 14 match.
“What is very historic, is that our club has now gone 32 games unbeaten since early last year. Who will forget when Calbi’ Progress beat Black Eagles 110 vs 0 in this year’s competition?”
The same could be said about Calbi’s Progress’ final opponents, Swallows from East London. Swallows played in the semi-final of the 2019 National Gold Cup competition and has not lost a single home game for the last five years therefore they were regarded as the third best team in the country.
“They never expected this Uitenhage club to travel to their city and beat them 28 vs 24 in front of their home supporters. In a very tough game, the pendulum swung in favour of both teams. By half time, Swallows were leading 16 vs 12. Even after the second half resumption, they scored again to lead 21-12.”
When Calbi’s Progress introduced their reserves, they clinched two penalties to reduce the score to 21-18. Another Swallows penalty stretched their lead to 24-18.
“Hereafter, the travelling team’s reserves called the Bomb Squad, with their teammates, turned this deficit into a 28-24 win,” said Josephs.
The president of Calbi’s Progress, Kosie Basson, thanked all the different facets of the club, for their love, hard work, discipline, dedication and especially the vocal support spearheaded by the Calbi’s Progress band.
