Alberton against Union

ALBERTON – When A-Square Forklifts Alberton will face Union in their annual derby at Alberton on May 24, the tradition of tough encounters between these two neighbours and arch-rivals will continue.

Looking to the history of matches between Alberton and Union prior to 2000, it was always that special derby of the season. Five games were selected to be highlighted as five of the best:

In 1962, one of the Alberton’s best years under the captaincy of Transvaal player Daan Dippenaar, Alberton defeated Union by 20-11.

Exactly thirty years later in April 1992, Alberton acquired their first league points of the season by defeating Union at Union by 18-6 after leading 6-3 at halftime. It was a field day for Alberton at Wemmer Pan, with the scores 40-17 for the seconds, 34-6 in the thirds favour and the fourth team won 10-4. Alberton was impressive in the first ten minutes of the first team game and eventually scored four tries against Union’s one.

Five years later in July 1997, Alberton destroyed Union by 38-3, after they were leading 12-3 by halftime. The kicking hero was flyhalf Rudi Pretorius, who was successful with seven out of eight kicks. John Du Toit, Rhubarb Kruger and André Snyman were the try scorers.

In 1999, it was “Simunye” when Alberton and Union became one with the merger between the two arch-rivals. As one club they beat Diggers 60-8 in that year. Alberton-Union reached the final of the Pirates Grand Challenge trophy – the first time since 1987 and in the following 15 years it did not happen with either Alberton or Union.

Back to the present, all eyes will be focused on the 2014 derby on Saturday May 24 at Alberton Stadium, as the friendly encounter this year ended in a narrow 13-11 victory for Union, in a tough close encounter under floodlights at Union.