Captain of the first team and lock forward Francois “Bones” Robbertse bagged the main prize of the night, the Senior Sportsman of the Year Award, for a third time in four years. It is also the fifth consecutive year that a lock has won the award.
Blitz quick winger Leon “Sweef” Potgieter was named the Junior Sportsman of the Year and Points Scorer of the Year after his try-scoring spree this season while Albert Trytsman was announced as the first team’s Players’ Player of the Year.
Club chairman Harry Nieuwenhuis spoke of the club’s delight at bringing families together and praised both the junior and senior players for giving their all to the club.
He said that Brakpan Rugby Club is all about winning rugby games and that it is the attitude that they adopt at all age levels.
The chairman paid respect to the juniors who achieved an overall winning percentage of 80 among the teams, which starts at the u-7 age group and ends at the u-18 level.
Nieuwenhuis praised the management and coaches of the club’s juniors for a fantastic season and he also acknowledged the efforts of the senior teams in their respective leagues.
Regarding the first side’s remarkable season he commented: “We didn’t have a good 2014, but the guys got together early in the year to make things right and they did just that. We set high standards at the club and expect to win every game that we play. We did not lose a match this year and scored an average of over 40 points per game.”
Nieuwenhuis added that the club’s goal is for the first side to be the best community club side in the country, a goal that can be achieved through the involvement and support of everyone at the club.
“From the u-7 player in his long rugby jersey to the captain of the u-18s everybody can make it happen,” he said.
“There is big rugby to come at Bosman Stadium in 2016 and we will need the support of you all,” he told those in attendance.
On another note, Nieuwenhuis said to the younger players: “If you have dreams to play rugby further and cannot afford to study at a tertiary institution then this is the club to be at.”
He wrapped the proceedings up by saying: “This game is all about positivity, there is no time for negative things and we don’t want that at our club.”
Junior awards:
U-7:
Eben van Vuuren (Forward of the Year), Marcel Tsiakos (Backline Player of the Year), Quintin Visser (Upcoming player), Dian Botha (Player of the Year).
Xander Roux (Forward of the Year), Ivan Steyn (Backline Player of the Year), Ruan Correia (Upcoming player).
U-8:
Javier Kruger and Cowan Kruger (Forward of the Year), Shane Serfontein (Backline Player of the Year), Xavier van Rensburg (Upcoming player).
U-9:
Zander Nell (Forward of the Year), Tiaan Delport (Backline Player of the Year), Waynand Stoltz (Upcoming player).
U-13:
Jaco Naude (Forward of the Year), Tjaart Scheepers (Backline Player of the Year), Corbin Cullum (Upcoming player).
U-15:
Chris Horn (Forward of the Year), Sia Mpoyina (Backline Player of the Year), Kyle Williamson (Upcoming player).
U-16:
Shaun Bardsley (Forward of the Year), Marthinus Prinsloo (Backline Player of the Year), Eugene Korf (Player of the Year), Boela Treurnich (Player of the Year).
U-18:
Joshua Steyn (Forward of the Year), Riaan Maritz (Backline Player of the Year), Pieter Stols (Upcoming player).
Senior awards:
“Stoutgat” Award: Shaun Botes.
Most Loyal Player and Dedicated Person: Jaco Lotter.
Most Improved Player: Armand Jordaan.
“Gees” Award: John Kiai
Loose-forward of the Year: Theo Mynhardt.
Harry Nieuwenhuis Trophy for Best Backline Player if the Year: Tobie Strydom.
William Hunter Trophy for Best Forward Player of the Year: Bones Robbertse.
Point-scorer of the Year: Sweef Potgieter.
Jansen Nel Trophy for Players’ Player of the Year: Albert Trytsman.
CLICK HERE for a GALLERY of photographs.
