Author name: Hannes Nienaber

The KwaZulu-Natal weekend gets started on Friday evening with a rematch of the Durban Night Series final when then winners George Campbell host Port Natal.

Campbell will be desperate to make amends after their narrow defeat at Northwood last week, which all but put pay to their hopes of ending the year as the seventh best team in the province. Port Natal will arrive at North Beach in a confident mood, having seen off the huge challenge from high-flying Suid-Natal in an 11-8 victory.

With Michaelhouse looking certain to be the best represented school in the local Craven Week team, their profile on the rugby front has just shot up, meaning a lot more attention will be focused on their achievements from here on out. The boys from Balgowan will be expected to achieve convincing wins beginning with the Northwood match, in order to justify their numerous Under-18 selections to some often tough to please local followers of the school game. Northwood is already known for putting up spirited performances on their own home turf. Now adding to the equation for this game is that it’s their Old Boys Day, suggesting they will be that much more pumped up to do well in front of the a large and loud crowd.

The Maritzburg College versus Kearsney game is an FNB Classic Clash and makes for an interesting match-up. The two teams have started peaking in recent weeks. Also as far as strengths and weaknesses are concerned, they appear to be complete opposites. College should dominate scrums and play out wide, while Kearsney should control the lineout and be marginally better in and around the rucks. However this is rugby and sometimes the form book simply has to be thrown out the window. College players will also be able to feed off that special energy that can be felt all around Goldstones on their Reunion Day.

DHS’s best form this season has come on their own home ground. It’s therefore hard to imagine them pulling off a win against Hilton 100km away from Durban. The feeling is always there that School can be very influential in a slow or a start-stop type game though. Hilton has a good pack but they might find an expansive game more to their liking against heavier DHS forwards.

Westville are a safe bet to be too powerful for Empangeni from the onset. Nevertheless the game might be a good occasion to experiment or develop a good game-plan ahead of Westville’s final big challenge of the season in the form of Kearsney.

Sarel Cilliers who has pretty much sewn up the unofficial Northern Natal title this year plays next door neighbours Dundee.

Elsewhere in the country there are some huge games on.

Port Elizabeth schoolboy rugby fans look set to be treated to an action-packed match when home team Grey High meets undefeated Border region heavyweights Dale College. It wasn’t too long ago that Grey High was being mentioned in the same breath as the leading contenders for top spot in the national rankings. Things have gone awry since then for Grey and they will see this game as a vital opportunity to get back on track. Watching Dale run the ball is a sight for sore eyes for any rugby lover. At their very best the King William’s Town boys execute with a high degree of precision at such tremendous pace that even the best organised defences can be made to look weak.

Garsfontein and Centurion might not be the first two Northvaal rugby teams that come to mind when discussing the region’s usual cream of the crop in any given year. However, in 2012 both sides are right up there amongst the best not just in the region but also in the whole country. Saturday’s match-up will be nothing short of an absolute humdinger.

KES gets a chance to extract some revenge for an early season shock defeat at the hands of Pretoria Boys High. That result has been the only real blemish in an almost spotless record for KES, arguably one of the best teams in the country going by the talent in the team, the form shown and most importantly the result achieved.

As mentioned in another article on this website, there are also some thrillers down in the Western Cape as well.

Enjoy the rugby and remember to be a good sportsman in the stands as well.

By Beet

Maritzburg College play Kearsney College on Goldstone’s at Maritzburg College in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.

It will be a lustrous occasion. If 27 rugby matches and 15 hockey matches were not enough it is Reunion Day at College and the place will be teeming with spirit – the great love for the old place that brings Old Boys backs and the enthusiasm of the present boys to grace the occasion with the comforting assurance to the Old Boys that the old place has lost none of its vigour and determination.

And then on top of it all the match will be broadcast live, and the broadcast of school matches in South Africa has a huge viewer ship.

The weight of history is very much with College. The two schools started playing in 1943 when Maritzburg College went down to Kearsney and won. The next year Kearsney came up to College and won, but winning for Kearsney has indeed been rare.

In theory the two teams this year are close indeed. Kearney are now 19th on the FNB Top 20, Maritzburg College 20th, but Kearsney have dropped to 19th, College risen to 20th. They could be passing each other.

Maritzburg College have played 11 matches, losing only to Paul Roos, KES and Michaelhouse. Kearsney have played 13, losing to Affies, Paul Roos, Nico Malan and Hilton. Kearsney had good wins over Queen’s and Glenwood. College had good wins over Grey PE, Hilton and Westville.

Results against common opponents:

Paul Roos: Kearsney lost 30-20, Maritzburg College 22-21
Hilton: Kearsney lost 13-6; Maritzburg College won 24-14
Northwood: Kearsney won 49-6, Maritzburg College 43-6
DHS: Kearsney won 27-21, Maritzburg College 20-0

Kearsney have three players who were in the KwaZulu-Natal Craven Week wide in 2011 – the Du Preez brothers, Daniel and Jean-Luc, and outside centre Sandile Kubheka. They have three sons of Springboks in their side – the two De Preez and Matthew Reece-Edwards, the scrumhalf son of Hugh, a burly fullback. The Du Preez twins are both forwards, son of scrumhalf Robert.

Maritzburg College have their twins – the Kriels, Jesse at fullback and Daniel at centre, both powerful, game-changing players. Sadly Daniel is injured and will not be playing against Kearsney.

On the surface it seems that the weight of emotion and history will be on the side of Maritzburg College while Kearsney will have the weight of top players. But it could still be that the weight – and strength – of the College forwards could have the last say.

The match will be televised live on SuperSport One at 2.45pm.

The teams:

Maritzburg College: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Marcel Coetzee, 13 Richard Bamber, 12 Murray Janse van Rensburg, 11 Banele Ngwenya, 10 Lukas Booysen, 9 Josh Rencken, 8 Reegan Smith (captain), 7 Cameron Christie, 6 Jacque Conradie, 5 Robert Kamhoot, 4 Everett Pieterse, 3 Mvelo Khumalo, 2 Vuyo Khathide, 1 Alex Cahill.
Replacements: 16 Banele Mhlong, 17 Jonathan Grobler, 18 Seko Buthelezi, 19 James Smith, 20 Kelvin Elder, 21 Gareth Orr, 22 Cyle Muil.

Coaches: Ryan Strudwick, Steve Botha

Kearsney College: 15 Joshua Devine, 14 Dean Seals, 13 Sandile Kubheka, 12 Tyler Smith, 11 Isolethu Ngidi, 10 Tristan Tedder, 9 Matthew Reece-Edwards, 8 Ayron Schramm, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jarred Hayes-Hill, 5 Daniel du Preez, 4 Jayson Hirshovitz, 3 Mthunzi Moloi, 2 Roy Meaker, 1 Jono Deighton (captain).
Replacements: 16 Biaggo Pelliccia, 17 Ben Karnezos, 18 Sean Kelly, 19 Guy Francis, 20 Blair Cremer, 21 Travis Pears.

Coaches: Barend Steyn, Francois Lubbe

Date: Saturday, 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 15.00
Television broadcast: Live on SuperSport One (Further broadcasts 3 June at 12.45 on SS5, 4 June at 04.30 on SS1, 5 June at 19.15 on SS1)
Venue, Goldstone’s. Maritsburg College
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 23°C, dropping to 9°C
Referee: Jaco van Wyk (KZN Referees’ Society)

Rugby programme, 2 June:

Goldstone’s
10.00: 5th XV
11.10: 4th XV
12.20: 3rd XV
13.30: 2nd XV
15.00: 1st XV

Nicholson’s
10.00: 9th XV
11.10: 8th XV
12.20: 7th XV
13.30: 6th XV vs St Patricks

Snow’s
10.00: U14A
11.00: U15A
12.00: U16B
13.10: U16A

Lamond’s
10.00: U15B
11.00: U15C
12.00: U15F vs Kearsney D
13.00: U16C

Leach’s
10.00: U14C
11.00: U16D
12.00: U14B
13.00: U14F vs Kearsney D

At Hilton:

Midweek: U15G vs Hilton E

Falcon
09.00: U14D vs DHS

At St Charles:

Conway
09.00: U16C vs St Charles B
11.00: U15C vs St Charles U16C
12.00: 15E vs St Charles C

Smith
10.00: U14E vs St Charles C

By www.rugby365.com

On Saturday Hoërskool Florida meet Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in an FNB Classic Clash at Hoërskool Florida.

It should be a fairly even game as both schools have had erratic seasons which make any prediction hazardous.

Florida have played 10 matches, winning six. Their most notable victories are those over Eldoraigne and Monnas, whom they usually beat however strong the Krugersdorp school is and this year it’s not as strong as usual. Marais Viljoen of Alberton has played eight, winning five. Its most noteworthy win was over Transvalia. They have just two opponents in common.

Against common opponents:
Parktown: Florida won 34-11, Marais Viljoen 26-17
Monument: Florida won 28-25; Marais Viljoen lost 24-8

Florida has two players in it side who played for the 2011 Golden Lions Craven Week side – scrumhalf Eric Botes, flyhalf C-Than Moos, who was at fullback at times, and wing Tshepo Mooki. That suggests that Florida should have the upper hand in the match.

The teams:

Florida: 15 Steven du Plessis, 14 Tshepo Mooki, 13 PJ Rheeders, 12 Bouke Gouws (vice-captain), 11 Ché Stevens, 10 C-Than Moos, 9 Eric Botes, 8 Jodé Mostert (captain), 7 Phillip van Vuuren, 6 Sabello Dlamini, 5 Jacques du Preez, 4 Gerbrand O’Kelly, 3 Kyle Kruger, 2 Waldo Esterhuizen, 1 Clinton Theron.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Williamson, 17 Joseph Dweba, 18 Morné Strydom, 19 Brandan Rieck, 20 Erwin Harris, 21 Armand Goosen, 22 Jaco Barnard.

Marais Viljoen: 15 Brandon Bothma, 14 André Lombaard, 13 Tyler Blanc, 12 Stephen Erasmus, 11 Juan Odendaal, 10 Dwayne le Roux, 9 Chase May, 8 Andries Brits, 7 Rahul Maharaj, 6 Mauritz Pienaar, 5 Herman du Plessis, 4 Cullen Reyneke, 3 Handré Griesel, 2 Henco Saaiman, 1 Wian van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Muller, 17 Tiaan Hitzeroth, 18 Brandon Morkel, 19 Jeandré Volschenk, 20 Vusi Nkosi, 21 Dewald van der Merwe.

Date: 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 12.00
Venue: Hoërskool Florida
Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 17°C, dropping to 6°C
Referee: Eduan Nel (Golden Lions Referees’ Society)

VOORTREKKER en Hentie Cilliers is ongetwyfeld die vroeë gunstelinge om as kampioen van die Griffon-liga gekroon te word. Die twee

GREY-KOLLEGE het in Johan Goosen een van die beste skole-losskakels nog in die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrikaanse skole-rugby. Goosen het nie

Een van die groot sterre op vanjaar se Cravenweek-toernooi vir hoërskole hier in die Noordwes-stadion, Johan Goosen, het besluit om

On Saturday, down south from Johannesburg Hoerskool Vereeniging play Hoerskool Dr Malan of Meyerton in Vereeniging in an FNB Classic Clash.

The two schools are about 15 kilometres apart, and so are rivals at more than just rugby.

Both fall within the Valke and of the two Dokkies are regarded as the strongest team in the old Vaal Triangle, now a part of the Valke, who used to be Eastern Transvaal then the Falcons.

In 2009 the Dokkies won 63-3, in 2010 they triumphed 23-11 and last year they won by 8-0, which suggests that the Rainbow are getting closer.

In, fact the signs are that this year Vereeniging will beat Dr Malan and do so comfortable. When they met earlier in the season Rainbow won 33-12. They then went off on a tour to the Western Cape and have played the strong Duineveld side from Upington.

They have played two common opponents:
Benoni High: Vereeniging lost 14-11, Dr Malan lost 27-8
Hans Moore: Vereeniging drew 20-20; Dr Malan lost 41-5

In the Rainbow side is hooker Deon Stolts who went to the Craven Week for the Valke last year and has been chosen to go again this year. Flank Joswin de Wee, eighthman John Maisi and fullback Jacqone de Villiers are also down to go to Craven Week.

Dokkies have two back from last year’s Classic Clash, Rainbow seven. Back for Dokkies are flyhalf Anthony Harvard and flank Marco Naudé. Those back for Hoërskool Vereeniging are wing Shaun Heiberg, who played fullback last year, outside centre Dewaldt Grewe, flyhalf Morné Terblanche, scrumhalf Bernard Louw, flank Johann Fourie, prop Jaco Wiese and hooker Deon Stoltz who was the captain last year as well. That suggests a distinct advantage for the Vereeniging side.

The teams:

Hoërskool Vereeniging: 15 Jacqone de Villiers, 14 Shaun Heiberg, 13 Dewald Grewe, 12 Wildri Roodt, 11 Eldron van Rooyen, 10 Morné Terblanche, 9 Bernard Louw, 8 John Maisi, 7 Joswin de Wee, 6 GE Pretorius, 5 Johann Fourie, 4 André du Plessis, 3 Carlo van Onselen, 2 Deon Stoltz (captain), 1 Jaco Wiese.
Replacements: 16 Kobus Muller, 17 Gian Bezuidenhout, 18 Jan Janse van Rensburg, 19 Ruan Combrink, 20 Rikus van Rensburg, 21 Brendon van Deventer, 22 Maree Verhoef, 23 Wally Ungerer.

Coaches: André Botha, Manfred Smit

Dr Malan: 15 Michael Bosman, 14 Frikkie Venter, 13 Ferdi Swart, 12 Desmond Koen, 11 Theo Geldenhuys, 10 Anthony Harvard, 9 Rhyno Hendman, 8 Gerhard van Rensburg (captain), 7 Marco Naudé, 6 Hansie Erke, 5 C Janse van Rensburg, 4 Christiaan Nolte, 3 Johan van der Watt, 2 Ruan van der Walt, 1 Tiaan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Morne van der Sandt, 17 Lukas Steyn, 18 Johan Burger, 19 Leandré Ebersonn, 20 Richard Dean van Deventer, 21 Meyer Le Maistre, 22 Ruan Wessels, 23 PG vcan der Merwe.
* The Dr Malan names my well be inaccurate. They arrived late and written by hand, which was hard to decypher. We did ask for help.

Coach: Louw Neethling

Date: 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 12.00
Venue: Hoërskool Vereeniging
Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 21°C, dropping to 6°C

From www.rugby365.com

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