Author: hnienaber

Muir went down 22-29 against Nico Malan of Humansdorp during an entertaining game of schoolboy rugby played on the Ellis field, Muir’s main pitch.  It was a tightly contested affair as the scores were leveled 10-10 at the break.

 Nico opened the scoring when an inside pass was used well and found the Muir defence slow to cover.  Fullback Ruben De Vos closed the visitors lead which a penalty kick.

 Nico’s second try of the half was a result of a well structured line-out drive to extend their lead.  Muir upped the intensity of the game and kept Nico Malan tied down in their half.  Some individual brilliance by de Vos was just reward when he crossed the line shortly before the break.  De Vos kicked the conversion to even the scores.

 Nico ran in three tries during the second half, two were converted. Muir would not be outdone and responded with two tries and one conversion.  First by Xolele Daniels who dotted down after some structured play by Muir and exploiting the outside channel. High risk, high reward saw Leigh-Angus Nell intercept, cover a good 70m to put the ball under the sticks for the home side’s second.  De Vos kicked the conversion.

 Both teams made good use of their opportunities during the game and ran the ball to entertain the spectators.  The defensive structures of the teams were well set to keep the scoring down.

 Once again Muir’s flanker Sibabalwe Jikani had a standout game making numerous turnovers and playing the perfect role as a “fetcher”. Replacement centre Mihlali Nobomvu needs a special mention as he slowed down Nico’s momentum on numerous occasions with superb leg tackles and even making the odd turnover to regain possession for Muir.

Scorers:

 For Muir:  Tries: Ruben de Vos, Xolela Daniels, Leigh-Angus Nell,  Cons: Ruben de Vos 2  Pen: Ruben de Vos

For Nico Malan:  Tries: JJ Killian, H Ruiter, Others 2  Cons: Selvin Davids 2

After the magnificent month of May where five games were played in idyllic condition winter struck with a cruel blow on the weekend of 1 June. Schoolmasters throughout the Cape were communicating frantically on Friday as to whether it would be safe to play matches with monsoon conditions predicted by the weather office. Thankfully their predictions were a little over the top and all the matches all went ahead as planned but the conditions were never going to be conducive to entertaining rugby.
The South African College High School (SACS) travelled out to Paarl to play Boishaai with the fields under water and snow covering the spectacular mountain backdrop. Boishaai were too strong on the day and won 29-5.
SACS were caught cold in the first five minutes and conceded two quick tries which in the conditions were always going to be difficult to claw back. Firstly centre Curtley Grain cut inside and beat some feeble attempted tackles to score before Boishaai capitalised on a turnover to set wing Daylen Daniels over for a try. Neither was converted.
The massive Boishaai pack were always going to be the telling factor in the conditions and they dominated a depleted SACS at the set-piece while rumbling up-field on a number of occasions. Three of these surges resulting in tries for their recently selected Craven Week forwards, one of whom came off the bench having being dropped to the second team a few weeks back.
SACS competed manfully and actually had territorial advantage for long periods but were unable to convert pressure to points. After the two early lapses SACS defended well for the remainder of the game would have drawn the second half had it not been for a another incidence of the referee having to leave the game early. With fifteen minutes to go the referee for the match, appointed by WP Rugby, excused himself to head off to a club game starting two hours later. This meant that an official who was running touch had to take over a complete the game. This is not the first time this has happened this season! Their watches were obviously not synchronised as Boishaai scored their final try four minutes after the game should have ended.
SACS had scored on the stroke of full time when they mauled a lineout and flank Yandisa Maqenukana dotted down from the resulting pick-and-go.
Scorers:
Paarl Boishaai
Tries: Daylen Daniels, Curtley Grain, Thomas du Toit, Daniel du Plessis and Burger van Niekerk
Conversions: Stephan Gouws (2)
SACS
Try: Yandisa Maqenukana

GRIEKWALAND-WES se o.18-rugbyspan moes sweet om sy eweknie van Griekwas-Platteland in hul stryd op Diamantveld se veld met 17-14 tot oorgawe te dwing.

Die wenspan het rustyd met net 10-7 voorgeloop. Albei die spanne word vandag vir die 50ste Cravenweektoernooi vir hoërskole in ­Polokwane gefinaliseer.

Vir die Poubloues het die skrumskakel, GM Bruwer, die vuur verskaf. Hy is tydens die wedstryd vervang en het later tot die spel teruggekeer waarna sy span skielik weer na ’n veel beter eenheid gelyk het. Sy onvoorspelbaarheid rondom die losskrums en skrums het die Plattelanders se flanke ook besig gehou.

Die heelagter, Ryan de Wee, was uitmuntend. Sy aanvalle vanuit die laaste vesting was van hoë gehalte. Hy het homself met sy teenaanvalle ’n hele paar keer uit die moeilikheid gehardloop. Die flank BJ Muller het die veld vol gespeel en die besoekers probleme by die afbreekpunte besorg.

Die slot, Bradley Leijdekkers, het ook nie ’n voet verkeerd gesit nie. Hy het veral in die vastelos met goeie lopies uitgeblink.

Vir die verloorspan het sy agtsteman, Jasper Wiese, en flank Junior Burger uitgemunt.

Voortrekker het op sy tuisveld op Bethlehem in ’n klipharde stryd teen die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad met 28-21 as oorwinnaar uit die stryd getree. Die Trekkers se agterlyn was die groot verskil tussen die twee spanne. Veral die senterpaar, Junior Smit en Wian van der Watt, was puik. Smit het twee keer gaan druk.

Die Trekkers is onoorwonne in die liga en boaan die puntelys.

Voortrekker het vroeg met 10-0 voorgeloop en ook twee drieë gaan druk, terwyl die Rooiskool se heelagter, Jeandré Uys, in die koelkas was. Die Rooiskool se voorspelers, met die flank Gerrit Otto en slot Francois Stemmet aan die voorpunt, het telkens teruggeveg en hul span in die kragmeting gehou. Die flank Henry Searle het ook meer as sy deel gedoen.

Die speler van die wedstryd was ongetwyfeld Trekkers se Cravenweek-flank, André “Smurf” Janse van Vuuren.

Wilgerivier het sy ligaverpligtinge onoorwonne in die Oos-Vrystaat afgesluit toe hy Reitz met 52-0 pak gegee het. Die span se flank Gerrie Muller het ’n driekuns aan drieë behaal.

Paul Erasmus van Senekal het Vrede met 12-7 in hul kragmeting in dié liga geklop.

St. Andrew van Bloemfontein het St. David-kollege met 26-20 uitoorlê.

Bultfontein het Theunissen in die Sandveld-liga met 53-14 platgevee.

DIE Vrystaatse skolekeurders gaan môre ’n laaste keer deur hul talentpoel sif voordat hulle eerskomende Saterdag met hul onderskeie verteenwoordigende spanne teen hul eweknie van die Griffons te staan kom. Die proefwedstryde tussen die vier merietespanne van die Vrystaat sal môre van 16:00 af op Grey-kollege se hoofveld teen mekaar kragte meet.

Die Vrystaat-Kiewiete sal nie aan die proewe deelneem nie. Die spelers moet hulle reeds om 15:30 by die veld aanmeld.

Dit blyk uit die proefspanne die Dirkie Groenewald-span se spelers is heel moontlik in die binnebaan om die Vrystaat op die 50ste Cravenweek-toernooi vir hoërskole later vanjaar in Polokwane te verteenwoordig. Interessant is die Cherries se losskakel/senter, André Swarts, doen op binnesenter in die span diens. Twee spelers wat die Vrystaat verlede jaar op die Cravenweek in Port Elizabeth verteenwoordig het, die slot Dylan Harlen en flank Stefan Kruger, sal heel moontlik môre hul laaste kans hê om die keurders te oorreed om hulle saam na Polokwane te neem. Grey se losskopstut, Andrew du Plessis, sak op haker in die Dirkie Groenewald-span nadat hy vanjaar reeds op ’n paar geleenthede gewys het hy is ewe gemaklik in dié posisie.

Die spanne is (almal Grey tensy anders vermeld):

Dirkie Groenewald-span: EW Viljoen, Ali Mgijima (Louis Botha), Stephen Rautenbach, André Swarts, Sheldon Fortuin (Louis Botha), DP de Lange (Sentraal), Heinrich Sander, Andries Kriek, Marius Louw, Refiloe Rampeta (Louis Botha), Casper Fourie, Victor Maruping (Louis Botha), Ruan Kramer, Andrew du Plessis, Ox Nche (Louis Botha). Plaasvervangers: Martin Wipplinger, Ruben Terblanché, De Wet Bezuidenhout, Thando Magalakanqa, Sharwin Cupido, Masego Toolo, Patrick Mbangi (almal Louis Botha).

Roelf Meyer-span: Jeandré Christiaans, Dale Koopman (albei Louis Botha), Carel-Jan Coetzee (Jim Fouché), Carel Durow, Chadwill Jeggels (Fichardtpark), Julian Delicado, Dian Badenhorst, Alex Jonker, Whaseem Gallant (Louis Botha), PC Labuschagné (Jim Fouché), Lawrence Danso (Saints), Lebohang Mosala (Louis Botha), Callie Janse van Vuuren, Greydon Wenn, Thame Lixhanti (albei Louis Botha). Plaasvervangers: Ryno Gerber (Sentraal), Jermaine Achilles (Louis Botha), Dylan Harlen, Themba Songelwa (Louis Botha), Henry Immelman (Louis Botha), Dwayne Wessels, Stanley Ramotsana, Wilfred Bauwers (albei Louis Botha).

Michael Barker-span: Olwethu Ndakisa (Louis Botha), Theo Ferreira, Wietz de Bruin (Fichardtpark), Johan Nel, Jacques Grobler, Luke Cyster (Louis Botha), Marco Vermeulen (Jim Fouché), Stefan Kruger (Sentraal), Luan Reynders, Johan Venter, Ben Moodie, SJ Wessels (albei Sentraal), Othello Sebotsa (Louis Botha), Morné de Beer (Fichardtpark), Eduan Wepener (Jim Fouché). Plaasvervangers: Hanno Spies (Jim Fouché), Jaco Potgieter, Morné Vorster (albei Fichardtpark), Franco Tack (Sentraal), Luan Louw (Fichardtpark), Heinrich Bitzi, Bjorn van Wyk.

Deon van Wyk-span: Glen Erickson, Wian Musgrave (Jim Fouché), Neil Stannard, Nico van der Westhuizen (Fichardtpark), Wian Koekemoer (Sentraal), Franco Spies (Jim Fouché), Brendon Bruwer (Sentraal), JB la Cock (Sand du Plessis), HJ Prinsloo, DB Nel (Sentraal), Kassel Rothman, Morné Griessel, Ruan Koortzen (albei Jim Fouché), Hennie du Plessis, Lafras Becker (albei Sentraal). Plaasvervangers: A. Malgas (Louis Botha), Riaan Coetzee (Fichardtpark), Tjibbe Spoelstra (Jim Fouché), Pieter Slabbert (Fichardtpark), Dayle Nel (Sand du Plessis), Stefan Klopper (Fichardtpark), Sheldon Meyer (Louis Botha), Tiaan Wolfaardt (Sentraal).

On Friday afternoon in the farming town of Alexandria, not quite a hundred kilometres north of Port Elizabeth, there will be a classic clash between the two schools in the town – Alexandria High school and Ukhanyo high School.

The area roundabout farms predominantly chicory, the biggest area in South Africa for growing the coffee substitute. It distributes chicory products to coffee manufacturers around South Africa – dried, roasted and as liquid extract.

The boys at the two schools will come from different backs grounds, those at Alexandria High better off than those at Ukhanyo in the township. The expectation seems to be that Alexandria will win but there is always in this kind of match, pressure of television, pressure of community and the fear of defeat, that which can produce a surprise.

There are  in the two teams only three players in the 30 players who are in matric. All three are in the Alexandria side, none in the  Ukhanyo side.

The matches start at Alexandria High at noon on Friday with a the main match at 15:15.

The teams:

Alexandria: 15 Flinn Cannon,  14 Charlton Coetzee, 13 Ruwayne Julius, 12 Harry Miles, 11 Earl Maarman, 10 Fazel Jacobs, 9 Sherwin Cannon, 8 Innocent Mamase, 7 Lee-Roy Coeries, 6 Craig Jacobs, 5 Lyle Hendricks, 4 Dewald Jacobs, 3 Marcel May, 2 Rafael Gongqoba, 1 Cornelius Scheepers. Replacements: 16 Zane Els, 17 Joshua Bam, 18 Jovan van Rooyen, 19 Embrose Cannon, 20 Sithembile Mzukisi, 21 Luvuyo Ngene, 22 Johan Redelinghuys.

Ukhanyo: 15 Siphamandla Petse, 14 Lwandiso Gqamani, 13 Azola Mgoduka, 12 Siyabulela Ntantiso, 11 Athenkosi Matebese, 10 Luvo Dyantyi, 9 Mphumezi Magobiyana, 8 Athenkosi Boto, 7 Mayinje Siyasanga, 6 Sinabo Gongqoba, 5 Skade Anele, 4 Sokutu Thabo, 3 Athenkosi Gongqoba, 2 Sinoxolo Mayinje, 1 Maginxha Sphamandla. Replacements: 16 Sibabalu Soya, 17 Sivuyile Manzana, 18 Akhona Sqoto, 19 Gcobani Tulman, 20 Masixole Mosi, 21 Thembinkosi Genge, 22 Vukile Mbolekwa.

The town will be divided in two for the FNB Classic Clash between HTS Sasolburg and Hoërskool Sasolburg – the sixth such Classic Clash, the 34th derby between the two schools.

Sasolburg High leads 3-2 in the Classic Clashes, winning 29-15 last year. And they have the makings of a good side again this year, after beating two neighbours, Afrikaanse Hoer Sasol and Vanderbijlpark (45-0).  HTS – the Spanners – have beaten Parys, Welkom High and De Anker, drew with Carel de Wet and lost to Heilbron and Overvaal, the latter 69-0.

This in the Free State warmth, in a town where coal becomes oil and byproducts, this could just be a tough and exciting match with Sasolburg High perhaps the favourites in that they are higher on the log than the Spanners.   The match could well be a case of rapier against broadsword. The Sasolburg High side has only three matrics while the Spanners are more mature. The Spanners are heavier and stronger up front but the High School’s backs are quicker. It may be a match decided by the willingness of spirit and flesh.

The teams:

HTS Sasolburg: 15 Neo Makekeng, 14 Jacques Coetzer, 13 Rudi Cilliers, 12 Roehan Botes, 11 Pieter de Ru, 10 Kenny Pheleu, 9 Juandre Pretorius, 8 Tiaan Engelbrecht, 7 Kingsley Mahlangu, 6 Piet Mokoena, 5 Gerrie Rautenbach, 4 James Gouws, 3 Tobie Vosloo, 2 Heinrich van Tonder, 1 Juhan Lodewyk. Replacements: 16 Sonquezo Mofase, 17 Christiaan Dippenaar, 18 Riaan Nel, 19 Victor Kambula, 20 Tyron du Plooy, 21 Pieter van Rensburg, 22 Mpho Lesoli

Hoërskool Sasolburg: 15 Stefan Cilliers, 14 Jarred Dawson, 13 Ruan Viljoen, 12 Tshiamo Sebolai, 11 Vusi Cele, 10 Frikkie Oosthuizen, 9 Dewald Hanekom, 8 Rudolph van Deventer, 7 Sean-Dean du Plessis, 6 Katleho Baisang, 5 Hannes Neethling, 4 Stefan Bester, 3 Gustav Vogel, 2 Teboho Mkhotho, 1 Jacques Viljoen. Replacements: 16 Francois Coetzee, 17 Johan Kok, 19 Thadeus van Onsselen, 20 Bongi Zwane, 21 Joel Mbisha, 22 Francois Groenewald, 23 Wynand Meyer.

Kick-off: 14:30