Die “Klein Interjol” in Upington het weer vir groot “sports” gesorg die afgelope naweek, met Hoërskool Duineveld wat in die doodsnikke die wendrie kon aanteken vir die spogregte teen Hoërskool Upington.
Die Upington-derby het oudergewoonte vir vuurwerke gesorg, met Duineveld wat uiteindelik met 17-15 die pyp kon rook.
Rotsvaste verdediging aan albei kante het daartoe gelei dat daar geen drieë vir die grootste gedeelte van die wedstryd aangeteken is nie, maar dit het nie beteken dat daar enige tekort aan aksie was nie.
Die Uppies was eerste op die telbord met ‘n strafdoel deur losskakel, Caydan Daniels, maar sy direkte teenstander, PJ Smit, het bykans onmiddelik daarna dit uitgekanselleer met ‘n suksesvolle poging van sy eie. Daniels se stewel het teen rustyd vir die tuisspan met 9-6 laat voorloop.
Skrumskakel, Franco Erasmus, was ‘n doring in die tuisspan se vlees, terwyl heelagter, Jacquin Jasson, ook deurentyd gevaarlik gelyk het.
Die Uppies het egter aanhou hard werk om hul drie-punt voorsprong te verdedig, en, met slegs ‘n minuut speeltyd oor, was hulle steeds met 15-12 voor. Daniels het sake netjies beheer in die middeveld terwyl Jaden Williams dikwels die besoekers se lynstane omvergegooi het.
Die Velties se giftige binnesenter, Gregan Jansen, het egter op die nippertjie die uitklophou geplant met die enigste drie van die wedstryd.
Die tafel is dus gedek vir ‘n reusestryd wanneer die twee trotse spanne mekaar weer in Augustus ontmoet vir die “Groot Interjol”. Tot dan pronk die Velties egter as bobaas in die dorp.
Verlede jaar het Hoërskool Upington die eerste kragmeting met 22-17 gewen, voordat Duineveld later in die jaar die bordjies kon verhang met ‘n naelskraapse sege van 29-26.
Die Noord-Vrystaat is die afgelope naweek bederf met ‘n paar aksiebelaaide skolerugby-kragmetings.
Hentie Cilliers het Saterdag met tye skouspelagtige spel gelewer op hul tuisveld in Virginia, maar Voortrekker het uiteindelik oor té veel skietgoed beskik om met 37-12 te seëvier.
Witteberg het agt drieë ingeryg vir ‘n wegholsege van 52-0 oor Goudveld in Bethlehem, terwyl Welkom Gimnasium en Hoërskool Trio met 17-17 gelykop gespeel het in Kroonstad.
Hentie Cilliers het die tuisskare in Virginia vroeg op hulle voete gehad, toe Itumeleng Koqo die Trekkers in sy stof laat byt het vir die eerste drie van die wedstryd. Die Voortrekker-pak het egter kort daarna vir Arnold Ras oorgedryf om sake weer gelykop te laat trek.
Ondanks die seuns van Hentie Cilliers se dapper verdediging, het die besoekers nog twee keer deurgebreek voor rustyd om ‘n voorsprong van 15-5 op te bou. Hul tweede drie, deur Voortrekker se Cravenweek-agsteman, Dawie Fourie, was die resultaat van ‘n sterk rolmaalbeweging, terwyl binnesenter, Craig Mann, bo-oor ‘n paar verdedigers gehardloop het vir die derde.
Na die omdraaislag was die tuisspan weer eerste uit die blokke, met Kaneng Komane wat afgerond het met ‘n pragdrie om die agterstand na 12-15 te laat krimp. Dit was egter die laaste keer dat die manne van Bethlehem vir Henties deurgelaat het, en ál moes hulle steeds hard werk, het die besoekers die res van die kragmeting oorheers.
Voortrekker se massiewe pak, met hul Cravenweek-stut, Cecil Parsons, aan die spits, het die tuisspan saggemaak vir Tumi Khoza, Tristan Meyer en Kaneng Komane om die skroewe behoorlik vas te draai.
Witteberg het die lynstane teen Goudveld in só ‘n mate oorheers dat hul Akademieweek-haker, Jacques van der Merwe, drie dryfmaaldrieë tot sy naam kon voeg in hul reuse oorwinning van 52-0.
Dit is die tweede slag vanjaar dat Witteberg die 50-punt kerf kon verbysteek in die Wesgrow Sentrale-sportreeks. Hulle het vroeër vir Hoërskool Sentraal met 51-8 kafgedraf.
Welkom Gimnasium gee tot dusver hierdie seisoen die pas aan in die Noordweste, en spog derhalwe ook vanjaar met 10 spelers in die Cravenweek-oefengroep.
Hoërskool Trio het egter gewys dat selfs die bestes kan swaar trek in Kroonstad, deur vir die “swarttruie” tot ‘n gelykopuitslag van 17-17 te beperk.
Skrumskakel, Ethan Smit, en binnesenter, Tyron Adams, het uitgeblink vir die tuisspan om ‘n witwarm Welkom-aanslag in bedwang te hou, terwyl die Trio-flank, Pieter van Schalkwyk, voorlangs ook vir die besoekers kopsere besorg het.
Die Gimmies se ster-heelagter, Ronaldo Kiewiet, het 12 van sy span se punte aangeteken. Kiewiet was verlede jaar die voorste driedrukker op die Cravenweek, waar hy vir die Griffons op losskakel uitgedraf het. Vanjaar se Cravenweek-flank, Rylin Kirsten, het hul ander drie gedruk.
Witteberg 52 (28) – Drieë: Jacques van der Merwe (3), Sydwell Sethi, Janco Swart, Pieter Nel, Colin van der Merwe, Kenyon Morat. Doelskoppe: Llewellyn Beukes (6). Goudveld 0.
o.19 – Voortrekker II 59, Hentie Cilliers II 0; Voortrekker III 58, Hentie Cilliers III 0; Welkom Gimnasium II 32, Trio II 10; Welkom Gimnasium III 31, Trio III 0; Witteberg II 12, Goudveld II 12; Witteberg III 19, Goudveld III 5; Witteberg IV 26, Goudveld IV 12.
o.16 – Voortrekker A 21, Hentie Cilliers A 17; Welkom Gimnasium A 22, Trio A 10; Welkom Gimnasium B 33, Trio B 0; Witteberg A 34, Goudveld A 10; Witteberg B 47, Goudveld B 7.
o.15 – Voortrekker A 55, Hentie Cilliers A 0; Trio A 53, Welkom Gimnasium A 0; Trio B 17, Welkom Gimnasium B 14; Witteberg A 29, Goudveld A 7; Witteberg B 42, Goudveld B 5.
o.14 – Voortrekker A 55, Hentie Cilliers A 0; Trio A 29, Welkom Gimnasium A 7; Trio B 22, Welkom Gimnasium B 12; Witteberg A 54, Goudveld A 0; Witteberg B 17, Goudveld B 12.
Grey College showed real guts to tame a fiery Paarl Boys’ High attack in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Their little scrumhalf, Philip McLaren, was selected as the Man of the Match for his tireless work rate and immense contributions on defence as Grey kept its dominant record in the Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools fixture intact with a 40-28 victory.
The Bloemfontein giants wasted no time in getting the scoreboard rolling, with their big tighthead prop, Danie Kruger, barrelling over for their first try.
After that, however, the visitors caused Grey endless problems at the breakdown, with the loose-trio, Douw Wessels, Rubin Dames and Steph van der Merwe getting over the ball at every opportunity.
Grey’s second try came after a powerful break down the sideline by their exciting young flanker, Juliun Cosmo, which enabled his flyhalf, Alzeadon Felix, to dot down for a five-pointer.
Aiden Jacobs showed his hurdling abilities for a great finish to score Paarl Boys’ first try after Viaan Mentoor opened the scoring for Boishaai off the tee.
His try was cancelled out five minutes later though, when Grey’s other big prop, Dian Venter, strolled in for the home team’s third.
With his forwards doing the dirty work up front, Mentoor struck thrice with his kicking boot in the first half, including a huge effort from the halfway line just before the break, to reduce their deficit to 14-19.
They were forced to take the points on offer, though, because there were no gaps to be found in the Bloemfontein outfit’s defensive line, with McLaren putting in a couple of huge hits at vital moments in the match.
Three more tries in the second stanza, including a brace by their speedster on the wing, Ruben Cilliers, sealed the deal for the home team.
His first came after a brilliant pass by his school captain Pieter van der Merwe, and the second was the result of an equally impressive bit of skill by Felix.
Fullback Heinz Stockenström was rewarded for his hard work with a try to add to the five successful conversions next to his name.
Next weekend the Grey boys travel to Gauteng to take on an in-form Afrikaanse Hoër Seunsskool Pretoria.
Affies suffered a record 19-60 defeat in Bloemfontein last season, but they have a huge forward pack who will be looking to exact revenge in front of their home crowd.
Despite their loss, Boishaai will have many positives to take from their time in Bloemfontein and they will be keen to take to the Piley Rees Field next weekend against Bishops Diocesan College.
Diamantveld het Saterdag die bordjies op dramatiese wyse verhang teen Hoërskool Noord-Kaap, deur met ‘n rekordtelling van 71-7 die spogregte in Kimberley te herwin.
Dié reuse oorwinning het weereens benadruk hóéveel vordering Diamantveld reeds hierdie seisoen gemaak het. Hulle het verlede jaar die Kimberley-derby op Pirates met 17-18 verloor.
Die Diamonds het 11 drieë teen hul buurskool ingeryg, tot die absolute genot van hul ondersteuners, om hul grootste sege nóg in die FNB Classic Clashes-kragmeting te behaal.
Die besoekers het nietemin goed gevaar om Diamantveld se verdediging vroeg in die wedstryd onder druk te plaas, maar die tuisspan se haastige buitesenter, Clinton Brits, het kort voor lank sy ore platgetrek om die eerste bres in die verdediging te slaan, en daarna het die damwal gebars.
Ethan Manus, Jonathan Harding, Jayden de Klerk, Daniël Kühn en Simon Liversage het ook agter die doellyn gaan draai om die telling teen halftyd reeds op 45-0 te staan te bring. Kühn, verál, sal sy drie nog lank onthou, want dit is nie elke dag dat ‘n slot die kans kry om te nael vir die hoekie nie, terwyl Harding twee keer gaan druk het.
Na die omdraaislag het Carel Viljoen, Kyle Taute, Charl Swanepoel en De Wet du Plooy verdere spykers in die Northerns se kis gemoker.
Hoewel dit moeilik is in só ‘n vertoning om individue uit te sonder, het Liversage en losskakel, Marno Greeff, nietemin uitgetroon in die ligbloutrui met die kundige wyse waarop hulle die totale aanslag gedirigeer het.
Die Northerns het steeds karakter getoon en nooit gaan lê nie. Hul lewendige klein skrumskakel, Lwandle Maseko, het in die 66ste minuut oorgeduik vir sy span se enigste drie, maar teen daardie tyd was die kanonkoeël lankal reeds deur die kerk.
Volgende naweek sit die Diamantveld-span hul onoorwonne veldtog in die Wesgrow Sentrale-sportreeks voort in Bloemfontein, waar hulle vir Hoërskool Sentraal die stryd aansê. Die Tralies ervaar ‘n strawwe seisoen tot dusver, maar die Kimberley-manne kan nie bekostig om nou op hul louere rus nie en sal hul droomseisoen met mening wil afrond.
Puntemakers
Diamantveld 71 (45) – Drieë: Jonathan Harding (2), De Wet du Plooy, Daniël Kühn, Jayden de Klerk, Ethan Manus, Simon Liversage, Clinton Brits, Carel Viljoen, Kyle Taute, Charl Swanepoel. Doelskoppe: Liversage (5), Marno Greeff (3). Hoërskool Noord-Kaap 7 (0) – Drie: Lwandle Maseko. Doelskop: Themba Koopman.
Al die tellings:
o.19 – Diamantveld II 27, Noord-Kaap II 12; Diamantveld III 19, Noord-Kaap III 7.
Rondebosch prop Matthew van der Merwe goes on the charge against Hoërskool Rustenburg. Photo: Hannah Shirley
There’s a fiery weekend of fixtures lined up in the Western Cape, with some of the best teams from the Winelands visiting Cape Town to take on southern suburbs’ sides.
Rondebosch Boys’ High has been preparing for Paarl Gimnasium after bringing Wynberg Boys’ High‘s unbeaten streak to an emphatic end last weekend.
Wynberg will be keen to bounce back immediately against Boland Landbou on the Hawthornden Field, and SACS faces the daunting challenge of welcoming the still-unbeaten Paul Roos Gimnasium.
Meanwhile, Bishops Diocesan College travels north to take on Stellenberg, while Parel Vallei attempts to tame marauding Milnerton in their own back yard, and Hoërskool Durbanville does battle with HTS Drostdy in Worcester.
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The ‘Bosch boys will have no misconception about the challenge awaiting them. Gim has, despite their solitary 27-29 loss to Grey College, looked like one of the in-form teams in South African schoolboy rugby this year.
Ely Williams and JJ du Preez have been rock-steady at scrum time, while bright young talents, Freek de Kock and Markus Muller, have been tearing up their opponents’ defences.
Last weekend, however, Rondebosch showed that they are firing on all cylinders as they took down Wynberg in a comprehensive fashion.
David Kadima and Shakeel Abrahams, their wings, scored twice each against their southern suburbs’ rivals. If their pack can stand up to the big boys from Paarl, they have the potential to punish the visitors again this weekend.
Still undefeated, Paul Roos has been building its case to be considered the best team in the country this season.
They’ll keep focused on the challenge in front of them, however, as they visit SACS.
Captain and dual SA Schools’ star, Riley Norton, moves back to the second row after starring in the loose trio alongside Gert Kemp and Reuben Kruger in their last couple of outings.
SACS is coming off a very impressive 29-7 win over Bishops last weekend. Captain Nic Reynolds will aim to tap into that momentum to get his side ready for what is sure to be one of their toughest matches of the season.
Fullback Jack Benade has been an exciting player for SACS and will likely be kept busy again on Saturday.
Wynberg will want an immediate bounce-back performance, but the Boland Landbou boys are no pushovers.
They fell short against Helpmekaar (21-43) and Monument (33-38) at the Absa Wildeklawer tournament last weekend, but with talents like Hans Verster and Ruan Viviers at their disposal, Wynberg will know they face a massive battle.
Bishops heads north for an intriguing contest against Stellenberg.
Traditionally, the visitors have had the upper hand, but they’ve endured a difficult season and have been plagued with injuries, while Stellenberg appears to be rounding into form.
The Jade Brigade will turn to their forwards to gain an advantage, with captain Dale du Toit leading their charge.
TEAMS
Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paarl Gimnasium at 12:15 – Link to the game
Rondebosch Boys’ High: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 David Kadima, 13 Randall-John Davids, 12 Alutha Wesi, 11 Shakeel Abrahams, 10 David Simon, 9 Caleb Belelie, 8 Collin Paul Kemp, 7 Joshua Neill, 6 Matthys du Plooy, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, 3 Matthew van der Merwe, 2 Ismaeel Conrad, 1 Luke Pretorius,
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Josh O’Neill, 14 Freek de Kock, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Kobus Blanckenberg, 11 Markus Moolman, 10 Chandler Green, 9 Melt Viljoen, 8 Nicolas Nel, 7 Wihan Kotze, 6 Jan Koegelenberg, 5 Marinus Daling, 4 Quintin Potgieter, 3 Ely Williams, 2 Liam Burger, 1 Jean-Jacques du Preez.
SACS: 15 Jack Benade, 14 Quewinn Lackay, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Matt Carrick, 11 Endi Sidinile, 10 Nathan Potgieter, 9 Max Bester, 8 Daniel Grant, 7 Tashriq Bailey, 6 Zac Wilson, 5 Pierre van Selm, 4 Callum Hirst, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Ethan Combrink.
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Keenan Stoffels, 14 Hugo Coetzee, 13 Matt Kleyn, 12 Ian Smith, 11 Jordan Steenkamp, 10 Matthew Seymore, 9 Marquin de Klerk, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Gert Kemp, 6 Malan Erasmus, 5 Riley Norton, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Gerrit van Vuuren, 2 Altus Rabe, 1 Oliver Reid.
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Boland Landbou at 12:30
Wynberg Boys’ High: 15 Levi Brown, 14 Kunene Gadu, 13 Ezra Antonio, 12 Brandon Ashburner, 11 Albert Lourens, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Morne Noble, 8 Torren February, 7 Aden da Costa, 6 Jamie Stride, 5 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 4 Jaythen Orange, 3 Thapelo Molakeng, 2 Lukho Mtwana, 1 Benjamin Matthews.
Boland Landbou: 15 Lyle Lewis, 14 Wehan Lume, 13 Xavier Vorster, 12 Juan Swart, 11 Sydney Blaauw, 10 Pieter Bergh, 9 Jayden Brits, 8 Daniel Blom, 7 Blake de Kock, 6 Hans Verster, 5 Ruan Viviers, 4 Chad Meintjies, 3 Henry Rudder, 2 Thiaan van Zyl, 1 Derik du Preez.
Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Marco Staples, 13 Luka Tonitz, 12 Ruben Pretorius, 11 Armand Pretorius, 10 Eben Rademan, 9 Christiaan van der Bijl, 8 Stefan Visser, 7 Sale du Toit, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Zian Erasmus, 4 Sebastian Johnson, 3 Dean Janse van Rensburg, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Christian Jansen van Rensburg.
Diocesan College: 15 Wa-keem Fortuin, 14 Ben Koenig, 13 Iviwe Dadamasi, 12 Alex Laspatzis, 11 Tim Visagie, 10 Jordan Petersen, 9 Lucca Mynhardt, 8 Aza Gabada, 7 Josh MacDonald, 6 James le Feuvre, 5 Rieko Kidha, 4 Alex Smith, 3 Andrew Levett, 2 Daniel van den Heever, 1 Gareth Mckinon.
HTS Drostdy vs Hoërskool Durbanville at 13:30 – Link to the game
HTS Drostdy: Unknown
Hoërskool Durbanville: 15 Dale Martin, 14 Lyle Pienaar, 13 Caleb Engelbrecht, 12 Tobie Roelofse, 11 Cole Carls, 10 Kyle Albertus, 9 Ruvan van der Westhuizen, 8 Divan Gravett, 7 Tiaan Kearns, 6 William Goldswein, 5 Liebrecht Winterbach, 4 Murdoch van Dyk, 3 Anru van Rhyn, 2 Juan Smit, 1 Hubert Winterbach.
Met die voorlopige Cravenweekspan van die Griffons wat onlangs bekendgemaak is, bied hierdie naweek se aksie in die Noord-Vrystaat ‘n eerste blik op hoe die streeksverteenwoordigers teen mekaar opweeg voordat hulle in Junie moet kragte saamspan in die perstruie.
Welkom Gimnasium, met 10 verteenwoordigers in vanjaar se Griffons-span, kom Saterdag teen Hoërskool Trio in Kroonstad te staan.
Witteberg, Hentie Cilliers en Voortrekker spog elk met drie spelers in die span en Goudveld met twee.
Die Gouties pak vir Witteberg in Bethlehem, terwyl die Trekkers en Henties in Virginia kragte meet.
Die Gimmies het verlede week twee uitstekende seges behaal in Kimberley by die Absa Wildeklawer-toernooi, teen HTS Drostdy (50-28) en Framesby (35-24), en lyk soos die pasaangeërs in die noorde van die Vrystaat.
Ronaldo Kiewiet, verlede jaar se voorste driedrukker op losskakel by die Cravenweek, begin die naweek in Kroonstad weer op heelagter, met vanjaar se Cravenweek-losskakel, Leano Williams, in die nr. 10-trui.
Die tuisspan spog self met ‘n ster in die middeveld, met Byron Biennas, wat verlede jaar by die Akademieweek uitgeblink het, wat enige kragmeting in sy span se guns kan laat swaai.
Trio het vanjaar weer vier spelers in die Akademie-span. Thuto Kekane (vleuel), Tyron Adams (senter), Ethan Smith (skrumskakel) en Pieter van Schalkwyk (flank) sal vanjaar by die week, wat weer by Jeppe in Johannesburg aangebied word, in aksie wees.
Lungile Samson (stut), Reabetswe Olifant (flank) en Oyama Frans (slot) is die drie manne van Hentie Cilliers wat in die Cravenweekspan opgeneem is. Hulle is Saterdag in aksie teen die Trekkers se verteenwoordigers, Cecil Parsons (stut), Dawie Fourie (agsteman) en Kamohelo Moses (vleuel).
Parsons het in 2023 reeds uitgeblink in die Griffons-pak, en lyk oorgehaal om voort te bou op sy kragspel van verlede jaar.
Witteberg se Riaan Roos (stut), Kenyon Moerat (senter) en JC van Rhyn (senter) het die span gehaal, en hulle meet Saterdag kragte teen Ru-Bran de Kock (heelagter) en Jan Coetzee van die Gouties.
Daar is natuurlik heelwat ander talent in al die spanne wat Saterdag in aksie is, en die seuns sal die volgende klompie wedstryde wil aanwend om vir hulself ‘n plek in die groep oop te speel. Die Gouties se Ruben Crous, Daniel Meintjies van Witteberg, Arnold Ras van Voortrekker en Hentie Cilliers se Xander Wiltshire beleef almal ‘n puik seisoen, en die naweek se wedstryde bied ‘n gulde geleentheid vir die keurders om die spelers verder te bestudeer.
Captains, Bernardo Diedericks (Robertson) and Armand Croeser (Worcester Gim) with the Shield. | (Photo provided)
On Saturday, Hoërskool Robertson and Worcester Gimnasium will be competing for the coveted South Western Rugby Football School Shield for the first time since 2005.
The shield was donated in 1908 and was a point of pride in the Boland for many years until Robertson won it for the last time.
When the sides met in Worcester last season, the Gimmies were victorious by 47-21 after a dominant second-half performance saw them pull away from the visitors who kept it close at 13-14 at the break.
The Robbies have been a force to be reckoned with so far this year and Saturday’s matchup is set to be a much tougher challenge for the “Bosvarke”.
The home team’s captain, Bernardo Diedericks, has been a revelation this year. In 2023, he was a member of the SA u18 Sevens squad which earned a bronzde medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, and he’s carried the skills and knowledge gained there into this season, seemingly not putting a foot wrong.
He’s supported well by the likes of their dynamic flyhalf, Jaydan van Niekerk, and Tyron April, at fullback.
The Gimmies, however, have no shortage of pace and flair among their ranks, with flyers, Vuyolwethu Bavuma and Alungile Mothibe, on the wings.
Their front row, Amaan Adendorff, Armand Croeser and Wilfred Slingers has been just as impressive this year, and they provide a destructive extra ball-carrying options for their team.
Last weekend, the Robbies beat Swartland in a thrilling battle by one point, 24-23, they’ll be battle-hardened and ready for Saturday’s clash.
The Gimmies, however, have already been involved in several tightly contested games this year and they won’t be phased by the prospect of another tough battle, having already shown they have big-match temperament.
Meanwhile, there’s also a bunch of other exciting games taking place in the region.
The unbeaten Charlie Hofmeyr squad tackles Oakdale‘s second team in Ceres.
The matchup has produced some top-quality rugby in the past, with the Riversdal second stringers proving a more than competent opponent, but Charlies would like to make a statement with a good result this weekend.
Montagu has also been fired up this season and they will be anxious to add another victory when they host Labori, after having had to settle for a 29-29 draw against Hoërskool Punt, from Mossel Bay, last weekend.
The Punt team continues their campaign with a match against DF Malan, while Langenhoven Gimnasium and Hoërskool Oudtshoorn do battle on the Garden Route.
TEAMS
Hoërskool Robertson vs Worcester Gimnasium at 13:00
Hoërskool Robertson: 15 Tyron April, 14 Jo-Haylin Jansen, 13 Bernardo Diedericks, 12 Tyron Matthys, 11 Winsor de Koker, 10 Jaydan van Niekerk, 9 Kyle Cedras, 8 Ethan Fourie, 7 Groban van Wyk, 6 Ivor Thmpson, 5 André Gelderblom, 4 Mychal Swart, 3 Petrus Coetzee, 2 Yannick du Plessis, 1 Jeandre Viljoen.
Diamantveld is vasberade om nie weer vas te val teen Hoërskool Noord-Kaap wanneer die twee buurskole mekaar hierdie Saterdag die stryd aansê nie.
Die Diamonds spog steeds met ‘n gunstige rekord in die Kimberley-derby, van drie seges in hul laaste vyf ontmoetings, maar Northerns het ‘n geleentheid om sake gelyk te laat trek as hulle vanjaar wéér vir die tuisspan kan ore aansit.
Verlede jaar was die uitslag bepaal deur ‘n strafdoel in die doodsnikke deur die Northerns se staatmaker in die nr. 10-trui, Eldridge Jack, wat ‘n sege van 18-17 vir sy span voor die tuisskare op Pirates beklink het.
Kaptein, FJ de Vries, onderkaptein, Simon Liversage, en hul makkers sal hierdie naweek nie weer die agterdeur wil ooplos vir Noord-Kaap nie. Liversage het uitgeblink in daardie wedstryd, ondanks die nederlaag, en is ongetwyfeld ‘n uiters opwindende speler om dop te hou.
Die Northerns het vanjaar vir Dihan Janse van Rensburg op losskakel, met skrumskakel, Lwandle Maseko, wat ook ewe tuis is in die nr. 10-trui. Die skakelpaar het ‘n kritieke rol om te vervul, maar oudergewoonte sal sukses grootliks afhang van die platform wat die voorspelers kan daarstel. De Vries, De Wet du Plooy en Dian Ellis bied nog heel seisoen ‘n rotsvaste basis voorlangs vanwaar Diamantveld hul giftige agterlyn kan loslaat.
Die Diamonds beleef ‘n skitterende seisoen onder hul nuwe bestuur en het verlede week hul getroue Kimberley ondersteuners se harte verbly deur albei hul wedstryde by vanjaar se Absa Wildeklawer-toernooi te wen. Hulle het in die eerste wedstryd met Marlow Landbou geploeg (57-25) en die besoekende Nieu-Seelanders, St. John’s College, op ‘n drafstap met 40-24 verslaan.
Noord-Kaap het in April met 26-30 teen Marlow verloor, maar die Kimberley-derby het ‘n manier om die beste uit spanne te haal, en die Diamonds kan ‘n klipharde stryd te wagte wees.
Diamantveld t. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap om 12:10
Diamantveld: 15 Kyle Taut, 14 Carel Viljoen, 13 Clinton Brits, 12 Simon Liversage, 11 Jonathan Harding, 10 Marno Greeff, 9 Ethan Manus, 8 Enrique Boshoff, 7 Jayden de Klerk, 6 Stiaan van Loggerenberg, 5 Zuan Rautenbach, 4 Daniël Kühn, 3 Dian Ellis, 2 De Wet du Plooy, 1 FJ de Vries.
A-veld: 08:30 – Diamantveld o. 15 A t. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap o. 15 A; 09:30 – Diamantveld II t. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap II; 10:40 – Diamantveld o. 16 A t. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap o. 16 A; 12:10 – Diamantveld 1ste XV t. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap 1ste XV.
B-veld: 08:30 – Diamantveld III t. Bo-Karoo Sportklub 1ste XV; 09:30 – Diamantveld o. 14 A t. Hoërskool Noord-Kaap o. 14 A.
Sentraal t. Fichardtpark, 2024 | FOTO: Kulu Ferreira
Hoërskool Sentraal is vasbeslote om hierdie naweek hul sukses in 2022 te laat herleef wanneer die FNB Classic Clashes-kragmeting met Jim Fouché weer op eie bodem plaasvind.
JF was verlede jaar tuis met 38-17 baas, maar die laaste keer wat hulle vir Tralies voor dié se tuisskare aangedurf het, het die bloktruie met 29-26 geseëvier. Later daardie jaar het die twee spanne weer ontmoet in die Stadsliga-eindstryd, met die Green Machine wat laaste gelag het met ‘n sege van 19-14 om die titel te verower.
Die Tralies se seisoen het vanjaar stadig begin, maar ‘n puik vertoning teen Hoërskool Kalahari verlede naweek sou hul selfvertroue ‘n hupstoot gegee het op die vooraand van Saterdag se groot stryd teen hul bure. Lee-Yagin Arendse en Pat Cloete is twee van die tuisspan se gevaarmanne wat ‘n taamlike impak kan maak.
Jim Fouché beskik self oor meer as genoeg skietgoed, met Franco Oberholzer en Breyten de Wee aan die spits van hul aanslag. JF het in hul vorige kragmeting, ook met ‘n Bloemfonteinse mededinger, vir HTS Louis Botha met 47-10 afgestof, nadat hulle vroeër met 15-24 die knie moes buig teen Fichardtpark.
Die Fichies is ook hierdie naweek in aksie teen Landboudal.
Na ‘n moeilike begin tot hul seisoen, lyk dit of die Fichie Leeus weer hul ritme gevind het nadat hulle verlede week spiere gebult het teen Kalahari met 62-17. Die Lanties bied nietemin altyd ‘n strawwe toets, en die span van Jacobsdal het reeds vanjaar met Hoërskool Burgersdorp (26-6) en Sentraal (43-12) afgereken.
Die stryd tussen die twee skrumskakels behoort interessant te wees, met Devanté Claasen wat die Fichies-aanval bestuur en Craven Crause wat ook sy stempel sal wil afdruk vir Landboudal. Crause en kaptein, Divan Vorster, het verlede jaar hul skool met onderskeiding in die Barbarians-span by die VKB Reitz-week verteenwoordig, terwyl Claasen verlede jaar Cravenweek gespeel, saam met Fichardtpark se eerste SA Skolespeler ooit, Jaco Grobbelaar.
Sentraal t. Jim Fouché om 14:20
Sentraal: 15 Jayden Betty, 14 Lee-Yagin Arendse, 13 Pat Cloete, 12 CJ Hertzog, 11 Louis Harm Fourie, 10 SJ Coetzee, 9 Schalk Linde, 8 Chris Kachelhoffer, 7 Percy Reynolds, 6 CJ Cloete, 5 Jandre Jardim, 4 Steven Smith, 3 EJ van der Berg, 2 Marnus Earle, 1 Van Zyl Hetzel.
Jim Fouché: 15 Christian Strydom, 14 Kay Dinn Langley, 13 Justin Groenewald, 12 Heinrich Hattingh, 11 Bendré Vermaak, 10 Breyten de Wee, 9 Brenden de Wee, 8 Franco Oberholzer, 7 Qian Moller, 6 Brenden Weyers, 5 Milan Marais, 4 JW Stone, 3 Jandré Opperman, 2 Ian Nel, 1 Tristan Russle.
PAARL, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 13: Rubin Dames of Paarl Boys High during the Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools rugby match between Paarl Boys High School and Grey College at Brug Street Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Paarl, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)
On Saturday, Grey College welcomes Paarl Boys’ High for their annual Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools clash, adding a new chapter to a rivalry that spans back as far as 1950.
Eleven senior teams from both schools will battle it out this weekend, a testament to the magnitude of their respective rugby programmes, with the excitement culminating when the first XVs take the field at 14:00.
The Free State powerhouse dominated the fixture in the earlier stages of the rivalry but, after a three-year winning streak by Boishaai between 2015 and 2017, the proud Paarl side has represented itself well.
Since 2018, Grey have reasserted its dominance, but the last two fixtures ended with only nine points separating the sides. Grey won 39-30 in Paarl last season and in 2022 they beat Boishaai 21-12 in Bloemfontein.
Apart from an early slip-up against a fired-up Jeppe High School for Boys at the NMI Toyota North-South tournament earlier in the year, Grey College has been setting the pace again this season.
Most recently, they asserted their dominance at the Absa Wildeklawer tournament in Kimberley, beating Maritzburg College (46-0) and Garsfontein (38-10) comprehensively.
Earlier in April, they also downed an in-form Paarl Gimnasium 29-27 on the J.A. Kriel Field in Paarl, and they’ll be looking forward to the opportunity to take down another of their big rivals from Paarl in front of their home crowd this weekend.
If Heinrich Theron and AJ Meyer continue to dominate the lineouts in conjunction with their captain, Liam van Wyk, the visitors might be in for a long day.
At the back, Grey looks just as dangerous, with the only change in the squad from their last outing against Garsies being Ruben Cilliers taking over from Siyabonga Kenny on the wing.
Paarl Boys shot out the blocks at the beginning of the season, with impressive wins over Hoërskool Durbanville (73-7), Jeppe (45-19) and Garsfontein (38-36) but three defeats on the trot against Wynberg Boys’ High (27-30), Paul Roos Gimnasium (10-25) and Affies (21-43) have somewhat broken their rhythm.
They showed real character to shake off the loss to Affies in Kimberley last weekend to edge past Durban High School (DHS), 15-13, in their final match at Wildeklawer.
A win in Bloemfontein would be enough to turn their season around and they possess the necessary firepower with the likes of Rubin Dames and Viaan Mentoor in their ranks.
Mentoor starts in the no. 12 jersey this weekend, with Jeneal Davids, who made a couple of appearances at flyhalf earlier in the season, and who has shone for their second team, starting at 10.
As always, it will be a monumental challenge, with the Grey boys going from strength to strength this season.
TEAMS
Grey College: 15 Heinz Stockenström, 14 Pretorius Ekeji, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Ruben Cilliers, 10 Alzeadon Felix, 9 Philip McLaren, 8 Liam Santos, 7 Juliun Cosmo, 6 Xander Smit, 5 AJ Meyer, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Dian Venter.
Paarl Boys’ High: 15 Francois van der Merwe, 14 Aiden Jacobs, 13 Tristan Joubert, 12 Viaan Mentoor, 11 Shane Lee Simonse, 10 Jeneal Davids, 9 Keagan Smith, 8 Douw Wessels, 7 Rubin Dames, 6 Steph van der Merwe, 5 Jayden Joubert, 4 Gershom Pieters, 3 Cruz Davey, 2 Christiaan Grundling, 1 Jordan Jooste.
FIXTURES
Saturday, 11 May
Main field: 08:30 – Grey College u14 A vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 A; 09:50 – Grey College u15 A vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 A; 11:10 – Grey College II vs Paarl Boys’ High II; 12:30 – Grey College u16 A vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 A; 14:00 – Grey College 1st XV vs Paarl Boys’ High 1st XV
Oval: 08:30 – Grey College u14 C vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 C; 09:50 – Grey College u14 E vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 E; 11:10 – Grey College u14 B vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 B; 12:30 – Grey College u14 D vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 D.
GCB A: 08:30 – Grey College III vs Paarl Boys’ High III; 09:50 – Grey College V vs Paarl Boys’ High V; 11:10 – Grey College IV vs Paarl Boys’ High IV; 12:30 – Grey College VI vs Paarl Boys’ High VI.
GCB B: 08:30 – Grey College u16 B vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 B; 09:50 – Grey College u16 C vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 C; 11:10 – Grey College u16 D vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 D; 12:30 – Grey College u14 F vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 F.
Windmill A: 08:30 – Grey College u15 C vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 C; 09:50 – Grey College u16 E vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 E; 11:10 – Grey College u15 D vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 D; 12:30 – Grey College u15 B vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 B.
Windmill B: 08:30 – Grey College IX vs Paarl Boys’ High IX; 09:50 – Grey College VII vs Paarl Boys’ High VII; 11:10 – Grey College X vs Paarl Boys’ High X; 12:30 – Grey College VIII vs Paarl Boys’ High VIII.
Friday, 10 May
Main Field: 14:40 – Grey College u14 G vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 G; 15:40 – Grey College XI vs Paarl Boys’ High XI.
Oval: 14:40 – Grey College u15 E vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 E; 15:40 – Grey College u15 F vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 F.
