Blog

Grey College of Bloemfontein is ranked number 1 on our first rankings of the 2014 season. The team from the City of Roses is still unbeaten, with the only blemish on their record a 10-all draw against Monument at the Kearsney College Easter Festival. 

Paul Roos Gimnasium’s second place spot is also well deserved. The team from Stellenbosch managed their first victory over Paarl Gimnasium in Paarl since 2006 in their 16-10 victory in this Saturday’s Premier Interschools match. 

The Rankings: 

Rank	Team	Avg Points Per Game
1	Grey College	4.20
2	Paul Roos	3.53
3	Glenwood	3.38
4	Paarl Boys’ High	3.37
5	Paarl Gimnasium	3.35
6	Waterkloof	3.33
7	Wynberg Boys’ High	3.31
8	Selborne College	3.31
9	Monument	3.30
10	Garsfontein	3.21
11	Bishops	3.17
12	HTS Middelburg	3.05
13	EG Jansen	3.05
14	Maritzburg College	3.01
15	Tygerberg	2.93
16	Menlopark	2.88
17	Stellenberg	2.85
18	Outeniqua	2.79
19	Michaelhouse	2.70
20	Nelspruit	2.60
21	Grey PE	2.55
22	Transvalia	2.54
23	Oakdale	2.50
24	KES	2.41
25	Kearsney	2.39
26	Dale College	2.34
27	Westville BHS	2.32
28	HTS Louis Botha	2.31
29	Ben Vorster	2.23
30	Sentraal	2.16

DIE rugbyspan van Hoërskool Voortrekker van Bethlehem het Saterdag op Virginia vir Hentie Cilliers met 23-14 verslaan.

Die Trekkers is na die sege soos die vorige twee jaar nou die vroeë gunsteling om die kroon as kampioen te dra.

Die span van 2014 het hopelik uit sy voorgangers se foute geleer. Die senter Boeta Vermaak, agtsteman Junior Oosthuizen en flank Clinton Moloi het uitstaande spel in die sege gelewer.

Vir die verloorspan het sy stut Neo Mohapi en flank Damain May meters ver veld met hulle kraglopies gewen. Agterlangs was die skrumskakel, Jaywinn Juries soos altyd ’n staatmaker.

Welkom-Gimnasium het danksy twee blitsige drieë deur sy Cravenweek-vleuel, Nazo Nkala in die tweede helfte die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad in Kroonstad met 23-17 in Kroonstad die loef afgesteek.

Rooiskool het met die omdraaislag ’n voorsprong van 17-6 geniet. Die span kon egter nie op sy vertoning in die eerste helfte voortbou nie.

Gimmies se kantman, Zander Wasserman het sy span se fisieke aanslag gelei. Hy het teen die veel groter spelers van Rooiskool sy man gestaan. Sy flankmaat, Byron Ferreira het in die los gewoel, terwyl die losskakel JL Carry-Smith se skopskoen vir sy span goud werd was.

Die vaskopstut, Lincoln Jordaan het in die skrums beindruk en ook by die afbreekpunte sy gesag afgedwing.
Vir Rooiskool het was sy senter, Kobus Kleyn agterlangs uitstaande. Voorlangs het die slot Erik Knoetze, flank Henry Searle en ander slot Ettienne O’Donovan meer as hulle deel gedoen.

Hoërskool Kroonstad het amper daarin geslaag om sy eerste sege van die liga te behaal, maar HTS Welkom se heelagter Connie Abrahams het ander planne gehad.

Abrahams het in die doodsnikke van die kragmeting ’n skepdoel tussen die pale gejaag om aan die Tekkies ’n naelskraapse sege van 11-10 te besorg.

Goudveld-Hoërskool se senter Gregan Hull het twee keer gaan druk in sy sege van 25-17 oor Witteberg van Bethlehem. Witteberg het met die omdraaislag nes Rooiskool ’n stewige voorsprong van 17-5 gehad.
Die span van Bethlehem kon ook nie daarop voortbou nie. Vir die verloorspan verdien sy flank Aristeo Desiderio, senter Gerhard van Huysteen, vleuel Darryl Wilson en haker Stephan Jordaan elk ’n klop op die skouer vir hulle vertonings.

Puntemakers: 

Voortrekker 23 – Drieë: Junior Oosthuizen, Toffie van Zyl, Lethole Mokoena. Doelskop: Tokkie van Zyl. Strafdoele: Tokkie van Zyl (2). Hentie Cilliers 14 – Drieë: Neo Mohapi, Jaywinn Juries. Doelskoppe: Juries (2).

Welkom-Gimnasium 23 (6) – Drieë: Nazo Nkala (2), JL Carry-Smith (2). Strafdoele: Carry-Smith (3). AHS Kroonstad 17 (17) – Drieë: Duncan Horak, Burnett Staal. Doelskoppe: Ruben Aucamp (2). Strafdoel: Aucamp.

Goudveld-Hoërskool 25 (5) – Drieë: Gregan Hull (2), Schalk Vosser, Jaco Conradie. Doelskop: Shakile Adams. Strafdoel: Adams. Witteberg 17 (17) – Drieë: Wiaan Pittendrich, Aristeo Desiderio, Gerhard van Huysteen. Doelskop: Louis Spershott.

HTS Welkom 11 – Drie: Thato Rakoata. Strafdoel: Connie Abrahams. Skepdoel: Abrahams. Hoërskool Kroonstad 10 – Drie: Jan-Louis du Plessis. Doelskop: Reinhard Kleynhans. Strafdoel: Kleynhans.

Grey-kollege se buitesenter, Niell Stannard het Saterdag hier slegs die tweede speler in die geskiedenis van sy skool se eerstespan geword, wat daarin kon slaag om ’n driekuns aan drieë teen Affies te behaal.

Grey het soos verwag die wedstryd gewen, maar moes veel harder as verwag vir sy sege van 42-31. Stannard het in die plek van Julian Jordaan op senter uitgedraf. Hy sou aanvanklik op vleuel begin het. Danie Swanepoel het in 2007 in Bloemfontein die enigste ander driekuns teen Affies behaal. Swanepoel wat in sy eerste wedstryd destyds vir Grey gespeel het, het baljaar met Robert Ebersohn wat aan sy binnekant die magic verskaf het.

Die span van Bloemfontein is in die eerste helfte ’n slag toegedien toe sy heelagter, Henry Immelman op ’n draagbaar die veld moes verlaat. Hy het sy kakebeen gebreek en sy lip geskeur tydens ’n botsing tussen hom en ’n verdediger van Affies.

Louwtjie Steenkamp het toe van vleuel na die laaste vesting verskuif. Hy het dadelik ’n vonk verskaf en twee keer gaan druk. Sy eerste drie het gekom na sy losskakel Dwayne Wessels pragtig tussen twee verdedigers geglip het en ’n Steenkamp met ’n uitstekende aangee gevind het.

Wessels was self een van sy span se uitblinkers. Sy balverspreiding was van hoogstaande gehalte en hy het ook heeltyd Affies se verdedigers aan die raai gehou.

Voorlangs was die kaptein en agtsteman Alex Jonker en flank Henry Slabbert puik.

Vir Affies het sy losskakel Eddie Fouché, heelagter Eduan Keyter en stut DP du Plessis was hulle span se beste spelers. Dié vertoning was sonder twyfel Affies se beste van die seisoen.

Grey-kollege is nou die enigste span wat ’n kans staan om as onbetwiste nommer-een rugbyspan van 2014 af te sluit. Die span se heel laaste kragmeting teen Paul Roos Gimnasium in Bloemfontein behoort meeste van die ranglyste se nommer-een span van 2014 te bepaal.

Grey PE het Saterdag teen Queens-kollege met 29-25 die knie gebuig. Monument wat vroeër 10-elk teen Grey-kollege gelykop gespeel het, het teen Kemptonpark (18-19) verloor. Terwyl Garsfontein deur Nelspruit (28-27) Saterdag getroef is.

Puntemakers: 

Grey-kollege 42 (22) – Drieë: Niell Stannard (3), Louwtjie Steenkamp (2), Henry Slabbert. Doelskoppe: Henry Immelman (2), Steenkamp. Strafdoele: Steenkamp, Julian Jordaan. Affies 31 (19) – Drieë: DP du Plessis, Janco Booysen, Vic Meyer, Eddie Fouché, Rohan Roelofse. Doelskoppe: Fouché (3).

Paul Roos Gimnasium managed to record their first victory in Paarl over Paarl Gimnasium since 2006 on Saturday. The team from Stellenbosch did their traditional Jolla Bolla after beating Paarl Gimnasium 16-10 in their Premier Interschools match. 

The last time Paul Roos Gimnasium managed this feat in 2006 Springbok Francois Hougaard and Sevens Bok Stephan Hougaard were in their team. 

Paarl Boys’ High recorded a narrow 24-22 victory over Wynberg Boys’ High thanks to a try in the dying moments of the match by their lock, Wihan Botha. The lock completed his hat-trick of tries with this score. The team from Paarl was defintely a bit tired after returning from the Sanix International tournament in Japan. 

Scorers:

Paul Roos Gimnasium 16 (13) – Tries: Dean van Tonder, Matt Gallow. Penalties: Reinardt Fortuin, Aidynn Cupido. Paarl Gimnasium 10 (10) – Try: Zandré de Koker. Conversion: Walter Smit. Penalty: Smit.

Paarl Boys’ High 24 (7) – Tries: Wihan Botha (3), Phillip Bester. Conversions: Ryan Lafite (2). Wynberg Boys’ High 22 (19) – Tries: Keegan Timm, Hisham Davids, Gihaad Smith. Conversions: Karl Martin (2). Penalty: Martin.

Diocesan College 80 – Tries: Sam Mitchell (3), Jean-Pierre Smith (2), Saud Abrahams (2), André Manuel (2), Max Linley, Mervano da Silva, Cornel Smit. Conversions: Smit (10). SACS 5 (0) – Try: Damian Rawstorne.

Boland Landbou 27 (13) – Tries: Luke Philander, JT Potgieter, Sergull van Niekerk. Conversions: Johndré Williams (3). Penalties: Williams (2). Rondebosch Boys’ High 13 (13) – Try: Chris Newby. Conversion: Rory Thomson. Penalties: Thomson (2).

Stellenberg 19 (13) – Try: Ryan Oosthuizen. Conversion: Tiaan Swanepoel. Penalties: Swanepoel (4). Bellville HS 13 (3) – Try: Marco Joubert. Conversion: Marno Weich. Penalties: Weich (2).

Tygerberg 22 (5) – Tries: Louw Langeveldt, Casper Nel, Wynand MacLachlan. Conversions: MacLachlan (2). Penalty: MacLachlan. Strand HS 20 (13) – Tries: Juandré Kuhn, Divan Bernardo. Conversions: Arnand Swart (2). Penalties: Swart (2).

Brackenfell – Tries: Brendon Collins (2), Amile van Heerden, Damian Carolissen. Conversions: Rohan Conradie (2). Penalties: Conradie (2). Milnerton 13 (3) – Tries: Elroy Brandt, Ryrone Milne. Penalty: Brandt.

Monumentpark 18 (10) – Tries: Henshill January, Leon van der Merwe, Christo Davel. Drop Goal: Liam Olivier (losskakel). Hottentots-Holland 17 (5) – Tries: Dylan November, Dylan Jafta. Conversions: Dylon Scholtz (2). Penalty: Scholtz.

Tygerberg RFC 20 (8) – Tries: Brothwin Isaacs, Riedewaan Fredericks, Johnny Mangilla. Conversions: Wayne Pietersen. Penalty: Pietersen. Bellville THS 7 (0) – Try: Antonio Appels. Conversion: James Ockhuis.

Jan van Riebeeck 26 (14) – Tries: Johan King (3), Stefan Koen. Conversions: Koen (3). JG Meiring 11 (0) – Try: Mogamat Ratima. Penalties: Marcelino Hansen (2).

Other Results:

u19A: Bishops 39, St. Andrew’s College (Grahamtown) 15; Primrose-klub 17, D.F.Malan 10; Table View 10, Vishoek 7; Kasselsvlei 18, Excelsior 10; Scottsdene 7, Bellville-Suid 34; Bosmansdam 26, Gordon 10; Somerset-kollege 36, Reddam Constantia 3. O.19B: Bishops 17, St. Andrew’s 12; Paarl Gim 10, Paul Roos 16; Wynberg 12, HJS Paarl 7; SACS 17, Bishops 38; Landbouskool Boland 53, Rondebosch 0; Stellenberg 14, HS Bellville 0; HS Tygerberg 7, HS Strand 18; Milnerton 7, Brackenfell 27; Monumentpark 18, Hottentots-Holland 0; Tygerberg-klub 32, HTS Bellville 10; Primrose-klub 13, D.F.Malan 19; Table View 3, Vishoek 17; Somerset-kollege 10, Reddam Constantia 14.

u16A: Bishops 32, St. Andrew’s 7; Paarl Gim 8, Paul Roos 5; Wynberg 11, HJS Paarl 15; SACS 21, Bishops 0; Landbouskool Boland 55, Rondebosch 7; Stellenberg 43, HS Bellville 3; HS Tygerberg 28, Strand 13; Milnerton 0, Brackenfell 52; Monumentpark 40, Hottentots-Holland 7; Tygerberg-klub 0, HTS Bellville 10; Primrose-klub 14, D.F.Malan 23; Table View 0, Vishoek 20; Kasselsvlei 17, Excelsior 3; Scottsdene 10, Bellville-Suid 3; Bosmansdam 10, Gordon 14.

u15A: Bishops 43, St. Andrew’s 12; Paarl Gim 3, Paul Roos 33; Wynberg 3, HJS Paarl 45; SACS 40, Bishops 0; Landbouskool Boland 21, Rondebosch 19; Stellenberg 19, HS Bellville 3; HS Tygerberg 10, Strand 0; Milnerton 0, Brackenfell 40; Monumentpark 11, Hottentots-Holland 7; Tygerberg-klub 0, HTS Bellville 5; Primrose-klub 14, D.F.Malan 5; Table View 0, Vishoek 24; Kasselsvlei 3, Excelsior 24; Scottsdene 0, Bellville-Suid 15; Bosmansdam 15, Gordon 0; Somerset-kollege 10, Reddam 50.

u14A: Bishops 45, St. Andrew’s 0; Paarl Gim 14, Paul Roos 17; Wynberg 0, HJS Paarl 43; SACS 18, Bishops 5; Landbouskool Boland 40, Rondebosch 7; Stellenberg 40, HS Bellville 0; HS Tygerberg 17, Strand 15; Milnerton 0, Brackenfell 108; Monumentpark 0, Hottentots-Holland 39; Tygerberg-klub 14, HTS Bellville 12; Primrose-klub 17, D.F.Malan 22; Table View 5, Vishoek 19; Kasselsvlei 21, Excelsior 7; Scottsdene 17, Bellville-Suid 17; Bosmansdam 7, Gordon 0; Somerset-kollege 40, Reddam 0.

 

South Africa Under-20 completed a 3-0 series win over Argentina after clinching a 41-36 victory in their final encounter on Saturday afternoon at City Park.

The Junior Springboks led 24-5 at halftime. The three matches were part of the two sides’ preparations for the 2014 Junior World Championship, to be staged during June in Auckland, New Zealand.

The South Africans registered victories of 78-31 and 60-14 in the previous two encounters.

Cool conditions and a stiff breeze greeted the two teams at City Park today, and the home team quickly got into their stride in the first half. After leading 24-5 at the break, the home side allowed the visitors back into the game when they scored several good tries.

South Africa scored four tries in the first half while Argentina responded with a good effort. Prop Pierre Schoeman was first over the try line and he was followed by centre Andre Esterhuizen, scrumhalf JP Smith and outside centre Dan Kriel.

Jean-Luc du Plessis succeeded with two conversions to make the halftime score 24-5 after the visitors’ Boffelli Emiliano (centre) managed to break through the home defence.

It was the visitors who scored first in the second half through flanker Lezana Tomas to reduce the deficit to 24-10. This try seemed to kick the Los Pumitas into gear, and left wing Echardt Rodrigo then sliced through the SA U20 defence to score (24-17).

Rodrigo, who was now in fine form, scored his second try barely two minutes later to level the scores at 24-24.

However, the Junior Boks hit back through wing Duhan van der Merwe as he finished a fine movement to score in the corner, allowing his team to reclaim the lead at 29-24.

Two more tries by Jean-Luc du Plessis (flyhalf) and Warrick Gelant (full back), followed by a second try by Argentine livewire flanker Tomas, took the score to 41-29.

However, it was prop Gigena Facundo who was the last player to score as Argentina signaled their intentions of never giving up, to bring the final score to 41-36 in favour of the Junior Boks.

Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

Eastern Cape 

Queen’s College	29	Grey Boys’ High School	25
Brandwag	10	HTS Daniel Pienaar	9
Middelburg HS	31	President Steyn	12
Itembelihle	14	Ndzondelo	13
Nico Malan	24	Muir College	10

 

 

Free State 

Grey College	42	Affies	31
Fichardtpark	33	Sentraal	29
Louis Botha	34	Sand du Plessis	25
Zastron	33	Brandfort	13

Griffons 

Voortrekker	23	Hentie Cilliers	14
Welkom Gimnasium	23	AHS Kroonstad	17
Goudveld	25	Witteberg	17
HTS Welkom	11	Kroonstad HS	10
Riebeeckstad	37	Wessel Maree	19
Bothaville	52	Hennenman	0
Wilgerivier	45	Paul Erasmus	0
Reitz	55	Ladybrand	5
Sandveld (Wesselsbron)	21	Hoopstad	12
Theunissen	43	Lesideng	0
Theunissen	21	St. Dominic’s College	17
Bultfontein	48	St. Dominic’s College	0

Griqualand West

Griqualand West u18	43	Griqualand West Country Districts u18	19

KwaZulu-Natal

Kearsney College	36	Clifton	3
Michaelhouse	50	St. Charles College	10
Glenwood	38	Durban High School	13
Port Natal	20	Voortrekker (PMB)	15
Kearsney College II	15	George Campbell	10

Leopards 

Vryburg		Wolmaransstad
Schoonspruit		Wesvalia
Bloemhof		Sannieshof
Christiana		Schweizer-Reneke
Ferdinand Postma		Zeerust
Koster		Orkney
Swartruggens		Mafikeng
Stilfontein		Alabama
New Vision		Milner

 

Limpopo

 

Tuks Series

EG Jansen	37	HTS Middelburg	22
Nelspruit	28	Garsfontein	27
Kemptonpark	19	Monument	18
Centurion	42	Marais Viljoen	12

 

 

 

Western Cape 

Paul Roos Gimnasium	16	Paarl Gimnasium	10
Diocesan College	80	SACS	5
Boland Landbou	27	Rondebosch Boys’ High	13
Paarl Boys’ High	24	Wynberg Boys’ High	22

PRETORIA. – Die voorbodes vir die kragmeting tussen Grey-kollege en die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria se rugbyspanne lyk nie goed vir Affies nie.

Die laaste keer wat Affies daarin geslaag het om Grey-kollege van Bloemfontein agtereenvolgens te klop, het die span van die Rosestad sy teenstanders die volgende jaar met ’n rekordtelling met die kous oor die kop terug huis toe gestuur. 

Affies spog met twee agtereenvolgende seges oor Grey in 2012 (35-29) en 2013 (37-31). Die laaste en enigste vorige keer dat die span van die Jakarandastad daarin kon slaag was in 2005 (27-20) en 2006 (18-13). Grey het toe in 2007 met Robert Ebersohn aan die spits vir Affies met 47-10 kafgedraf wat steeds die span van Bloemfontein se grootste sege oor Affies is.

Daarby kon Affies vanjaar nog net drie keer teen Helpmekaar (36-24), Selborne-kollege (34-12) en Oakdale Landbou (21-10) die soet smaak van ’n sege proe. Die span van 2014 het wel in sy tuisveld ’n ekstra bondgenoot wat hy nie in 2007 gehad het nie.

Grey se span is weer op volsterkte buiten die vleuel Charl Pretorius wat nog op die kantlyn is. Die buitesenter Julian Jordaan en stut Ruben Terblanche neem weer hulle plekke in die beginspan in. Louwtjie Steenkamp sal sy plek in die span behou in plek van die beseerde Pretorius.

Dié tweestryd op die dag om dop te hou is tussen die heelagters, Henry Immelman (Grey) en Eduan Keyter (Affies). Albei het vanjaar al ses keer vir hulle spanne agter die doellyn gaan kuier.

Grey se plaasvervangersbank met die stut Callie Janse van Vuuren, die flank Jacques du Preez en haker Daniël Rust behoort ook ’n impak op die wedstryd te maak. Rust het vroeër vanjaar met ’n afstand van 15.97 m vierde op die Suid-Afrikaanse skole-atletiekkampioenskap vir seuns o.17 geëindig.

Hoewel mens nooit wedstryde in ’n seisoen se tellings teen mekaar kan opweeg nie, behoort die volgende vergelyking ’n aanduiding van Affies se krag vanjaar te wees. Die span van Pretoria het teen Waterkloof met 38-21 verloor. Klofies het teen Sentraal van Bloemfontein met 35-21 die onderspit gedelf. Grey se tweede span, die Cherries het Tralies met 50-17 verslaan.

Die spanne is:

Affies: Eduan Keyter, Tiaan Schmullian, Ryno Lourens, Henco Jordaan, Janco Booysen, Eddie Fouché, Divan Henning, Eduan Lubbe, Vic Meyer, Gavin Foster, Human Bodenstein, Ruan Roelofse (k), Reinhardt Goosen, Viaan Mong, DP du Plessis.

Grey-kollege: Henry Immelman, Louwtjie Steenkamp, Julian Jordaan, Mike Andrade, Niell Stannard, Dwayne Wessels, Dian Badenhorst, Alex Jonker (k), Henry Slabbert, De Wet Bezuidenhout, Kassel Rothman, Jurie Burger, Janu Botha, JC Janse van Vuuren, Ruben Terblanche.

Afskop: 14:15

Grahamstown, frontier town a long time ago, as city of schools and churches nowadays and the venue for Saturday’s FNB Classic Clash between St Andrew’s and Graeme College, schools founded in the second half of the 19th century.

Grahamstown loves these matches – K Day and the Graeme-St Andrew’s match. There will be lots of enthusiastic, cheerful interest on Saturday and the Old Andrean Club will be buzzing.

They have been playing rugby against each other since 1878, a match in which Rugby Rules were used, perhaps for the first time in South Africa. This year Graeme will wander down from the hillside over the High Street and up to St Andrew’s.

Last year the match was at Graeme and St Andrew’s just won – 23-22. This year they are at home on atmospheric Lower Field just down from the chapel and Upper. But neither side has been having great success on the field this year.

2014 Results

Graeme actually have the best result so far this season, beating the strong Michaelhouse side 12-10.

St Andrew’s have played eight matches, winning five and losing three. Graeme have played seven, losing three. St Andrew’s probably had the tougher fixtures, though they have no matches in common.

St Andrew’s beat Die Brandwag of Uitenhage, Pearson, St Benedict’s Hilton and SACS but just lost to Maritzburg College and took heavy defeats against Daniël Pienaar (30-8) and Bishops (39-15). The Bishops match was in Cape Town on Monday and recovery will be important for St Andrew’s in terms of morale at least.

Graeme beat Michaelhouse, Gill of Somerset East, Northwood, Trinityhouse and Cambridge but lost to Dale and, surprisingly, to Parktown.

Experience

Graeme have five players back from last year’s close encounter, St Andrew’s three.

Back for Graeme are their halfbacks, Sethu Pinini and Craig Williams, Ethan September, who was a flank last year, Ryan Calitz and Xandré Vos.

St Andrew’s have this year’s captain Robert Ball, flank Matt Andrews and prop Adrian Parsons.

In 2013 St Andrew’s had seven players at Craven Week of whom only Robert Ball is back. Graeme had three at Craven week of whom Sethu Pinini. Both captains were in the same Craven Week side last year.

Teams

Graeme College: 15. Bradley Christian, 14. Fabio Mapaling, 13. Siya Siaw, 12. Joshua Twum-Boafo, 11. Yiva Ndwandwa, 10. Siphosethu Pinini (captain), 9. Craig Williams, 8. Odwa Xonxa (vice-captain), 7. Lwazi Baleni, 6. Ryan Calitz, 5. Heino Gaiser, 4. Ethan September, 3. Justin Danckwerts, 2. Siya Zita, 1. Xandré Vos
Coach: Kevin Watson

St Andrew’s: 15. Brendan Owen, 14. Grant Dixie, 13. Tom Lane, 12. Robert Ball (captain), 11. Ben Dovey, 10. Hugo de la Fargue, 9. Luke Alexandre, 8. Matt Andrews, 7. Gordon Everard, 6. Peter Kroon, 5. Jono More, 4. Hamish Hughes, 3. Adrian Parsons, 2. Brian Ferguson, 1. Stephen Cragg
Coach: Gerry Posthumus

Date: Saturday, 10 May 2014
Kick-off: 16.00
Venue: Lower Field at St Andrew’s
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 18°C, dropping to 8°C. Mind you that could change as Grahamstown tends to have weather rather than climate!
Referee: Schalk Rossouw (Eastern Province Referees’ Society)

Rugby Programme

Lower Field
09.00: 14A
10.00: 15A
11.10: 16A
12.20: 5th
13.30: 3rd
14.45: 2nd
16.00: 1st

Knowling 1
09.00: 15B
10.00: 16B

Knowling 2
10.00: 14C
11.10: 14B

Till 2013 it seemed that Itembelihle would win the every FNB Classic Clash against their old rivals, Ndzondelelo, forever and a day and then Ndzondelelo broke an eight-year losing streak by winning 14-13. That does not stop Itembelihle from being the favourites this year again.

They are, after all, the best known township team in South Africa playing their long season wherever opportunity takes them, supported as they are by good sponsors, who this year enabled them to travel to Humansdorp. They play much more as a school then Ndzondelelo does and their opponents include people such as Die Brandwag, Daniël Pienaar, Grey and Framesby.

Their greatest boon is their coach Theo Pieterse who in his playing days played for University of Port Elizabeth, PA Parks and Eastern Province B. He has been teaching history at the school for well over 30 years and attended to its rugby with skill and dedication.

In their five matches this year, Itembelihle have beaten Newell, Thamsanqa and Humansdorp, losing to Grey Unicorns and La Plata from Argentina. their victories over Newell and Thamsanqa crowned them as the first winners of the inaugural Mzwandile Mali Memorial Rugby Festival Tournament at Easter time. They won the final against Thamsanqa 59-0.

This year Itembelihle have no fewer than 12 players back from the squad that lost to Ndzondelelo last year. They are last year’s and this year’s captain Khanyiso Pini and his centre partner Tyson Smondile, fullback Akho Tshoba, who was a ing last year, wing Ayabonga Mteto who was a scrumhalf last year, loose trio Mbulelo Shuwana, Sbongile Nqweniso and Sedge Teyise, lock Athie Faku and Lukhanyo Dekeza, Skululi Mafu, Slovo Dzaka and Luntu April.

The teams: 

Itembelihle: 15. Simamkele Mcwabeni, 14. Samkelo Ndlovu, 13. Tyson Smondile, 12. Khanyiso Pini (captain), 11. Ayabonga Mteto, 10. Akho Tshoba, 9. Skululi Mafu, 8. Siya Charlie, 7. Sedge Teyise, 6. Sbongile Nqweniso, 5. Athi Faku, 4. Mbulelo Shuwana, 3. Zubenathi Soxonxo, 2. Sandisa Mapekula, 1. Sinoxolo Sihoyiya
Replacements: 16. Lukhanyo Dekezsa, 17. Lubabalo Maqoma, 18. W Zali, 19. Slovo Dzaka, 20. Nkosinathi Jozi, 21. Tibusiso Maduna, 22. Luntu April

Ndzondelelo: 15. Maloyi Bongani, 14. Doyi Khanyiso, 13. Makisi Phumelela, 12. Mekuto Ivewe, 11. Matodlana Masixole, 10. Ngcaba Siyabonga, 9. Hanabe Vusikhaya, 8. Kaya Masixole, 7. Ngcoza Olwethu, 6. Magawu Siphosihle (captain), 5. Zatu Ntembeko, 4. Sana Abongile, 3. Ngcayisa Nkululeko, 2. Mjacu Mziwakhe (vice-captain), 1. Nduku Mava
Replacements: 16. Khame Okuhle, 17. Sidumo Lazola, 18. Ngam Athenkosi, 19. Vezile Vuyolwethu, 20. Dyantyi Yamnkelani, 21. Mzantsi Siyabonga, 22. Mali Phumalani

Date: Friday, 9 May 2014
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: New Brighton Oval
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 22, dropping to 14°C – excellent rugby weather if a bit hot.
Referee: Johnathon Mowers (Eastern Province Referees’ Society)