Die netbalbane van Hoërskool Garsfontein gaan aan die brand gespeel word op 25 April wanneer Garsies en Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria mekaar die stryd aansê in ‘n reeks spanningsvolle wedstryde.
Beide skole spog met ‘n trotse geskiedenis van prestasie op die netbalbaan, en hierdie kragmetings beloof om kranige kompetisie op te lewer. Met hope talent, stewige strukture en ‘n gevestigde kultuur van mededinging, word ‘n aksiebelaaide middag verwag.
Garsfontein is bekend vir hul vinnige, tegniese spel en rotsvaste verdediging, terwyl Affies dikwels hul teenstanders met strategiese aanvalle en geduldige aanvoorwerk oorrompel.
Die wedstryde in die o.14 A en o.15 A-kategorieë bied ‘n blik op die toekoms, met opkomende sterre wat elke wedstryd as ‘n geleentheid wil aangryp om hul staal te wys. Die o.16 A en o.17 A-spanne bring normaalweg hoë-intensiteit en taktiese vaardigheid na die baan, wat as voorwedstryde dien vir die hoofskouspel later die dag.
Dit is natuurlik die eerstespan-kragmeting om 17:05 wat die meeste aandag gaan trek. Beide skole spog met spelers wat onlangs op provinsiale vlak uitgeblink het en dié kragemting gaan bepaal wie die oorhand geniet in Pretoria se netbal-hiërargie. Hierdie is beslis nie ‘n doodgewone ligawedstryd nie – daar is aansienlik meer tradisie, eer en trots op die spel.
Moet dit nie misloop nie – Garsfontein teen Affies beloof ‘n middag van topgehalte skolenetbal!
A scintillating King Price Derby Series clash awaits this weekend as Maritzburg College heads north, just a week after competing at the annual St John’s College Easter Festival in Johannesburg, to face traditional rivals, Pretoria Boys High School.
The Candies also took to the field at St John’s over the Easter weekend and, like College, walked away with one win from their two fixtures.
However, their 43–29 victory over Hoërskool Diamantveld was particularly impressive and served as a warning shot to their future opponents.
College’s 13–22 loss to Hoërskool Nelspruit raised a few eyebrows, but there were flashes of their trademark attacking flair in their opening-day win over the Lions XV. With both sides coming off recent defeats, Saturday’s match-up promises to be a fierce contest as each looks to return to winning ways.
A key subplot will be the kicking duel between Boys High’s fullback, Blake Mager, and College’s wing, Adam Cahill. Both players possess match-winning boots, and their precision could prove decisive.
Much of the spotlight will fall on the forwards, where physicality and possession will dictate the tempo. Since switching from lock to No. 8 in place of the injured Aking Akingbula, Queenton Mncube has been instrumental in generating front-foot ball for the Candies.
Standing in his way will be Maritzburg College captain and fellow eighthman, Vusi Vyambwera, who will aim to neutralise Mncube’s impact with a commanding performance of his own.
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, King Edward VII School(KES) welcomes Parktown Boys’ High School to the home of the Reds.
Parktown’s last outing at KES yielded a gutsy 25–15 win over Hudson Park during the KES Easter Festival, while the Reds’ clash with Northwood was abandoned due to lightning, with the Knights holding onto a narrow 12-7 lead.
In their first match of the festival, KES produced arguably the upset of the year when they stunned Rondebosch Boys’ High 20–17. Since then, the Reds have appeared to be rejuvenated, and they looked sharp against a strong Northwood team before the weather intervened. Left-wing Joshua Wilkinson looked especially dangerous with the ball in hand and he will be a key threat if given space out wide.
Parktown’s strength lies in the side’s industrious loose trio. Led by their openside flanker, Lethabo Sikhudo, the back row will seek to impose themselves both on attack and defence, aiming to disrupt KES’s rhythm and turn the contest into a physical battle.
TEAMS
Pretoria Boys High School vs Maritzburg College at 13:30 in Pretoria
Pretoria Boys High School: 15 Blake Mager, 14 Callum Nel, 13 Ofentse Matlebjane, 12 Tyler Mason, 11 Neo Matlaletsa, 10 Reinier Kruger, 9 Michael Fourie, 8 Queenton Mncube, 7 Pieter Lindeboom, 6 Tristin Heinz, 5 Nils Pabst, 4 FC Furtstenburg, 3 Mufuna Masibigiri, 2 Marnus Wessels, 1 Jeffrey Singo.
Maritzburg College: 15 Caleb Scheepers, 14 Adam Cahill, 13 Amahle Hadebe, 12 Olwethu Kosani, 11 Ntsika Mkhize, 10 Liyema Tsoko, 9 Dom du Toit, 8 Vusi Vyambwera, 7 Connor Mountfort, 6 David Colenbrander, 5 Jayden Smit, 4 Elethu Mabanga, 3 Lina Mabanga, 2 Theo Boshoff, 1 Indi Mlotshwa.
King Edward VII Schools vs Parktown Boys’ High School at 13:00 in Johannesburg
King Edward VII School (possible): 15 Indibabale Mboniswa, 14 Christopher White, 13 Sky Segal, 12 Ntsako Shivuri, 11 Joshua Wilkinson, 10 Andrew Jackson, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Chinedu Amadi, 7 Michael Bownes, 6 Sam Bruwer, 5 Ashton Vreugdenburg, 4 Tyron Smith, 3 Dylan Budler, 2 Tristan Randall, 1 Kenneth Prins.
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 03: Ranon Fouche (Vodacom Bulls) during the Junior Springboks training session at SARU Fields, Paul Roos Gymnasium on April 03, 2025 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)
The Junior Springboks assembled in Gqeberha on Wednesday to begin their preparations for the Rugby Championship U20 and according to SA U20 coach Kevin Foote, they are happy to be in the Eastern Cape for the tournament, which kicks off next week at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium,
This SANZAAR tournament consists of three exciting double-headers on the three match days – 1, 6 and 11 May – and features the best young talent from South Africa, Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand.
Following the SA u20s’ early morning arrival at their hotel, the players underwent their mandatory medical check-ups before their recovery session. After lunch they then had an afternoon field session on the outside field of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Reflecting on the first day of training, Foote coach expressed his satisfaction with the team’s start in the Friendly City.
“When we arrived at the airport, having the dignitaries welcome us in such a warm and hospitable manner felt special and it’s a great honour,” said Foote.
“The marimba band playing with such great energy made it clear that people are very grateful to have rugby in the city at a national level.”
The Junior Bok coach highlighted the importance of clarity and alignment during the initial field session: “The big goal for us today was all about clarity and ensuring that the guys take what we learnt in those training camps (in Stellenbosch) and make sure that everybody’s aligned. We’re keeping things pretty simple, and we believe that our accountability piece will be important.”
According to Foote, the Junior Bok medical team have also played a crucial role in the preparations, ensuring that the players are fit and ready.
“The medical team have done a really good job, ensuring that the players are fit, and we’ve got 31 really keen players ready to go. Selection will be a challenge for us now, which is a good thing,” Foote said, emphasising the importance of maintaining clarity as they finalise preparation for the much-anticipated tournament.
“The main thing is making sure that the players are calm in their clarity so we can start to connect and establish that process into the championship.”
Tickets are priced at R20 per person and will be available at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium ticket office or online from Webtickets.
Rugby Championship u20 fixtures (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium):
Die Hoërskool Menlopark het ‘n sakie of wat om reg te stel wanneer hy Saterdag in Johannesburg teen Helpmekaar Kollege in sy eerste SDC Noordvaal Cup-uitstappie te staan kom.
Verlede jaar het die Parkies, op hul tuisveld in Pretoria, met 19-31 die onderspit gedelf teen die Helpies. Die span van Pretoria het ‘n aantal spelers wat dié nederlaag goed sal onthou en oorgehaal behoort te wees om die bordjies hierdie naweek te verhang.
Een só ‘n speler is haker, Declan Pelser, ‘n giftige pyl in die Parkies se aanvalskoker wat tot dusver ‘n uitstaande seisoen beleef. Pelser behoort kragtige ondersteuning te ontvang van oopkantflank, Nathen du Plessis, en die ervare slot, Keagen Pretorius, wat ook deel uitgemaak het van die Parkie-span wat verlede jaar die knie moes buig teen Helpies.
Die algemene gevoel is dat die span van die Jakarandastad vanjaar na ‘n “nuwe” span daar uitsien, met indrukwekkende seges oor Hoërskool Outeniqua (34-24) en HTS Drostdy (43-29). Boonop was sy vertoning teen Hoërskool Waterkloof in die onlangse eindstryd van van NWU Sportreeks ook bemoedigend.
Die Helpies is egter geensins ‘n maklike perd om te tem nie, vernaam in hul agterplaas in Johannesburg. Die Bruintruie spog self met onlangse seges oor Diocesian College en Wynberg Boys’ High by St Stithians College se Paastoernooi.
Dit was verál die oortuigende sege van 38-12 oor Diocesian wat wenkbroue laat lig het en die Johannesburgers se vaardighede uitgestal het. Wanneer hulle jel, kan Wian Storm (losskakel), Clinton Cloete (buitesenter) en die res van die agterhoede groot gevaar inhou. Cloete, een van die beste verdedigers in die middeveld, se tweestryd met die Parkies se spelskepper, Leskin Samuels, behoort die skare vir die volle 70-minute te vermaak.
Helpies se agsteman, Llewellyn Vermaak, sal leiding neem van die pak en dit is juis in die stryd voorlangs waar die tuisspan straks die uitklophou kan plant, met sy agttal wat week na week met meer ritme en doeltreffendheid speel. Steelkantflank, Eben van Buuren, sit egter hierdie week uit, met die bekwame en belowende Sydney Nicholson wat hom vervang.
Die spanne:
Helpmekaar Kollege t. Die Hoërskool Menlopark om 12:45 in Johannesburg
Paarl Gimnasium claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Eunice in a clash of top teams. Photo: Paarl Gimnasium on Facebook.
C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje (Oranje) romped to a 2-0 win over Paarl Girls’ High School at Oranje on Thursday night. In another high-profile game played in Bloemfontein on Thursday evening, Paarl Gimnasium won by an identical scoreline against Eunice.
“Overall, it was a good game. Good brands of hockey were exemplified from both schools,” Gys van Schalkwyk, the Oranje coach, said after the encounter.
The teams were on an even keel for more than half of the encounter. Both started positively and traded blows, but neither could deliver a goal in the first half of the contest. Eventually, the hosts drew first blood over 40 minutes after the match had started.
Oranje maintained a high press on the opposition for most of the game and, from one of those instances, the hosts forced a turnover in the Paarl Girls’ High half. Van Schalkwyk’s charges raced towards the goal and a final pass found Kayla du Preez‘s stick and she fired a shot into the back of the net. Just over three minutes remained in the third chukka.
“We did really well in keeping the intensity of the game really high and kept them under pressure when we lost the ball. We also made good connections going forward,” Van Schalkwyk commented.
The sustained pressure on the Paarl Girls’ High circle paid dividends when the visitors were forced into an infringement that resulted in a penalty stroke. Nika Joubert made no mistake from the P-spot, doubling Oranje’s lead two minutes after their opening goal.
In the last 18 minutes, Oranje’s defence held firm as they repelled the visitors’ attempts at a comeback. It wasn’t just a case of sitting on their lead, however. Oranje continued to make forays into the Paarl Girls’ High half, seeking a third goal that would bury the visitors, but they were denied at each turn.
At Eunice, Imke Koegelenberg and Isabella Nel scored for Paarl Gim to propel them to a big win. The first goal was the outcome of four perfect passes that originated close to the halfway line. With pinpoint precision, the visitors made use of the spaces between the Eunice players on their way into the hosts’ D where Koegelenberg netted just over seven minutes into the second quarter.
“The girls really ran hard. We were solid on defence, and we moved the ball well. We created good opportunities. All the girls played their hearts out and that, for me, is Gim hockey,” Danelle van Zyl, the Paarl Gim coach, told Supersport Schools Plus.
For most of the third and fourth chukkas, Eunice controlled the tempo of the game. They strung passes together and set up camp in the visitors’ half. Unfortunately for coach Nika Coertzen and her charges, they were unable to find the final touch.
Paarl Gim absorbed the pressure before launching counters into Eunice’s half. They looked especially menacing when they made runs down the left-hand flank, and it was on one of those that they grabbed their second goal of the match with nine minutes left on the clock.
The contest continued to entertain in the remaining eight minutes, but the score remained the same.
RESULTS
Oranje 2-0 Paarl Girls’ High
Paarl Gimnasium 2-0 Eunice
Paarl Gimnasium sal Saterdag vir die eerste keer sedert 2005 in Bloemfontein in aksie wees.
Die Gimmies was laas in die Rosestad met Grey-kollege se 150ste bestaansvieringe in aksie. Grey was destyds in die kragmeting tussen die twee eerstespanne met 34-13 baas.
Die span van die Paarl sal daarvan bewus wees dat Grey-kollege nie sommer op sy tuisveld geklop word nie. Grey se laaste nederlaag op sy tuisveld was in 2017 teen die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl toe die besoekers met 46-31 na ‘n skittervertoning van sy losskakel, Abner van Reenen.
Dit beteken dat Grey teen Saterdag met ‘n onoorwonne rekord op sy tuisveld vir die afgelope 2,905 dae spog. Om dié feit meer konteks te gee die Leeus se seniorspan se kaptein en agtsteman, Francke Horn, het daardie dag ook vir Boishaai aangevoer.
Almal weet teen hierdie tyd dat daar ‘n hewige tweestryd in die middelveld Saterdag tussen Ethan “The Tank” Adams (Grey-kollege) en Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium) wag.
Adams behoort vanjaar die eerste speler sedert Moekoa Bolofo (HTS Louis Botha, 2005-07) te word om vir drie jaar agtereenvolgens die Vrystaat op die Cravenweek te verteenwoordig. Adams is na afloop van die Grant Khomo-week van 2023 na ‘n besering deur die Vrystaatse Cravenweek-keurders nadergetrek.
Adams was dus op die Cravenweek in aksie nog voor hy vir een van Grey se seniorspanne (o.19) gespeel het. Hy het die Vrystaat tot in die hoofwedstryd van die Grant Khomo-week gehelp. Muller was tydens daardie Grant Khomo-week die voorste puntemaker met 35 punte.
Soos met enige groot veldslag word die uitslag in die loopgrawe bepaal. Grey se agttal vir Saterdag is dalk die gedugste wat sy afrigter, Jannie Geldenhuys, nog vanjaar in die veld gestoot het. Die SA Skole-slot AJ Meyer sal vir die eerste keer vanjaar in die beginspan in aksie na ‘n besering wees.
Meyer het wel al speelkans in sy span se oorwinning van 29-18 oor Outeniqua in George. Geldenhuys het ook die flank en kaptein, Xander Smit, na haker vir die kragmeting verskuif. Dit het die deur oopgemaak om AJ Booysen, Alexi Tyropolis en Adem Nieuwoudt saam as lostrio te kies.
Grey se spankeuse verklap ook dat hy ‘n strawwe tweestryd verwag. Op losskakel sal Darius Erwee die eerste keer sedert die kragmeting teen Welkom Gimnasium die nr.10-trui dra.
Paarl Gimnasium is soos Grey steeds onoorwonne vanjaar. Gimmies het wel in sy vorige kragmeting teen die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool van Pretoria met 16-elk gelykop gespeel.
Die spanne is:
Grey College: 15 Lamla Mgedezi, 14 Benjamin van den Berg, 13 Ethan Adams, 12 Toriq Schambreel, 11 Siyabonga Kenny, 10 Darius Erwee, 9 Sherwin Buys, 8 AJ Booysen, 7 Alexi Tyropolis, 6 Adem Nieuwoudt, 5 AJ Meyer, 4 Claude Steyn, 3 JG Badenhorst, 2 Xander Smit (kaptein), 1 David Hayidakis.
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Dawid Badenhorst, 14 Johan Kleynhans, 13 Markus Muller (kaptein), 12 Ethan Barker, 11 Thomas Saunders, 10 Divan Pieters, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Quintin Potgieter, 7 Hendré van Zyl, 6 Hendré van der Westhuizen, 5 Jean Dreyer, 4 Migael Turner, 3 Adriaan van der Lingen, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Pieta Cilliers.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 09: Match underway during day 2 of the CSA Girls U/16 Week between Boland and SWD at St Stithians on December 09, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
TSHWANE: Building on the momentum of previous SA20 U19 Women’s Camps, the second instalment of the SA U19 Women’s national training camp commenced today at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane.
This four-day camp, from 25–28 April, continues the collaborative efforts between Cricket South Africa (CSA) and SA20 to nurture emerging talent ahead of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027.
The 24-player squad features a blend of emerging talent within the U19 age group, including Six Gun Grill Western Province wicketkeeper batter Jae-Leigh Filander, who was part of the Junior Proteas side that collected silver at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia.
Mirroring the format of the initial U19 Women’s camp in March, the youngsters have been selected based on their standout performances during the 2024/25 season’s National Weeks.
Throughout the camp, the players will undergo athletic performance profiling along with net sessions and intrasquad matches, all closely overseen by the coaching staff and national scouts.
Adding to the experience, the team will also receive a visit from former Proteas Men’s batter and current SA20 Head of Cricket Operations, Stephen Cook.
SA U19 Women head coach Dinesha Devnarain commented:
“Like we did with the first camp, the players selected for this second U19 national camp were identified based on strong performances during the National Weeks. This is the second group from an initial pool of 50 players, and it’s exciting to bring together another talented batch to see how they compete and showcase their abilities.”
“We’re looking for vibrant players who can support our brand, and ultimately, we’re searching for those with the potential to lift a World Cup trophy for South Africa in the U19 space.”
“We’ll introduce our fitness standards and offer the girls exposure to inspiring voices, this time, Stephen Cook from SA20 will be addressing the group about supporting the under-19 programme.”
“We’re placing a strong emphasis on game time. There will be matches throughout the weekend and possibly a net session to observe how the players train and translate those efforts into match performances. We’ll wrap up the camp with a debrief to reflect on what we’ve seen.”
FOTO: Hoërskool Oos-Moot op Facebook/Winter Photography.
Weerlig en gure weer het vir die soveelste keer vanjaar die laaste sê in ‘n wedstryd op die Hoëveld gehad, maar nie voordat Hoërskool Oos-Moot by die agterdeur kon inglip nie.
Die span van Pretoria het in sy eerste wedstryd in die Plaat-afdeling van vanjaar se SDC Noordvaal Cup naelskraaps oor Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg in die Moot koning gekraai.
Die wedstryd is sowat sewe minute voor die eindfluitjie sou blaas, met die telling op 23-21 in die guns van die tuisspan, weens swaar weer gestaak. Die Rooi Bulle was ietwat ongelukkig aangesien die momentum dikwels deur die loop van die kragmeting geswaai het.
‘n Tweekuns aan drieë deur die Oosies se woelige skrumskakel, David Joubert, het ‘n beduidende rol in die sege gespeel, maar was dit ‘n oorstootdrie deur loskopstut, Divan du Preez, wat die momentum in sy span se guns geswaai het met die aanvang van rustyd, terwyl Joubert se tweede kort na die omdraaislag die Oosies se greep ietwat verstewig het.
Buiten die 10 punte wat die skrumskakel bygedra het, was sy diens agter die skrum ook uitstaande, wat vir losskakel, Dewron Aford, toegelaat het om te doen wat hy die beste doen, naamlik om sy agterlyn op die voorvoet te plaas.
Die Rooi Bulle het nietemin teruggeslaan met drieë deur Marinus Oberholzer (stut) en Kwanile Mkhize (vleuel) wat hulle in die tweede skof met 21-20 weer laat voorloop het.
Jeandré Venter, Oos-Moot se binnesenter en stelskopper, het egter ‘n geleentheid gekry om ‘n strafskop van vlak voor die pale koel en kalm oor te klits en sodoende die sege van twee punte te beklink.
Puntemakers:
Oos- Moot 23 (15) – Drieë: David Joubert (2), Divan du Preez. Doelskop: Jeandré Venter. Strafdoel: Venter. HTS Middelburg 21 (11) – Drieë: Jacques Greyling, Kwanile Mkhize, Marinus Oberholzer. Strafdoele: Dirk du Plooy (2).
Selborne heads to Komani intent on putting a damper on the 167th Reunion celebrations of Queen’s College. Photo: Selborne College on Facebook.
Queen’s College has held the upper hand over Selborne College in their most recent encounters, but they know that past performances will go out of the window when one of South Africa’s fiercest schools’ derbies takes place in Komani on Saturday.
After suffering four straight defeats, Selborne will be thirsting for some sort of comeback at the Recreation Ground, but Queen’s will be equally determined to make their 167th Reunion a weekend to remember.
Under the guidance of coaches Clinton Loest and Tyrone Rankin, Queen’s has registered some impressive results this season, including wins over Brandwag (29-15) and Pretoria Boys High (17-14). But Loest admits there have also been some matches when they have not been at their best.
“The Queen’s-Selborne derby is always hard-fought and having home-ground advantage is good, but it does serve as motivation for the visitors,” he said.
“Queen’s has had the better of the results in the past three seasons, but each year brings a new challenge. Selborne has a strong side this year and we will have to be at our best to get a winning result.”
Loest added that the home side would need to maintain a strong thread of consistency throughout the match. “Rugby is all about momentum, and when you have it, you need to ensure you make use of it,” he explained. “And when you don’t have it, you need to work hard to get it back.
“Being our Reunion Weekend does add a sense of excitement to the occasion. Many old boys and supporters will be present for the match, and it is the responsibility of the team to give a strong performance.”
Selborne head coach Allan Miles is fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead for a team that has faced some serious tests this season.
Sandwiching a win over Pearson two weeks ago have been losses to the unbeaten KZN powers, Westville (12-45) and DHS (35-5), at the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival, and defeats against Jeppe (17-38) and Affies (19-57) at the KES Easter Rugby Festival. The stature of their festival opposition is, however, a reflection of Selborne’s hard-earned status as a top-tier team in school rugby.
“It is always difficult to get a positive result on the Rec Ground,” Miles said. “They are a well-drilled and organised side, and Tyrone Rankin and Clinton Loest are doing amazing work with them.
“Neither team will give an inch on Saturday, which is what we can always expect from a traditional derby like this.”
Selborne’s blueprint, he added, would be to try to generate momentum with their attacking shape.
“If we can improve our gain-line success, it will get us into the game, but we also need to be wary of their threats out wide. Keeping our defensive width will be equally important.”
Reflecting on the KES Easter Festival, Miles said Jeppe got the upper hand straight after halftime, while he rated Affies as one of the best sides in the country.
“Our lineout did not do well in that game and that was definitely a focus area for us this week,” he said.
“We had close to 80 percent in tackle completion rate, which is getting closer to what we are working towards as a group.”
In 2024 was dit hierdie kragmeting wat Hoërskool Waterkloof se Blou-golf van stapel gestuur en uitgeloop het op ‘n uitmuntende SDC Noordvaal Cup-veldtog, waarin hy tot in die eindstryd onoorwonne was.
Eerskomende Saterdag kom die Klofies weer teen ‘n gedugte Hoërskool Nelspruit te staan in hul openingstryd van die reeks. Vanjaar pak hulle egter die tog Laeveld toe aan om die Rhinos in Mbombela die stryd aan te sê. Die Nellies het verlede seisoen gewys dat hulle ‘n harde neut is om te kraak in hul agterplaas.
Vanjaar se kaptein, Vaughn van Zyl, het deel uitgemaak van twee soet seges, oor die verdedigende kampioen, Hoërskool Garsfontein (30-29), en Hoërskool Monument (21-12), in verlede jaar se reeks wat aangedui het hoe gedug die Nellies op Rhino-park kan wees. Van Zyl (agtsteman) het tot dusver vanjaar van voor gelei, vernaam in die onlangse seges oor Welkom Gimnasium (34-31) en Maritzburg College (22-13) by die St John’s College Easter Festival.
Skrumskakel, Liam Pringle, het egter die kollig oor die Paasnaweek met sy stewel gesteel. Pringle se visier is duidelik ingestel op die vooraand van Nelspruit se eerste Noordvaal-kragmeting, en kan waarskynlik ‘n deurslaggewende faktor wees. Boonop beleef sy skakelmaat op losskakel, John Duncan, ‘n uithalerseisoen tot dusver, wat vir ‘n opwindende stryd tussen die twee agterhoedes kan sorg.
Die Klofies se laaste wedstryd was in die eindstryd van die NWU Sportreeks waar hulle met ‘n gelykopuitslag van 23-23 teen Hoërskool Menlopark tevrede moes wees. Daarna het hulle kans gehad om te herstel, ná onder andere ‘n reeks strawwe kragmetings by die jaarlikse Noord/Suid-toernooi.
Waterkloof-agtsteman, Marko Kok, se terugkeer na die beginspan het die Pretorianers ‘n beduidende hupstoot gegee en sy tweestryd met Van Zyl, op sowel die aanval as verdediging, kan straks die hoogtepunt van die naweek se kragmeting wees.
Agterlangs behoort losskakel en kaptein, Ronan Bastiaanse, weer die kitaar vir die Klofies te slaan. Hy sal egter op Kok en slot, Heinrich Naudé, staatmaak om genoegsame voorvoetbal te verseker, waarmee hy vir die snellers op vleuel, Jaiden Badenhorst en Gustav Mienie, die nodige aanvalsgeleenthede kan skep.
Die spanne:
Hoërskool Nelspruit t. Waterkloof om 12:30 in Mbombela
Hoërskool Nelspruit: 15 Jean Erasmus, 14 Jordan Pretorius, 13 Ruben Greeff, 12 Rian Botha, 11 Tinyiko Silubane, 10 John Duncan, 9 Liam Pringle, 8 Vaughn van Zyl, 7 Werno Heyns, 6 Prosper Chiloane, 5 André Smit, 4 Ethan Esterhuyzen, 3 Gert Cloete, 2 D’Angelo Roberts, 1 Lindani Ndlela.
Die netbalbane van Hoërskool Garsfontein gaan aan die brand gespeel word op 25 April wanneer Garsies en Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria mekaar die stryd aansê in ‘n reeks spanningsvolle wedstryde.
Paarl Gimnasium sal Saterdag vir die eerste keer sedert 2005 in Bloemfontein in aksie wees.
