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Fichardtpark is op toer na Benoni, en is besig om aan hul uitstekende onoorwonne streek hierdie seisoen te bou.

Die span van Bloemfontein het Donderdag teen Hans Moore gespeel en gemaklik met 40-0 gewen.

Wian Pienaar (flank), Edward Mpinga (vleuel) en Devante Claassen (skrumskakel) kon al drie in die eerste helfte druk.

Die Fichie Leeus het die tweede helfte met dieselfde energie begin, en vroeg na spel hervat is het hulle ‘n strafdrie afgedwing.

Daarna het Janco Mollentze (vleuel) twee skitterende drieë gedruk. Albei bewegings het op die halflyn begin, met Mollentze wat eenvoudig te vinnig was om te keer sodra hy die bal in spasie ontvang het.

Mollentze, Claassen en Pule Motsilili (heelagter) het uitstekende wedstryde beleef en Dailen Geldenhuys (losskakel) se skopvoet was ingestel.

Die Bloemfonteiners was toe Saterdag weer in aksie teen Brandwag van Benoni. Hierdie wedstryd het hulle ook goed met 50-19 gewen.

Die toerspan het agt drieë teen Brandwag gedruk. Twee van die agt is deur hul staatmaker haker, Jaco Janse van Rensburg, gedruk en Geldenhuys en Motsilili kon 12 ekstra punte met doelskoppe bydra.

Jim Fouché is nog ‘n Bloemfonteinse span wat ‘n goeie wenrekord op die oomblik geniet, maar hulle het hul grootste toets tot dusver in die seisoen Vrydag beleef teen die  Hoërskool Secunda.

Dit was ‘n enorme stryd in Bloemfontein maar toe die eindfluitjie blaas was daar steeds niks om die spanne te skei nie. Die wedstryd eindig met die telling op 31-elk.

Vir JF het hul haker en kaptein, Stefan Venter, weer uitgestaan. Venter is nog heel seisoen ‘n uitblinker en doen baie goed om die kapteinskap verantwoordelikhede oor te neem terwyl Phillip Noëth nog beseer is.

Hul skrumskakel, Tristan van der Walt, is net so indrukwekkend. Hy het ‘n drie gedruk en 16 addisionele punte met verdoelings en strafskoppe bygelas.

Luan Lottering het ‘n driekuns drieë gedruk vir die span van Mpumalanga. 

Secunda het al reeds met ‘n sege oor Hilton College en Hoërskool Nelspruit, en ‘n stewige vertoning teen Paul Roos Gimnasium bewys dat hulle ‘n gedugte span hierdie jaar in die veld stoot, maar Jim Fouché is ook op topvorm die seisoen.

Die puntemakers:

Fichardtpark 40 (21) – Drieë: Janco Mollentze (2), Wian Pienaar, Edward Mpinga, Devante Claassen, Strafdrie. Verdoellings: Dailen Geldenhuys (4) Hans Moore 0.

Fichardtpark 50 – Drieë: Jaco Janse van Rensburg (2), Devante Claassen, Edward Mpinga, Janco Mollentze, MJ Hattinngh, Jaco Grobbelaar, Nathan Dodd. Verdoelings: Dailen Geldenhuys (4), Pule Motsilili (2). Brandwag (Benoni) 19.

Jim Fouché 31 – Drieë: Stefan Venter (2), Tristan van der Walt. Verdoelings: Tristan van der Walt (2). Strafskoppe: Tristan van der Walt (4). Secunda 31 – Drieë: Luan Lottering (3), Lie-Chaen Müller, Tiaan de la Rey. Verdoelings: Luan Lottering (3).

MAKHANDA. – Die 2023-skolerugbyseisoen is nog in sy babaskoene, maar dit is reeds duidelik dat daar nie met absolute sekerheid bespiegel kan word wie vanjaar die voorste skolespan is nie.

Die Hoërskool Durbanville het gewys dat hy die Bul van Porterville se Bulfees is deur die Hoër Jongenskool Paarl naelskraaps met 26-25 in die doodsnikke van die hoofwedstryd van die dag te verslaan.

Durbies se Shaun Klein het met minder as ‘n minuut oor met ‘n strafdoel geslaag om aan sy span dié geskiedkundige oorwinning te besorg. Die losskakel het boonop 21 van sy span se punte in die sege aangeteken.

Klein het een van sy span se twee drieë gedruk, albei vervyf en ook vier strafdoele tussen deur die pale gejaag.

Dit was veral in die lynstane asook die skrums waar Durbies daarin geslaag het om Boishaai te ontwrig. Die twee fassette is tradisioneel die span van die Paarl se sterkpunte.

Durbies se kaptein en flank, Evert Bouwer, was uitstaande voorlangs en het veral in die lynstane die aanslag gelei.

Een van die ander aanspraakmakers om vanjaar die land se voorste skolespanne te wees, Paarl Gimnasium, moes sweet om vir Stellenberg met 24-23 te klop.

Gimmies se skrumskakel, Dawid Kotze, het ‘n driekuns aan drieë behaal, maar dit was amper nie genoeg op die Jade Brigade in toom te hou nie.

Stellenberg se binnesenter, Ruben Thompson, het met sy skopskoen sy span in die kragmeting gehou.

Gimmies kom eerkomende Vrydag teen Grey-kollege tydens die jaarlikse Noord/Suid-toernooi in Pretoria te staan.

Dalk het die span van die Paarl probeer om nie al hul kaarte reeds teen Stellenberg op die tafel te sit nie.

Grey was in Makhanda tydens Graeme College se fees ter viering van hul 150ste bestaansjaar in aksie. Die span van die Rosestad het vir Marlow Landbou (52-12) en St Andrew’s College (48-0) met gemak afgestof.

Grey het ook nie te veel van sy planne tydens die seges weggegee nie. Die span se vaskopstut, Jean Erasmus, het wel gewys hoe gevaarlik hy kan wees indien hy die bal onder die arm vasknyp en in albei wedstryde dubelle driedruk-plesier ervaar.

Grey se binnesenter, Pieter van der Merwe, het ook gewys in Makhanda waartoe hy in staat is wanneer die agttal onder een kombers en op die voorvoet is.

‘n Unieke geleentheid het in die eerste wedstryd teen die Wolramme van Marlow plaasgevind met Jean-Henri Smith wat teen sy pa se ou alma mater gewys het dat hy net so kliphard is. Sy vader Philip Smith het die Springbokke in 1998 verteenwoordig.

Rondebosch Boys’ High het vir die eerste keer in jare na Riversdal gereis en toe boonop die Bulle van Oakdale Landbou met 24-18 verslaan.

Durban High School was met 14-7 baas in ‘n strawwe eerste Premier Interschools teen Maritzburg College. Jim Fouché sal nie te ontevrede na sy gelykop-uitslag van 31-elk teen Secunda wees nie.

In die NWU Prestige-reeks sal die span wat die kroon wil dra eers verby die Hoërskool Noordheuwel moet kom. Die Nories het sy laaste groepwedstryd van die reeks vir Potchefstroom Volkskool met 54-0 afgestof.

Feitlik al hierdie wedstryde kan weer gekyk word op SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com). SuperSport Schools spog nou ook met sy eie kanaal op DStv – SuperSport 216.

Al die uitslae:

GRAEME COLLEGE RUGBYFEES

SACS 19, Graeme College 5; Grey-kollege 48, St Andrew’s College 0; Hilton College 19, Framesby 3; Kingswood College 34, Marlow Landbou 5; Queen’s College 22, Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) 0; Grey High School 27, Hudson Park 7; Selborne College 34, Nico Malan 17; Dale College 22, Pearson 20; Muir College 21, Stirling 10; HTS Daniël Pienaar 24, Cambridge 7; Union High 26, Mary Waters 7; Woodridge College 32, Port Alfred 0; Grey College 52, Marlow Landbou 12; Graeme College 18, Framesby 14; Kingswood College 21, Queen’s College 12; Hilton College 48, Die Brandwag (Uitenhage) 3; St Andrew’s College 13, SACS 12.

NWU PRESTIGE-REEKS

Noordheuwel 54, Potchefstroom Volkskool 0; Marais Viljoen 15, Heidelberg Volkskool 12; Jeugland 25, Hoërskool Middelburg 23; Montana 27, Hugenote (Springs) 14; Lichtenburg 28, Potchefstroom Gimnasium 12; Hoërskool Rustenburg 25, Die Anker 12; Wesvalia 27, Zwartkop 6.

VRIENDSKAPLIK

Hoërskool Durbanville 26, Hoër Jongenskool Paarl 25; Paarl Gimnasium 24, Stellenberg 23; Rondebosch Boys’ High 24, Oakdale Landbou 18; Durban High School 14, Maritzburg College 7; Helpmekaar 41, Voortrekker (Bethlehem) 3; Fichardtpark 50, Brandwag (Benoni) 0; Garsfontein 28, Jeppe High School for Boys 24; Charlie Hofmeyr 41, DF Malan 27; Fichardtpark 40, Hans Moore 0; Robertson 15, Vredendal 10; Leeuwenhof 38, Cornwall Hill College 21; Noord-Kaap 38, Louis Botha 0; Jim Fouché 31, Secunda 31; Montagu 25, Melkbosstrand 12; Parel Vallei 11, Hermanus 7; St John’s College 29, St Alban’s College 24; Centurion 20, Sutherland 14; Penryn College 19, Die Wilgers 18; Hoërskool Punt 15, Hugenote (Wellington) 10.

DANIE ROSSOUW-WEEK

Ferrum 37, Bergvlam 27; HTS John Vorster 6, Lydenburg 3; Midstream College 24, HTS Witbank 10; Ligbron 40, Bergsig Akademie 12.

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Paarl Gimnasium were able to endure and fend off an incredible chase by the Jade Brigade when the two teams faced each other on Friday.

Last year’s match, which Paarl won 12-6, was considered an excellent, closely fought game, but it was outshone entirely by the class of 2023, as Gimmies added another win to their unbeaten streak, beating Stellenberg by a single point, 24-23.

Captain and star flyhalf, Kyle Smith, got the home team on the front foot immediately with a deep, hanging kickoff, putting the visitors under pressure from the word go.

Smith represented WP last year at age level, and showcased his skill in this game again, masterfully directing the Paarl attack, stepping past defenders at will and being rock solid in defense.

Gimmies were able to drive their hooker, Jannie Grobbelaar, over for a try within the first minute, setting the tone for what was to become an immensely physical game from both sides. There will be some very sore bodies today.

The early try only seemed to galvanize the Stellenberg boys though, as they matched Gimmies’ intensity at the kickoff.

Paarl were able to absorb the pressure, as handling errors by Stellenberg broke their momentum and turned over their attacking possession.

The handling errors might very well be a testament to how big some of the tackles were on either side, but Stellenberg will have a look at this aspect, they cost themselves a number of opportunities throughout the game.

David Kotze, the Gimmie scrumhalf, was probably the player of the day, standing out among some exceptional players. The lively scrummy darted around a ruck near the Stellenberg goal line to score the first of his three tries.

His second came after flanker, Louw du Toit, broke the defensive line at pace, giving out to the loosehead prop, Xander Mynhardt, who stepped away from defenders like he was born to be a backline player before giving the ball to Kotze, who seemed to always be near, to dive over the line.

Ruben Thompson, the Stellies centre, managed to keep his team in the game in the first half with three brilliantly taken penalties. He knocked over his third in the final moments of the half, from 40 meters out, off the upright and over to reduce the deficit to 17-9 at halftime.

Whatever coach Divan Batt said to his big tighthead, Herman Lubbe, during the break worked a treat. Lubbe and his pack dominated the scrums in the second half, allowing the visitors to take the game to Paarl and work on building a comeback.

Not before Kotze could complete his hat trick though. Centre Enzo Labuschagne who played wing last year, broke away down the touchline on a counterattack, passing the ball to his scrumhalf at just the right moment, allowing him to score unhindered.

With the score at 24-9 with 15 minutes to go, Stellenberg doubled down on attack, they were dominant in the scrum, and the Stellenberg loose forwards were quick to get over the ball in the rucks.

The sustained pressure paid off, a Gimmies flanker Adraun Kotze received a yellow card for repeated infringements in defence, and when Stellenberg had the opportunity to scrum their no. 8, Marco Ferreira, had to stay in the backline to keep the numbers even in the pack.

They won the ball off their opponents’ scrum and Clyde Frieslaar (scrumhalf) swung the ball to Ferreira, who gave it to Thompson. The centre could then get the ball out to the extra man, the replacement centre, Stefan Visser, who did exceptionally well to finish off the try.

The match continued without ever losing its intensity. Even when Gim received the ball deep in their half, after regulation time was up, there was never any doubt that the boys were going to play to the very end.

Knowing that they could not lose the game anymore, Gim started an attack from their own danger zone but lost the ball. Luc Cilliers, the Stellenberg winger, could kick the loose ball through and dive on it over the line to bring Stellenberg to within three points with only the conversion to go.

Thompson, who had a brilliant day with the boot, added the extras, but it wasn’t enough to snatch the victory.

It was an exhilarating game of rugby, and both teams will be proud of their performance.

This was the perfect preparation for both teams as they get ready to compete in the annual North/South Tournament at Affies next weekend.

Link to the game on Supersport Schools – Paarl Gim vs Stellenberg

Scorers:

Paarl Gimnasium 24 (17) – Tries: David Kotze (3), Jannie Grobbelaar. Conversions: Kyle Smith (2). Stellenberg 23 (9) – Tries: Luc Cilliers, Stefan Visser. Conversions: Ruben Thompson (2). Penalties: Ruben Thompson (3).

Other results: 

u16: Paarl Gimnasium 43, Stellenberg 0.

u15: Paarl Gimnasium 34, Stellenberg 10.

u14: Stellenberg 32, Paarl Gimnasium 17.

 

Selborne College’s scrumhalf, Page Fennel, produced an impressive tactical kicking performance as his side managed to defeat Nico Malan of Humansdorp by 34-17 during the second day of the Graeme College 150th Rugby Festival.

Fennel kept calm throughout the encounter and managed to place pressure on Nico Malan with his kicking from the base.

The scrumhalf also took care of his side’s goal kicking duties and slotted three conversions and a penalty.

The team from East London build up a lead of 22-14 at the break and then shifted a gear in the second half to bag the victory.

Selborne was quick out of the block with right winger, James Bowles, scoring four minutes into the match after flyhalf, Daniel Larkan, opted for a quick tap. Fullback, Amani Somana, also played a huge part in setting of this first try by Bowles with his quick hands.

Somana was on fire in this game, scoring a try just five minutes after providing this beautiful opportunity to his teammate.

Selborne’s hooker, Jordan Luck, received a yellow card which also resulted a penalty try for Nico Malan. Luck saved some face when he returned as he completed a brace of tries.

Nico Malan came within a point after Hannes Kleinhans (flanker) crossed the tryline and flyhalf, Dominic Malgas, slotted the conversion.

Luck got the ball is rolling again and puts another try on the board. And here comes another one, that’s two tries for Luck. What’s luck got to do with it?

Dale College‘s fullback, Oyama Kuse, was a menace on attack as his side secured a narrow 22-20 victory over Pearson. Kuse scored a brace of tries from the back in this closely contested encounter.

At half-time, it was 10-8 in  Dale’s favour. Pearson’s hooker, Andrew Hall, also scored two tries for his side.

HTS Daniël Pienaar‘s Tigers downed Cambridge by 24-7, after leading 12-7 at the break.

The Tigers scored four tries with Rowante Uithaler (centre), Juan van Zyl (hooker), Mihlali January (prop) and Virgil Grootboom (srumhalf) all dotting down.

Union High also bagged a victory as they defeated Mary Waters by 26-7 in the opening match on the second day of the festival.

Union put on the better performance of the day, their outside centre, Uyanda Tele, and their flanker, Naeem Mahomed, each scored a try. Jude Langmead, their inside centre, scored two tries and their fullback, Hlaki Skepe, managed to boot three conversions for the team.

Mary Waters’ flyhalf, Shaneed Peterson, scored all his side’s points as well as spending ten minutes in the bin after receiving a yellow card.

Scorers: 

Selborne College 34 (22) – Tries: Jordan Luck (2), James Bowles, Siya Sakhela, Amani Somana. Conversions: Page Fennel (3). Penalty: Fennel. Nico Malan 17 (14) – Tries: Hannes Kleinhans, Penalty Try. Conversion: Dominic Malgas. Penalty: Malgas.

Dale College 22 (10) – Tries: Oyama Kuse (2), Lindokuhle Xozwa. Conversions: Lindokuhle Ndlela, Kuse. Penalty: Kuse. Pearson 20 (8) – Tries: Andrew Hall (2), Troy Hargreaves. Conversion: Caleb Fasken. Penalty: Fasken.

HTS Daniël Pienaar 24 (12) – Tries: Juan van Zyl, Mihlali January, Virgil Grootboom, Rowante Uithaler. Conversioons: Ikombe January (2). Cambridge 7 (7) – Try: Lisakhanya Magoxo. Conversion: Sive Ngxoweni.

Union High 26 (19) – Tries: Jude Langmead (2), Uyanda Tele, Naeem Mohammed. Conversions: Hlaki Skepe (3). Mary Waters 7 (7) – Try: Shaneed Peterson. Conversion: Peterson.

It is festival season and the first netball festival/tournament, the Menlopark Netball tournament, is already underway. The annual Klofies Fees as well as Affies’ annual Prestige-tournament will also take place next week.

The results from around South Africa will be updated here as we receive the results from the various schools.

If your school’s match is not listed below or you would like to send in your team’s results – please contact us via e-mail at netball@superschoolsnews.co.za or via WhatsApp at 072 172 5455.

All the results: 

MENLOPARK TOURNAMENT 

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FRIENDLIES

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Other teams: 

u16A: Punt 24, Hugenote (Wellington) 9.

u15A: Punt 16, Hugenote (Wellington) 4.

u14A: Punt 18, Hugenote (Wellington) 8.

This week is a bit quieter as most teams prepare for their tours to the various festivals during the school holidays.

Graeme College’s Rugby Festival in celebration of their 150th anniversary will provide a couple of highlights as Grey College from Bloemfontein take on St Andrew’s College today, while Graeme College and SACS will face-off during the main match.

Hilton College, Framesby, Grey High School, Kingswood College and Nico Malan is just some of the sides that will be in action in Makhanda.

Paarl Boys’ High faces Durbanville in the main match of the annual Porterville Bulfees, while Paarl Gimnasium and Stellenberg faced each other in Paarl on Friday.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools – www.supersportschools.com.

The results from around South Africa will be updated here as we receive the results from the various schools.

If your school’s match is not listed below or you would like to send in your team’s results – please contact us via e-mail at rugby@superschoolsnews.co.za or via WhatsApp at 072 172 5455.

All the results: 

GRAEME COLLEGE 150TH FESTIVAL 

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NWU PRESTIGE SERIES 

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DANIE ROSSOUW WEEK 

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FRIENDLIES 

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Paarl Gimnasium beoog om weer die nommer een posisie op die skolerugby-ranglys hierdie jaar te beklee, maar die Gimmies het eers ‘n strawwe toets wat op hul wag waneer hulle vandag teen Stellenberg te staan kom.

Die wedstryd word regstreeks op SuperSport Schools uitgesaai – Registreer nou

Die skole het mekaar in 2022 ook aangepak en daar was bitter min om die twee skole te skei. Paarl Gimnasium wen toe daardie wedstryd 12-6.

Dit was egter verlede jaar Paarl se eerste wedstryd van die seisoen en hulle sal baie meer voorbereid voel vir hierdie ontmoeting nadat hulle verlede naweek reeds momentum begin opbou het deur om vir Potch Gimnasium 83-3 af te trap.

Stellenberg se seuns is ook al goed aan die gang. Hulle het hul eerste wedstryd teen Worcester Gimnasium 38-19 gewen en verlede Sondag naelskraaps 20-22 teen Grey High School in Gqeberha verloor.

Stellenberg het al menigte male gewys dat hulle teen die top rugbyskole in Suid Afrika kan meeding, en hulle sal die Paarl seuns se spoed sommer vroeg in die seisoen wil breek.

Vaskopstut, Herman Lubbe, is die enigste speler van verlede jaar se span wat teen Paarl Gim gespeel het wat hierdie jaar weer uitdraf vir Stellenberg.

Paarl Gimnasium speel al sedert 1902 rugby, en het oor die jare talle Springbokke en SA Skole-spelers opgelewer.

Een van hul oud skoliere wat ook ‘n Springbok geword het Pieter Rossouw is sedert 2016 al hoofafrigter by sy alma mater en Gimmies beleef nou al vir ‘n paar seisoene groot sukses onder sy leiding. 

Dit is hierdie sukses wat in 2022 beteken het dat hulle as die top o.19 rugbyspan in die land aangewys is wat hulle hierdie seisoen sal wil repliseer.

Met bietjie meer tyd om voor te berei, ‘n reuse wen agter die rug en die tuisveldvoordeel behoort Paarl Gim goed te voel oor hul kanse die naweek, maar Stellenberg moet glad nie onderskat word nie.

Die spanne is:

Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Tazreeq Moerat, 14 Roland Vivier, 13 Enzo Labuschagne, 12 Hennie Otto, 11 Pieter-Nel du Plessis, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Dawid Kotze, 8 Henno Swanepoel, 7 Louw du Toit, 6 Adraún Kotze, 5 Marco Steyn, 4 Danio Botha, 3 Nicholas Crous, 2 Jannie Grobbelaar, 1 Xander Mynhardt

Stellenberg: 15 Stefan Roux, 14 Dehan Neethling, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Thompson, 11 Luc Cilliers, 10 Tyron Labuschagne, 9 Clyde Frieslaar, 8 Marco Ferreira, 7 Luke Buckle, 6 Damon Pereira, 5 Zian Erasmus, 4 Sebastian Johnson, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Ryk Groenewald.

 

Supporters can expect some exciting rugby during this year’s edition of Voortrekker’s VKB Prestige Rugby Week which takes place from 23 to 27 March in Bethlehem. 

This festival will allow u16 teams from mostly the central region as well as Gauteng the opportunity to compete against schools they would not usually get to and provide a couple of exciting matchups.

Voortrekker, Welkom Gimnasium, Witteberg, Goudveld, Sentraal, Grey College, Transvalia, Middelburg, Kempton Park, Lichtenburg, Frikkie Meyer, Hoërskool Alberton and Pretoria-Noord will all have teams competing this year.

The games will be available to watch live on SuperSport Schools – Register your free account now.

Just after lunch on the first day, the home team,  Voortrekker, play their opening match of the week against Kempton Park.

A combination of Grey College’s and C teams will be representing the school from Bloemfontein in Bethlehem when they take on Frikkie Meyer on day one at 09:10.

The boys from Thabazimbi will relish the chance to prove themselves against Grey as these two schools will not cross each other’s paths often.

The festival kicks off at 08:00 on Friday morning, when the Trekkers’ B-side, playing as the VKB XV takes on Hoërskool Alberton.

Deon de Kock and Joe Gillingham were both Albertonians before they went on to play for the Springboks.

The matchup between Goudveld-Hoërskool and Pretoria-Noord also promises to be a hard-fought battle between two teams who do not regularly face each other.

The rest of the week’s fixtures will be determined by the results of day one, to ensure that all games are matched fairly, guaranteeing exciting, competitive rugby. 

The fixtures – Day 1:

Friday, 24 March 2023

08:00 – VKB XV vs Alberton
09:10 – Grey College B/C vs Frikkie Meyer
10:20 – Goudveld-Hoërskool vs Pretoria Noord
11:30 – Sentraal vs Lichtenburg
13:00 – Voortrekker vs Kempton Park
14:10 – Witteberg vs Hoërskool Middelburg
15:20 – Welkom Gimnasium vs Transvalia 

 

There have already been some interesting challenges early in the schools rugby season but the intensity is sure to move up a level when the GBS Graeme College Festival kicks off in Makhanda on Thursday.

This year’s tournament, running from Thursday to Saturday to mark the school’s 150^th anniversary, will provide further opportunities for a host of coaches to continue fine-tuning their teams for the upcoming season.

Besides demonstrating what the cream of the Eastern Cape schools have to offer, there will be some serious opposition from teams further afield as Grey College, Hilton and SACS each play two matches over the three days.

Cape Town side SACS are down for two fixtures which should attract a lot of interest, opening the first team programme on the Somerset Field on Thursday against St Andrew’s and then being part of the festival climax when they take on hosts Graeme College on Saturday afternoon.

Both Graeme and SACS received excellent preparation for the festival in their weekend matches, with the former outclassing Daniel Pienaar 41-0 and the Cape Town outfit running rampant against Belville in a 59-14 result.

They both know, however, that the ante will be upped in Makhanda festival as the teams seek to lay down a marker for the season.

Graeme have given themselves two proper challenges in SACS and Framesby, but coach Jonty van der Meulen said they were looking forward to playing against teams they rarely meet.

“There is definitely a sense of excitement for the festival and we are looking forward to the two matches we have,” he said.

“They are two serious challenges, but it’s nice to play Framesby because we don’t have an annual fixture with them, while SACS, who compete in a very strong league in Cape Town, will be another great test.”

The first day should set the tone for an exciting three days of schoolboy rugby, with a number of appetising fixtures on the menu.

Kariega powerhouse Brandwag take on Hilton College from KwaZulu-Natal in the second fixture on Thursday and that should be a real blockbuster, while the Kingswood-Queen’s showdown, a regular feature of the traditional Graeme Rugby Day, is a match-up that seldom disappoints.

The first day winds down with what will be the ultimate test for Marlow Agricultural when they take on one of South Africa’s most successful rugby schools in Grey College.

The Cradock outfit have had some good game time this year, with three matches already under their belts.

Although they lost to the perennially strong Boland Landbou side at the weekend, the 22-17 scoreline suggests they put up admirable opposition. And wins earlier this month against Jim Fouche and Selborne underlined their credentials.

Understandably, Grey College are a different proposition altogether and Marlow will have to show self-belief and determination in abundance to manage the challenge from the Bloemfontein giants.

Besides the first team programme, the Graeme campus will be a buzz of activity, with age-group matches taking place on the Marais A and B fields over the three days.

The first two days will see the teams from U14 to U16 in action and then Saturday hosts an U13 festival, a first for the annual Graeme event.