Take a bow, the fixture list arrangers of Wildeklawer. Not only is the Skouspel widely acknowledged as the premier school rugby festival in South Africa, setting itself apart by showing 9 games live on television but as far as points difference per match is concerned, Wildeklawer also proved to be the most competitive festival in a survey of 12 festivals from around the country.
The 9 games on Monday, 27 April 2015 had an average points difference per match of just 5.11, which is astonishing! Of those games there were 2 draws, 2 1-point results, a 3-point, a 4-point and a 5-point result while the two Bloemfontein teams suffered the worst defeats by 10 and 22 points.
Overall Wildeklawer achieved an 11.78 average point difference per game.
The Jeppe 125th Festival at 11.78 did extremely well considering it was just a one off festival.
St Stithians has the least competitive festival while St John’s Day 1 with a spread of 48.5 is the most one sided of all the festival days surveyed.
| FESTIVAL | POINTS DIFF | MATCHES | AVG PT DIFF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wildeklawer | 212 | 18 | 11.78 | |
| 2 | Jeppe 125th | 110 | 8 | 13.75 | |
| 3 | Oakdale Rugby Fest | 635 | 45 | 14.11 | |
| 4 | KES Rugby Festival | 303 | 21 | 14.43 | |
| 5 | Klein Karoo Topskole | 228 | 14 | 16.29 | |
| 6 | Kearsney Easter Rugby Fest | 298 | 18 | 16.56 | |
| 7 | Pukke Skouspel | 179 | 10 | 17.90 | |
| 8 | Noord-Suid | 129 | 7 | 18.43 | |
| 9 | Graeme Rugby Day | 153 | 8 | 19.13 | |
| 10 | St John’s Rugby Festival | 415 | 18 | 23.06 | |
| 11 | Wynberg Rugby Festival | 297 | 12 | 24.75 | |
| 12 | St Stithians Festival | 454 | 18 | 25.22 | |
| FESTIVAL BY MATCH DAY | DATE | POINTS DIFF | MATCHES | AVG PT DIFF | |
| 1 | Wildeklawer | Mon.27Apr | 46 | 9 | 5.11 |
| 2 | KES Rugby Festival | Sat.04Apr | 49 | 7 | 7.00 |
| 3 | Jeppe 125th | Sat.25Apr | 33 | 4 | 8.25 |
| 4 | Oakdale Rugby Fest | Sat.04Apr | 130 | 15 | 8.67 |
| 5 | St John’s Rugby Festival | Mon.06Apr | 58 | 6 | 9.67 |
| 6 | St John’s Rugby Festival | Sat.04Apr | 66 | 6 | 11.00 |
| 7 | Pukke Skouspel | Sat.28Mar | 58 | 5 | 11.60 |
| 8 | Kearsney Easter Rugby Fest | Sat.04Apr | 77 | 6 | 12.83 |
| 9 | KES Rugby Festival | Mon.06Apr | 90 | 7 | 12.86 |
| 10 | Noord-Suid | Sat.11Apr | 53 | 4 | 13.25 |
| 11 | Oakdale Rugby Fest | Mon.06Apr | 231 | 15 | 15.40 |
| 12 | Klein Karoo Topskole | Sat.25Apr | 113 | 7 | 16.14 |
| 13 | Kearsney Easter Rugby Fest | Mon.06Apr | 98 | 6 | 16.33 |
| 14 | Klein Karoo Topskole | Mon.27Apr | 115 | 7 | 16.43 |
| 15 | St Stithians Festival | Thu.02Apr | 101 | 6 | 16.83 |
| 16 | Oakdale Rugby Fest | Thu.02Apr | 274 | 15 | 18.27 |
| 17 | Wildeklawer | Sat.25Apr | 166 | 9 | 18.44 |
| 18 | Graeme Rugby Day | Sat.28Mar | 153 | 8 | 19.13 |
| 19 | Jeppe 125th | Mon.27Apr | 77 | 4 | 19.25 |
| 20 | Kearsney Easter Rugby Fest | Thu.02Apr | 123 | 6 | 20.50 |
| 21 | Wynberg Rugby Festival | Sat.25Apr | 127 | 6 | 21.17 |
| 22 | KES Rugby Festival | Thu.02Apr | 164 | 7 | 23.43 |
| 23 | Pukke Skouspel | Mon.30Mar | 121 | 5 | 24.20 |
| 24 | Noord-Suid | Wed.08Apr | 76 | 3 | 25.33 |
| 25 | St Stithians Festival | Sat.04Apr | 154 | 6 | 25.67 |
| 26 | Wynberg Rugby Festival | Mon.27Apr | 170 | 6 | 28.33 |
| 27 | St Stithians Festival | Mon.06Apr | 199 | 6 | 33.17 |
| 28 | St John’s Rugby Festival | Thu.02Apr | 291 | 6 | 48.50 |
@Andre T: Ons kry maar so bietjie swaar hierdie jaar met ‘n baie jong span. Ons is soos die Cheetahs, ons leer elke naweek waardevolle lesse…
Hopelik bou ons aan ‘n span vir volgende jaar. Ons junior spanne lyk goed so ek dink van volgende jaar behoort ons weer goeie rekenskap van onsself te gee.
@Andre T: Jy kan jouself mos nie n Bul noem wanneer jy in Leeu wereld is nie – hulle is aan die verkeerde kant van die Jukskei – Monnas kan hulleself maar die Witleeus noem – Affies is die Witbulle
@Frik: Moenie worry oor ou Bog, hy hou eintlik van verloor.
Hyt mos loskop gespeel vir die Wildeklawer XV, hy het Saterdag maar swaar geleef teen Affies maar het Maandag darem n drie gedruk teen Louis Botha.
Wat gaan aan daar by Framesby?
Miskien moet ons n game teen Menlopark vir julle reel
Nee wat Bog, ek dink jy maak sommer ‘n paar aannames namens my. In elk geval, ons het almal maar ons eie menings.
Niemand hou van verloor nie, wees dankbaar dat julle dit minder as ander hoef te doen.
@Andre T:
@Die Ken: Hul stuur blykbaar fotos van Glenda Kemp met Oupa…….lol
@Andre T: Nee dit weet ek, maar jou pelle het tot vir Hans Coetzee en Zahne Schutte vies gemaak
@Die Ken: Die oorspronklike Witbul is Monnas
@Andre T: GCB het in dieselfde kanaal gedoen wat hul wil, daar is n groot verskil tussen loosie en senterverdediging. Hul stront re die Wit Bul, meerendeels Carl
@Frik: Jy maak n paar aannames, wat mi foutief is. GCB was nog nooit onoorwinbaar nie. Kyk maar na Monnas se rekord teen hulle.Dit is maar natuurlik dat hulle nou en dan n maer jaar of twee sal beleef voor dit weer “normaliseer”. Gaan kyk maar gerus wat met hulle gebeur het in 1994. Daar is toe ook gese dat die ander skole ingehaal het, Dit, by implikasie, se dat Grey stagneer het, en ek glo nie dit sal ooit gebeur nie. Dit is doodeenvoudig teen hulle etos om op hulle loure te rus. En gaan kyk dan daarna. Nee wat, dit is maar n patroon, regdeur hulle geskiedenis, maar hulle het n gewoonte en n vaardigheid aangeleer om selfs in moeilike seisoene, hulle opponente te wen. En die rede daarvoor, sal n biutestaander, onwaarskynlik verstaan.
@Die Ken: Ek het vroeer gelees jy stem nie saam met Pelser op 12 vir Monnas nie, dit was juis in daai kanaal waar HJS en PRG by St Johns vir Monnas geklop het. Ek dink Pelser doen goed op 12 maar dit is so jammer dat Bohmer uit is vir die hele seisoen.
Wie pis jou af daar en waaroor?
Ek sal hulle vasvat
@Andre T: Ek neem aan jy is bekend met daai knape by Ruggas.co.za. Dus vra ek mooi, maak asb hul bekke toe, hul pis my af
Ja die Wildeklawer toernooi was van hoogstaande gehalte met top rugby wat in die meeste wedstryde gesien is.
Om toe te tree tot die Grey debat…Ons almal het grootgeword met Grey wat skole rugby total oorheers, a.g.v verskeie faktore waarvan onder andere hul (ligjare vooruit) professionele benadering tot afrigting, kondisionering van spelers, ens.
Intussen het ander skole baie vining opgevang en die voordeel wat Grey a.g.v. hul professionele benadering en fokus gehad het, het grotendeels verdwyn. Nou kompeteer Grey op “gelyke voet” en mens kan nie meer soos in die verlede verwag dat hulle jaar in en jaar uit alles oorheers nie.
Wat hul wel nog onderskei is hul wenkultuur, hul absolute geloof in hulself. Baie goeie spanne verloor teen Grey nog voor hulle opgedraf het.
Dit alles gese, ek dink hierdie jaar is daar ‘n hele paar (meestal uit die suide) skole wat Grey kan klop.
Ek het egter geen simpatie wanneer Grey ondersteuners ons probeer vertel hoe “moeilik” dit kwansuis is om elke week teen top spanne te speel nie. Wil hulle nou vir ons probeer se dat Grey ‘n moeiliker “fixture list” het as ander top skole? Twak. Julle kla met die witbrood onder die arm, julle het hope talent en diepte om uit te kies in elke ouderdomsgroep, meer as 99% van ander skole.
in elk geval, Grey het ‘n goeie span en sal dit sekerlik ook altyd he. Grey speel goeie rugby 90% van die tyd, maar realisties gesproke gaan hulle wedstryde verloor en hierdie jaar waarskynlik meer as die gemiddeld.
@Andre T: Ek het alreeds verduidelik. Kearsney is my alma mater en my direkte rugby betrokkenheid by Eldo het verlede jaar geëindig
@Andre T: Ek het al ‘n paar keer verduidelik. Die kort weergawe is dat Kearsney my alma mater is en my direkte rugby betrokkenheid by Eldo het verlede jaar tot ‘n einde gekom
@kosie: Ek dog jy is n Eldoraigne man? Hoekom dra jy Hoi Poloi Kearsney frokkies?
@Andre T: Ek dink die nag het geseëvier en toe was dit nag vir sekeres!
@BOG: Bog, daar was baie beslis geen partydigheid nie behalwe miskien toe Massyn oorbars vir die wen punte.
@Andre T: Geen idee nie. Wie is die d555s wie die wedstryd op Ruggas uitgesaai het? Die een wie so opgewonde geraak het toe die wit truie opgedraf het? Ek neem aan dit was Duppie wie die wedstryd Saterdag uitgesaai het?@Queenian: Good to hear that something is happening. Queenstown is a good proposition- only 3-4 hours from Bloem.
@akw: Al wat ek kon onthou was dat Grey een hengse voordeel gehad het met hul donker truie
@Andre T: Ons kon nie sien nie…
Skies, ek kom nou eers weer in die beskawing aan……………….kan iemand vir my se wie het die laaste wedstryd Maandag in Kimberley gewen?
Daai day/night game.
@BOG: As far as I have heard via the Grape Vine that 2017 they would try and fit the fixture in and would include Hangklip, but still in the planning phase. QC would give 21 teams and Hangklip 6 so a total of 27 teams which is very do able.
Would be nice as QC have a very usefull under 16 team this year. And the current Under 13 are really good.
@BOG: One thing you got wrong I think JJS would play for GCB just to give you people the edge there enough knife yielding fellows at QC already
@Djou: Die tradisionele skole dink hulle doen die ander ‘n guns om teen hulle te speel! Miskien moet hulle net teen mekaar speel en ‘n kampioen kroon! Amper soos Amerika wat ‘n worldchamps in baseball bied waar geen ander land by betrokke is nie!
@Die Ken: Ja, dit bevestig maar my vermoede.@Queenian: @rugbyfan: I agree. As I said, had the suspension had anything to do with “politics”, surely it would have equally effected the cricket and hockey relations, which it has not. Hopefully it will be resumed. To make up numbers, they can always involve another school like Hanklip, and God forbid, JJS, to ensure that all the teams get a match. Have you heard anything in this regard?
GCB Monnas
2015 7 17
2014 10 10
2013 13 8
2012 8 0
2011 18 14
2010 26 6
2008 16 14
1997 21 7
1996 8 13
1995 27 20
1994 30 36
1993 12 34
1992 6 11
1991 14 16
1988 34 3
1984 10 10
@BoishaaiPa: @MikeSt: Uitslae is nie belangrik gedurende “Feesrugby” nie. Amper verstik ek in my rooiwyn! Miskien dit vir die seuns, ouers en afrigters noem. Begin soos Dr. Papsak klink @BoishaaiPa. Komaan, elke wedstryd is belangrik, maak nie saak teen wie nie.
@BOG: Nelio is te traag om my navraag op twitter te antw en sy webwerf is heeltemal deurmekaar, toe gaan ek maar direk skool toe. Die verhoudings is toe 50:38:12.
@BOG: I see the folks were chatting about Monuments win ratio against Grey Bloem which is 39% which is the best out of any school the next been QC at about 32%. Although if Monument had played 69 games against GCB as QC have I am not sure it would be as good, but that we will never know.
What is interesting is of all the games lost in a 100 years in Bloem itself at home 69% of those were to QC which says bounds about there character.
@Playa: @BOG: I don’t think there has ever been any bad blood of any type between GCB and QC of any type as far as I know the relationship is still very good, and there do seem to be some plan of getting this fixture on the go again which could include Hangklip.
I think what happened was basically GCB swopped the QC fixture with the Selborne one thinking it would be more competitive but it has not been. What I did find strange was the fixture ended in 95 were as in 97/98 GCB would have battled with QC.
Remember one thing QC always had the will no other school had against GCB. Many a time schools have beaten GCB because they had better sides were QC always seemed to be capable of doing this even with average sides.
@Playa: What I said, or hinted at, was that if the reasons were “political” as you say, then the contact between the hockey and cricket codes, would also have been affected- and that has continued uninterrupted. No, I believe its for the same reasons as MC- scores and that QC could not raise enough teams, as in the past, to continue with the derbys (Personally, I think that the latter problem can be overcome, by involving other school(s))
@Grasshopper: Heart warming indeed! Nice one, and a huge well done to your boys and staff.
@BOG: The last derby was in 1996. They played again in 2005/2006 at St Stithians, if I am not mistaken. Rugbyfan and a few other GCB old boys will tell you that the reasons for ending the derby were political and not based on results. The Dale fixture was ended on political grounds that much I know. To be fair, the pressure came from parents and wasn’t a GCB thing.
Afterall, the results down the line against Selborne have not been competitive for as long as I remember.To a point where the lower teams are now staggered. Anyway, I cannot speak for any of the institutions, I am not affiliated with them.So maybe I am the one who has this all wrong.
Ek dink nie die magtiges besef wat dit vir ons seuns beteken om teen hulle te speel nie. Hulle is voor sulke games vrot van die senuwees en dis n droom wat vir meeste van hulle waar word.
@kosie: dankie waardeer ten minste ons woes randers nie so bad nie
@Djou: As mense nie die son op ‘n ander gun nie, of nie kan glo dat ander ook dalk iets op ‘n ander manier kan vermag nie, het iets of iemand met die opvoedingstaak misluk.
Aanvaar die verskille maar respekteer almal
@MikeSt: Ek weet dagskole het baie groter uitdagings as seuns skole. Iets wat ek egter altyd sal onthou van EG is 3 dinge. Eerste was toe my seun as O/14 mannetjie teen julle gewen het en ‘n EG speler na die tyd vir hom kom sê het dat hy ‘n goeie game gehad het. Die ander 2 het met krieket te make en het my seun’hulle hul eerste wedstryd teen EG op julle veld verloor en toe ontmoet die 2 weer in die finale op Wits. Die finaal het ons gewen en was julle span grasieus met julle verloor.
@Kosie: Natuurlik is dinge anders tussen ‘n seunskool en gemengde skool. Ek het albei beleef.
Die probleem hier is egter dat sommige seunskole se Pa’s of oudleerders so arrogant is en gemengde skole byna niks gun nie. Gaan maar net terug op die posts en jy sal sien hoe neerhalend en beledigend ‘n seker blogger van ‘n seunskool met wit en blou strepe van ander gemengde skole praat. En hy doen dit aanhoudend – die dat meeste ouens wonder of hy maniere het.
@BoishaaiPa: Ek het teruggegaan en als gelees – en dit staan duidelik – niks uit konteks nie soos jy beweer. Trouens, jy het met jou stellings aan Mike dat hy verstik in sy kompleks en dat EG se dream team ‘n nagmerrie beleef net jou voortdurende alwetende arrogansie bevestig. Dalk moet jy by jou familie by Paarl Gim van nederigheid gaan leer. Hulle sou daarop gewys het dat die wedstryd enige kant toe kon gaan.
Ek ken gelukkig ook ander ouens by Boishaai en volgens hulle was ‘n wen teen EG ononderhandelbaar – dus net so belangrik as ligas en derbies.
@kosie: stem saam en verstaan wat jy se.
Stem egter nie met DNA verwysing nie klink amper soos die Hitler filosofie rondom n edel ras / groep.
Ek dink egter dagskole / gemengde skole verdien net soveel indien nie meer krediet as die magtiges nie want ek glo nie enige iemand besef die komplikasies vir n dagskool om te kan kompeteer nie…
@MikeSt: Daar sal maar altyd ‘n verskil wees tussen ‘n seuns skool en ‘n gemengde skool. Die dinamika en DNA van die 2 verskil maar net te veel.
Die uitkyk, tradisies, samehorigheid en netwerke is maar net anders. Dit beteken nie dat die een beter of slegter is as die ander nie; net anders.
@BoishaaiPa: sukkel om die verdraai stelling te motiveer. Julle arrogansie laat my wel verstik in my so klim van julle trone af….
Duidelik is jou aannames net so verwrong soos jou woordspeling.
Kan nie dink dat jy in 2 jaar al ooit n positiewe opmerking gemaak het tov enige dagskool nie.
So its speaks for itself
JAmmer ons heg nie dieselfde waardes aan n Kearsney en Wildklawer as julle bevoorregtes nie.
@pietretief: Lees my kommentaar aan Mike…julle lees my kommentaar uit konteks…ons geniet dit as feesrugby..uitslae is nie so belangrik nie.
@MikeSt: Neerhalend in watter opsig?…Jy verstik so in jou eie kompleks dat jy nie die kaf van die koring kan skei nie…Nerens het ek gese Wildeklawer is swak nie…ons as ondersteuners sien dit soos wat dit moet wees..feesrugby is waaroor dit gaan en die wenmotief is nie die belangrikste nie maar deelname teen ander skole teen wie jy nie gereeld speel nie…Die belangrike games is jou liga en derbies…dit wil ons nie graag verloor nie…Jy het nou maar eenmaal n probleem met ons en probeer alles verdraai…so bietjie suurdruiwe is seker te verstane nadat die EG dreamteam so bietjie van n nagmerrie het ..
@BOG: Follow the conversation and gather what i referred to.
@umbiloburger:
Wayne Muller reffed the College/Glenwood game at KP (incorrectly credited to Blake Beattie by the knuckleheads at Supersport). Dave Look was on touch. Regardless – your point is valid. He’s a great referee and should referee as much as he can at school. Ditton for Reuben Rossouw and Greg Wedderburn at Glenwood as well as Wes vd Linde at Westville.
@MikeSt: You wont find a higher standard of school rugby than at inter schools. What on earth makes you think that its not rugby?
@BuffelsCM: To answer your question about an U19A coach refereeing an U14A match…..YES!YES!YES. Some schools have outstanding referees. Hilton Coll have a chap Dave Look who coached their U16A side who refereed the college vs Glenwood game on the stadium. What a brilliant referee. He should referee al the U14 or u15 games if he is free.
Any referee who has to awards 32+ penalties in an U15 match between 2 top sides has a major management issue and will always blow the laws and not the game. That kills games.
@GreenBlooded: Okay thanks
@GreenBlooded:
“I don’t get the logic that a penalty count in a match needs to be equal” Yes of course they don’t need to, but, when watching two evenly matched teams play, pretty decent, disciplined and well coached players (not falling under points 2-5), where the penalty count is vastly unbalanced, there must be a reason. But, you coming from a refereeing point of view, can only categorise the possibilities into the 5 points you have mentioned. That’s fine with me, lets leave it there.
@GreenBlooded: Shows Craig Joubert’s integrity, good solid College OB…
@RuggaBoysDad:
It don’t get the logic that a penalty count in a match needs to be equal. It’s not a case of 1 for you and 1 for you and at the end the penalties cancel each other out. Pentalties are awarded – if there is no advantage to the non-offending team – for transgressions of the laws. There are many many many reasons that the penalty count and a biased ref is not one of them. Some of these might include:
1. One side is better coached to take advantage therefore doesn’t take all of the penalties on offer.
2. One side is not as well coached on the laws as the other therefore makes more infringements.
3. One side is weaker and therefore resorts to illegal means to gain possession / yardage / advantage.
4. One side has been encouraged before the game to “moer hulle” by vicarious parents etc resulting in lots of foul play from one team (it happens!!)
5. Discipline is not coached and not managed on-field by the captain.
If the penalty count is high it is a sign of a referee who is not managing the game correctly. In fact at the upped levels – the number of penalties awarded (total) in a game is a major indicator of the referees performance and features prominently in his appraisal. Where this idea comes from that the referee is at fault for a skewed penalty count I just don’t know.
@BuffelsCM:
I have no problem with any school coach of any team reffing any match for any team of his school. It happens all the time. If he is unfair he will soon be found out. In KZN we have Society referees for all the A team matches but it wasn’t always like that. Who is to say that some of those society referees are not old-boys or teachers at the school?
I’ll end with an interesting story about the 40-44 Glenwood College 150th match – the best game of rugby I’ve ever watched (including RWC, Super 15 etc) where Craig Joubert, a College old boy, was slated to ref the match. The conflict of interest was put to Sean Erasmus, the Glenwood coach at the time. He was asked if he wanted the best referee in the world or the 3rd best in Midlands. Without hesitation – he chose Craig and the result was there to see. Glenwood won the match in the final minute. He, a College old boy on their 150th Reunion Day could very easily have prevented that and ensured his school got the result on their special day.
@Cappie: That is good to hear, there are always a handful of exceptions in all schools but good to hear the majority are great. I’m sure the same can be said of Affies boys being hosted by Glenwood..
@Grasshopper: Very nice and thanks for sharing that. I for one can confirm that of all the schoolboys we’ve hosted during interschools, Glenwoods boys were always our favourites. Not only because they were giving us a gift, but because of their polite behaviour and enthusiasm. The Glenwood glass is my favourate whiskey glass. “Doen so voort manne!”
@BOG: Then create a blog for inter schools as we talking rugby here
@GreenBlooded: We know referees are human and make mistakes but if somebody is not competent he shouldn’t be a referee.
I also know many supporters / coaches / players often only see the mistakes (from their point of view) of the referees…..and many people don’t know the the laws of the game. If however you are not able to apply the laws correctly you shouldn’t be on a rugby field.
@ Greenblooded: I’d really like your view on a previous post. I’ll copy and paste it again:
“I’d like somebody’s opinion on the following: should an under 19A team coach be allowed to referee another A team’s match of his school? A while ago I was surprised when the first team’s coach of our opponents refereed the under 14A match. I’m not sure how impartial such a coach can be as a referee. One example: at a scrum our hooker asked the referee: “sir, whose ball is it ?” His reply: ” OUR ball” – That doesn’t sound very “neutral” to me
@MikeSt:
That is why I say, for a team to win away from home, is always a massive result. Have a good one mate!
Hey Mike, well, it has been said, “You cant beat a Valke school, with a Valke ref!!!!”
Ek dink nie BHP het my nodig om hom te verdedig nie, maar vir wat dit werd is, dink ek darem nie hy het het dit so bedoel nie. Toernooie is genotvol en dien n baie belangrike doel, en daar is sekerlik groot waardering vir die borge,maar daar is niks wat vergelyk met n interskole waar al die spanne van elke denkbare sport, deelneem nie, maw totale deelname.
@Grasshopper: that is cool ,big thumbs up,well done
@GreenBlooded: @RuggaBoysDad: Have to agree and disagree. Bias referees do exist and this is mostly the case when you are playing at other unions and there referees handles the games. 50/50 calls normally goes the way of the home team.
Can give you lots of video footage on this.
I do understand its an unthankful job and you can never be perfect as there will always be a winning and losing side. All that teams and supporters ask is consistency when making decisions no oneside decissions….
@MikeSt: @BoishaaiPa moet hier met Mike saam stem indien die wildeklawer nie so belangrik is nie laat dan liewers ‘n skool gaan wat dit ‘n eer voor is om daar te wees. Volgens jou comment doen PBH die res ‘n guns om by wildeklawer te wees. Ons ken julle mos nie so nie.
Off topic; A heart warming letter we received from this past weekend.
“Good day Mr Kershaw
I am the General Manager at Road Lodge Kimberley where a number of your pupils and teachers resided over the weekend.
What a lovely bunch of boys they are! I am thoroughly impressed with their excellent behaviour and courtesy showed to fellow players, guests, myself and my staff. It was honestly a privilege housing your teams and will ensure I spread the word around our City Lodge Hotels group and wherever I go! It is well visible that the teachers are passionate, respected and definitely works hard to maintain the standard.
Go Glenwood go !! Boys you rock – you have a prosperous future lying ahead.
Hoping you all reached Durban safely
Cecile Fisher
General Manager
Road Lodge Kimberley”
Well done boys, Glenwood is extremely proud of you all.
@GreenBlooded:
As I take by your post, that you are a referee, point taken on your knowledge of the law. Well, on TV watching the WK, Law 19.10 (g). was then not interpreted consistently. So be it. I know that the referees officiating at SBR are not professional, but that was said slightly tongue in cheek, it is after all amateur rugby. You noted “What really gets my goat though is the accusation of bias by referees”. Okay, I humbly withdraw my observation, and will never again mention bias again. To @umbiloburger, all I can say, is that if a side has a penalty count of +32 against them, then he should wonder if that team should be playing at that level, or even better, the coaching staff need to teach the laws to the boys, as they surely do not understand them. The referee should, and must be beyond reproach. One last observation, watched a junior game at a tournament recently, the teams were evenly matched, the penalty count was 20+ against the team I was supporting. Even the opposition supporters noted that this is not right, and we don’t want to win in this way. Two days later, the same ref, my team against a clearly superior team, in tactics and game play, penalty count, dead even. Can’t explain that, but yes, were are all human, and yes, we do love this game called Rugby.
@Die Ken: The historic match results for GCB, is on Rugby15. I just dont have the inclination to go through it. Look under “Historic results—“
Waar kan ek al die wedstryd uitslae kry? Sal graag die onder 14, 15 en 16 tellings ook wil sien.
@RuggaBoysDad:
Lots to answer here:
Holding the player in the air too long at a lineout is against the laws. You can look in your well-worn copy of the law-book – Law 19.10 (g). So not a ‘Home School Rule’ or ‘Special Category of Rules’ at all and a clear indication that referee critics don’t know the laws as well as they think.
The only referees who are professional (i.e. that make a living from refereeing rugby) are the IRB elitie panel guys of whom currently South Africa has 3 – Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper and Stuart Berry (the last I heard). All other referees are amateurs – the guys at the top get paid match fees but hardly such that it qualifies them as professionals. They guys who ref Tier 1 school 1st teams get paid about R120 which might cover their petrol to get to the game and back. The guys who ref U14/U15 etc get nada – they do it for the love of the game.
What really gets my goat though is the accusation of bias by referees. Like the referee wakes up in the morning and while packing his kit bag is thinking of ways to ‘screw’ school XYZ and make sure that school ABC wins. It’s all perception. Referees make mistakes – we are human. The problem is that we disregard the mistakes that benefit our team and go into cardiac arrest on the ones that go against us with the resulting impression that the referee is against us. Not true. The same as a player goes out to play the best game that he can, so does a referee go out to blow the best game that he can. Our path to the top of the pyramid demands this and a referee who is deliberately blowing badly will only harm his own career – much the same as a player would harm his career by deliberately playing badly.
Lastly – if you are going to be a referee critic – please learn the laws. The average spectator would probably get about 20-30% for the law exams which we all write twice a year yet they have no skaam to sit on the sidelines and tell us how useless we are.
@BoishaaiPa: Weereens n tipies neerhalende opmerking van n tradisionalis ten opsigte van n toernooi wat ek glo die beste is in SA selfs beter as Cravenweek.
Klim van julle trone af tradisionaliste
@umbiloburger:
From what I saw on TV, the level of refereeing was pretty good, mostly clear and concise. I did not see clear favouritism in any of the games. You mention the Assistant Referees, I couldn’t see them, but take your word on how they performed. Looking at the last game, I thought that ref was in control of the game. On the subject of the U14/U15/U16 referees with penalty count of +32, you mention the Griquas Refs just don’t make the cut. I reckon you are opening a can of worms here. Referees are supposed to be professional, no? But this is an amateur game? Yes? I have seen it all, biased, unbiased, 0/20 vision, 20/20 vision, good and bad. Why is it said that “Boet, you can’t win there”, or “To win there, you need to play expansive rugby, but make sure the passing is clear and definitely backwards”. When watching, (or was I witnessing) a junior game at one of the “Traditional rugby schools”, I saw the ref was a plonker, but the blokes from the other school said, “No, the ref is fine, look at the penalty count, it’s basically even”. Ja boet, it makes me feel better when we get penalties in our 22 only, which does not affect the game, but they too, get all their penalties in our 22 as well…. “Boet, this ref is a provincial ref!!!” Ja, he may be, but is he, or was he, a teacher at this school? Possibly an old boy? Oh, and as I am on a roll here, what about the interpretation of the rules, all the rules governed firstly by the IRB, then SARU, all the way to High School Rules and at the end, Bulletjie/Leeutjie rugby etc etc. But a new undocumented category is “Home School Rules”. These are a special category of rules, only known to the ref. “Attacking lineout, 5 meters out, the lock is hoisted up, catches the ball, and is held there for a couple of seconds… Ref blows the whistle, Penalty to the defending team, reason? Holding the player in the air too long” Captain dumbfounded asks the ref “Que? And gets a yellow card for dissent” Me treading on thin ice here… as I said, a can of worms it is. Maybe that can should be kept closed.
@Roger: @BOG: I can confirm that the above win:loss:draw ratio from 1991 is 50:43:7, I still need to source the results before then.
@BOG: @Roger: Bog is correct, the games were stopped being played in the late 1990s (that is after Monnas won the majority of games from circa 1990 to 1996). They then started to play, on an ad hoc basis in the late 2000s again, with GCB winning most tight encounters and a draw inbetween. It will take me a day or 2 to get all the info, but if my memory’ still on par, the win:loss:draw ratio for GCB:Monnas would be in the region of 50:40:10. I can remember most of the games from the 80s, 90s and 2000s, but cant speak for the games before that. I can ask my father re the 60s and 70s, if you need more qualitative info?
@BoishaaiPa: As ek so na rekords moet kyk, wil dit tog vir my voorkom asof Grey, nie net by Grey, n perd van n ander kleur is nie, maar selfs in die Kaap. Maar ek gee jou gelyk. Anders as in vorige jare sal ek liefs nie my “ou maat” hierdie jaar op die spel plaas nie
@Playa: GCB and QC have not played, because when this traditional derby was stopped, the scores were going south and was done in the “best interests of rugby”- as I understand it. Sad considering the long history of competition in the 100 yrs before that. And I know that there is speculation of all different reasons but I dont believe that. There is still annual contact in hockey and cricket and if there were reasons other than “rugby reasons”, this would not be so. So- and I know this is a presumption, if the derbys had continued, the record, by now, would have looked less favourable. The history of GCBs results is on “Rugby15”, but Im to lazy to check the results with Monnas, but I do know that they have the best record against Grey.
@BoishaaiPa: Hoor hoor! Ek weet dis ‘n grote op julle kalender. Alle sterkte vir Saterdag. Volgende Saterdag is dit ons beurt op die einste slag van Bloemfontein. Dis nooit maklik daar nie.
@beet: All of us who share the passion for SBR should be very very thankful to people like Louis de Kock and Cassie Carstens for putting on the amazing tournament that Wildeklawer is. They do this without the support of the Northern Cape Provincial Government despite the fact that the tournament generates millions for the province and Kimberley in particular. But of course we know that politicians are mostly only interested in self-interest and wasting our taxes. What a sorry bunch we have in power. Louis and Cassie: we salute you!
@Playa: Last time he was seen in anger at school was the Grey High festival where he was voted backline player of the tournament. Maybe not quite the x-factor of Jesse but still good stuff.
What are the odds of seeing 3 Kriels in Bulls colours sometime – be like the Du Plessis boets …
@beet: I saw a bit of him in Oakdale colours last year, and he indeed showed a lot of promise.I’ll keep an eye out for him.I need to watch more junior rugby…that was one of my resolutions for the year.I hope he doesn’t get coached into being a donkey.
@Playa: They have that JT Jackson kid now. He seems to be making very good progress.
@Cappie: Ons worry nie te veel oor hierdie toernooi rugby nie…so met ons unimpressive rugby het ons darem Monnas en EG geklop…Grey by Grey in Bloem is egter n perd van n ander kleur en dit is een van ons tradisionele derbys…baie meer op die spel as n Willeklawer klop op die skouer.
@Gungets Tuft: Hope he can revolutionarise the Bulls 13 position like his brother has done with 15.What a breath of fresh air he is!!!
@Roger: That’s was Dan. He plays 13, he’s with the Bulls and starting to make a big comeback if I heard correctly. He’s a damn fine player, that injury had a long term rehab. I’m still hopeful that he will show up in Blue at least and even green and gold. Time will tell.
@BuffelsCM: I see. I was under the impression that it was all part of Wildeklawer and at the same venue.
Anyway it doesn’t sound like the referees will get much better if they don’t have a good appreciation of how the game is meant to be played. It’s probably in the best interests of the schools that participate to come up with a cost effective proposal or live with the stress of watching clueless referees making unjustifiable calls.
@BOG: I started off by stating “on a different note..” No reference to what you said before.
@BOG: @Roger: I am not privy to Monnas’ record, but I feel it may be a bit skewed to look at the entire history considering that QC and GCB have 68 games played between them with QC winning 20 and 10 being drawn (according to my records).Maybe sticking to just recent history may be a fairer reflection…of which, I not mistaken QC and GCB have only played 3 times in the last 20 years since 1995, with QC winning 1 and GCB the last 2.
@beet: The junior tournament is actually run by Diamantveld.
In theory it could work but not many coaches are qualified referees. Most of the junior matches are played at different venues and it will therefore be a bit of a logistical problem as well.
It will do no harm to suggest it to the school though and it is perhaps worthwhile exploring further
@Gungets Tuft: well done on young Kriel’s call up to the Bok training camp.
I get confused by the Kriel’s though – which one was it who got badly injured against KES and lost out on SA Schools selection?
@BOG: oh and ou Boggie – KES thus far – played 7 won 4 lost 2 and 1 draw
In all seriousness though – I’m sure Monnas has a better record against Grey than most – who has the stats?
@beet: If you go and read my comments, you will see that it is precisely what I said, so dont take what I said to Roger, out of context. I also said that Monnas has the best record, of all schools, against GCB- better even than Queens College. So , there is no absence of respect- on the contrary. And I have made that very clear
@BuffelsCM: The Wildeklawer sponsor was on TV and they seem like a very accommodating crowd. It was even mentioned that the tournament was structured along the lines of what schools had requested. I would suggest that with so many knowledgeable school officials having reffing experience in attendance, that the schools take it upon themselves to volunteer the services of coaches etc to officiate the junior matches. Obviously it would not mean taking charge of their own school’s games but certain sharing the work load around evenly would be part of the plan. In that way, an acceptable standard might be achieved. I know that school officials don’t goof off during festivals, there is a lot of work and supervising to do but this kind of arrangement might actually make the job less stressful.
He,he,he,he,he
@Roger: A school might have a relatively favorable record against GCB. That’s it. For the rest the Tall Poppy Syndrome reigns.
Ou Bog is allowing himself to be provoked into comment, then those comments critiqued. Chill ou Bog, chill. It’s been said by people wiser than us that a loss is often more character building than being unbeaten. I think that probably counts for schools as well as individuals. That’s what it’s about – yes, building character?
@BOG Spaar jou asem…en wees net dankbaar dat ons daardie Rooiskool se swartsak groen wegtruie…hierdie jaar gespaar is by Wildeklawer…
@BOG: On a different note. Last year I was fortunate enough to speak to Alex Jonker, the Grey captain a couple of nights before the Monnas match. I picked up that the Grey first team had the utmost respect for Monnas. Monnas wasn’t just some old co-ed from Krugersdorp, they were viewed as honourable opponent with perhaps the best record against Grey in the modern era – a team that demanded Grey players to be at their best and prepared well for the physical challenge. I also sensed the weight of the world was on Alex’s young shoulders. Most rugby teams in this country at any given level run onto the field with the desire to win but only one that I know of is expected to win every single game. I honestly belief that the 2014 team did not get the praise they deserved for finishing first simply because we all just expect them to occupy that position every year. We forget the massive effort that gets put in to achieve this. Similarly when Grey do get beaten which has only happened 16 times in the last 16 seasons, it’s big news. The talk about this year’s Grey team, the tactics and even the coach has been building for a while and will tend to be at its most negative in many circles this week, yet the effort that the players and coaches make remains as committed to the cause as it ever was since they established themselves as one of the very best rugby playing schools in the world.
@umbiloburger: @GreenBlooded:
I can’t comment about the referees at the under 19 games because I have seen very little of it. I am also hesitant to comment about referees in games where my team was involved because it might be interpreted as sour grapes. Seeing that the point was raised I am going to comment.
Both our matches at the junior tournament were officiated by the same referee. Just for the record we lost the first and won the second. The standard of refereeing at the junior tournament was way below standard (that is putting it mildly). Afterwards a fellow coach tried to get the referee’s take on the gate at the ruck. He couldn’t give a proper reply apart from mumbling a lot of nonsense. The penalty count was 10 + 2 free kicks against us and 1+ 1 in our favour.
After the first match we tried to get the referee changed for the second one by going through the correct channels but without any success. The list with the names of referees and assistants was published beforehand. IMO it is in any event better to give teams different referees at the same tournament.
In the 2nd match his interpretations weren’t any better. The penalty count was 11 to 6 against us. One of the 6 was thanks to an AR that pointed out a very late tackle.
I know it is a difficult task to find capable referees at these tournaments but if you want to make it a worthwhile experience you can’t sacrifice quality in the process. The players and their parents are paying a lot of money to attend festivals. Surely they are “allowed” to expect proper officiating.
I’d like somebody’s opinion on the following: should an under 19A team coach be allowed to referee another A team’s match of his school? A while ago I was surprised when the first team’s coach of our opponents refereed the under 14A match. I’m not sure how impartial such a coach can be as a referee. One example: at a scrum our hooker asked the referee: “sir, whose ball is it ?” His reply: ” OUR ball”
Any ideas anybody ?
@Roger: I thought that you understood English? If you did, you will notice that I simply agreed with another blogger on something quite common and reason for concern.Are you denying me this right? Has KES won a match this year?No sense in repeating what Pinotage has already said to you. There was one or two draws too, but as you say, a favourable record of one in 19 yrs. Put on a dry nappy and go to bed
@Roger: If a newspaper in the Cape have their facts correct, Monnas managed to beat Gcb in 1996 and again yesterday .Can someone confirm if this is correct.
If that is in fact correct, it indicates a win over Grey every 19 years.
With regard to the game yesterday, nobody will argue that Monnas were the best team on the day. We now move on and prepare for another massive battle on Saturday. No prediction from my side.
@umbiloburger:
I notice that SARRA took charge of the Kearsney Festival in years gone by but this year it was done by KZN. I think one of the problems with the rugby festivals is that a lot of the top referees have day jobs and the organisers have to use what is available. I noticed this at the Youch Club IPT a few years ago – terrible!!
The long-term solution is to attract and develop referees effectively to increase the size of the pool. The attracting part is difficult because of the constant criticism and abuse – I mean who in their right mind would want to be a rugby ref besides the certifiably insane?
The development side relies mostly on unpaid volunteers other than at the very top end of the spectrum and you cannot expect to develop a professional referee with an amateur coach (although certain coaches have excelled here 
).
It is becoming more and more of a problem – and the more criticism and abuse the referees take, the more will chuck it in, the criticism and abuse will get worse and the vicious circle perpetuates.
@BOG: oh get over yourself Bog – I preferred it when you run down the “piss poor” state of our country – never took you for a sore loser as well!
Monnas must have a pretty favorable win-loss record against Grey now?
@beet: I certainly did not harp on the matter. In fact, I was dead quite about it until umbiloburger mentioned it. I merely said to him that there are differing opinions on the matter. So, relax the muscles- Im not going to make an issue out of it.
@BOG: I made 2 negative comments about the reffing after the conclusion of games yesterday and balanced it out with 1 positive aspect today but I don’t mind, feel free to take those comments out of context if you like, just whatever you decide, don’t feel bad to tell us you are sour grapes about the defeat yesterday, coz I can see you are starting to lean very hard into those corners now
@Amalekite: Thanks. Please give me your address for your cheque.
Its very true. To face opposition that comes at you week after week with the kitchen sink, is not easy. But if they say so themselves, it appears to be arrogant. Even so called “weaker” teams can never be underestimated- highly motivated with nothing to lose, is a lethal combination.
Grey Bloem is most probably the team that I respect the most. I have never witnessed any foul play or any other bad behaviour from any of their boys. Their supporters are also first class people who are humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
I feel for the Grey boys, as week in and week out, they play against top opposition ,and it often means quite a bit of travelling. The other factor to consider, is the amount of pressure that they are constantly under, because of the excellence of all the previous years. Lastly, no matter who plays them, you can almost bank on it, that the opposing school will be playing above themselves to try and claim their scalp.
Thanks for setting the bench mark in more ways than one!
@Cappie: Alom beend as n voorvel/foreskin@kosie: Ek en hy kom al n lang pad saam en is nie van plan om op hierdie stadium te skei nie. Ek het bloot probeer illustreer die vertroue wat ek in vroeer jare gehad het, ontbreek n bietjie nou@umbiloburger: Sorry to say, but that was my impression too, but its always easier to complain if your team won. It may otherwise sound like sour grapes. But this seems to contradict what Beet and a few other bloggers have said. They seem very impressed with the standard of officiating.
@RuggaBoysDad: I assume you are referring to how bad the refereeing was. I was at the games and I cannot believe that certain guys are given a whistle for a TV game, and then they are backed up by AR’s that are more concerned about the ball than off the ball. I watched the first GW match and was horrified at what transpired. And that was at 1st team level!!!!! The guys that officiated the Junior teams were horrific.
Perhaps a solution is to start bringing in top developing referees from all over SA for these matches. Sorry to say this but Griquas referees just don’t make the cut. To watch an U14 or U15 game with 32+ penalties is just crazy.
All I have to say about winning or losing is that it always depends on who wants it the most. To say that people are happy if a powerhouse team loses, is not the way to go. Serious SBR followers will ALWAYS want to see a great game of rugby, as Wildeklawer gave us. To see a powerhouse team win away from home, with the standard of refereeing that was on offer at Wildeklawer, will always be seen as bigger than them winning at home.
@kosie: Sjoe Kosie, ek het nie die HAT hier nie, net so klein verklarende woordeboekie, en die bevat nie daai groot woord nie.
@BOG: As jou Praeputium vir jou ‘n probleem is, is daar beter maniere om dit op te los as om dit op ‘n blok te sit. Indien jy ongerief ervaar kan ek jou help. Ek weet dit kan aanleiding gee tot ernstige nagevolge en lees mens gereëld van jong manne wat dood gaan agv die verkeerde metodes wat gebruik word. Die hele prosedure behoort nie langer as so 15 minute te neem nie en sal jy nie langer as 25 minute narkose hê nie.
Jy behoort die middag na die prosedure steeds die rugby te kan kyk en word jy ontlaan sodra die eerste urine gepasseer is.
@BOG: Boishaai was ook nie te impressive teen EGJansen nie. Ek dink nie jy hoef jou heeltemal te veel te bekommer oor eerskomende Saterdag se wedstryde nie, miskien wel oor volgende Saterdag. Lol! Boishaai het ook nie Louis Botha heeltemal vernietig, soos verwag is nie. Ek dink Grey/Boishaai kan ‘n skouspel wees van ‘n ander aard. Beide spanne staan ‘n goeie kans, en soos die ou clichés, die een wat hom die graagste wil hê, ens, ens…
In Krugersdorp staan LOL vir “Lots of Loadshedding”. Nee, ek dink nie die lig het een span meer benadeel as die ander nie. Ek weet dat die een Grey vleuel, by een geleentheid die bal heeltemal gemis het. Miskien was die skeidsregter nagblind.
Al wat ek weet is dat indien hulle weer so laat speel, moet hulle maar flitse gee vir die spelers. Vir my is daar net dinge wat ontbreek van tradissionele Grey rugby, o.a hantering, vaardighede (op spoed) en dan soos laas jaar, is daar geen werklike uitstaande spelers nie. Maar dan weer, soos ek voor die wedstryd uitgewys het, het Monnas seker die beste rekord van alle skole teen Grey. Hulle was dus “due” vir n wen- ek gryp seker na grashalms. Al wat ek weet, is dat ek nie soos in die verlede, my voorvel op n blok sal sit vir eerskomende Saterdag teen Boishaai nie 
@MikeSt:
@Die Ken: Baie loadshedding in Krugersdorp so die kondisies hulle beter gepas
So net meer up and unders wou sien……………
@Cappie: presies
@Die Ken: Ek moet sê, dit het nie vir my gelyk of die donkerte enige een van die twee spanne gepla het nie. Hulle hantering was beter as ander spanne s’n wat in die dag gespeel is.
@MikeSt: Monnas se seuns moes 10:1 beter sig gehad het. Uiterse dom kommentaar hierbo
@MikeSt: Agree about the same conditions for both teams, and not saying it would have been a different result, but do believe that it changes your game plan?
The darkness were actually the same for both teams so cant see that it would have made a difference.
@beet: Pity, because I think it might have been a different game if it was not the case
@BOG: Daai het darem nie vir my gelyk na ‘n Grey span nie. Was daar baie beserings of wat was fout? Veral die voorspelers het nie vir my op vorm gelyk nie.
@Zion: It must have been extremely dark. The camera improves the quality of the light significantly. Luckily most youngsters still have very good eyesight.
Het die game van Grey & Monnas gekyk, maar dit het darem op gedeeltes van daardie veld baie donker gelyk?
@Playa: Thats precisely where you are wrong. Every week, almost everyone has their toes and fingers crossed in the hope that they lose. It makes me a little arrogant on occasions. Several years ago, just before a match against a school in KZN, someone told me that GCB is going to see their a-rse. The score was around 70+ and afterwards I really played along— yeah, they really struggled—. But if you are an exception, muinto obrigado.
@beet: indien jy sou wonder watse gewig om vir die SARU span te gee vir die doeleindes van die rankings, dan sal dit seker meer wees aswat Louis Botha het? Wonner maar net, veral omdat ek gesien het Affies het geval na hulle wen teen SARU, terwyl PBH geklim het na hulle oorwinning oor Louis Botha.
Dag 2 veral was skitterend. Dag 1, een belaglike wedstryd gereël gewees.
Die SARU span het wel op dag 2 gewys dat hulle miskien nie so sleg was soos die telbord teen Affies gewys het nie, deur Louis Botha behoorlik te wen, selfs verder as wat Boishaai Louis Botha kon wen.
@BOG:
What surprises me is that Andre T has not surfaced yet? Perhaps he is still drunk?
@BOG: Hahaha! A bit of humility would go a long way Oom Boggie.I am pretty sure there are very few people in this world who enjoy to see GCB lose…especially by a double digit margin
Shows strength vs strength is the best :-)
@beet: Im sure you enjoyed writing this report, particularly par.2. Perhaps you could have added to “suffered the worst defeats” – “in years”
@danie: Happy birthday Danie. Maybe a nice present on the way on 06 May
Ek het nie eenkeer die remote uit my hande laat gaan vandag nie, het my verjaarsdag as verskoning gebruik, ons was regtig gespoil deur Supersport en al die seuns vir n great dag waar rugby koning was!