From EP Rugby:
VICTORIA Park will be looking to continue a successful season when they host Woodridge in what should be an entertaining schools rugby clash at VP on Saturday (May 30).
Despite a 12-10 loss two weeks against DF Malherbe, and a draw with Groendal early in the season in Cape Town, VP have posted an impressive series of victories, most recently coming from behind to defeat Alexander Road 15-13 last weekend.
With their confidence high and homeground advantage, VP will go into the match as favourites, but coach Marcel Pienaar said on Thursday they could not afford to take Woodridge lightly.
“l am sure it will be a tough game and tightly contested,” Pienaar said. “Both sides have dominant packs so it will be a contest to see whose backline can finish things off.
“We have a fairly small pack, but they have done really well this season. We have a bunch of youngsters in the team this year, but they have worked very hard and there is a good spirit.”
Interestingly, in their match against Alex, Woodridge won by one point, 15-14, and this year they have suffered two one-point losses. That suggests they are fully capable of pushing the home team.
Framesby face one of their tough challenges of the season when they take on the hard lads from Marlow Agricultural , who are fresh from a 33-8 triumph over Hudson Park.
It has not been the best year for the Framesby side, but they will be fully motivated for the game against their Karoo rivals and it should be a spirited contest on the Framesby field.
In Grahamstown, St Andrew’s face the daunting task of trying to stop a Grey High combination beginning to grow in confidence. Given the fact that they had to virtually build the team from scratch this year, it is difficult to see the Andreans registering their first win over their PE rivals since they won 20-13 at Grey in 2010.
Yet the St Andrew’s side are known for their fighting qualities and running ability, so Grey cannot allow any complacency to creep into their system after last week’s emphatic win over Queen’s.
After just one win in their last eight games, Pearson will be looking for redemption when they host Daniel Pienaar. The Summerstrand side were pipped in the last minute by Kingswood last weekend and it will not get much easier against the Uitenhage outfit.
Brandwag should prove too strong for Otto du Plessis, while Westering will have their hands full against Uitenhage visitors Muir.
Saturday’s fixtures, subject to change, are (11.30am start unless stated, home teams first): Solomon Mahlangu v Arcadia, Hangklip v Adelaide Gym, Brandwag v Otto du Plessis (12.30), Cillie v Hillside, Nico Malan v Despatch (13.00), Pearson v Daniel Pienaar, Framesby v Marlow (15.00), St Andrew’s v Grey High (14.30), Newton Tech v Ithembelihle 12.00, Humansdorp v Ndzondelelo, Victoria Park v Woodridge, Aeroville v Bertram, Westering v Muir, Dale v Kingswood (12.15), Graeme v Nathaniel Nyaluza (12.30)
ends
Framesby vs Marlow was a spirited contest, as predicted above, with Framesby coming out winners by 17 – 13. It was a tightly contested affair with some good plays put together by both teams. Framesby had the upper hand in the first half, with Marlow coming back strongly in the second. One or two unfortunate and unecessary incidents of foul play by Marlow nr 3, both of which the referee missed and the touch judge for unknown reasons chose not to report even though the first took place quite openly for all to see right in front of him.
Apart from these the match was played in good spirit and a good advert for schools rugby. Framesby had the upper hand, mostly by very small margins in most of the other matches (excluding third and fourths, which were won quite easily by Marlow)