Contribution from Rugbyfan
How the 1st XV’s performed and what their lower age-groups are looking like.
1. Selborne
1st Team
Well even with players like Morgan Steyn and Grant Venter being out for the whole season Selborne still came out on top in the Eastern Cape. They lost maybe one or two games against non ECape teams they should have won so makes one wonder how good a season this could have been without injuries. David Britz was a star and was backed up by a very good team. 2016 looks good as there are a couple of players back and boys coming up through the age groups are really good expect Selborne to be the ECape No 1 or 2 again next year. ( And the next few years at least. )
Age Groups
Well Under 14/15/16 all ended the year as East Cape No 1 in there respective age groups and this bodes well for there future. Under 13A lost only 1 game and that was to Queens but otherwise a very good team.
2. Grey PE
1st Team
Had a good season but had to settle for 2nd place behind Selborne after losing to them at home. Bosch/Mafu/Vers were the stars of this team and really played well but were maybe a bit guilty of depending to much on them. Only lost 1 game to ECape teams and a few to other big schools so overall a very good season. 2016 looks good Mafu is back and will be a real handful next year also some very good players coming up from Under 16. The big issue is how they do without Bosch and Vers time will tell but still expect them to be ECape No 1 or 2 again next year.
Age Groups
Well Under 13/14/15/16 were most likely East Cape No 2 behind Selborne and were all very good some very exciting prospect coming through which should keep Grey at the top in the Eastern Cape going forward.
3. Brandwag
1st Team
Brandwag had a decent season and did not lose any home and that record goes back nearly two years now, although the fixture list might not be the strongest and they seemed to battle away from home they has a decent year. 2016 looks to be decent for them with 6 players back.
Age Group
Under 14 had a good season only losing a couple of games to bigger schools but should be a good age group when they reach Grade 12.
4. Framesby
1st Team
They lost a lot of games and as far as that goes this was a poor season but they have a young team and they played 7 Top 20 schools so due must be given to Framesby for putting themselves out there and a lot of people are starting to take note.
Age Groups
Not that any of there age group teams are very good but there is some real talent there and this should filter through over the next few years.
5. Dale
1st Team
Had a average season there highlight would be the double over Queens although last Saturdays game they won in the dying moments in a game that they were on the back foot. But as with any Dale team the enterprising play was on show as usual but they seamed to blow hot and cold some games very good and others they were shocking. 2016 if you look at Dale 2nd team and age groups will not be great but how many times have Dale come up with good 1st teams from nothing so time will tell but expect there to be some imports again to bolster the ranks. Must say Dale strongest point is “Griffy” he seems be the glue that sticks things together.
Age Groups
Under 15 team seems to be the best age group at Dale at the moment with one or two very good players Under 14/16 were very average and Under 13 were not great so the next few years I would expect Dale to battle. But saying that it has always being the case with Dale and bingo you have a 1st team “par excellence.
6. Queens
1st Team
Season started well and then something with the name of “injuries” happened which personally I have never seen to this extent before, but you must live with what you dealt but as the players fell to injury the more QC battled and lost a lot of games, will say the 2nd game against Selborne and Dale they looked a lot better and could have won both , at one stage there were two 3rd team players playing 1st team and a wing 8th man. But anyway not the best of season but they played with there hearts. 2016 well it looks promising as there are 17 boys back with 1st team experience and some very good players coming up from Under 16’s, looks like QC will be above average the next 3 years and maybe 1 of these year’s could be a cooker. But saying that not convinced of there coaching they have John Duncan at QC but they not using him?
Age Groups
Under 14 are very average, Under 15 are getting better by the year have very good pack, Under 16 have some very good talent but as a team were disappointing and Under 13 were very good so I think QC rugby is looking up for the next 5 years or so.
7. St Andrews
1st Team
They had a average year but with quite a few young players should be happy there best two results would have been against QC/Dale which they won both but I think were handed both games on a plate. They lost all there Grahamstown Tri-Schools games which was the first time in 16 years. 2016 looks promising so lets see what happens.
Age Groups.
Under 14/15/16 all look decent not the greatest but as the norm goes at St Andrew they seem to get better as the years go.
8. Danial Pienaar
1st Team
This was not a good year for them and lost most there games and I think they would like to forget the season. 2016 looks a lot better with some good age group boys coming through.
Age Groups
Under 16 had a decent year and did not lose many games, Under 15 and 14 were very average.
9. Hudson Park
1st Team
Not a bad year for them had one or two good wins like over Dale but Hudson show they are a school that’s keeps getting better. 2016 looks to be decent as they have some talent filtering through.
Age Groups
Under 14 were average and Under 15’s and 16 were average with a couple of good players.
10. Kingswood
1st Team
They beat St Andrews and Graeme to make them the “Kings” of Grahamstown so that would make it a good year but they battled with teams like Dale/QC but did not disgrace themselves. 2016 looks good with quite a few boys back it will depend on how many Post – Matric’s they get.
Age Groups
All age groups were average but this is what you would expect with so few boys in the school.
11. Nico Malan
1st Team
Well had a average season but came up with two good wins against Brandwag and Framesby in there last two games. 2016 looks average.
Age Groups
All seam pretty average.
12. Muir
1st Team
Had a good season or say a improving season there backline was very good but the forwards battled a bit still battled to win the big games but the rugby at Muir seams to be recovering well. 2016 looks okay but forwards will be small.
Age Groups
Under 16 had a lot of guts and Under 14’s are ever improving and looks like they could develop into a decent team, Under 15 were very week and lost most there games.
13. Graeme
1st Team
Were average but a win over St Andrews made there season. 2016 looks average.
Age Groups
Under 14’s battled, were the Under 15 and Under 16 were above average.
14. Marlow
1st Team
Was not there best season but fought tooth and nail in every game and nobody beat them with ease they had to fight for it. 2016 looks to be good as boys filter through from a good Under 16 team.
Age Groups
Under 16 were very good and these boys should be really good by first team level.
I did not see Cambridge or Pearson play so difficult to say what is going on there but on the whole ‘Schoolboy Rugby” is alive and well here in the Eastern Cape.
@BrotherBear: @Veg: Eunice girls are our sisters, along with the generally more plump ones from Oranje. In my days we had to walk a distance to get to Eunice, but foe everyones convenience, they are now on GCBs doorstep
@Veg: Since when do St Andrews have rights to the Eunice girls ;-)?
@BOG: Please recruit them for us BOG.If they behave we might let them walk over to Grey every now and then to watch Grey play.If they really behave we might let them go a bit further to visit some Eunice girls
@Playa: They tour the Eastern Cape every second year, when they travel to EL to play Selborne.
Does St Andrews not also have a rugby day?
@BOG: Graeme Rugby Day you mean.It would be nice to have a GCB-QC fixture on the day. I heard GCB were considering a tour to the EC next year. I hope it will be around that time, and your little bird is right.
Are they going to St Andrews in Bloem? Well, with all the other schools recruiting and with 24 injuries+ this year, I hope that GCB is recruiting to add to their already formidable prospects for 2016. A little bird whispered that a GCB /Queens match may be on the cards next year- probably at St Andrews (Grahamstown) day, to begin with. Any news about this possibility?
@Ludz: Beware the wounded Kudu! And it is indeed wounded.
I tell you now, no one gets the best out of the 1st XV like Mr Basset
Duncan very involved in that 1st XV, make no mistake, but his duties are far greater in his role as Director of Rugby. He has to divide his time across the board.
@QC86: Jeeepers, no ways!
@Playa: Ja,first team coach walking around at GK handing out forms.I wonder who they will play against if they buy Selborne players,they already give us a klap and now weaken our sides.I think the losses they took this year hurt them and now the sleeping giant has awoken again to try keep ahead.
@QC86: To Bloem???
I am a little concerned about next year must say,not many grade 11’s left and a few u16’s leaving i hear[Bloem] same coach with not much enthusiasm left after so many years at the post, so ja lets wait and see.
Would have given both nuts to have seen that Selborne backline in full cry with Morgan at flyhalf.Got a 10 minute glimpse at KERF.He setup 2 tries in that time and the line just had so much more time.Hats off to the boy that had to stepup and fill in,he did really well.