By now many KZN supporters would perhaps agree that Glenwood is too strong in relation to the other KZN schools to be hauled in this season and will in all likelihood replace last year’s award winners, Michaelhouse as the top rugby school in the province. While the KZN number one position seems to be a foregone conclusion, the battle to be number two is still very much alive and kicking.
The popular theory right now that there’s an unpredictability about the next six KZN tier-1 schools below Glenwood and any one of them can beat the other on the day, which makes for some really exciting derbies to come. This theory has already played out in a few of the interschools matches that have taken place so far this season, with last Saturday being a case in point. Kearsney appeared to have a hold on second spot after narrow wins against Westville and DHS but they came unstuck against an improving never-say-die Hilton over the weekend. Although Hilton has made a habit of beating Kearsney on Gilfillan even in recent years, based on 2016 early season form, the result has to be classified as an upset…for now. Who knows maybe once everyone gets to look back at the 2016 season in a few months time that result would have made perfect sense. While that surprise result was being manufactured, on Bowden’s, DHS held on for a 1-point win against hosts Westville – another match that served to prove just how hard outcomes are to determine at current.
So this coming Saturday there are two huge “battle for second” matches on. Atop the Town Hill, Hilton hosts Westville while further into the Midlands Michaelhouse takes on Maritzburg College. Before the start of the season one might have been tempted to back the government schools for wins in these matches. Right now though there is a much higher degree of uncertainty about who will come away with the spoils. The confidence lacking Westville team is yet to win a game this season but they have the talent, there is no question about that. Hilton seemed to click during their match against Parktown at the St John’s Festival over Easter and they have not looked back since. College got a much needed win under the belt against Pretoria Boy’s High and will know that they should secure their fair share of ball-in-hand opportunities on Meadows. Michaelhouse return home after a heavy defeat against Glenwood but they shown good ability in their other games before that.
Elsewhere Kearsney has to lift themselves up of their recent disappointment and challenge Glenwood on Dixon’s on the latter’s Old Boys’ Day. For Glenwood who have an overseas tour coming up, avoiding complacency in this match has to high on the agenda. Kearsney’s record against them in recent seasons is a good one.
Northwood plays hosts to the wounded Jeppe Boys, one of the best teams in schoolboy rugby this season, who’ll travel to Durban North coming off their first loss of the 2016 campaign. The Knights are not an easy team for tourists to beat on home soil but must brace themselves for a backlash of note.
DHS should have things their own way against Clifton and St Charles should also record a comfortable win over St Andrew’s School from Bloemfontein.
No worry. When Mbabula is done with rugby, we will stagger!
@Grasshopper: No, He played thirds last year I think. Definitely not new to Glenwood.
@Far Meadows: It is mountain out of a molehill.
Would like to see more KZN Schools playing KZN Schools
@Rugger fan: I think the staggers that are being hotly debated are the 2 XV and the 3rd XV matches against Glenwood.
I think people are making a ‘mountain out of a molehill’ about this. Hell, all Glenwood did was ask for the stagger to accommodate Voortrekker , all they want is for as many of their teams to have a game as possible. What is the big deal ?
@Rugger fan:
Glenwood attracts a degree of scrutiny of FBI/CIA proportions in everything it does and is held to a completely different set of standards to every other school in South Africa. This blog is replete with many examples of this. This matter is no different.
On the staggers – there were a good few staggers against College this past weekend too (more noticeable in the lower age groups) – they seemed to work out fairly well – and there is not much debate on this blog about that? Why is GW getting so much debate and College not (when MHS was involved in both fixtures)?
@McCulleys Workshop:Morning, the stagger games came up around the fires at the Old Boys Club. The word is and its very different to Umbiloburgers statement. MHS was forced to play those staggers and if they didn’t, GW was going to cancel the entire day. That was direct from the voice of power.
The other thing regarding fixtures, is that the KZN Schools don’t include playing all their fixtures against their own provincial schools. Example is Northwood, they have played two schools from JHB and dropped two fixtures against KZN Schools. Other schools have done the same thing. MHS play ST John’s but that is a Independent Schools fixture. Surely the KZN schools should plan to play their games in their province first before considering outside fixtures. I know time plays a factor on the fixtures. Northwood vs MHS would have been a great fixture.
@Greenman: who is Matt Bauer? A new recruit?
The Sanix Japan squad from Glenwood:
Quintin Vorster
Connor Botha
Renier van Rooyen
Dylan Weideman
JJ vd Mescht
Austin Brummer (C)
Ettiene Terblanche
Brad Roodt
Jaden Jooste
Francke Botha
GJ Lubbe
Seun Maduna
Martin Holtzhausen
Lidelwe Cele
JC Conradie
Dylan Kruger
Shane Westman
Brendon Schwulst
Ruben van Heerden
Jonothan O’Neill
Sobonakaliso Dubazane
Morne v Rensburg
Conan le Fleur
De Wet Truter
Edward Laubscher
Matthew Bauer
Jayden Hendrikse
Dylan Pretorius
Christo Barnard
Devon Brough
None traveling reserves:
Wade Bischop
Mohamed Felton
Craig Hunt
Hilton de Jager
Andre vd Merwe
Bongumusa Khumalo
Wish them all the best and an awesome experience.
There is a couple of names you were looking for @Grasshopper:
@Bush: Hahaha I wonder if they are playing Linpark next week?
@McCulleys Workshop: Toti lost 40-7
Here are the unofficial College results from yesterday – staggers and playing against St Charles, House, Westville, Weston, Treverton & Hilton
Ruggers scores today:
1st College 30 Michaelhouse 20
2nd College 22 Michaelhouse 12
3rd College 19 Michaelhouse 24
4th College 54 Michaelhouse 5
5th College 59 Michaelhouse 0
6th College 52 Michaelhouse 0
7th College 45 Michaelhouse 0
8th College 56 St Charles 5th 0
9th College 57 Weston 3rd 7
10th College 51 Michaelhouse 8th 7
U16A College 19 Michaelhouse 32
U16B College 7 Michaelhouse 24
U16C College 33 Treverton U16A 38
U16D College 0 Michaelhouse U16C26
U16E College 45 Michaelhouse U16D 12
U15A College 15 Michaelhouse 12
U15B College 7 Westville 32
U15C College 12 Michaelhouse U15B 12
U15D College 35 Michaelhouse U15C 0
U15E College 59 Michaelhouse U15D 0
U15F College 10 Weston U15A 38
U15G College 28 Hilton U15E 12
U14A College 14 Michaelhouse 7
U14B College 0 St Charles U14A 32
U14C College 24 Michaelhouse U14B 7
U14D College 52 Michaelhouse U14C 5
U14E College 5 St Charles U14C 25
U14F College 17 Michaelhouse U14D 14
@McCulleys Workshop: The boys will be chuffed to come away with a win. The tight games are good ones, tests the skills and temperament of the boys, it’s the way it should be. We go off about offsets and filler games, but if the result is an even contest then it’s a good thing.
A few College side that took on fillers with big offsets took a bit of a pasting yesterday, that’ll have to be evened up a bit, but in general a good job of organizing a full set of fixtures, 28 teams played yesterday.
@Gungets Tuft: I heard the u14 and u15 A games were tightly contested. Well done on the win.
@McCulleys Workshop: huh?
@Grasshopper: How did Glenwood 2nds do against Toti?
@Veg: I think a few were selected for some men’s teams but that would have affected all. Maybe Kearsney have a great side, not sure.
Holy Moly! I’m very surprised at the Hilton and St Andrews (Bloem) results.
Another big result for Hilton after downing Kearsney the weekend before. Not sure if it’s a result of Hilton continuing to grow in self belief or Westville still low on confidence or both. Should be a great Midlands derby this year
@Veg: Wow. They did exceptionally well. In the context of the 2016 season that 1st 41-22 win over St Charles, is a surprise of the season. All other SCC teams won on the day if that adds to the weight of the victory in terms of being an upset
@Beet my old school did extremely well today.I agreed with you that it would be a relatively easy win for St Charles.I ask for forgiveness boys well @Grasshopper: Grasshopper any reason your 1st X1 hockey wouldn’t be at full strength?
@Beet my old school did extremely well today.I agreed with you that it would be a relatively easy win for St Charles.I ask for forgiveness boys well done
@Gungets Tuft: I was but work commitments came up, it was my 20th! Only 15 guys from my year made it. However 170 out of the 220 are overseas now, sign of the times maybe. The Reunion in Aus was 3 times the size!
@Grasshopper: I thought you said you were coming down for that, that’s why I asked.
@Gungets Tuft: it was Old Boys weekend, I believe there were 250 OB’s at the dinner on Friday. A war cry by all the OBs afterwards ended the evening. Seems a few of the sides lacked fluency, but a relatively good day results-wise. 1st team hockey was a bit of a shock, lost 1-6. Especially after a strong Kingswood festival. Not sure if they were full strength…
Very strange performance from the Green Machine. Some crucial turnovers cost them dearly when they were on the front foot. The wind definitely didn’t help matters, not the best conditions to play rugby! KC seemed to have moved Richardson from the flank to hooker, maybe tying him down a bit???
Congrats to Glenwood for a workmanlike win and all the best for their adventures in Japan!
@Grasshopper: Thought it was Glenwood Reunion this weekend?
I wouldn’t describe a House loss to College as “pear shaped”, it often happens that a superb season is followed by one that looks ordinary by comparison. I think the House U16A won, also the 3rds, all is hardly lost.
U14 a bit of a surprise. House have gone all out this year for their U14, I was expecting them to rip it. Perhaps College getting over that U14 bogey man thing?
@Gungets Tuft: yep, something about Kearsney makes the GW boys tense up. I wasn’t there but did hear the Kearsney try was an intercept. Anyway, the machine rolls on. Yeah, heard Balgowan was tight. Going pear shaped for House this year…
@Grasshopper: Get the impression it was tighter than the score shows, 7-7 at HT, but not being there it’s hard to say.
Sounds like an absolute blaster in Balgowan, lead changes constantly till the last 10 minutes, College surviving House camping on their trying for a lot of that. Interesting to see the match reports.
@Gungets Tuft: eish I knew it would be tight vs Kearsney! But a win is a win! Now for a tough SANIX with Rotorua, St Edmunds & Truro all in it!
College 30 – House 20
Glenwood 21 – Kearsney 7
FT Glenwood 2nds win 36-5. Now the biggie! No Kevin Smit…
Glenwood 2nds lead 27-5 with about 5 to play
Full time at Northwood 46-14. Jeppe took their foot off the gas I reckon, but Northwood can take credit for not giving up and for out scoring Jeppe in the second half.
Very quiet from Nottingham Road
Twitter accounts are silent, this blog, Eeisch. Notties must be shoaling
Northwood looked good for 20 minutes, floodgates have opened. HT 41-7
U15a was 15-13 to College
Sorry U14A I got the score the other way round. 8)
Jeppe 2nds 43 vs Northwood 0
Just checking the Northwood team sheet, see the name of a lightie I coached at lifesaving when he was 8. Unrecognisable now, excellent stuff
What a turnaround for the MHS U16A 32-19. Well done House
U14A 14-7 to House
U14a was 14-7 to College
U16A 27-7
Half time U16A 13-7 MHS
House u16A 10-0 so they must have learnt something during the week
@McCulleys Workshop: The games are spread all over House. I will give you updates as soon as I can get them or find out. Otherwise I’m going to lose kgs walking the grounds.
@McCulleys Workshop: Morning, head is all good. Things close early in the Midlands. Going to House around 9:00. Will send as much info as I can remember
I also sometimes think their is an element of isolation of lower teams but maybe it is just early season this year. I have heard rumblings. I don’t think College have done themselves any favours this year with trials for non A and 1st team players been postponed till almost the end of the first term, no real practice, then immediately after the holidays with one practice in which players were still being shuffled they head off to play Grey. Talk about making it hard for yourself. The lower teams in the age groups have been complaining about no chance to play or be seen at trials/practice. I think today they have given all the teams a hit out with some playing at Hilton so should be good for the rugby spirit.
The first team has some good talent in the backline but the penalty count against them last week was concerning. Let’s hope all the teams start getting settled and play some decent structures today, house won’t be a pushover.
I can’t see Glenwood getting surprised today but they will need to watch they don’t get caught out in first 15 minutes, Westville are due and I am sure are hurting after last weekend.
@Bush: How’s the head? Can you post u14a and u15a scores.
@Rugger fan: @Rugger fan: Hi Rugger Fan. Thanks, haven’t been this scared since 1991 running onto Goldstones. I have to be there bright and early, my son is playing the early game.
@Bush: I guess we’ll not be seeing you for the early kick offs tomorrow
Enjoy the reunion dinner
@McCulleys Workshop: Hi, its our Gaudy 25 years tonight. Finishing off at Notties. Not sure there will be to many strong soldiers early tomorrow morning.
@McCulleys Workshop: Looking forward to it , as you say it should be a cracker – the last home fixture vs College was also on Old Boys Day in 2014 . That was hell of a game , with College sneaking it in the last minute.
@Far Meadows:
It’s Old Boys Days at MHS so I’m sure it will be a cracker game with the home team rising to the occasion. Against smaller sides House are in with a chance, I would t write them off in this game.
@CRC: I see that Bowmaker – Wood is on the mend , running out for the 3rds this weekend, if my theory holds any water , then they should be Ok tomorrow !
@CRC: http://blackheathrugby.co.uk/player/michael-mvelase-julyan/
@CRC: What about, Michael Mvelase-Julyan?
@Far Meadows: Bowmaker-Wood is injured but should return soon, maybe lifting the fortunes of the side.
@Far Meadows: Perhaps you can start a trend with someone like Van Jaarsveld – Khumalo?
@Far Meadows: Lister-James was my generation…
Michaelhouse have not had a good start to the season , and appear to be weaker this year than they have for a few years…. after having a look at the team sheet, I have discovered their problem. There is not one boy with a double – barrel surname in the 1st XV !
Where is Ponsenby-Smythe when you need him ?
@Veg: I dont think you need to worry – my oldest son is in the unfortunate position of having a long term ACL road to recovery after an injury mid way through his U16 season and is out of all rugger until 2017. He has been asked to help with the coachin of the U14 teams.
He floats between the teams as a “specialist / assistant” with the coaching team. The age group coaches operate as a unit – and sit together to make appointments dropping and raising boys based on performance and injury.
A good example a young chap who started in the E team against Grey is now in the C team after some good performances (watch the name Ndlovu – I believe with the structure of a Tier 1 school like College he has 2019/20 Craven Week written on him – ad that from a young man who has never played the game before).
It is also very frustrating for young men who had a good career at junior school and may have even made KZN schools U13 – but now find themselves in the B team (a good friend’s son played E Free State hockey U13 – is in the College C team!). But there is definitely movement up and down the teams ever week.
My coaching son says it it his biggest frustration in the “E” team where he works hard on combinations and his guys perform -only to be bumped up a team next week. The age group also works on some commonalities – so that boys can bench upwards (you can only bench for a higher team – if you have played for a lower team already) and add to the team structure.
Hope this helps – and good luck your family member. IMO the lower levels “C – E” may be some of the best “fun” rugby out – as there is little pressure and the boys can produce some great SBR.
@Gungets Tuft: Thanks same advice I gave him.Hell didn’t think of that.
@Vlies as far as I know they play in the Free State B league.We also played in this league when I was there but a lot of the schools we played against are not what they once were.We also used to have two good fixtures against Kimberly Boys High and CBC Kimberly but not sure CBC even play rugby anymore.Glad we still play St Albans .
@Veg: Sorry, I’m actually not the right guy to ask, my son only played 1 game of rugby at College before a head injury convinced him to stick to hockey.
It’s many years ago, but when I was there the teams all practiced in what we called “games”, so First Game was the 1st and 2nd team, Second game was 3rds and 4ths, etc. same counted for age groups. It was difficult but far from impossible to move “games”, but an E team player is going to have to stand out to move to 2nd Game. I can’t see it being very different anywhere else. But, should a lightie show up well you can be sure that his coach will mention it to the coach of the next team up, that’s just part of every schools culture if you want to improve. Skonk was a legend at spotting talent, it was possible to play centre in the 4ths and be invited to First Game practice as a flank on the Monday.
My advice to the lightie would be to just keep working hard, give it horns in practice and matches. Coaches see attitude and heart every time. I’d also be very surprised if Kevin Smith and team miss out on watching “lower” teams play just in case there’s something that shows up. There are others charged with talent spotting, the SBR regulars know who they are, I’m pretty sure they do internal as well as external scouting.
I’d also be very surprised if your comments escape the attention of quite a few College coaches, so the U15E side might just attract a bit of attention this weekend. College E vs House D, the offsets there start right up at B team level, College U15B playing Westville as a filler. Tell the boy to
Make sure his socks, spirits and efforts are up
@Veg: Hello Veg. Yes, St Alban’s still play St Andrews. This year, the game will take place in Bloem in mid May I think.
Note that St Andrews has grown since your day, as I think that there are now over 300 boys. Also, you stagger your rugby and hockey games to enable many boys to play both sports, which increases your depth at rugby. That said, you’re correct that St Andrews is much smaller than St John’s or Saints and is falling behind SCC, which now has over 500 boys.
My suggestion would be to keep SCC, Clifton, St Alban’s and Bryanston, but drop St John’s and any other large schools. Aren’t there more Bloem schools that you can play?
@Gungets Tuft: Want to ask you a question regarding the rugby set up at College.You the unlucky recipient as through the years of reading your comments you seem to know what goes on at College.How much interaction is there between the lower side teams.My brothers son who is at College seems to imply that they operate more or less independently.I have never watched him play and for all intensive purposes he might be speaking absolute tripe but it sounded like it was very hard to advance from say the U15 E to the U15 Cs for instance.I never had that problem at school as we only had two teams in each age group.This is really just a genuine want to know question and I hope that it doesn’t turn into a discussion.
@Beet tend to agree with you that my old school are going to have a real tough day in the midlands against St Charles.The school is at a bit of a crossroads I think in terms of their rugby opponents.We have played St Johns for as long as I can remember but have found victories against them very hard to come by.However St Johns has grown in numbers and definitely have put a lot of effort into their rugby and I don’t think we have recorded a victory there for a hell of a long time,About a decade ago they added St Albans to their fixture list but St Albans have also made great strides in their rugby and not even sure if the fixture still exists,(@Vlies might know).Saying all that they have a heck of a lot more exciting fixture list that in my day. St Andrews Bloem is a small school with no more than 250 boys in the Senior school so it is traditionally up against it when it plays these schools.However these trips are always fun although nowadays going by bus I am sure takes a lot of the fun away.The highlight of my school rugby was going by train to Jhb to play either St Johns or Bryanstan High.However we ain’t too shabby at cricket and squash being in the top 10.
@Skywalker: You need to watch the mighty Northwood 4th Hockey team. They have the talent, or so says the coach .. .a College boy …
But against Jeppe, with Mike Bechet at the hockey helm there, eeisch. No way will they send out a poor hockey team.
@Rugger fan: Your predictions look about spot on, but bring the Glenwood win down to 10. We must not over-hype the boys as they then start to believe it. Kearsney are no pushovers, always well coached. We have lost to them 2 years in a row. MC by 9 is optimistic unless College have gained confidence from last weeks home win. House at home….mmmm…
A good weekend ahead.
I agree on the GW hooddoo – last year they looked awesome – their demolition of MC at Kings Park was a case in point – yet they left wins at MHS & Kearsney last year. Similarly WV looked great – yet went down to a smaller College side twice.
My predictions:
GW by 40
MC by 9
Hilton by 12
Jeppe by 25
DHS by 40
@Luvthegame: Yep, the ‘mind’ part of the boys game isn’t quite mature yet. They may look like adults but they are still not. Most are actually bigger than provincial and national players these days, but experience cannot be bought. This is what makes schoolboy rugby so good, it’s never in the bag.
@Grasshopper: Thanks for that Hopper. I agree with you that although GW are still favourites by a long way this is still schoolboy rugby and very often it is the team that pitches up on the day that can take the win. There are so many factors involved in this level of rugby and I have seen many a big upset unfold on a Saturday afternoon. A guy breaking up with his girlfriend on Friday pm can make a huge difference to his game on Saturday. These are schoolboys after all. That said, GW do look very good!
GW by 25
MC by 5
Ville by 7
Jeppe by lots
DHS by 40
But then again if my Superbru is anything to go by I could be horribly wrong!
@Grasshopper: Lets hope so…their defence seems to be the problem. Even against KES or Parktown – the trend of scoring a try and then letting in 1 right away is hurting them! teams like Jeppe, with a point to prove will offer too much up front and out wide i fear.
Agree about Glenwood. Clearly playing exceptionally well and have the personel, but stranger things have happened. Last weekend saw 2 upsets. Kearsney will be up for it, but still give you guys a decent win on OBD
@Skywalker: Jeppe will be very hurt by the Ben Vorster loss so Northwood might meet their wrath on Sat. I hope not, the Knights have the team to keep it tight if they play a forward possession type game
I would never count your chickens before they hatch and this article is like a Hoodoo on Glenwood. They could easily lose in the derby vs DHS or College, funnier things have happened in these derbies over the years. Strong Glenwood sides have been upset by Northwood and George Campbell in the past. Let’s say the race for the top spot is still on with Glenwood edging slightly ahead. Kearsney were the first KZN side to beat Glenwood on Dixon in about 4 years, 2 years ago so the boys must remember that. Stick to the basics, nothing flashy and stifle any Kearsney attack.
Eish i fear for Northwood this weekend against Jeppe.
The last 2 years have actually been good games (Northwood beating Jeppe 31:14 in DBN in 2014, and then last year nearly causing an upset in JHB with a 29:22 loss to Jeppe)…
But i see one way traffic on Saturday. Northwood can clearly score a few points and have a decent pack, but seem to let in 35+ points a game either way, and Jeppe might hit 50 i reckon.
The u14 and u15 games will be worth watching as will all the hockey fixtures!