Bit of history here – I heard that in the sixties Glenwood only had 2 rugby fields – the main field (only one rubgy field) was level with the tuck shop – there was a road seperating the 2 fields – the new main field Dixons was a dug out and the road between the 2 old fields was filled in and Madsens was formed and a third rugy field Bassons
also made
@star: I think the new face you’re referring to is actually from Werda – was a wing/centre for Quins in the club season and will be a nice addition to the squad – awesome defender.
@ Horsy-No not Russouw.
@Griffon- I don’t think we have to worry to much about the U16(2013) boys.They were always going to be late developers and hopefully will peak at just the right time. Maybe we will be playing GW by then. I will tell one or two of the boys to beef up just in case :cool:
@ Star : Although its good to have at times a new face. I think the squad is well covered at centre, with likes of, Strydom,Shange,Wheeler, and other good players. Maybe its time Guy, got a break. Very good coach, lays the starting foundation for the boys, as he’s coached u14, for the last few years. I think the boys will excel, with Norris, who I rate highly and has different techniques of coaching to other coaches. If you think the u15 squad(2013) are ‘looking’ similar in size. Then I think maybe some of the u16(2013) boys need to beef up a bit before next year.
@ Griffon- I agree 100% with you re the squad. There are at least 12 boys in the B team that could have stepped up to A level and did.It is a very settled unit now which will mature nicely under Norris’s direction.There was one new face from Gelofte who is a centre.I also heard that Guy is not taking any team but will be a sort of director of coaching dealing with various issues including unreasonable parents like myself.
@ Star : Do you think the Westville u16 squad for next year, needs/might get a new face or two. I honestly think they don’t need any new faces. The boys know eachother well, and there’s no lack/gap in positions, perhaps lock, but that’s still well covered
@star:
i think DHS is fine at A and B team level, with the u15s and opens being the only exeption, they compete really well. look at our u14b, only lost like 3 times this season to Glenwood,KES and Michaelhouse. its just lower down after that that things need to be sorted out. but i think a successful A side is the biggest way to attract boys to play and try hard on the field. eg why should the u14E side try if the A side is losing by 35 points but, if the A side is winning by 35 points suddenly everyone else wants to be part of the pary. catch my drift??
@Grasshopper: . i will not say much about our 2013 side but what i will say is that DPHS isnt the only primary school with some very good talent out there for DHS to explore… oh, and yes i am confident.
@star:
is that a promise or a threat??? :grin: :grin: just joking. i get that the westville side is quality but im not too worried. the DHS boys have also bulked a bit especially the forwards. they also started training some time ago so will be ready, they have ONE new boy whos a former WBHS boy, has nice size on him.
but with all this focus on size i think you are miising the most important factors. skill and talent. you dont need to be big to compete against the big boys and give them a massive scare.
case in point is DHS U16A , they did this to College and Glenwwod who probably have the biggest boys in KZN. even though this is the case, Glenwood needed two very late,controversial tries to sneak it 15-12 on Dixons .
so yes it wont be the same but i do expect them to dominate,once again
remember, the Westville boys arent the only ones who are doing some growing
@ Grassy- is that not the great thing about SBR. Always changing and evolving.And that is why depth is so important as you will find a boy coming from the Ds who ultimately makes the first team.DHS and NW have to create more than an A team platform to be really competitive.The gap between Northwoods U15A and B team is huge.At Westville if they played each other, the result would only be determined in the last 10.
@Star, time and growth changes everything! I was 5foot3 in standard 6 and ended up being 6foot3 in standard 8, a whole foot growth in 3 years……went from being a batsman to a bowler and from wing to Flank…
@ Horsie- Just picked up my kid from preseason rugby and the U14s were just starting and they looked like they had buffed up nicely.They actually looked bigger than the U15s.( or maybe my long vision is not what it used to be.Old age is a terrible thing) Also one or two new kids. I don’t think that your DHS U15s will have it all their own way next year.Should be great competition for top place.
Horsie, you should change your name to Spamalot! You seem very confident in your 2013 Under14’s, know something we don’t eg other provincial reps coming in…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: I noticed today that some of your older comments were being held as spam. Please email me if this happens so I can release them. Email below.
next thing for them is to start improving their academics and eventually their sports esp. rugby, same for DHS but i think we are about half a step ahead in the improving business.
1st thing for NW is a strong u14 rugby age-group next year and then start to make it a yearly thing. they dont need to have the no.1 u14 team every year but they just need that great team to be followed by a team that is at least above average… that is why i think they got it horribly wrong this year, they should have gotten a relatively strong u14 age group that can back up their u15s adequately.
i know thats what we are doing with our current u14s except that next years side wont be above average but in fact better than this years side :razz: :razz:
All good to have Northwood making huge effort to get themselves back on the map. Just hope it is all done correctly and we are not going to see more meetings with headmasters etc to sort out inter school squabbles.
well done to northwood on their website changes, cant tell you how frustrating it was to go on there and not really be able to find out anything about nwood.
@ NW -Be careful you don’t get blown over. Gungets refence to” winds of change sweeping Africa” is actually pretty apt as we all know what has happened to our beloved continent.There will be challenges for sure and I am sure most bloggers wish the school well.It has a great campus,neighbourhood and feeder schools.Key ingredients which unfortunately schools like Pinetown maybe lack.In my sons cricket team the highest representation is from Sarnia.They should be going to Pinetown. Very difficult to reverese that trend.Northwood is far better placed to do that.
@NW_Knight, wow it’s long overdue. Northwood in my day were at least competitive, but more recently (over the last 15 years) have dropped standard a bit. Good to see, I’m sure Shaun Pollock, Hugh Reece-Edwards and Robin Smith are happy about it. My father-in-law sure is, he has been battling around the braai, but he is a Northlands old boy so can draw on past achievements still. I wonder if Pinetown will ever recover…
@Gungets: “Winds of Change” – more like gale force at the moment. New coach, new head of rugby, new deputy and a few more additions and changes to follow – never a dull moment.
I thought that because they’ve been importing so many Xhosa-speaking and afrikaans-speaking players lately that it would have been better for him there. Perhaps a step or 2 lower than KES but the boy is so well built for 16 that if he doesn’t make it at rugby at least there’s something for the beach girls to look at. I mean, besides Willem Alberts, any other good looking Sharks player?
Leopard’s Grant Khomo scrumhalf going to KES next year. The boy can’t speak a word of english. Pity Monnas, Garstfontein or even Glenwood made no offers. This boy a real talent.
@Gungets Tuft: A million times better is still an understatement. The old NW website was miserable. This new one is long overdue and gets 10 out of 10 for uniqueness.
@beet: Indeed. All Northwoods facilities are brilliant, the astro is top class, location is good. Parking is an issue, the bottom fields are quite small now that the astro is in, but lets face it, other than the private schools, most schools have issues with parking. College would be fine if the locals did nae go on a little affirmative shopping spree with the Highway boys cars :-).
BE – not sure. The revamped website – very impressive – does not say, but I know it is not 300. Guess about 100?
@Gungets Tuft: I agree. Northwood’s main field was in beautiful condition in June this year. Of all the Durban govt schools, I think Northwood is probably the best venue for hosting a rugby festival. They have room to breath and could probably use lower fields for secure parking. Not sure if their BE is big enough tho. Need ±300 places for a 12-team fest.
I’d like to see how Glenwood manages the Bizsport Festival. They have ample seating but otherwise serious space restrictions and parking is on the road.
@GreenBlooded: Correct. I think he might expand into panel beating and used spares. I could never figure out the change when selling spares …. I am sure he will be able to. Gets it from his mom.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Last time I looked Northwood had the best schoolboy fields I have ever seen. When the SWC 2010 had a practive venue there they also put up great lights.
@Grasshopper:
Northwood is actually the preffered school ground by the Boks in KZN. True bout DHS and GW with the restrictions but at least we have now got the park.that should help massively
Glenwood do have the advantage of the Varsity fields within a 5mins drive…..but ideally they need another field in the grounds, but that would mean purchasing a few houses and demolishing them, which won’t happen. DHS and Glenwood are restricted big time, but at least we get the All Blacks and Super 15 sides training on the fields and this helps inspire youngsters, something College, Westville and others don’t get much of. Northwood probably get a few too..
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Having all your teams play at the school contributes massively to the atmosphere on the day and the tradition at the school. When boys play at Collegians, or somewhere, I should imagine it is difficult to feel part of the derby. College are hellovu fortunate, House, KC and Hilton similarly. I can literally take a 10 minute walk to cover 2 Astro’s and watch any team play. Long may it last, and no idle lackey in local government decide that the lower fields look like housing ….
@GreenBlooded: @Gungets Tuft:
I think Berea park is a good idea,I mean two fields only isn’t good and we need the space. As for the 1st team field I agree with both of you but coming to think of it I might have read the brochure wrong.but yah DHS and GW are at a disadvantage due to the lack of space. Can’t do much about it
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Eish – that interview was not a good read. Gone are the days when the Banana Boys are all home grown Natal boys and when they win the Currie Cup it is an achievement by Natal’s best. It’s all about who is the cleverest at allocating resources – financial and other wise and who can retain the best players. As McKenzie says – what we don’t have we buy out. It’s a pure business model nowdays.
Maybe we are naieve thinking that our top schoolboys should work in a system that is worlds apart from this and trying to keep things noble and nostalgic is simply delaying the inevitable. Hope I’m wrong.
@GreenBlooded: I didn’t know that … but I am going to be sure to mention it to my son. It might be just the thing he needs to get his head into the books – group showers is something he has just never taken to
The other one thing which is a nice tradition is Numzane’s Khaya – the little “hut” at the top end of the school just past Nathan’s which is the private preserve of the Head Boy.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Horrible idea to turn a field into a 1st 15 field. Best way I know to get it into the minds of the boys that anything less than 1sts is just a stepping stone, the danger that anyone below U14B just stops aspiring. I never played 1sts or 2nds, but running out on Goldstones was hellova memorable. College has the advantage of having many fields, 5 reserved for rugby, but they would never think of that. Goldstones always has a full program, generally U16A, then 6ths – 1sts, or if certain teams play away, then right down to 8ths and 9ths. The only time that changes is if the fields are very wet then they might cut the fixtures to preserve the turf.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Like Glenwood, DHS is an inner-city school with not much room to expand. Berea Park is an option but that would deny the community of a much needed facility so not sure how aquiring that would go down from a social responsibility point of view. Having said this – reserving a field for 1 team would be a gross waste of real estate.
@Gungets Tuft: A key feature of College House – the Form 6 BE – which you did not mention (most unlike you not to sing the praises of College from the roof tops :-P) is that there are 3 rooms which have their own en-suite bathrooms. These 3 rooms are allocated to the top 3 academic achievers from the Form 5 year!!
@Grasshopper:
I think we would be ok with DPHS, GWD Prep,Penzance and Clifton Prep who also a a bit of a feeder school to us. Some WSPS kids make the trip to DHS also oh and sont forget the guys from Empangeni and the Zululanders. Don’t know how many applications we get but I’m pretty sure its not near that many.
@Gungets Tuft:
Yah I fuess the grade 8 BE is good. I think the matrics at DHS also each have their own romms but I stand to be corrected. I do wonder where this BE will be built though as the top field is planned to be turned into an astro turf and there are also plans for a new multi sport high performance centre.
Also, do you think its good that the main field(van heerdens) be turned into a 1st XV only field?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: College have 4 different BEs. Nathan House (1910) for Grade 8’s – because it allows staff to give them a bridging year where there is a spot after 6pm where no intimidation is possible. It is a boys school after all, so it’s always a possibility. Then Clark House (the original “new campus”school building completed in 1888) and Hudson House (built in 1958) where boys in Gr9 – Gr11 stay. Then there is College House (1998) for just the Matrics where they each have their own room. I think it is a great idea – both the Grade 8 and Matric house.
@Horsie, sorry what is the question? What school would benefit the most in the long run if they had to choose from local feeder schools only? Hmm, Glenwood would be fine with Penzance, Glenwood Prep, the Bluff, Toti and Borough schools….sprinkle in a few DPHS kids ;-) and again will be fine. Westville too will be fine with kids from Westville, Atholl Heights, Pinetown, New Germany and Kloof. DHS, not to sure hey, only really DPHS feeding in directly but those kids will be high quality. However, Clifton might snaffle up a few. It would be great to see some sort of restriction made like in the UK, each gov school has a designated feeder area/zone and they have to cope with whatever they get. Off topic, I hear Glenwood get over 1000 applications for grade 8, maybe more so only a quarter get in.
@Gungets Tuft:
The try in the last 2mins came from an individual effort in our own tryline with the FB running the length of the field to score under the posts outpacing your winger and giving the last defender a hand-off to remember… Must say the scrumhalf from College had a good game though, think he’s Lodewyk Muller or something of the sort(made KZN U13 last year) the forwards from Clooege were quite small specially the front rankers hence the one sided scrum on the day, I’m sure that will be fixed up though.
@Grasshopper:
Maybe not but I still think that over time,not now,they would. It would become a sort of a reverse on what’s happened to DHS and Glenwood in the last 10 years.schools that shop close would be better off because the boys are close anyways. Which school do you think would benefit the most from this and which would lose out the most?
RE the BE
From what I’ve heard a seperate BE is to be made for Grade 8s, not sure why.either way its bound to make more space and with current negotiations to buy Berea park and have some rugga fields on there I’m sure the rugga will be juss fine.
@Horsie, that stats over 100 years show Glenwood around 5th in the province on results after College, DHS, Michaelhouse and Hilton in that order. They would definitely not drop lower than 5th with the current coaching structure and remember our feeder schools breed them tough coming from the Bluff, Queensburgh, Umbilo, Toti etc. Yes, these ares mostly play soccer at primary school level, but once the soccer is knocked out of them and they start to play rugga it only takes about 2 years to catch up. In my days, usually half of the Glenwood 1st side were from those areas where the boys only started rugga in standard 6. We were klapped by DHS at under13 but my matric were on a par. Also, with Glenwood’s big BE we attract Northern KZN cane farmer kids and those boys from Empangeni and Richards Bay. If DHS improved Blackmores and increased it’s numbers then it’s rugga would improve drastically down the line. Currently, if you can attract the best 15 DPHS kids you will have good A teams but weak depth. Depth is what counts and is where College always excelled, one injury and the kid below slotted in. I also like at College that the same game plan in played across the teams so easy for boys to move up and down. The calls are similar etc……great for building a strong base…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Hmmm .. strange. My sources told me that if the ref had blown the mark called by the College fullback then College would have won. As it was the ref decided not to, the College fullback was smoked, and the rest ended up on the scoreboard. My informant must have been on the wrong side of the field or something. Such is life, it seems that karma was restored when that team played Glenwood, so balance was maintained.
@oldschool:
If that happened then A LOT of the DPHS boys would be at DHS and considering how strong a rugby school they are. I think that DHS would be higher than that.also,just for fun, where do you think guys like the Doops would be now if it wasn’t for bursaries. Also, a lot of the Glenwood rugby players are from far places and I think they would suffer.also, they can’t depend on GWD Prep since they put about 4 or 5 boys there on bursaries every year anyways, so I do think Glenwood would gradually go lower till about 6th place. Agree with College, schools like Merchiston,Pelham etc would still provide while Westville has mainly WSPS and Highbury. Interesting concept though…
@gungets
It was 12-10 and I watched that game. The scoreline doesn’t tell you the true story and in fact flatters College. Easily could have been 32-10 but it wasn’t.
And what a lovely try it was from our fullback.he is very good and. I expect him to make Grant khomo in two years time.no pressure…
Just a thought: I wonder if this was the 80’s if schools like Grytown, Estcourt, Kokstad, Vryheid, Empangeni and Shepstone would be having similar issues about all their good kids leaving for the big cities like PMB and Durban?
@NW_Knight: Ja i think you right about DHS in this scenario , however , i cant see Nwood being to high on the list as your feeder schools in the area are not traditionally strong at rugby …..
@CyndiAtRugby: You are confusing it with volleyball on Durbans beaches. The rugby fields in Bloem are lush- they remind me of the valleys in Wales and the going is always “soft”
@BOG: I’ve seen the waaves at Loch Logan and even seen people tanning on the “beach” there. My favourite part of Bloem rugby is the lines getting painted on the sand
@CyndiAtRugby: Oh, but if it is purely a RUGBY decision, the choice should be obvious- send him to Bloem, if they can find a place. Whats more, the surfing is good there.
@beet: I stand under correction but I believe that College turn down something like 200 applications just for the Boarding Establishment in Grade 8. I am not sure about the day-boys but I seem to remember hearing 650 applications for the 160 odd (remaining after BE is filler) day-boy spots in Gr8. Whether that is a statement about College or a statement about the other schools in the region I am not sure. I am pretty sure that applications go to all schools in the region but parents would prefer their boys at College rather than “the rest”. Durban is in a mcuh happier position for parents – while you okes might argue about it, I believe that Westville, GW, DHS and NW all offer a top government school experience. I know there are differenciators in each school, but faced with “war zone” schools, parents would be very happy with a spot.
As far as attracting talent is concerned, schools need to be very, very careful that prospective parents are sure that their son is getting the right attention. If their son is not A team material (given how strong some schools are at A team level) then they need the assurance that he is not goinbg to become invisible below that. So, while schools can be marketed at 1st team level, forget about the lower levels at your peril, because the danger is that you have a lot of drones that stop contributing to the school and pitch up for classes and disappear. Kids need to pull on the school colours for sport to find out what passion for your school means.
@beet: Westville and Glenwood have crazy long Gr.8 application lists for about 250 places. Without scholarships and bursaries, chances are they will still pick up quality due to numbers. Glenwood also has a sizeable BE, so I tend to think top 3
College
Glenwood
Westville
In that order.
The difference between old Glenwood and Glenwood now is that the school is really geared towards doing well in rugby. Good coaching, good structures so their results will be better than they were in say the 1990s
@NW_Knight: This is my gut feel as well. Not so much Glenwood moving down that far but certainly the chances of seeing the likes of DHS and Northwood moving ahead of the private schools on average over say 5 years worth of results.
@Oldschool: I think NW and DHS would be considerably higher on the list. Most of your top sportsmen in DBN North wait to hear if they have a scholarship at one of the private schools, before deciding on NW. Take scholarships out of the equation and rankings would be more like:
Some food for thought , if there was a law passed that recruiting and rugby scholarships were banned , which schools in KZN would be consistently the best at A team and 1st team level ???
My thoughts as follows;
1…College
2…Westville
3…Glenwood
4…Kearsney
5…MHS
6…DHS
7…Northwood
8…George Cambell
9…Port Natal
10..Hilton
@star: Sport has been most frustrating with all the rain this week. It was great to be able to play basket ball in the indoor court – a facility Glenwood sadly lacks. I love the way the Westville boys happily dive for the ball on the indoor court – not a good idea on the outdoor tar though.
@BOG: REALLY I think you have fallen off the track here and are taking my comment out of context. As this blog is about school boy RUGBY, I am talking about those hotly disputed schools argued about on this blog. You don’t need to go to Mthata to find schools with problems.
Having grown up in a rural area and done charity work with a number of these ‘war zone’ schools, I will again state that it is up to the parents to chose the school correctly and influence the school to follow the correct codes.
@ Westville needs to work on its waterpolo and GW on their basketball. It has been incredibly frustrating re the cricket. Since Westville were ranked number 1 in the country they remain undefeated There are a few gaps in the last few weeks and so I am sure that something can be organised. This has been raised with the powers that be and so we will have to wait and see.
Such a pity the 1st and A team cricket games were cancelled. i think the last 3 fixtures have been cancelled due to rain….can’t they reschedule for during the week or something…
I also went through the line from Junior to High school and have some real strong bonds with some great mates. Even my friends who went to boarding school still retain those strong links from the “hood” and their formative days.My son who is at Westville has friends who have been together through 4 schools.I just smile quietly.You can’t buy that but you can destroy it by short term horse trading.( or should that be horsie trading )
@CyndiAtRugby: No bad schools? I dont know if you are specifically talking about your immediate area, but I could present a few examples which will change your mind. If ever you pass through Mthata(Umtata), stop over at Umtata High- its next to the main road going through. And that is one of the best in the area. Some are war zones.
@Grasshopper:
Yip they did play well with just one blemish in the name of Glenwood their worst performance of the season was vs Michaelhouse where they never really got going and in the end only won 26-0. I was hoping they would participate in the paarl boys U15 festival but that hasn’t materialised. I think the fixture organisers just want to have an unbeaten side… Don’t think its right though and. I agree with you.
I do think the players will be happy by just beating Glenwood though.
I think the junior A side fixtures will be very close next year vs the two schools as Glenwood has about 10 or more KZN players going there next year while indications show DHS to have recruited a very,very strong side. Looking forward to it…
@Horsie, OK 15 then. Yep, agreed on the other points. I think the DHS Under14 side should have played Grey Bloem for a real test. I hear they wiped the floor with every school they played. Even the good Jeppe side would have battled to compete. Monnas had a good Under14 bunch. DHS don’t seem to play that sort of top opposition which Glenwood, College and more recently Westville and Kearsney do. Your Under15’s of 2013 will need to test themselves properly…
@Grasshopper:
cant be 25, half of gwd prep is female so cant be…
also, cant agree with that, in 2010 the gw u14 team was the best in kzn even though they were almost all from different schools whilst westville had like 6 or 7 wsps boys and college had 4 or 5 dphs boys so it can be the other way around. reason why college arent that strong(they are still strong nevertheless…) is because they arent really recruiting that much for rugby like everyone else is and they dont have the luxury of offering 30 plus scholarships…
i think you will find that this years u14 dhs side will onlylose at most once in the next 2 years
@CyndiAtRugby: Agreed – we can not abdicate our responsibility to a school. They should merely facilitate and make opprtuntites available (on the sports field, through an old boy network, in the class room etc.).
But ultimately it is the parents who raise the children -the school provides a formal education and gives those opportuntities not available in the family.
@Grasshopper: I am happy to put Pete’s cell number, email address, home address and ID number in here if everyone promises to abuse it properly. Subscribe his email to LosLyf, phone him at all hours, give his cell number to “Night Nurses from Denmark”. Deal?????
Will also teach him to drive the “running bus” properly, not like when we ran 2-Oceans many years ago …
I went through from a junior primary, senior primary and high school that were all linked and in close proximity. This was probably because the next closest high school was over 50km away – I intended this for my son but the reality is that not all high schools suit all kids. There are some who do well in co-ed and others who don’t. Some who need strict discipline and others who don’t. I honestly believe that there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ schools out there, it is just what suits the child in question. If the parent moves the child from one school to another based purely on bursaries offered, I would question their integrity. I also believe that good parents create good kids not good schools although they do make a contribution.
@Horsie, no idea how many Glenwood Prep boys go to Glenwood, I would have thought at least 25. Glenwood has a great mix of boys and a lot of their sporting prowess comes from the Bluff, Toti and Queensburgh where they breed them tough, I was one of them. Also, many boys from Northern KZN, Sheppie and up on the Vaal. The advantage for DHS is the DPHS boys stay together and know each other, hence in Under14 their sides should be strong. However, by the time the kids are Under16 the sides with a mix of boys know each other. I’m sure that is why College are not that strong at Under14 but are lethal by matric, good coaching and backing the boys who have done their time.
@Grasshopper:
About 70 to 75. But hey, you lose some and you win some. Remember, DHS only started advertising itself at Prep at about 2009 or 2010 so its still a new thing for us.
Of the GWD prep boys , how many do you think go to Glenwood? Not as many as you think and there’s a common denominator in that…
The DHS 2011 intake had 65 prep boys out of a possible 75 so cut us some slack
@Horsie, exactly! Like 35 of DPHS’s best go elsewhere. How many in a year, about 80? In my 5 years at Glenwood we usually got about 5 to 10 from DPHS, it may be different now.
@Gungets, hahaha yep the Manning’s are pretty passionate blokes, although Greg is now in Perth with his wife and baby. Would be good to catch up with Peter, maybe the next Old Boys dinner or day.
@Grasshopper: Yes, I know that, boy do I know that. Try being at a braai with Manning and his GW mates when College are playing GW – frikking insufferable. Last 10 years have been a negative flow of wine penalties.
@Grasshopper:
Actually,mostly,they do. The only reason whythere won’t be too many coming on scholarship to DHS is because the school spent a lot on scholarships last year and I also hear of DHS offering some kids in the 3rd term way after they’ve already accepted to other schools. A lot of the prep kids live in La lucia or Durban North and still come to DHS(proof is the DHS bus which picks kids up from even opposite the road from Northwood)
Not many go to MHS or Hilton,as Gungets said only scholarshup kids, usually about 8 or so go to Westville,1 to Glenwood, like 10 to Kearsney,10 or so to Clifton and usually 5 to College with the remainder to DHS.
Can’t say the same for GWD prep though.
Don’t think College attract the GWD Prep guys but I know Westville and Kearsney do…
They recently posted on their site that 26 of their boys have gotten scholarships to various high scholls but unfortunately they didn’t post names and schools :sad:
@Gungets, yep sorry I should have listed the reasons ;-). As you already know Peter Manning sent his sons Greg and Shaun to Glenwood, as day dogs, from DPHS and they lived in Durban North. Both were more than tidy sportsman in ALL sports. I believe John Allan’s lighty is going to Glenwood for obvious reasons. Do you know if College attract many Glenwood prep boys? I know Glenwood get a few from out in the PMB sticks…
@Grasshopper: There are more reasons than just that. DPHS is seen as “almost private”, certainly the fees are not shy – in 2010 I think I was paying R26500 year, almost double Chelsea, Northlands, Virginia etc. To be honest, I don’t know how we ended up there, other than the fact that close family friends ( a GW Old Boy who eventually sent all three boys to Glenwood, including a 1st team player form last year), plus 2 mates from pre-school. While I am not one of that number, a lot of the parents are pretty well off and sending their kids to Kearsney and Clifton was always on. Not many go to House – I would say only scholarship kids, not many to Hilton.
College has had some damn good press at DPHS in the last few years. This years Head Boy and Deputy were DPHS boys, as was the 2011 head boy. At one stage this year the captains of the 1sts, 2nds, 3rds, U16A and 1st cricket were all DPHS Old Boys. Add to that the fact that DPHS get free advertising in the College yearbook and newsletters, DHS were insistent that DPHS had to PAY to advertise in theirs .. (true story!!).
Of course we also like to think College sells itself :-)
@Horsefly, funny two of my good mates from Glenwood were DPHS Old boys, seems some parents are little bit wiser ;-). It seems DPHS boys don’t have that much loyalty to DHS as they seem to go to College, Michaelhouse, Hilton, Westville, Clifton, Glenwood and every other big school in KZN. The only reason I can think of kids choosing DHS over Glenwood maybe if they were basketball stars or lived on that side of the Berea….
@GreenBlooded:
:-D. Somehow though that seems to be true just for this years bunch. The years before them had a high nuber to dhs. And so is next years grade 7s(think mike fennell had something to do with that)
A lot of Glenwood prep boys come to DHS though… Guess it helps having the GWD prep headmaster being a DHS old boy
@HORSEFLY NO.1: I seem to remember seeing a Glenwood photo of their 2011 scholarship winners. Mate of my son’s was in there – he has a 100% to Glenwood his mom is happy to tell everyone.
@Gungets Tuft:
Yah College , michaelhouse and hilton are the only schools I know of who show the scholarship winners to the public. All other schools don’t for their reasons. Some laziness, some dind it unnecessary,some for the reasons mentioned above and some because they say one thing and do another(saying they are just like your ordinary school with 30 winners but in fact have 70)
@greenwood
Its obvious that with the schools recent rugby history a lot of boys will see Glenwood as a ticket to rugby fame and so will the parents… That is,of course, for the rugby boys. A lot of all rounders will choose to go elsewhere. It also depends on the primary school you are from. Eg, most DPHS kids would alomost wanna die than go to Glenwood..
At a night rugby series game at an Afrikaans School in Pinetown earlier this year proudly wearing my green shirt with THE badge on it – A mom and her 12 year old son clutching a rugby ball asked me what school was the badge from -when I said Glenwood the litie jumped and down and said
he really , really wants to play rugby for Glenwood – the Mom said this oke sleeps with a rubgy ball -takes it to Sunday school and the movies & lives for Rugby
She asked me how could she get this guy into GWD
I told her to take the usual route phone the school etc – she gave me her telephone number just in case I could somehow help.
So this kid is overboard fanatical about rugby so what do I do – Give Erasmus a call ? no incentives required here
@Gungets Tuft: Would that be at a school of our choice
The most shocking thing about the parents, is that they are putting pressure on kids as young at 7. These kids should be enjoying their sport and not be thinking about high school at this stage.
I know of a parent in the Cape who was hauled in by child welfare about the acting/modelling thing. The poor child had all sorts of surgery to make her look ‘pretty’ and one of the ops had gone wrong.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: All scholarships at College are printed in the yearbook, the sponsors of the scholarship, the recipient and whether it is sporting, academic, cultural or general. The 2011 intake there were 23, 7 for sport, an added one from the Jacques Kallis Foundation. 4 designated Academic but the closed scholarships from Corwallis, Pelham, DPHS and Merchiston could be any of those.
@Andre T: “Jeepers old man” Hahaha! If ever there is an example of the pot calling the kettle black, then thats it. Did you drink your sense away the weekend?
Haha some High Schools might want to hide how many scholarships they REALLY offer so they don’t put it up…
It also doesn’t serve in the best interests of the kid to put it up. Imagine Johnny Black being dropped from the A rugby side for a week then some kid harassing him and telling him “you don’t deserve that bursary , you suck,can’t even make the A team but you are on a 100 percent scholarship!!!” Rather keep it behind the scenes as long as it doesn’t happen after grade 8
@BOG: Thought those mommies only came from Bloem? Jeepers old man, are you serious, has this spread to the USA as well? Hoping Paulse, Willemse and Pearce will also spread their wings.
What I read here, it reminds me of so many (vain) mothers in the USA who drive their little barbie-lookalike- daughters from one beauty pageant to the next. And they are obsessed and the fighting and bitchiness amongst them, is unbelievable.
@Grasshopper: I know Lucky and am very good friends with his adopted “mom” from my running days, as well as professionally – I hire contract staff from her from time to time. Lucky is now in the USA running.
I need all you okes to break down on the higway so that I can also get rich and sponsor kids ..
@Gungets, it’s a tricky one in that case. No one can stop a rich Old boy paying for a few kids to go to school. I remember in my day a prominent SA womens runner paid for Lucky Hadebe (SA Schools 800m athlete) to attend Glenwood, she was like his surrogate mother. It’s impossible to police where parents are getting their money from, so for now maybe make bursaries transprent and others will just have to live with generous sponsors etc.
@Grasshopper: I agree completely about the nominations and amounts for bursaries. The problem arises where bursaries are for financial assistance – and I believe there is a place for these (loyal Old Boys kids, staff kids etc) where I don’t believe the parents or kids should be embarrassed.
The main issue is loss of form, or the effects of early size (in rugby) where a good young player is not necessarily a good older player. I just can’t see how it would be fair to tell a kid who is on a bursary for 2-3 years, in Grade 11, that they now have to pay their way when they might not be able to afford it. It would shatter the lightie and affect the morale of the school. I am sure it is the same at all schools but College (boarders in particular, but day-boys too) will tell you about the brotherhood of the boys. Spend even 2 years in the BE with okes and it is a big deal for them if they have to leave – my son has had a good friend leave and is still not happy about it. I don’t know the answer, other than a free education system at Govt school level – which still doesn’t fix the BE issue. Beyond my tow-truck driver intellect I fear.
I think bursaries etc are fine, they just need to be transparent eg listed on the schools website and in the schools accounts. Really simple eg
John Allan bursary – Joe Bloggs – 100%
Steven jack bursary – Jack Black – 100%
Mike Turrell bursary – Paul Smith – 75%
etc…
That way everybody knows who got what and all this rubbish about giving out hundreds of bursaries can be squashed. I know some people say the kids will get bullied, I don’t think this will be the case. We all know some kids get scholarships for academics why not give the sportsman the same benefit. The bursaries need to be reviewed yearly though and no promises given. They should be simple financial ones
@NW_Knight: In this case the boy was / is very talented, very big for his age in primary school, no quibbles there. It got so bad that a couple of dads could not even sit with his group and watch sport together, we sat with the opposition supporters, or on our own on a far corner of the field.
@Gungets: I’ve heard that cheque book comment a few times. Oddly, the boys are often not the number 1 players. They’re the better than average players with loud mouthed parents. Generally, the parents of the top boys seem to tone it down a bit.
@Greenblooded: Absolutely right. I came across a parent recently whose son had been offered a 25% bursary and he was wanting to know if “that was the schools best offer”. Sounds a little like a flea market to me.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: That depends on how you handle it. But when you sit in the stands an listen to a dad who has apparently not amounted to much sportswise, “loudly” tell everyone that “I have made it quite clear, the headmaster with the biggest chequebook wins”, eeisch. It was patently obvious that it was Dad’s ego that was at stake here, not the lighties best interests. The lightie lasted 1 year at the school daddy chose and they were off. Good kid, bad parenting.
I wish I knew the answer, I see more successes with bursaries than failures and nobody expects parents to turn down bursaries, especially when it is to the parents alma mater and first choice. I suppose the problems start when the bursary is the only deciding factor. Anyway, I should not criticise because the choice of school for my boy was left in his hands and money was never mentioned as an issue. That it was my first choice as well is cool. Nothing to do with the sublimal messages played under his bed while he slept … :-)
@Gungets Tuft:
Well, what can’ the schools do?? You can’t deny the kid a scholarship if he is for example a KZN rugby,water polo and swimmer. Just can’t resist… But hey, I don’t condone it though
@Cyndi
A few years back we lived in Joburg and were in Melville which is very arty. We started going to some advert auditoions (our sons were 3 and 6 back then). I tell you what – that is where you see parents pimping their kids, [padding CVs and being downright nasty to other kids and parents.
Rugby and KZN High schools are a breeze compared to that :grin:
@CyndiAtRugby:
Very valid question. Its. Very sad when parents do this but I do understand because some may have financial constraints and free schooling for your kid always helps…
A rugby Mom was telling me about her son’s rugby CV today and how important different awards from school and club are for the CV. She was very upset about her son’s award and was worried about whether it wouldn’t detract from his rugby CV. I must be a bad Mum cos my son of 15 doesn’t have one of these … her son is 8
There is a lot said on these pages about schools who “buy” players – how about those parents who “sell” their kids??
Bit of history here – I heard that in the sixties Glenwood only had 2 rugby fields – the main field (only one rubgy field) was level with the tuck shop – there was a road seperating the 2 fields – the new main field Dixons was a dug out and the road between the 2 old fields was filled in and Madsens was formed and a third rugy field Bassons
also made
@star: I think the new face you’re referring to is actually from Werda – was a wing/centre for Quins in the club season and will be a nice addition to the squad – awesome defender.
@ Horsy-No not Russouw.
@Griffon- I don’t think we have to worry to much about the U16(2013) boys.They were always going to be late developers and hopefully will peak at just the right time. Maybe we will be playing GW by then. I will tell one or two of the boys to beef up just in case :cool:
@ Star : Although its good to have at times a new face. I think the squad is well covered at centre, with likes of, Strydom,Shange,Wheeler, and other good players. Maybe its time Guy, got a break. Very good coach, lays the starting foundation for the boys, as he’s coached u14, for the last few years. I think the boys will excel, with Norris, who I rate highly and has different techniques of coaching to other coaches. If you think the u15 squad(2013) are ‘looking’ similar in size. Then I think maybe some of the u16(2013) boys need to beef up a bit before next year.
@star:
is he D.Russouw? heard he left WBHS due to language problems
@ Griffon- I agree 100% with you re the squad. There are at least 12 boys in the B team that could have stepped up to A level and did.It is a very settled unit now which will mature nicely under Norris’s direction.There was one new face from Gelofte who is a centre.I also heard that Guy is not taking any team but will be a sort of director of coaching dealing with various issues including unreasonable parents like myself.
@ Star : Do you think the Westville u16 squad for next year, needs/might get a new face or two. I honestly think they don’t need any new faces. The boys know eachother well, and there’s no lack/gap in positions, perhaps lock, but that’s still well covered
@star:
i think DHS is fine at A and B team level, with the u15s and opens being the only exeption, they compete really well. look at our u14b, only lost like 3 times this season to Glenwood,KES and Michaelhouse. its just lower down after that that things need to be sorted out. but i think a successful A side is the biggest way to attract boys to play and try hard on the field. eg why should the u14E side try if the A side is losing by 35 points but, if the A side is winning by 35 points suddenly everyone else wants to be part of the pary. catch my drift??
@Grasshopper:
. i will not say much about our 2013 side but what i will say is that DPHS isnt the only primary school with some very good talent out there for DHS to explore… oh, and yes i am confident.
@star:
is that a promise or a threat??? :grin: :grin: just joking. i get that the westville side is quality but im not too worried. the DHS boys have also bulked a bit especially the forwards. they also started training some time ago so will be ready, they have ONE new boy whos a former WBHS boy, has nice size on him.
but with all this focus on size i think you are miising the most important factors. skill and talent. you dont need to be big to compete against the big boys and give them a massive scare.
case in point is DHS U16A , they did this to College and Glenwwod who probably have the biggest boys in KZN. even though this is the case, Glenwood needed two very late,controversial tries to sneak it 15-12 on Dixons .
so yes it wont be the same but i do expect them to dominate,once again
remember, the Westville boys arent the only ones who are doing some growing
@ Grassy- is that not the great thing about SBR. Always changing and evolving.And that is why depth is so important as you will find a boy coming from the Ds who ultimately makes the first team.DHS and NW have to create more than an A team platform to be really competitive.The gap between Northwoods U15A and B team is huge.At Westville if they played each other, the result would only be determined in the last 10.
@Star, time and growth changes everything! I was 5foot3 in standard 6 and ended up being 6foot3 in standard 8, a whole foot growth in 3 years……went from being a batsman to a bowler and from wing to Flank…
@ Horsie- Just picked up my kid from preseason rugby and the U14s were just starting and they looked like they had buffed up nicely.They actually looked bigger than the U15s.( or maybe my long vision is not what it used to be.Old age is a terrible thing) Also one or two new kids. I don’t think that your DHS U15s will have it all their own way next year.Should be great competition for top place.
Horsie, you should change your name to Spamalot! You seem very confident in your 2013 Under14’s, know something we don’t eg other provincial reps coming in…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: I noticed today that some of your older comments were being held as spam. Please email me if this happens so I can release them. Email below.
next thing for them is to start improving their academics and eventually their sports esp. rugby, same for DHS but i think we are about half a step ahead in the improving business.
1st thing for NW is a strong u14 rugby age-group next year and then start to make it a yearly thing. they dont need to have the no.1 u14 team every year but they just need that great team to be followed by a team that is at least above average… that is why i think they got it horribly wrong this year, they should have gotten a relatively strong u14 age group that can back up their u15s adequately.
i know thats what we are doing with our current u14s except that next years side wont be above average but in fact better than this years side :razz: :razz:
All good to have Northwood making huge effort to get themselves back on the map. Just hope it is all done correctly and we are not going to see more meetings with headmasters etc to sort out inter school squabbles.
well done to northwood on their website changes, cant tell you how frustrating it was to go on there and not really be able to find out anything about nwood.
@ NW -Be careful you don’t get blown over.
Gungets refence to” winds of change sweeping Africa” is actually pretty apt as we all know what has happened to our beloved continent.There will be challenges for sure and I am sure most bloggers wish the school well.It has a great campus,neighbourhood and feeder schools.Key ingredients which unfortunately schools like Pinetown maybe lack.In my sons cricket team the highest representation is from Sarnia.They should be going to Pinetown. Very difficult to reverese that trend.Northwood is far better placed to do that.
@NW_Knight, wow it’s long overdue. Northwood in my day were at least competitive, but more recently (over the last 15 years) have dropped standard a bit. Good to see, I’m sure Shaun Pollock, Hugh Reece-Edwards and Robin Smith are happy about it. My father-in-law sure is, he has been battling around the braai, but he is a Northlands old boy so can draw on past achievements still. I wonder if Pinetown will ever recover…
@Gungets: “Winds of Change” – more like gale force at the moment. New coach, new head of rugby, new deputy and a few more additions and changes to follow – never a dull moment.
I thought that because they’ve been importing so many Xhosa-speaking and afrikaans-speaking players lately that it would have been better for him there. Perhaps a step or 2 lower than KES but the boy is so well built for 16 that if he doesn’t make it at rugby at least there’s something for the beach girls to look at. I mean, besides Willem Alberts, any other good looking Sharks player?
@Andre T: Do they then speak a different type of English at Glenwood? More colonial, rather than Oxford English? Otherwise put, more proletarian?
Leopard’s Grant Khomo scrumhalf going to KES next year. The boy can’t speak a word of english. Pity Monnas, Garstfontein or even Glenwood made no offers. This boy a real talent.
@beet: ooops! looks like Gungets beat me to it
@Gungets Tuft: A million times better is still an understatement. The old NW website was miserable. This new one is long overdue and gets 10 out of 10 for uniqueness.
http://www.northwoodschool.co.za/
@beet: Nor did I know this about Northwood – http://www.northwoodschool.co.za/2012/10/26/new-deputy-principal-for-northwood/
Winds of change – good stuff
@beet: Indeed. All Northwoods facilities are brilliant, the astro is top class, location is good. Parking is an issue, the bottom fields are quite small now that the astro is in, but lets face it, other than the private schools, most schools have issues with parking. College would be fine if the locals did nae go on a little affirmative shopping spree with the Highway boys cars :-).
BE – not sure. The revamped website – very impressive – does not say, but I know it is not 300. Guess about 100?
@Gungets Tuft: I agree. Northwood’s main field was in beautiful condition in June this year. Of all the Durban govt schools, I think Northwood is probably the best venue for hosting a rugby festival. They have room to breath and could probably use lower fields for secure parking. Not sure if their BE is big enough tho. Need ±300 places for a 12-team fest.
I’d like to see how Glenwood manages the Bizsport Festival. They have ample seating but otherwise serious space restrictions and parking is on the road.
@GreenBlooded: Correct. I think he might expand into panel beating and used spares. I could never figure out the change when selling spares …. I am sure he will be able to. Gets it from his mom.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Last time I looked Northwood had the best schoolboy fields I have ever seen. When the SWC 2010 had a practive venue there they also put up great lights.
@Gungets Tuft: “but I am going to be sure to mention it to my son. It might be just the thing he needs to get his head into the books”
So I guess he won’t be taking over the tow-truck business??
@Grasshopper:
Northwood is actually the preffered school ground by the Boks in KZN. True bout DHS and GW with the restrictions but at least we have now got the park.that should help massively
Glenwood do have the advantage of the Varsity fields within a 5mins drive…..but ideally they need another field in the grounds, but that would mean purchasing a few houses and demolishing them, which won’t happen. DHS and Glenwood are restricted big time, but at least we get the All Blacks and Super 15 sides training on the fields and this helps inspire youngsters, something College, Westville and others don’t get much of. Northwood probably get a few too..
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Having all your teams play at the school contributes massively to the atmosphere on the day and the tradition at the school. When boys play at Collegians, or somewhere, I should imagine it is difficult to feel part of the derby. College are hellovu fortunate, House, KC and Hilton similarly. I can literally take a 10 minute walk to cover 2 Astro’s and watch any team play. Long may it last, and no idle lackey in local government decide that the lower fields look like housing ….
@GreenBlooded:
How tragic would it be to KZNRU if the Doops left kzn?
@GreenBlooded: @Gungets Tuft:
I think Berea park is a good idea,I mean two fields only isn’t good and we need the space. As for the 1st team field I agree with both of you but coming to think of it I might have read the brochure wrong.but yah DHS and GW are at a disadvantage due to the lack of space. Can’t do much about it
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Eish – that interview was not a good read. Gone are the days when the Banana Boys are all home grown Natal boys and when they win the Currie Cup it is an achievement by Natal’s best. It’s all about who is the cleverest at allocating resources – financial and other wise and who can retain the best players. As McKenzie says – what we don’t have we buy out. It’s a pure business model nowdays.
Maybe we are naieve thinking that our top schoolboys should work in a system that is worlds apart from this and trying to keep things noble and nostalgic is simply delaying the inevitable. Hope I’m wrong.
@GreenBlooded: I didn’t know that
… but I am going to be sure to mention it to my son. It might be just the thing he needs to get his head into the books – group showers is something he has just never taken to 
The other one thing which is a nice tradition is Numzane’s Khaya – the little “hut” at the top end of the school just past Nathan’s which is the private preserve of the Head Boy.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Horrible idea to turn a field into a 1st 15 field. Best way I know to get it into the minds of the boys that anything less than 1sts is just a stepping stone, the danger that anyone below U14B just stops aspiring. I never played 1sts or 2nds, but running out on Goldstones was hellova memorable. College has the advantage of having many fields, 5 reserved for rugby, but they would never think of that. Goldstones always has a full program, generally U16A, then 6ths – 1sts, or if certain teams play away, then right down to 8ths and 9ths. The only time that changes is if the fields are very wet then they might cut the fixtures to preserve the turf.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Like Glenwood, DHS is an inner-city school with not much room to expand. Berea Park is an option but that would deny the community of a much needed facility so not sure how aquiring that would go down from a social responsibility point of view. Having said this – reserving a field for 1 team would be a gross waste of real estate.
@Gungets Tuft: A key feature of College House – the Form 6 BE – which you did not mention (most unlike you not to sing the praises of College from the roof tops :-P) is that there are 3 rooms which have their own en-suite bathrooms. These 3 rooms are allocated to the top 3 academic achievers from the Form 5 year!!
Interseting read:
http://www.hssm.co.za/interviews/rugby/kwazulu-natal/high-school-rugby-going-pro-kznru-leaders-interview-part-4
@Grasshopper:
I think we would be ok with DPHS, GWD Prep,Penzance and Clifton Prep who also a a bit of a feeder school to us. Some WSPS kids make the trip to DHS also oh and sont forget the guys from Empangeni and the Zululanders. Don’t know how many applications we get but I’m pretty sure its not near that many.
@Gungets Tuft:
Yah I fuess the grade 8 BE is good. I think the matrics at DHS also each have their own romms but I stand to be corrected. I do wonder where this BE will be built though as the top field is planned to be turned into an astro turf and there are also plans for a new multi sport high performance centre.
Also, do you think its good that the main field(van heerdens) be turned into a 1st XV only field?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: College have 4 different BEs. Nathan House (1910) for Grade 8’s – because it allows staff to give them a bridging year where there is a spot after 6pm where no intimidation is possible. It is a boys school after all, so it’s always a possibility. Then Clark House (the original “new campus”school building completed in 1888) and Hudson House (built in 1958) where boys in Gr9 – Gr11 stay. Then there is College House (1998) for just the Matrics where they each have their own room. I think it is a great idea – both the Grade 8 and Matric house.
@Horsie, sorry what is the question? What school would benefit the most in the long run if they had to choose from local feeder schools only? Hmm, Glenwood would be fine with Penzance, Glenwood Prep, the Bluff, Toti and Borough schools….sprinkle in a few DPHS kids ;-) and again will be fine. Westville too will be fine with kids from Westville, Atholl Heights, Pinetown, New Germany and Kloof. DHS, not to sure hey, only really DPHS feeding in directly but those kids will be high quality. However, Clifton might snaffle up a few. It would be great to see some sort of restriction made like in the UK, each gov school has a designated feeder area/zone and they have to cope with whatever they get. Off topic, I hear Glenwood get over 1000 applications for grade 8, maybe more so only a quarter get in.
@Gungets Tuft:
The try in the last 2mins came from an individual effort in our own tryline with the FB running the length of the field to score under the posts outpacing your winger and giving the last defender a hand-off to remember… Must say the scrumhalf from College had a good game though, think he’s Lodewyk Muller or something of the sort(made KZN U13 last year) the forwards from Clooege were quite small specially the front rankers hence the one sided scrum on the day, I’m sure that will be fixed up though.
@Grasshopper:
Maybe not but I still think that over time,not now,they would. It would become a sort of a reverse on what’s happened to DHS and Glenwood in the last 10 years.schools that shop close would be better off because the boys are close anyways. Which school do you think would benefit the most from this and which would lose out the most?
RE the BE
From what I’ve heard a seperate BE is to be made for Grade 8s, not sure why.either way its bound to make more space and with current negotiations to buy Berea park and have some rugga fields on there I’m sure the rugga will be juss fine.
@Horsie, that stats over 100 years show Glenwood around 5th in the province on results after College, DHS, Michaelhouse and Hilton in that order. They would definitely not drop lower than 5th with the current coaching structure and remember our feeder schools breed them tough coming from the Bluff, Queensburgh, Umbilo, Toti etc. Yes, these ares mostly play soccer at primary school level, but once the soccer is knocked out of them and they start to play rugga it only takes about 2 years to catch up. In my days, usually half of the Glenwood 1st side were from those areas where the boys only started rugga in standard 6. We were klapped by DHS at under13 but my matric were on a par. Also, with Glenwood’s big BE we attract Northern KZN cane farmer kids and those boys from Empangeni and Richards Bay. If DHS improved Blackmores and increased it’s numbers then it’s rugga would improve drastically down the line. Currently, if you can attract the best 15 DPHS kids you will have good A teams but weak depth. Depth is what counts and is where College always excelled, one injury and the kid below slotted in. I also like at College that the same game plan in played across the teams so easy for boys to move up and down. The calls are similar etc……great for building a strong base…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Hmmm .. strange. My sources told me that if the ref had blown the mark called by the College fullback then College would have won. As it was the ref decided not to, the College fullback was smoked, and the rest ended up on the scoreboard. My informant must have been on the wrong side of the field or something. Such is life, it seems that karma was restored when that team played Glenwood, so balance was maintained.
Seems Westville has closed the gap in basketball on DHS http://www.durbanhighschool.co.za/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=842
Surely they must be 2nd in SA
Hmmm… Gap in basketball between DHS and Westville closing , surely they are 2nd best in SA?http://www.durbanhighschool.co.za/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=842
@oldschool:
If that happened then A LOT of the DPHS boys would be at DHS and considering how strong a rugby school they are. I think that DHS would be higher than that.also,just for fun, where do you think guys like the Doops would be now if it wasn’t for bursaries. Also, a lot of the Glenwood rugby players are from far places and I think they would suffer.also, they can’t depend on GWD Prep since they put about 4 or 5 boys there on bursaries every year anyways, so I do think Glenwood would gradually go lower till about 6th place. Agree with College, schools like Merchiston,Pelham etc would still provide while Westville has mainly WSPS and Highbury. Interesting concept though…
@gungets
It was 12-10 and I watched that game. The scoreline doesn’t tell you the true story and in fact flatters College. Easily could have been 32-10 but it wasn’t.
And what a lovely try it was from our fullback.he is very good and. I expect him to make Grant khomo in two years time.no pressure…
Just a thought: I wonder if this was the 80’s if schools like Grytown, Estcourt, Kokstad, Vryheid, Empangeni and Shepstone would be having similar issues about all their good kids leaving for the big cities like PMB and Durban?
@NW_Knight: Ja i think you right about DHS in this scenario , however , i cant see Nwood being to high on the list as your feeder schools in the area are not traditionally strong at rugby …..
@CyndiAtRugby: You are confusing it with volleyball on Durbans beaches. The rugby fields in Bloem are lush- they remind me of the valleys in Wales and the going is always “soft”
@CyndiAtRugby: My favorite part of Bloem is the N1 going back to Cape Town!..
@BOG: I’ve seen the waaves at Loch Logan and even seen people tanning on the “beach” there. My favourite part of Bloem rugby is the lines getting painted on the sand
@BOG: Kalahari Surfers
@CyndiAtRugby: Oh, but if it is purely a RUGBY decision, the choice should be obvious- send him to Bloem, if they can find a place. Whats more, the surfing is good there.
@beet: I stand under correction but I believe that College turn down something like 200 applications just for the Boarding Establishment in Grade 8. I am not sure about the day-boys but I seem to remember hearing 650 applications for the 160 odd (remaining after BE is filler) day-boy spots in Gr8. Whether that is a statement about College or a statement about the other schools in the region I am not sure. I am pretty sure that applications go to all schools in the region but parents would prefer their boys at College rather than “the rest”. Durban is in a mcuh happier position for parents – while you okes might argue about it, I believe that Westville, GW, DHS and NW all offer a top government school experience. I know there are differenciators in each school, but faced with “war zone” schools, parents would be very happy with a spot.
As far as attracting talent is concerned, schools need to be very, very careful that prospective parents are sure that their son is getting the right attention. If their son is not A team material (given how strong some schools are at A team level) then they need the assurance that he is not goinbg to become invisible below that. So, while schools can be marketed at 1st team level, forget about the lower levels at your peril, because the danger is that you have a lot of drones that stop contributing to the school and pitch up for classes and disappear. Kids need to pull on the school colours for sport to find out what passion for your school means.
@beet: Westville and Glenwood have crazy long Gr.8 application lists for about 250 places. Without scholarships and bursaries, chances are they will still pick up quality due to numbers. Glenwood also has a sizeable BE, so I tend to think top 3
College
Glenwood
Westville
In that order.
The difference between old Glenwood and Glenwood now is that the school is really geared towards doing well in rugby. Good coaching, good structures so their results will be better than they were in say the 1990s
@NW_Knight: This is my gut feel as well. Not so much Glenwood moving down that far but certainly the chances of seeing the likes of DHS and Northwood moving ahead of the private schools on average over say 5 years worth of results.
@Oldschool: I think NW and DHS would be considerably higher on the list. Most of your top sportsmen in DBN North wait to hear if they have a scholarship at one of the private schools, before deciding on NW. Take scholarships out of the equation and rankings would be more like:
1…College
2…Westville
3…Northwood
4…DHS
5…Glenwood
6…Kearsney
7…MHS
8…George Cambell
9…Port Natal
10..Hilton
Some food for thought , if there was a law passed that recruiting and rugby scholarships were banned , which schools in KZN would be consistently the best at A team and 1st team level ???
My thoughts as follows;
1…College
2…Westville
3…Glenwood
4…Kearsney
5…MHS
6…DHS
7…Northwood
8…George Cambell
9…Port Natal
10..Hilton
Any thoughts ???
@star: Sport has been most frustrating with all the rain this week. It was great to be able to play basket ball in the indoor court – a facility Glenwood sadly lacks. I love the way the Westville boys happily dive for the ball on the indoor court – not a good idea on the outdoor tar though.
@BOG: REALLY
I think you have fallen off the track here and are taking my comment out of context. As this blog is about school boy RUGBY, I am talking about those hotly disputed schools argued about on this blog. You don’t need to go to Mthata to find schools with problems.
Having grown up in a rural area and done charity work with a number of these ‘war zone’ schools, I will again state that it is up to the parents to chose the school correctly and influence the school to follow the correct codes.
@ Westville needs to work on its waterpolo and GW on their basketball. It has been incredibly frustrating re the cricket. Since Westville were ranked number 1 in the country they remain undefeated
There are a few gaps in the last few weeks and so I am sure that something can be organised. This has been raised with the powers that be and so we will have to wait and see.
@Star, some nice waterpolo results for Glenwood vs Westville; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/sites/default/files/vs%20Westville%2010%20Nov.pdf
Such a pity the 1st and A team cricket games were cancelled. i think the last 3 fixtures have been cancelled due to rain….can’t they reschedule for during the week or something…
I also went through the line from Junior to High school and have some real strong bonds with some great mates. Even my friends who went to boarding school still retain those strong links from the “hood” and their formative days.My son who is at Westville has friends who have been together through 4 schools.I just smile quietly.You can’t buy that but you can destroy it by short term horse trading.( or should that be horsie trading
)
@CyndiAtRugby: No bad schools? I dont know if you are specifically talking about your immediate area, but I could present a few examples which will change your mind. If ever you pass through Mthata(Umtata), stop over at Umtata High- its next to the main road going through. And that is one of the best in the area. Some are war zones.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: And your U14’s scraped home against College, was it 10-6 with a converted try 2 minutes from time?.
@Grasshopper:
their worst performance of the season was vs Michaelhouse where they never really got going and in the end only won 26-0. I was hoping they would participate in the paarl boys U15 festival but that hasn’t materialised. I think the fixture organisers just want to have an unbeaten side… Don’t think its right though and. I agree with you.
Yip they did play well with just one blemish in the name of Glenwood
I do think the players will be happy by just beating Glenwood though.
I think the junior A side fixtures will be very close next year vs the two schools as Glenwood has about 10 or more KZN players going there next year while indications show DHS to have recruited a very,very strong side. Looking forward to it…
@Horsie, OK 15 then. Yep, agreed on the other points. I think the DHS Under14 side should have played Grey Bloem for a real test. I hear they wiped the floor with every school they played. Even the good Jeppe side would have battled to compete. Monnas had a good Under14 bunch. DHS don’t seem to play that sort of top opposition which Glenwood, College and more recently Westville and Kearsney do. Your Under15’s of 2013 will need to test themselves properly…
@Grasshopper:
cant be 25, half of gwd prep is female so cant be…
also, cant agree with that, in 2010 the gw u14 team was the best in kzn even though they were almost all from different schools whilst westville had like 6 or 7 wsps boys and college had 4 or 5 dphs boys so it can be the other way around. reason why college arent that strong(they are still strong nevertheless…) is because they arent really recruiting that much for rugby like everyone else is and they dont have the luxury of offering 30 plus scholarships…
i think you will find that this years u14 dhs side will onlylose at most once in the next 2 years
@CyndiAtRugby: Agreed – we can not abdicate our responsibility to a school. They should merely facilitate and make opprtuntites available (on the sports field, through an old boy network, in the class room etc.).
But ultimately it is the parents who raise the children -the school provides a formal education and gives those opportuntities not available in the family.
@Grasshopper: I am happy to put Pete’s cell number, email address, home address and ID number in here if everyone promises to abuse it properly. Subscribe his email to LosLyf, phone him at all hours, give his cell number to “Night Nurses from Denmark”. Deal?????
Will also teach him to drive the “running bus” properly, not like when we ran 2-Oceans many years ago …
I went through from a junior primary, senior primary and high school that were all linked and in close proximity. This was probably because the next closest high school was over 50km away – I intended this for my son but the reality is that not all high schools suit all kids. There are some who do well in co-ed and others who don’t. Some who need strict discipline and others who don’t. I honestly believe that there are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ schools out there, it is just what suits the child in question. If the parent moves the child from one school to another based purely on bursaries offered, I would question their integrity. I also believe that good parents create good kids not good schools although they do make a contribution.
@Horsie, no idea how many Glenwood Prep boys go to Glenwood, I would have thought at least 25. Glenwood has a great mix of boys and a lot of their sporting prowess comes from the Bluff, Toti and Queensburgh where they breed them tough, I was one of them. Also, many boys from Northern KZN, Sheppie and up on the Vaal. The advantage for DHS is the DPHS boys stay together and know each other, hence in Under14 their sides should be strong. However, by the time the kids are Under16 the sides with a mix of boys know each other. I’m sure that is why College are not that strong at Under14 but are lethal by matric, good coaching and backing the boys who have done their time.
@Grasshopper:
About 70 to 75. But hey, you lose some and you win some. Remember, DHS only started advertising itself at Prep at about 2009 or 2010 so its still a new thing for us.
Of the GWD prep boys , how many do you think go to Glenwood? Not as many as you think and there’s a common denominator in that…
The DHS 2011 intake had 65 prep boys out of a possible 75 so cut us some slack
@Horsie, exactly! Like 35 of DPHS’s best go elsewhere. How many in a year, about 80? In my 5 years at Glenwood we usually got about 5 to 10 from DPHS, it may be different now.
@Gungets, hahaha yep the Manning’s are pretty passionate blokes, although Greg is now in Perth with his wife and baby. Would be good to catch up with Peter, maybe the next Old Boys dinner or day.
@Grasshopper: Yes, I know that, boy do I know that. Try being at a braai with Manning and his GW mates when College are playing GW – frikking insufferable. Last 10 years have been a negative flow of wine penalties.
Not sure about GWP at College. Don’t think so.
@Grasshopper:
Actually,mostly,they do. The only reason whythere won’t be too many coming on scholarship to DHS is because the school spent a lot on scholarships last year and I also hear of DHS offering some kids in the 3rd term way after they’ve already accepted to other schools. A lot of the prep kids live in La lucia or Durban North and still come to DHS(proof is the DHS bus which picks kids up from even opposite the road from Northwood)
Not many go to MHS or Hilton,as Gungets said only scholarshup kids, usually about 8 or so go to Westville,1 to Glenwood, like 10 to Kearsney,10 or so to Clifton and usually 5 to College with the remainder to DHS.
Can’t say the same for GWD prep though.
Don’t think College attract the GWD Prep guys but I know Westville and Kearsney do…
They recently posted on their site that 26 of their boys have gotten scholarships to various high scholls but unfortunately they didn’t post names and schools :sad:
The fees at DPHS are about 32 000 now…
@Gungets, yep sorry I should have listed the reasons ;-). As you already know Peter Manning sent his sons Greg and Shaun to Glenwood, as day dogs, from DPHS and they lived in Durban North. Both were more than tidy sportsman in ALL sports. I believe John Allan’s lighty is going to Glenwood for obvious reasons. Do you know if College attract many Glenwood prep boys? I know Glenwood get a few from out in the PMB sticks…
@Grasshopper: There are more reasons than just that. DPHS is seen as “almost private”, certainly the fees are not shy – in 2010 I think I was paying R26500 year, almost double Chelsea, Northlands, Virginia etc. To be honest, I don’t know how we ended up there, other than the fact that close family friends ( a GW Old Boy who eventually sent all three boys to Glenwood, including a 1st team player form last year), plus 2 mates from pre-school. While I am not one of that number, a lot of the parents are pretty well off and sending their kids to Kearsney and Clifton was always on. Not many go to House – I would say only scholarship kids, not many to Hilton.
College has had some damn good press at DPHS in the last few years. This years Head Boy and Deputy were DPHS boys, as was the 2011 head boy. At one stage this year the captains of the 1sts, 2nds, 3rds, U16A and 1st cricket were all DPHS Old Boys. Add to that the fact that DPHS get free advertising in the College yearbook and newsletters, DHS were insistent that DPHS had to PAY to advertise in theirs .. (true story!!).
Of course we also like to think College sells itself :-)
@Horsefly, funny two of my good mates from Glenwood were DPHS Old boys, seems some parents are little bit wiser ;-). It seems DPHS boys don’t have that much loyalty to DHS as they seem to go to College, Michaelhouse, Hilton, Westville, Clifton, Glenwood and every other big school in KZN. The only reason I can think of kids choosing DHS over Glenwood maybe if they were basketball stars or lived on that side of the Berea….
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Grasshopper won’t be happy with that. He likes feeder primary schools to stay traditional :smile:
@GreenBlooded:
:-D. Somehow though that seems to be true just for this years bunch. The years before them had a high nuber to dhs. And so is next years grade 7s(think mike fennell had something to do with that)
A lot of Glenwood prep boys come to DHS though… Guess it helps having the GWD prep headmaster being a DHS old boy
@HORSEFLY NO.1: I seem to remember seeing a Glenwood photo of their 2011 scholarship winners. Mate of my son’s was in there – he has a 100% to Glenwood his mom is happy to tell everyone.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: …..and they’d rather be captured and held by Somalu pirates than go to DHS
@Gungets Tuft:
Yah College , michaelhouse and hilton are the only schools I know of who show the scholarship winners to the public. All other schools don’t for their reasons. Some laziness, some dind it unnecessary,some for the reasons mentioned above and some because they say one thing and do another(saying they are just like your ordinary school with 30 winners but in fact have 70)
@greenwood
Its obvious that with the schools recent rugby history a lot of boys will see Glenwood as a ticket to rugby fame and so will the parents… That is,of course, for the rugby boys. A lot of all rounders will choose to go elsewhere. It also depends on the primary school you are from. Eg, most DPHS kids would alomost wanna die than go to Glenwood..
At a night rugby series game at an Afrikaans School in Pinetown earlier this year proudly wearing my green shirt with THE badge on it – A mom and her 12 year old son clutching a rugby ball asked me what school was the badge from -when I said Glenwood the litie jumped and down and said
he really , really wants to play rugby for Glenwood – the Mom said this oke sleeps with a rubgy ball -takes it to Sunday school and the movies & lives for Rugby
She asked me how could she get this guy into GWD
I told her to take the usual route phone the school etc – she gave me her telephone number just in case I could somehow help.
So this kid is overboard fanatical about rugby so what do I do – Give Erasmus a call ? no incentives required here
@CyndiAtRugby: Seems there should be a surgeon being investigated there as well.
And no, the only choice for you is the car you drive. I suggest a Brabant, Mahindra, GWM …
@Gungets Tuft: Would that be at a school of our choice
The most shocking thing about the parents, is that they are putting pressure on kids as young at 7. These kids should be enjoying their sport and not be thinking about high school at this stage.
I know of a parent in the Cape who was hauled in by child welfare about the acting/modelling thing. The poor child had all sorts of surgery to make her look ‘pretty’ and one of the ops had gone wrong.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: All scholarships at College are printed in the yearbook, the sponsors of the scholarship, the recipient and whether it is sporting, academic, cultural or general. The 2011 intake there were 23, 7 for sport, an added one from the Jacques Kallis Foundation. 4 designated Academic but the closed scholarships from Corwallis, Pelham, DPHS and Merchiston could be any of those.
@Andre T: “Jeepers old man” Hahaha! If ever there is an example of the pot calling the kettle black, then thats it. Did you drink your sense away the weekend?
Haha some High Schools might want to hide how many scholarships they REALLY offer so they don’t put it up…
It also doesn’t serve in the best interests of the kid to put it up. Imagine Johnny Black being dropped from the A rugby side for a week then some kid harassing him and telling him “you don’t deserve that bursary , you suck,can’t even make the A team but you are on a 100 percent scholarship!!!” Rather keep it behind the scenes as long as it doesn’t happen after grade 8
@BOG: Thought those mommies only came from Bloem? Jeepers old man, are you serious, has this spread to the USA as well? Hoping Paulse, Willemse and Pearce will also spread their wings.
What I read here, it reminds me of so many (vain) mothers in the USA who drive their little barbie-lookalike- daughters from one beauty pageant to the next. And they are obsessed and the fighting and bitchiness amongst them, is unbelievable.
@Grasshopper: I know Lucky and am very good friends with his adopted “mom” from my running days, as well as professionally – I hire contract staff from her from time to time. Lucky is now in the USA running.
I need all you okes to break down on the higway so that I can also get rich and sponsor kids ..
@Gungets, it’s a tricky one in that case. No one can stop a rich Old boy paying for a few kids to go to school. I remember in my day a prominent SA womens runner paid for Lucky Hadebe (SA Schools 800m athlete) to attend Glenwood, she was like his surrogate mother. It’s impossible to police where parents are getting their money from, so for now maybe make bursaries transprent and others will just have to live with generous sponsors etc.
@Grasshopper: I agree completely about the nominations and amounts for bursaries. The problem arises where bursaries are for financial assistance – and I believe there is a place for these (loyal Old Boys kids, staff kids etc) where I don’t believe the parents or kids should be embarrassed.
The main issue is loss of form, or the effects of early size (in rugby) where a good young player is not necessarily a good older player. I just can’t see how it would be fair to tell a kid who is on a bursary for 2-3 years, in Grade 11, that they now have to pay their way when they might not be able to afford it. It would shatter the lightie and affect the morale of the school. I am sure it is the same at all schools but College (boarders in particular, but day-boys too) will tell you about the brotherhood of the boys. Spend even 2 years in the BE with okes and it is a big deal for them if they have to leave – my son has had a good friend leave and is still not happy about it. I don’t know the answer, other than a free education system at Govt school level – which still doesn’t fix the BE issue. Beyond my tow-truck driver intellect I fear.
I think bursaries etc are fine, they just need to be transparent eg listed on the schools website and in the schools accounts. Really simple eg
John Allan bursary – Joe Bloggs – 100%
Steven jack bursary – Jack Black – 100%
Mike Turrell bursary – Paul Smith – 75%
etc…
That way everybody knows who got what and all this rubbish about giving out hundreds of bursaries can be squashed. I know some people say the kids will get bullied, I don’t think this will be the case. We all know some kids get scholarships for academics why not give the sportsman the same benefit. The bursaries need to be reviewed yearly though and no promises given. They should be simple financial ones
@NW_Knight: In this case the boy was / is very talented, very big for his age in primary school, no quibbles there. It got so bad that a couple of dads could not even sit with his group and watch sport together, we sat with the opposition supporters, or on our own on a far corner of the field.
@Gungets: I’ve heard that cheque book comment a few times. Oddly, the boys are often not the number 1 players. They’re the better than average players with loud mouthed parents. Generally, the parents of the top boys seem to tone it down a bit.
@Greenblooded: Absolutely right. I came across a parent recently whose son had been offered a 25% bursary and he was wanting to know if “that was the schools best offer”. Sounds a little like a flea market to me.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: That depends on how you handle it. But when you sit in the stands an listen to a dad who has apparently not amounted to much sportswise, “loudly” tell everyone that “I have made it quite clear, the headmaster with the biggest chequebook wins”, eeisch. It was patently obvious that it was Dad’s ego that was at stake here, not the lighties best interests. The lightie lasted 1 year at the school daddy chose and they were off. Good kid, bad parenting.
I wish I knew the answer, I see more successes with bursaries than failures and nobody expects parents to turn down bursaries, especially when it is to the parents alma mater and first choice. I suppose the problems start when the bursary is the only deciding factor. Anyway, I should not criticise because the choice of school for my boy was left in his hands and money was never mentioned as an issue. That it was my first choice as well is cool. Nothing to do with the sublimal messages played under his bed while he slept … :-)
@Gungets Tuft:
Well, what can’ the schools do?? You can’t deny the kid a scholarship if he is for example a KZN rugby,water polo and swimmer. Just can’t resist… But hey, I don’t condone it though
@GreenBlooded: Too late – took up a more genteel pastime of bashing GW and all things green
@Rugger fan: My brother is a producer of TV adverts for a Joburg production company – I could have given you the inside track!!
@CyndiAtRugby: “There is a lot said on these pages about schools who “buy” players – how about those parents who “sell” their kids??”
One of the all time great comments on this blog.
@Cyndi
A few years back we lived in Joburg and were in Melville which is very arty. We started going to some advert auditoions (our sons were 3 and 6 back then). I tell you what – that is where you see parents pimping their kids, [padding CVs and being downright nasty to other kids and parents.
Rugby and KZN High schools are a breeze compared to that :grin:
@HORSEFLY NO.1: A lot of them don’t have financial problems as well, doesn’t stop them shopping their kids around like walking organ donors.
@CyndiAtRugby:
Very valid question. Its. Very sad when parents do this but I do understand because some may have financial constraints and free schooling for your kid always helps…
A rugby Mom was telling me about her son’s rugby CV today and how important different awards from school and club are for the CV. She was very upset about her son’s award and was worried about whether it wouldn’t detract from his rugby CV. I must be a bad Mum cos my son of 15 doesn’t have one of these … her son is 8
There is a lot said on these pages about schools who “buy” players – how about those parents who “sell” their kids??