These are my personal picks. You can find the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival programme with player profile data online : www.schoolboyrugby.co.za/KERF2013/
Match of the Day: Outeniqua 22 Grey College 20 (there is a point form report of this match here: http://schoolboyrugby.co.za/blog/?p=3313
Match of the Festival: Outeniqua vs Grey College
Team of the Day: Outeniqua
Team of the Festival: Outeniqua
Back of the Day: Dewald Human (Outeniqua)
He was sublime. His vision, his pace and his step and the confidence he had in his own ability were off the charts in the main game against Grey College. Human has x-factor written all over his attacking game and in what might still turn out to be the biggest game of the 2013 school rugby season, he delivered big time.
Forward of the Day: Rikus Bothma and Dian Koen
The 2 big No.8’s carried the ball up extremely well and flourished in contact. Getting over the advantage line and being able to stay upright just that fraction of a second longer is gold in rugby. These two players nailed it. As a result they provided their respective teams with excellent front-foot ball.
Player of the Festival: Dewald Human
Back of the Festival: Selvyn Davids (Nico Malan), (special mention to runner-up: Warrick Gelant)
Selvyn Davids despite being in a team on the wrong end of a drubbing on Day-3 , still managed to show off all his assets – his step, speed, his balance, his footballing skills and most importantly his rugby brain. He is also remarkably difficult to bring down for someone of his below average rugby player size. Saying that he is a player that should not be afforded any space feels like it’s sells him short. He is the kind of player who is able to create an opening where it does not exist for 98% of all other school rugby players in SA. Davids is under-19 this year which means that his school provincial representation days ended last year. Hopefully he amazing skills that open up defences will open a door to a prosperous rugby career after school as well.
Warrick Gelant was all set to be the player of the tournament but he had a quiet game by the ridiculously high standards he’d set on matchday-1 and 2 at KERF. Being closely marked by Grey College, Gelant was happy to catch and pass the ball to whoever was on his outside. The competition amongst the backs at the top was hot. Nevertheless Gelant remains one of the most exciting players to watch run with the ball and he has the potential to go far in senior rugby.
Forward of the Festival: Marius Louw (Grey College)
Unfortunately KERF was robbed of a star performer when Louw picked up a toe injury against Framesby. Those who watched on Day-1 would have seen a forward player in a class all of his own. He has explosive speed and the strength to boot. He’s also a leader by example on defence.
Team of the Day:
It was difficult XV to pick because so many players stood out on the day.
1. Andrew du Plessis (Grey College)
2. Pieter Jansen (EG Jansen)
3. Ruan Kramer (Grey College)
4. Eduard Zandberg (Outeniqua)
5. JD Schickerling (Paarl Gim)
6. Geor Malan (Outeniqua)
7. Rikus Bothma (Paarl Gim)
8. Dian Koen (Outeniqua)
9. Remu Malan (Outeniqua)
10.Dewald Human (Outeniqua)
11.Duhan van der Merwe (Outeniqua)
12.Brad Ellse (Westville)
13.Ryan Oosthuizen (Paarl Gim)
14.Selvyn Davids (Nico Malan)
15.EW Viljoen (Grey College)
Special mentions to: Mthunzi Moloi (Kearsney), Marne Botha (Outeniqua), SJ Roux (Boland Landbou), Marco Holmes (EG Jansen), Ayron Schramm (Kearsney), Wandi Mazibuko (Glenwood), Lian van Schalkwyk (Outeniqua), Jacques Vermeulen (Paarl Gim), Reinard Arndt (Grey College), Curtis Jonas (Glenwood), Tristan Tedder (Kearsney), Ruan Potgieter (EG Jansen), Lugelo Gosa (Selborne), Wayno Visagie (Paarl Gim) Martin van Wyk (EG Jansen), Hennie Barnard (Outeniqua) and there are probably a few others.
Spirit award of the day: I couldn’t decide on a team so I’m going for Jason Wilks, a little known Westville back who showed plenty of willingness to get involved in the action. The positive attitude paid off with him being instrumental in a couple of tries that killed off Framesby’s challenge. He was not the only player giving it his all but somehow his effort was memorable.
Spirit of the Festival award: Boland Landbou for never giving up on the cause. They reinvented themselves at half time against a rampant Grey and did the same against Nico Malan. In so doing, the team from a school with just 370 students and a 95% rugby participation level, helped contribute to the quality and success of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival for 2013.
Team of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival 2013
1. Andrew du Plessis (Grey College)
2. Pieter Jansen (EG Jansen)
3. Ruan Kramer (Grey College)
4. Estian Enslin (EG Jansen)
5. JD Schickerling (Paarl Gim)
6. Marius Louw (Grey College)
7. Rikus Bothma (Paarl Gim)
8. Dian Koen (Outeniqua)
9. Johan Labuschagne (EG Jansen)
10.Dewald Human (Outeniqua)
11.Stephen Rautenbach (Grey College)
12.Warrick Gelant (Outeniqua)
13. Selvyn Davids (Nico Malan)
14.Leighton Eksteen (Outeniqua)
15.EW Viljoen (Grey College)
Impressive players just missing out: Marco Holmes (EG Jansen), Eduard Zandberg (Outeniqua), Geor Malan (Outeniqua), Sampie Hearn (EG Jansen)
@BOG: Wat het jou die meeste geskok die thumb suck, toe suck of die 65m miskyk. Ek gaan nou draf.
@Tjoppa: @Woltrui: Ja, dit lyk of selfs die ou groottone leeg gesuig is. Weer-eens geskok met feite waarop nie sinvol geantwoord kan word nie, en dan blaf Fluffy nog agterna ook. Woef woef–
@Tjoppa: Hiehiehiehie.
Good one Tjoppie
@BOG: Not because they are so good but cos they are so cheap. With the economy what it is in Bloem you can convince them with ou pap en ‘n lee blikkie spaghetti to finish the Groot Trek.
@Woltrui: They have twenty players in their structures, the team doctor and three in their coaching staff from “that school on Bloems “west side” How many do they have from the Paarl, or Pretoria, for that matter?
@Tjoppa: If you want to play for the Bulls make sure you go to school in the Paarl. The Bulls talent scouts love those boitjies.
Unloyal m&*#$@#. 8)
@meadows: If you are playing in Tswane the Bulls prefer you do not play for them. Union with the lowest % homegrown talent.
@beet: I have to wonder how honest some of those who indicate that they are “available” are being.
In some cases players may be reluctant to predjudice their chances of making their Craven Week side and one of the quickest ways to do that in some provinces is to confirm that you are not interested in playing in your home province after school. Not all unions take this approach but some certainly do.
In any event I suspect that they may also just be keeping their options open until the contracting dust has settled after Craven Week
@beet: @NW_Knight: Dont get me wrong, what they did, makes absolute sense. I did not say it as criticism, but all should understand that the awards were not necessarily for the “best” in the respective positions. Why I raised the matter in the first place was because I can recall a recipient a few years ago who did not take up the award and at the time, I thought, “what a waste”
@BOG: It is almost impossible to award the prizes to the best players anymore. Just about all of them are off the board already. Even the boys who have made themselves available for bursaries are not certainties. Last year 1 out of 2 winners bailed and joined the Bulls (3rd winner was over-aged). The organisers have even aborted the best forward and back of the festival. I’m not surprised with the Sharks Academy being high profile at the event and last year having to name 2 Bulls bound players as best back and best forward.
@NW_Knight
I see your U14 lost badly at Bizsport. Not good results at all ey! They lost about 54-0 to Ben Voster, same team that DHS beat 38-17.
Your U16 also seem to be going backward this year!
What’s happening here!
@BOG: Players had to indicate whether they wished to be considered for the bursaries before the tournament. In the past, bursaries were offered and the players just never took them up. Now, bursaries have only been offered to those who indicated that they would be interested.
It would appear that the bursaries were given to players who have not yet committed themselves elsewhere. Am I wrong in my assessment? Dont think so!
@Rugger fan: http://www.rugby365.com/article/53034-kearsney-ends-with-bursaries
@Ludz: I really feel I’ll be robbed if I dont see this kid play now in high school.
Anyone know the Nico Malan fixtures between dates 18 May to 1 June?
I saw a photo of the 4 boys who were awarded scholoarships to the Sharks Academy too (Glenwood & Kearsney – plus 2 others – Paarl Gim and Outeniqua I think).
@Tjoppa: Could be – I haven’t seen them play.
Very little to choose between all of them, including Grey Bloem. I must say that the KZN and Eastern Cape sides have got some catching up to do.
@Amalekite: Stay humble Between Outeniqua, Waterkloof, Affies and Gym. My personal choice is Waterkloof.
The nr4 haircuts are the debutants for the first team.
Bloedworse @ Kearsney
http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/892840_10151327783701109_734380066_o.jpg
@GreenBlooded: IMHO Paarl Gym to finish at no. 1 this year.
@jakkie: You misread what I wrote. The Westville players were of the opinion that Paarl Gym were stronger than Outeniqua. Westville were beaten fair and square by both of these super sides.
@beet: I thought that the U 14 result, yesterday, might entice some from self imposed excile
@Playa: a sight to behold I tell you, to say he’s something special is a bit of understatement. I watched him at Craven Week for 2 years, really impressive. I watched him live for the first time against Dale at the Graeme Rugby Day a few weeks ago. I think Sevens for now is the best choice, just a bit small for the 15s
@Andre T: Mr T where the vrip have you been the past month. You Krugerdorpers always coming this late to the party. 8)
@Rian: I just tested it from the link you posted and it works:
try this for example
http://www.schoolboyrugby.co.za/KERF2013/KERF2013Kearsney.pdf
you need adobe acrobat to see files though.
@beet: Gosh, did they really beat the Dream Team?
@Andre T: As long as you do not go near the u16 tournament at Gim, you are on safe ground discussing Klofies’ outstanding achievement in beating Boishaai 26-20
Has Waterkloof played any games so far this year?
@jakkie: I think you misunderstood what Amalekite was saying – I understood his last sentence to mean that the Westville players felt that Gimmies were better than Outeniqua – not them (Westville).
@beet: Thanks for your comprehensive feedback. We are proud of our boys and hope that they stay humble and keep their heads together.
@GimOB: The scrumhalf Nel, Fullback Hermanus, prop van Niekerk and centre Oosthuizen were in the teams of the day along the way. Inside Wayno Visagie missed out out by a nose hair for Day 3. He was really good – solid on defence and can distribute reasonably well – he might even be a WP CW candidate because he forms a good partnership with Oosthuizen. Ryan Oosthuizen is a player worth tracking. I can see him turning out for WP u19 and u21 in the years to come. Flank Jacques Vermeulen is a big boy. Took great lineout ball. I think he is still working his way to 100% fitness though. Like Oosthuizen, I thought Monday was his best game. He started to play a bigger role in the drives. Watch out for him during the WPPL season. I will look out for his improvement during WK. Wyatt Murphy played fullback on the last day. He has an educated boot. IMHO the line worked better with the new 10 but Grant Hermanus is a good 15 as well and offers GIm a lot more in that possie than on the wing where he does not look like he has the wheels to get around his man. Hermanus’s reading of the game is good and he has little tricks up his sleeve like a convincing shimmy, that buys him time. Gim was too good for the KZN teams. Their defence is too well organised to allow our guys a chance to attack them. Physically they are good as well. I would love to see them playing EG – I think it would be a good match up. One of the players Gim should consider giving more game time to is wing Leaviel Gouws – one of the fastest in boots at KERF. He has the ability to be an X-factor players like just about all the players in the backs that made my Festival 15. But there again Gim also has this big u17 wing Ruan Sander (1.90m, 92kg). He got injured at KERF but when fully fit, he too adds a big imposing dimension out wide.
“spoke to some Westville players and they are of the opinion that they were better than Outeniqua” sad to say that fact of the matter is kwaggas beat Westville, by, to my opinion a convincing margin of 33-7, with their second stringers.Please be so kind to suggest a more convincing scoreline as to which team was the superior. I find it very hard to believe that the kwagga players would have felt the same way as ‘some Westville players’ supposedly felt. ” I feel sorry for Westville having had to play 2 of the best teams in the country in quick succession.” Well….Welcome to the big boys. Be a man and take the defeat on the chin, you were beaten by a better team, who put more points on the scoreboard, and at the end of the day, I was taught, that’s what matters.
@TheGoose: if you look at a log without bounspoints your ranking is close. i wasn’t there so don’t know who no1 should be…
P W D L P FOR POINT A POINT DIF POINTS
1 .PAARL GYM 3 3 0 0 119 25 94 12
2 .OUTENIQU 3 3 0 0 112 41 71 12
3 .GREY COLLE 3 2 0 1 106 44 62 8
4 .EG JANSEN 3 2 0 1 136 93 43 8
5 .KEARSNEY 3 2 0 1 64 54 10 8
6 .PAUL ROOS 3 1 1 1 44 56 -12 6
7 .GLENWOO 3 1 0 2 63 44 19 4
8 .BOLAND LA 3 1 0 2 64 99 -35 4
9 .SELBOURNE 3 0 2 1 58 94 -36 4
10 .WESTVILE 3 1 0 2 61 82 -21 4
11 .NICO MALA 3 0 1 2 76 147 -71 2
12 .FRAMESBY 3 0 0 3 20 108 -88 0
@TheGoose: Looks about right.
I feel sorry for Westville having had to play 2 of the best teams in the country in quick succession. Anyway, I think it will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season – a good experience. I thought that they showed a lot of character in the way that they held Outeniqua in the second half on Saturday.
Kearsney still the team to beat in KZN though. They might feel relieved to have the Glenwood game behind them. The green machine is looking good.
I think that Paarl Gym will finish in the no. 1 spot in SA this year. I spoke to some Westville players and they are of the opinion that they were better than Outeniqua. Let’s wait and see.
I saw that Dian Koen for Boland at u16 level, that boy is good.
@Amalekite: After doing a points table – 4 for a win, 2 for a draw and 1 for losing by less than 7, and using points difference but not counting the 4 tries rule, I get this [School] (PD, PTS):
1. Paarl Gim (94, 12)
2. Outeniqua (51, 12)
3. Grey Bloem (62, 9)
4. EG Jansen (43, 8 )
5. Kearsney (9, 8 )
6. Glenwood (59, 5)
7. Paul Roos (-2, 5)
8. Westville (-21, 4)
9. Boland Landbou (-35, 4)
10. Selborne (-36, 4)
11. Nico Malan (-71, 2)
12. Framesby (-88, 0)
Gets Westville to 8 as you suggested. Also puts Glenwood above Paul Roos although GW lost to them.
@TheGoose: I must say that it is not easy to rank the teams.
Some interesting points:
1. Westville is the only team that played 2 of the top 3 teams. If any of the others had, they would most probably have lost twice, and fairly badly too, as the top 3 are in a different class.
2. To illustrate this, team no. 1 beat team no. 4 by 23 points. Team no. 1 beat team no. 10 by 26 points, who managed to hold them 7-7 in the second half.
3. Team no. 12 suffered their heaviest defeat against team 10 ( 47-3 ), but did better against team 3 and 5 , 36-9 and 25-8 respectively.
Top 3 and bottom 2 are no brainers, not so easy for the rest. Personally, I would place Westville in at 8.
@Rian: It does work – its just a list of PDF docs of the teamsheets
@TheGoose: Changed my mind.
Boland should be above Selborne based on points difference. Also, they both played Nico Malan.
Selborne drew 36-all, Boland beat NM 38-16
@beet: Am I being a dumbass again or does this link http://www.schoolboyrugby.co.za/KERF2013 really not work?
@badboy: They must feel intimidated by the size.Unlike a Dale team to shy away from contact.
@Playa: Something to see. He creates tries from nothing – exceptionally quick, can read the game and his footwork is incredible. His only weakness is his size which is why I think 7’s will be more suitable for him. Give him the slightest bit of space and he is unstoppable.
@badboy: Good to know.
@Playa: Seen him he is really good just very small
@GreenBlooded: I really must see this Selwyn Davids kid. I wish Nico Malan were playing at Cape Schools.
@Playa: I was at the first 2 days at MC 150 i saw Dale play Monument and the problem i saw the forwards did not want to take contact so that is an issue, on the second day they were all over the development team but they were very weak so you could not read much into that could just be along hard season for your team. I was very impressed with Affies they will match any team this year.
@Queenian: I would not be to concerned about Queens they actually stood up well to Affies and if there handling had not let them down, 2 easy tries were missed through dropped passes if they held on they would have jsut about been there, were Dales forwards seemed to shy away from contact they took the big Affies forwards straight on.
@Queenian: I hope they also realise that,hey.
On Selvyn Davids – I cannot help but think that his future lies in the 7’s format. Paul Treu should definitely be having a look.
@Greenwood: Agreed. Glenwood were outplayed by a much better Gimmies outfit – but the heart was always there with each player giving 150% for 70 mins.
@Playa: They will come through that not the end of the world.
Eish! That could be Dale’s biggest loss by margin in history. Hope the boys and coaching staff can keep their heads up.Still a long season ahead.
Per Ardua Ad Astra!!!
Final Score Rondebosch 24 Jeppe 7
@Greenwood: Thanks
Boland Landbou could possibly move one position down to swap places with Selborne…
I might do a points table to have a closer look.
Rondebosch 21 Jeppe 7
Rondebosch 16 Jeppe 7
Kearsney Goose
I think your rankings are pretty much on the button
Big thumbs up to Kearsney for such a well run showpiece
Although Glenwood performed OK – a little like sweet & sour pork – still very proud of their never say die attitude and their willingness to run the ball from their own line – lots of positive
comments from neutrals in the stands – with almost half the squad being grade 11 the future looks promising for the machine
Affies definitely taking foot of petrol as 6 players was u/17 players. Dale realy got a hiding.
Affies win 51 – 0
Rondebosch 7 – 0 Jeppe
@Queenian: To help until Beet gets scores coming through:
You can follow the games live on HSSM here http://www.hssm.co.za/tournaments/2013/maritzburg-college-150th-rugby-festival
Go to the bottom of the page and click on Match Reports – Jeppe vs Rondebosch is on now
Affies just hammered Dale 51-0.
@Tjoppa: Thanks plz post the full time score when you have it
I know half time was 27 – 0 Affies leading
Beet: Is there nobody sending score,s through from MC 150 today
@spilly: Surely Dale vs Affies must be finished
Any results from the college 150 as yet, will the results be posted as they happen
My ranking of the KERF Teams
1. Outeniqua
2. Paarl Gim
3. Grey College
4. EG Jansen
5. Kearsney
6. Paul Roos
7. Glenwood
8. Boland Landbou
9. Selborne
10. Westville
11. Nico Malan
12. Framesby
The top 5 and bottom 2 are fairly easy to place
6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are difficult to separate.
Paul Roos beat Glenwood, so they are one above Green.
Glenwood beat Selborne easily, but got hammered by #2 ranked Paarl Gim
Boland beat #11 side Nico Malan but got easily beaten by Kearsney and Grey Bloem
Selborne are 2 below Glenwood because Green beat them by 41-5, and had 2 draws, with Nico Malan (#11) and Paul Roos (#6)
Westville were hammered by #1 and #2 sides, and beat #12 side easily – tough to put them at 10.
Nico Malan and Framesby get #11 and #12
What do you think?
@ Pedantic-to play for your 1st team is a privilege not a right. When it is given to you you take it with both hands and play with heart and courage. I think that attitude is what Wilks brought to the team and it rubbed off positively on the other players. It also just goes to show how fine the margins are from a mental perspective.I bumped into your son at the hotdog stand and passed on my best. I hope I did not scare him too much.
@Beet – I though the exact same thing when Jason Wilks took the field and somehow injected a brand new energy into the team, something they seemed to lack on day 1 and 2 – his early try seemed to give the guys the self belief they desperately needed.
@GimOB: IMHO Paarl Gym are right up there with Outeniqua and Grey Bloem. There is very little between them. On the day, any one of them could beat the other.
Paarl Gym made 3 of KZN’s top schools look ordinary. They are an excellent team who will have a great season. Top 5 finish guaranteed.
Or was our opposition simply weaker than GC, EGJ and Outeniqua’s?
Paarl Gim have only 2 reps in your Team of the festival group (compared to 6 of Outeniqua, 5 of EGJ and GC). Why did they do well? Would you say that the team was well coached, conditioned?