In February SBRer Rugbyfan got us underway with his predictions of how the season would turn out: http://schoolboyrugby.co.za/blog/?p=2493. All the top contenders have a few games under the belt now. St Andrews is there somewhere above the cloud. At this stage they appear to be the overachievers in the region in terms of the pre-season forecasts.
However on Saturday, one of the teams that was tipped to do well by Rugbyfan, Die Brandwag made a statement on the farm with an impressive 34-20 win against Marlow. Die Brandwag had also beaten Queens, very narrowly though at Graeme Rugby Day.
Elsewhere Grey High got a useful win against Nico Malan. Overall Nico Malan has performed better than pre-season expectations but Grey High are pretty much yet to find best form.
Queens were kind of on track to be middle of the road, that was until they stunned Maritzburg College on Goldstones and now they too suddenly look capable of bigger things. Beating Selborne and claiming the Border top team bragging rights are definitely not out of the question.
Selborne are capable of doing good things. Their draw against Nico Malan turned out to be an excellent game. They did however sneak home against Graeme College, so one has to say that this is a team that blows hot and cold – the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival proved that.
And what about Graeme College? Do they now fit somewhere in the EC top 10.
Kingswood recently lost to Union. Definitely not a train-smash. This was the same Union team that ran Boishaai very close. However Kingswood has also been defeated by Grey PE and Marlow.
For Daniel Pienaar, Framesby and Dale, this season is certainly proving to be a lot tougher than last year, particularly for Dale.
What is the new Eastern Cape Top 10 now?
@QC86: Smoking a zol of Hope my friend.
@Playa: @Umtata: what have you two been smoking,QC by 20
@Umtata: “The greatest day, the greatest, this will be the greatest day, filled with shouts of v-i-c-t-o-r-y!”
Never easy on those rough QC fields in the early days of winter.I reckon the under 14s are due a win.They haven’t beaten their counterparts since under 9 or 10, I think. I hear we’ve lost another 8 under 15 players to Grey PE, Kingswood and DHS. We have no chance there. I fancy our chances with the under 16s.Hopefully the 1sts will “refuse to lose” as they did at the 150th Dale reunion 2 years ago.
“QC!Waar is julle lekker span?Ons gooi jul in die dam.Jou voorspelers, jou agterlyn, jou tweede span, jou derde span, ons gooi jul in die dam!”
GO BLACK AND RED!!!
Its always tough for the visiting teams on reunion day, I just hope the u16a u15a 4ths 3rds win. Queens 2nds are usually good. Maybe the 1st will pull a kudu out a hat and win
top eastern cape side is going to be St Andrew’s. from looking at results it seems as if Grey Pe have not hit form yet, even if they beat St andrews i think overall st andrews in terms of rankings will end up higher than them.
For me Grey PE has not been hitting their full potential in terms of rugby for the past 3 sea,sons. The last great side top 10 side was all the way back in 2009 , that side lost 1 game i believe, after that they have been pretty average if you look at their history. Grey PE should be a top 10 or even 5 every single year with the kind of resources they have at their disposal, hoping for better things come nxt year.
@rugbyfan: I wouldn’t be too confident on a clean sweep.The lower age group teams tend to get the victories.It will be tough for the A teams though.
@QC86: Any news why Luke Smith left in such a hurry?
I will put some money on either Grey or St Andrews coming out on top should Grey be able to find their form and connection, which I think they can do. Daniel Pienaar are struggling a bit , but could still get up there. Framesby have lost to much from last year and can’t seem to get it together – they might be in for a very long hard season. Brandwag seems to be an exciting prospect at the moment and if they can build on that they could be right up there. But season is still in early days.
@Playa: Big weekend coming up for Dale at Queens reuion at the moment could land up being a clean sweep for Queens in all age groups besides maybe Under16A the rest i think Dale will battle to get any wins. There are 17 rugby games taking place would be surprised if Dale win more than 1
@Mike: Ye Grey have been disappointing so far ye i dont think its just matter of getting past St Andrews they might just battle against Queens as well even Brandwag might pull one on them.
I do think Grey are yet to find form, but I think that it will come soon. Paul Roos this weekend in PE, going to be huge. If Grey can get passed St Andrews in Grahamstown I think they can get that number 1 spot in the EC.
@BoishaaiPa: By the sounds of things, Volkskool are in for a hiding come interschools.Then again, previous matches are never an indication of what might happen at a derby.
@beet: Geeez!!!Whaaaat?!?!?!I need to find this out.
@QC86: That is news to me
@beet: A Ha Mr Beet
Now we know what happened at Caritzburg. 
@beet: if i knew i would,Dale needed his know how
@QC86: Being based in King, can’t you fill us in on the details.
Wasn’t it a far bight one evening during Caritzburg Mollege 150th
@Playa: I dont want to see what is going to happen at the Interschools in Graaf-Reinet between Union and Volkskool…If you have to go by form then it is going to be a massacre..Union lost to Paarl Boys 1st by 3 points (Although not really a true reflection, but they gave a good account of themselves) while Volkskool’s 1st team lost 78-0 to Paarl Boys third team!…If straight line correlation works in schoolboy rugby (luckily it most often doesnt) I will cancel the Derby if I am Volkskoo
l!…It might also indicate that there is no big difference between our 1st and 3rd team!
@Playa: whats the story behind Luke Smith leaving??
It’s going to be a long season for the red and black manne.Losing to Grens tells the story all on its own.
I can see St Andrews topping the table this year. This, of course depends on whether they maintain their curren form. The battle will be fought between them, Grey, Selborne, QC, Brandwag and Marlow.Graeme may just be another surprise outfit.Its a pity Union doesn’t play the more “recognisable” outfits in the EC.From what I’ve read, they seem like a decent bunch.
I am rather confused. Is J J Serfontein blatantly being discriminated against or have they been eliminated/disqualified for one or all of the following reasons?
1) Have they been incorporated with Queens?
2) Have they been found to use “equipment” other than jersey, shorts, socks and boots?
3) Is their freedom of movement being restrained?
4) Have they been prohibited from smoking and drinking before, during and after their matches?
What about other schools like West Bank, Baysville, Stutterheim Butterworth and Umtata High?
And sadly i think Dale will battle to make the Top10 which will be a first for them.
Beet: As i said pre-season the top 5 by the end of the year will be: St Andrews/Grey PE/Selborne/Queens/Brandwag/Marlow not in that order but between them.
So far what we have seen is:
St Andrews are living up to there dark horse label and are going well but lets see if they get past Grey PE and Queens at the rec but so far they have gelled well.
Highest Post: 1
Lowest Post: 3
Grey PE have been battling a bit they dont seem to be able to mix there good forwards with the backs.
Highest Post: 1
Lowest Post: 4
Brandwags forwards are going to be hard to stop although they could count themselves lucky against Queens but won anyway.
Highest Post: 1
Lowest Post: 3
Selborne as QC86 said seemed to be battling to find there form it will depend if they find it or not were they finish.
Highest Post: 3
Lowest Post: 6
Queens well if there backs stop dropping balls on overlaps they might actually do quite well
Highest Post: 2
Lowest Post: 5
Marlow came unstuck against Brandwag but still expect a good year.
Highest Post: 3
Lowest Post: 6
1. St Andrews
2. Brandwag
3. Grey PE
4. Queens
5. Marlow
6. Selborne
7. Union High
8. Nico Malan
9. Graeme
10. Danial Pienaar
The top are going to be decided by the games between: Grey PE/St Andrews/Queens/Marlow/Selborne
1.St Andrews
2.Grey High
3.Nico Malan
4.Brandwag
5.Selborne
6.QC
7.Graeme
8.Union
9.Marlow
10.Daniel Pienaar
Selborne will get a lot better as they get fit,old problem with them
Something like this?
St Andrews
Brandwag
Grey PE
Marlow
Queens
Selborne
Daniel Peinaar/Framesby/Nico Malan
Dale