Some of that dreaded schoolboy rugby reality crept into the Central regions tier-one this week. Sentraal of Bloemfontein informed Kimberley’s Diamantveld that their 1st XV were would only be able to take on the Diamonds’ 2nd XV! The consequence is that without touching a ball on Saturday 18 May 2024, the Diamonds 1st XV, who are already the unbeaten log leaders in the Wesgrow Sentrale Skole Sportreeks will receive all the match points.
The best case scenario is this is a once-off and Sentraal rugby will improve in strength in the years to come. The stronger opinion is that is a sign of things to come and the gap will only increase from here on out and the disparity may extend to a few other schools in the Wesgrow – like Goudveld. It may result in a rethink of how the league operates. It certainly mean Diamandveld will have to re-examine their own fixture options for 2025. They have 12 teams while other Griquas rivals like Noord-Kaap and Upington can only provide five teams each.
A few years back the Wesgrow Sentrale Skole Sportreeks emerged as a super concept to formalise the top co-ed schools of the Central region into an organised league for the purposes of boys and girls interschools sports.
Eight schools form the league which spans three provincial rugby provinces.
All has been going well.
Kimberley’s Diamantveld were the first 1st XV rugby champions in 2018, followed by Bethlehem Voortrekker in 2019, a tied final between the Trekkers and their Bethlehem neighbours Witteberg in 2022 and Bloem’s Fichardtpark in their amazing 2023 season.
Barring one of the upset results of the season, Diamantveld are on course to claiming their second title.
@tzavosky (Comment #7)
San Du Plessis het baie terug Gesak en sukkel teen klein platteland skole soos Aliwal Noord en Burgersdorp
@Smallies (Comment #5)
Ja, en dit lyk my Sand du Plessis se rugby het ook maar sleg uitgesak. ‘n Ou varsity vriend was daar op skool – lekker koshuisrugby senter gewees. En natuurlik het hulle Franco Smith en Morné Steyn opgelewer.
@coetzsj (Comment #3)
My neefs was in Bloemspruit Laerskool. Arm groot geword in Shannon in die 70’s en 80’s en absoluut uitgeskiet op Sentraal, al drie met baie groot spesialis praktyke en twee is ook professore, wat nooit uitgepraat kan raak oor Sentraal en hulle trots op hulle Alma Mater nie, maar al drie is dit eens dat Sentraal, veral op sportgebied, dramaties agteruitgegaan het. My kleinneefs weer het op Kimberley en Barkly-Wes (Dikgatlong) groot geword en in hulle tyd, in die 60’s is hulle op ‘n stroom Sentraal toe uit die Noord-Kaap en hulle is ook bekommerd.
@coetzsj (Comment #2)
Jy is reg ek is nie betrokke by die skool nie ,maar ek ken Sentraal se geskiedenis en het baie vriende wat daar skool gegaan het…Of jy dit nou wil aanvaar of nie Sentraal het agteruit gegaan op sport gebied….
@coetzsj (Comment #3)
I’m not cutting you short here.
You must please share what you know.
I don’t think anyone wants to see Sentraal rugby lose ground.
Today the Diamantveld u19B team beat Sentraal’s u19A team 35-7.
Beet jy is net so oningelig… Kan n mens sulke gemors publiseer
@Smallies (Comment #1)
Duidelik is jy n onbetrokke ouer of persoon wat Sentraal nie ken nie. Kry eers al jou feite…
For me as a fanatical Freestate supporter it is very sad to see the decline of Sentraal ,it once was a powerhouse in the Freestate that pushed Grey all the way…