A big crowd is expected to descend on Port Natal’s floodlight main rugby field for the most crucial game of this year’s Geldenhuys Broers Bedryf Night Series, where host Port Natal and newcomers DHS will square off in the main game at 20h00 on 14 February to decide who plays the Glenwood Invitational XV in final.
Night Series Log with 1 round left to play
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenwood Inv XV | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 14 | 87 | 2 | 18 |
| DHS | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 109 | 38 | 71 | 3 | 15 |
| Port Natal | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 72 | 15 | 57 | 1 | 13 |
| Pinetown | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 74 | -41 | 0 | 8 |
| Durban Development | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 149 | -129 | 1 | 1 |
| George Campbell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 60 | -45 | 0 | 0 |
This “semi-final” should produce a number of interesting contests. Port Natal enjoys playing a traditional structured game, while DHS has looked comfortable moving the ball around the park. Both teams have also shown an appreciation for the value of a good tactical short and long kicking game.
As far as setpieces are concerned, DHS could edge out Porties in the scrums while the hosts stand a good chance of coming out on top in the battle to win clean lineout ball. However the real excitement might revolve around the fiercely contested ball at the breakdown. In the games leading up to this one, both schools have shown a healthy appetite to get stuck in and win ball on the deck using good technique and physicality.
The other potential deciding factor is out wide where both teams possess a couple of true game-breakers in Karel Terblanche (13) and Chestwin Gaffley (14) for the White Knights versus Sandile Khumalo (11) and Mbuthutana Peter (15) for “School”. The match-up at flyhalf might see two converted scrumhalves (Gresse and Simpson) facing each other at some point during the match and there is also a nice challenge at scrumhalf where DHS’s Kwandokuhle Ngidi has shown form and innovation while his opponent Frans Jv Niewenhuys has improvised well at times too. Tough Porties no.12 Estienne Verster is a solidly built centre who has gone about his work efficiently. He might come up against the broad-shouldered Blessing Buthelezi. Look out for some big midfield collisions if this is the case.
Spectators can look forward to watching some good rugby in the lead up to the main match but the results of the two preceding A-team games are academic as far as the log places are concerned. Winless George Campbell will hope to open there points account against the gutsy Durban Development team, in what will be a dress rehearsal for next week’s 5th/6th playoff. This will be followed by a more competitive 2014 Pinetown team taking on unbeaten leaders, the Glenwood Invitational XV who have already booked their place in next Friday’s Night Series final.
Part and parcel of the Night Series experience is the tasty food on offer at very reasonable prices, so be sure to come down and enjoy this festive occasion.
should be a very entertaining final
our 2nds lost out on being in the final lost out to porties 20-5. the 2nds final should be evenly matched gwd beat porties 13-10 in round 2 so both the finals 1st and 2nds will be very interesting.
goodluck to all the teams
I eat my words – well done DHS.
Good result for DHS in Round 5 :
DHS 17-3 Port Natal
Glenwood Inv 64-3 Pinetown
George Campbell 19-3 Durban Development
RugbyDad
I wouldn’t write off school – they have the potential to knock off Porties
I notice the DHS fly half – the small blond bloke (not Le Roux) avoids contact at all costs – haven’t seen him tackle or be tackled
Now , what tunnel are the Gwd boys going to join for team run ons for this game ? last week the “School” boys joined the Porties tunnel when Gwd played Porties – not a big issue though – just thinking – sure it will be Porties …..
From Cyndi’s pics it seems Glenwood are playing quite a few 1st team players, Joubert, Van Niekerk, Vidima, Coetzee, Sparks, Du Randt etc. Unless these guys have been relegated by imports?
Think this will be one way traffic, with Porties playing Glenwood in the Final next week.