GAMES ON DAY 1
Hudson Park 12 Pearson 10
I didn’t get to see this game at all but I was chuffed for Hudson Park. Apart from a number of locals having made Pearson the favourites, Hudson had suffered the setback of losing two key players to the aggressive recruitment strategy that is threatening to ruin schoolboy rugby.
Westville 20 Marlow 10
Again before this game, there were a number of people who thought Marlow would take it. They were justified in this line of thinking as Westville had underachieved in their previous 2 games. However the KZN boys came out to set the record straight. Spearheaded by the loose-forward trio of Adrian Heystek, Nathan Meilhon and Teagan Erasmas,Westville dominated the first half. A feature of the half was Westville’s far more decisive backline play. One could see method and a few backs had good runs. I’ve been privy to some offline debate about where Juan Anderson should fit into the Westville picture – this half showed why Grant Bell wants him at 13.
Overall the game was a start-stop affair but in this first stanza Westville won the penalty count and had far better structure all-round. Marlow came right in the second half. They won more positive ball and were able to do more with it. Following Nathan Meilhon and prop Jordan Els’ first half tries, there was just second half reward for Nelius van Heerden, the Marlow no.6 who I thought was their best player on the day. This try showed how good Marlow can be, as the build-up was excellent with hooker Arno le Roux who also doing well. The first half was crucial for Westville and won them this game. I never like to put school players down but the one disappointment of this game was that the highly rated Marlow no.8 Luigy van Jaarsveld was far off his best form. Afterwards I was assured by several locals that this was an exception to the norm though. The next step for Westville is to turn what they produced in the first 30-minutes into a full match effort. Also they have big forwards and need to create more continuity via their pack.
Pretoria Boys High 39 DHS 8
I watched the first half and then ran away. Its hard to place DHS because there are a lot of “cans” about their play. They can win frontfoot ball, they can contest well on the ground, they can put together attractive backline play. Young lock Liam Whitfield even showed they can win opponents lineout ball. However at some point in the first half, the Tshwane boys really got DHS by the throat and it just seemed that they were not willing to let go until DHS no longer had a pulse. PBHS scored several good tries. A moment to remember was when big unit left wing (Wayne Parker?) manhandled a DHS player I rate on the way to scoring his power play try. That wing takes a lot of stopping once he gets going. Judging by the final score though, school must have really upped their game in the second half.
Louis Botha 23 Kingswood 20
This match was played on the B-field (Pollock). I caught a good part of the second half and bumped into Xander Janse van Rensburg as well. Boy does the Bulls scout get around. Anyway I obviously can’t comment on the first half but in the heat the action was still thick and fast all the way to the last move of the game. It was end to end stuff and might well have been the match of day. Beforehand I had this idea in my mind that both teams would be on the small side but both surprised me because of they had some fairly big sized players. One of the Louis Botha locks looked like he could be almost 2-metres and with a surname Molefe, I wondered if he was perhaps a relative of Oupa Molefe??? Making Louis Botha unique in a sense is they are a fully transformed Free State school team. They even have two players Joseph Dweba (SA Schools 2013) and Victor Maruping who have been in the SA under-20 planning this year. Kingswood are a small private co-ed with a shade over 200 boys, who usually always have to box above their weight. The game had a tight finish. Louis Botha got some good continuity going at the death which freed up players on the overlap and allowed them to score the end of game winner.
Glenwood 23 Bishops 6
This game began as a tight affair which the teams trading penalties and Glenwood missing their customary shots at goal along the way. When key Glenwood player Jaco Coetzee left the field with a knee injury, it should have spelt trouble for Glenwood as he was having an influence as a ball-carrier. But as the game went on, Glenwood started to gain the upperhand. Glenwood’s ability to use their forwards as a unit to lay frontfoot platforms made the difference. In these last few weeks Glenwood captain and lock Kevin du Randt has really impressed me. He seems to be playing with a lot of confidence and authority. Although he isn’t that tall, he wins his lineouts cleanly in the middle. This in turn allows Glenwood to set near perfect rolling mauls at their discretion. It was these mauls that helped kill Bishops. Glenwood also slammed shut all doors Bishops thought they could open through their counterattacking game. In the end Bishops got rattled and all they seemed to do is drift towards touch by using a predictable one-dimensional ball down the line running game. There were no cuts against the grain or exciting different lines being run. The game plan was all conditioned upon a Bishops player making an extraordinary pass to gamebreak the line and quite frankly the passing game was below standard. In form prop Kenny van Niekerk got the first Glenwood try before halftime. The second half Glenwood try was a gem though. Flanks McMillan Muller and James Venter really stepped up in Coetzee’s absense and both played big roles in the play that resulted in hooker Percy Mngadi scoring. Bishops got a late consolation try to make the score more respectable but they were really out of fresh ideas in the second half. Bishops no.8 Saul Abrahams played a very loose game and had a high workrate but apart from one pop pass to put teammate in for a try being ajudged forward, he was largely ineffective in the role he was asked to play. Lots of Glenwood heroes on the day. I might have to mention a few in the comments section below.
Michaelhouse 18 Queen’s 3
This was not my favourite game. After the high of the Glenwood game a weekend ago in which House played a good all-round game pushing Glenwood all the way, my expectations of the team were a lot higher and I came to watch them turn on the magic. They however just could not get any rhythm into their attacking game against a struggling Queen’s College. It felt like Michaelhouse’s opportunities came about as results of Queen’s errors rather than good build-up attacks by the KZN school. There are always two sides to a story and one can say that the reason why Queen’s struggled was because MHS were so clued up defensively. In this regard MHS scrumhalf Thomas Walker earned a lot of praise for his tackling. House produced two tries, the second of which was pretty good because it was a well executed set move that freed up left wing Jason Schwegmann for a nice run in off the inside shoulder of flyhalf Bader Pretorius and had a few other promising moments.
Queen’s had started the game brightly, showing good variation in the lineouts and structure on carrying the ball up in the opening stages but then lost their way and just could not seem to retain ball possession, due to many unforced errors and a few infringements at the rucks. The last few minutes were also promising for Queen’s but that fat chunk in the middle of the game was the reason they finished it tryless. On a really sad note promising Queen’s wing Jerry Danquah had to be helped off the field while in a lot of pain. It’s feared that Queen’s (and maybe even SA Schools) might have lost his services for 2014.
Selborne 20 KES 11
I don’t want to harp on too much about the common theme, namely the wind but it did rob us of more attractive rugby on Day 1 because playing with the wind at their backs made accurate passing very difficult for players. This game clearly emphasised that. Selborne has a good team. I was especially impressed with their running game. The East London boys looked like they had really put in the hours to get their lateral movements rights and the combine this with a passing game played at speed. The fullback Liam McLoughlin was good and right wing Milani Lubelwana had a couple of good runs – I loved the way he looked inside for support runners once he had done the hard work. However the two star Selborne backs were Morgan Steyn at flyhalf and David Brits at inside centre, both are still under-17. Steyn has vision, reads the game and passes well, even place-kicks well, while Brits reminded me of former school star Pieter Lindeque. The centre can collect a pass and change his running line or offload accurately while going at full tilt. Selborne won the game when by working the ball through the hands when the wind allowed for it – the first half in this case. Their prop Tango Balekile was also very good as a tight loose ball-carrier. He got over the advantage line often.
KES looked like they had pace out wide but just did not get enough chances to use it. Their best moments came via a very disciplined pop and drive game near the fringes on instruction from the coaches. Their patience paid dividends as they scored a try from sustained pressure using this somewhat one-dimensional approach. From here I think KES need to use a couple of those same forwards who are good at sucking defenders in, to create overlaps out wide. I really liked the KES no. 8 Jordan Mills. He has size and is up to the task of taking on responsibilty.
Grey High 23 Kearsney 7
Before this game I had an idea that unbeaten up until now Kearsney would be in for their biggest challenge of the season and get tested in a way that they hadn’t been tested yet. They had successfully negotiated big packs but not come up against a team wih an attacking threat backline to compliment the big pack. Grey combined both elements. Their pack has size and is physical. Their backs containing three sub 11-second 100m players is quick and skilful. Add in home ground advantage and an understanding of the tricky to read wind on the ground and certainly the scoreline had the potential to get ugly against Kearsney. Kearsney has had three good season in a row prior to this one, so I tend to draw comparisons between the underachieving 2010 team and this this 2014 team. I thought that the 2010 team had the players and the talent but often did not show the necessary desire. This 2014 team makes up for any shortage of talent with huge hearts. They wear their maroon and silver striped jerseys with pride and it shows in their results including this one in which they were outclassed by their opponents and outdone by the wind. Kearsney started very strongly, lead though a sublime try made and scored by flyhalf Tristan Tedder and contained Grey for much of the first half. However when the game opened up a big towards the end of the half, Grey got into the high gears and as organised as Kearsney tried to get their defence, they were no match for the execution at speed of the hosts who scored three tries. Highly rated Curwin Bosch must surely have ended Day 1 as the most memorable player on display at the festival. He started quietly enough but then came into his own, showing that he is a complete package flyhalf. In the second half he took control of the situation with his huge boot. Outside him the likes of Keanu Vers, Dylan Vermaak and Garrick Mattheus shone for their exciting play. My favourite player of the day was however their no.8 Lamond Bouwer who is an “yster” as they say in Afrikaans. This is a guy who clearly lives to dominate collisions and he has really good pace as well. Vers did brilliant work and then botched a try in the second half with two free support players on either side of him with the tryline metres away, which could have taken the Grey score to 30. Under the circumstances Kearsney did very well to contain the score and as a supporter I was proud of the guts they showed. For Grey, just like Outeniqua in 2013 they have key players who can ensure they do well this year. They just need to stay focussed and play to their potential to finish amongst the top schools in SA this year.
@Mike: Thanks did not know that was the case.
@valke: Glad that Kearsney is only 6th on that crazy list … probably add another 2 in between for trials. Geez, and Hopper thinks Glenwood are overextended!
@valke: WOW!!!!
@Playa: It is worse than that.
Travelling will be a factor as well. Back from KERF on 22 April to play Tuks SF on 26 April. Leave for Wildeklawer. Play Grey PE on 28 April.
There is also 2 x Provincial trails scheduled during this time ( 9 & 14 April )
@valke: NO WAYS!!!!That line up cant be healthy…especially in that space of time
@Mike: i was certain KES and Grey would have played each other at either the KES or Grey festival – given the long history and rivalry between the schools – any idea why it did not happen?
@Mike: Don’t worry Mike, EG Jansen will be very tired by the time Grey have to play them.
They play 6 games during that same 13 day period and another 2 games in the week leading up to that.
8 games in 22 days.
Centurion, Tuks QF, Grey College, Glenwood, Kearsney, Tuks SF, Paul Roos, Grey PE.
@Roger: Yep both times. Only losses that year were to Cambridge
, Maritzburg College and Grey PE
@Playa: hahahahahahaha
ofcourse they did!!! Got the email thanks. No Dale is a class above Cambridge historically!!! You had some hot teams yho.
@Queenian: I’ll explain again why Grey played Nico Malan. Grey play in the KES festival till the 21st of April. One week later is their game against EG Jansen at wildeklawer. The only space that Nico Malan could play Grey was on the 24th of April. So it’s too much to ask for Grey to play 5 matches in 13 days.
@Playa: bloody ’89 was horrible – in the pouring rain at the Saints festival and we had beaten Queens and Kearsney easily and came unstuck against Dale. Did Dale beat Queens in ’89?
@Roger:
I’ll ask him.
The 2011 win is probably the sweetest. Just as KES spoilt what could have been an unbeaten year for Dale in 87, we did the same to you in 2011.
@CHS08: Did the department of human settlements pay Telkom this month?
I have just resent it, let’s see.
You must check Cambridge records from the 70s. The old pundits say that your school had some hot teams in that decade. 3 of your 7 wins against Dale were in the 70s
@Playa: all very close besides ’93 and ’99. Remember ’87 well – if you bump into that chap again ask him what has happened to Raymond Lindsay-Smith – Dale poached him from KES in standard 9
and he ended up playing against his former teammates at centre for Dale in ’87. I am not surprised the captain is still bitter because Dale were ahead 7-6 and KES scored a try from kick-off under the sticks to pip them – heartbreaking for every Dale supporter – shame 
we should never have lost in ’89 and ’11 though – shame for us
@Playa: I haven’t received anything.
7 wins and e draws not bad for a co ed against a school that was utterly dominant in the past.
@CHS08: It’s in our mailbox
@Playa: VuyolwethuC@ecdhs.gov.za
@Grasshopper: Yeah that was in Kokstad.Great backline, with a future Blitzbok in it…Thobela Mdaka at 15. Tery Knicklebein at 14…ahhh the golden 90s.
@CHS08: 56 games will take some time to post. I can e-mail them to you.
But for the record P 56 Dale 47 Cam 7 Draws 2
@Playa: Stats against Cambridge? Can u please post those.
@Playa: I was involved in 96 as a reserve, was a great game but remember the score being 21-30. It was played at the Kokstad Festival and the game was voted best of the festival. Dale backs were just too good…
@Playa: I am told the 48-0 loss in 1993 is KES’s biggest loss ever
@RBugger: Totally agree…we can blame Nick Mallet for that move
@Roger: Hahahaha!The ’87 loss was Dale’s only loss that year – as much of a freak as it was
…Dale’s best side ever which was captained by the current coach.
.I recently met the guy who captained the Dale side that year…he’s still bitter.We returned the favour nicely in ’89, and then the 48-0 hammering in ’93
Dale vs KES
1935 – Draw 0-0
1946 – Dale won 6-0
1955 – Dale won 6-3
1959 – Dale won 6-3
1968 – KES won13-8
1969 – Dale won 14-10
1983 – KES won 20-12
1987 – KES won 12-7
1989 – Dale won 11-3
1993 – Dale won 48-0
1999 – Dale won 35-0
2011 – Dale won 13-7
@Playa: Dale had some great teams in the eighties and early nineties – I recall KES getting a 40 point hammering in 92/93 or thereabouts – but what happened in ’87 – he, he, he, he
do you have the KES-Dale stats?
@Playa: Bobo, now that was a great SBR player – one of the best I ever saw, watched him at Dale and again when he went to Rondebosch – brilliant flank who should not have been moved to centre – Neil Back did a great job for England despite being small and Bobo could have done the same
@Knight_CHS07:
OH YES PLEASE!!!!
Hopefully the 2014 team also has a future Bok and All Black in it because the vice captain of that 1995 team was Greg Somerville, and wearing the number 7 jumper was a 16 year old Gcobani Bobo
@Playa: Impressive record for Dale. Let’s hope we can have a repeat of the 1995 game, wouldn’t you say Mr Playa?
@Grasshopper: You know what they say about draws…it’s like kissing your grandmother.
Dug up some historic Dale-Glenwood results:
1953 – Dale won 6-0
1965 – Dale won 5-0
1970 – Glenwood won 18-6
1976 – Dale won 21-9
1988 – Dale won 6-4
1991 – Dale won 38-9
1995 – Dale won 52-6
1996 – Dale won 33-21
2010 – Glenwood won 29-27
2012 – Draw 24-24
Judging from the 3 most recent meetings, one can expect a high scoring and entertaining game if both sides pitch up.
@Queenian: Agreed on the Glenwood vs Grey match. But i must disagree on Nico Malan being weak, I think Nico Malan has a decent side from what i’ve seen, and i think they should’ve been competitive against Grey to say the least. Clearly Grey was too much for them.
Were you at the Graeme Rugby Festival? Did you see the Nico Malan vs Hudson game?
Unless they(Nico Malan) were showing off that day
@Queenian: I reckon House will come out firing after their shock defeat to Graeme. But I share you sentiments that Grey may just be a bridge too far for them.I can see a lot of coaches having a few sleepless nights over this Pansies side.
@Knight_CHS07: I think the only thing short from this festival is that Grey should have played Glenwood playing a week side like Nico Malan did no good.
Mhouse will not pose to much trouble for Grey they have a few players injured now as well which will affect any chance they had.
@star:
they have lost one player to another school… also had their best player by far pass away last year…rather a string of very unfortunate events but they so have a strong u15 side followibg them so im sure all will be fine.
@roger
yes the 1st side is 50/50 grade 11 and 12…
@Mike: I take nothing away from House, but if they (MHS) couldn’t beat Graeme College…i don’t think they are capable of beating Grey. I think wildeklawer will be a good test for Grey, if they come out tops(unbeaten) at the wildeklawer….then i’ll personally come to PE in August and watch them against GCB.
@Knight_CHS07: @Grasshopper: Grey started all 9 reserves yesterday. Nico fought very hard, but I think those reserves wanted to make the most out of their game time to give the coaches something to think about selection wise before wildeklawer. I think Nico did run out of steam but I think what Grey did well was starve them of the ball. Michaelhouse will be a lot tougher though.
@Playa: Should be a good game, the usual Glenwood pack vs the Dale backs, only this time we do have some pretty quick backs too. Hopefully not another draw…
@Knight_CHS07: I was following online yesterday it was not that bad up to 45 mins, probably 30 points in it. Then Nico Malan must have run out of gas or gave up to let Grey PE’s quick backs run riot in the last 15mins, not sure but that would make sense….30 points are easily racked up if there are tired players on the field..
@CHS08: Mike mentioned that Grey need to “improve”. I questioned the “improve” term because i was impressed with Grey’s performance at the Graeme Rugby Day. How they beat a good Nico Malan side 71-8 is beyond “improvement”.
How did Grey beat that strong Nico Malan 71-8????!! I watched Nico Malan at the Graeme Rugby Day and they really impressed me they are a big unit but Grey demolished them how strong is this Grey side?
@Grasshopper: Glenwood vs Dale at KERF…should be a good one…hopefully 1991/1995/1996 for us all over again
but Im very scared I must say
Well done KZN sides! DHS almost making it 3-2 for KZN in the Grogper. Well done Kearsney! Michaelhouse seem to have gone off the boil a little, maybe the Glenwood game took it out of them before the tourno. Glenwood doing us proud with a win over Jeppe :-)
@ Pedantic- that is a fantastic result. The boys must have played out of their socks
@ Roger- the ” dream team” is the one that will matriculate in 2016 which is the DHS 150th celebration. It has come off the boil a little and lost a few players to other schools. The grade below is very strong and should be able to provide the necessary support. The 2014 team is about 50/50 grade 11 and 12. Horsy can confirm
@Grasshopper: i dont make the rules and we all know the rankings are a pile of sh#t – anything can happen on the day!
doh – Kearsney pip Boys High – didn’t pick that one!
@Pedantic: Geeez! What a comeback though. KC did well to hold on for a win.
Grogper Cup now 2-2
Kearsney 21 – PBHS 17
@HORSEFLY NO.1: is 2014 the DHS dream team that they nutured from U14 level or is that 2015? Seems they are a touch inconsistent which leads me to believe they are quite young – is that accurate?
@Pedantic: SJO!
@Playa: PBHS fighting back .. 12 – 21 Kearsney now.
I hear Kearsney is making a meal of PBHS. Colleague not happy…KC 20 points up at half time or something.
Just heard injury not as bad as first feared. Ankle ligaments. Out for a month. Bishops 45 Kingswood 14. I believe the big difference today was that our fwds were able to supply backs with front foot ball which was an issue vs Glenwood whose fwds just outmuscled us.
@Grasshopper: Yip, it is not good at all. Have no idea how Jaco is… Do you perhaps know of any of the GW boys who could update you?
It will be bad news for GW and KZN if it is ligaments – I hope it is just precautionary and not to serious
@RBugger: sad news, two SA a Schools number 8 hopefuls injured! Any news on Jaco’s injury? No one seems to know…
@Roger: DHS is probably the 7th strongest team in KZN for the past 10 years, they have played the top 2 ranked GEMS, seems unfair to me. Grogper should be top 5 only from each region..
@Balikibaba: That is terrible news – hope it is not as bad as what you think, big things are expected of Abrahams this year
See Bishops are playing nicely vs Kingswood. Heard we just lost our Craven Week number 8 to what looks like a very bad leg injury.
U14A 2010: DHS beat KES 7-0
u16A 2012: DHS beat KES 16-15
1st team 2014: KES beat DHS 20-17.
Guess KES got the last laugh, well done to them!!
well – Grogper stands at 2-1 – with Pta – Kearsney to come – tough one that too, although Boys High looked very good on Sat
@Pedantic: Bloody ref …
Pity, but DHS can take a lot of heart from that. They are going to be a banana skin this year, someone going to go for a ride …
KES penalty right at the end – they win 20-17
KES sneak it 20-17 – cheese and rice that was a close one!
@Pedantic: Excellent, smaak it stukkend. Jekyl and Hyde team …..
I sincerely hope I have to eat my words …
@Gungets Tuft: think again 17-17 with 5 to play – KES were 17-0 up after 20 – great fightback by DHS
Glenwood leading Jeppe 17-10 with 10 to play
@Gungets Tuft: DHS not lying down here – 17-17 at the moment!
@Roger: KES vs DHS … tsk, tsk, tsk ….
I support my cousins daarso, but fully expect them to be outgunned …
two Grogper Cup games on at the moment:
KES 10-0 up so far and Jeppe – Glenwood 0-0
c’mon GEMS!
Have to say I’m a bit surprised by the Graeme win over MHS.
@Roger: KES is up next. Let’s wait and see how they do. I hope KES wins so that Grassy has more headaches
@Playa: Good wins for Dale and Selborne, i just checked the website now…Dale 35 – 0 Parktown Boys, Selborne 55 – 10 Pearson. Do you see what i mean when i said Baboona would be too much for Pearson?
@Grasshopper: I’m only kidding mate, you are the most passionate blogger i have ever come across…no wait…you and Mr BOG
@Knight_CHS07: well done to Selborne – heard they played the conditions really well. Hoping KES will bounce back nicely against DHS.
@Knight_CHS07: Hahahaha! Good idea
I’ll tweet some scores from Potch today
@Speartackle1
@Playa: hahaha..! I think you should wait for Dale to beat Glenwood at the Kearsney Festival, then you can rub it in
.
Unless Jeppe beats Glenwood later on today
.
@Knight_CHS07: I want to rub it in his face.Granted that Graeme seem to have a handy side this year, but they haven’t been a contender amongst the top boys’ schools in the EC in like 2 decades
This victory is massive, and I don’t care what happens in the remaining EC-KZN matches this year 
@Playa: Lol, i don’t think Grassy is going to be happy about House losing to Graeme
. GO EC!!!. I’m all for Border, but i still think the Selborne vs Pearson match is unfair.
Baboona is leading 10-0 already….
@Knight_CHS07: I don’t know what is happening to my comments….they just vanish.
Yeah, it’s very good news mntam. I just thought House would be too good for them given how much they’ve been talked up by those in the know. As I said before, festivals is where you see strange things happen. Dale better not take Parktown lightly. Selborne same for their game against Pearson
@Playa: That’s good news isn’t it? Or am i missing something? I think Graeme has a fair side this year, i watched them play Dale at the Graeme Rugby festival.
I see QC lost 27-7
, sad news for Border.
@QC86: Eish!
Sorry sorry west 20 Qc 7 talking to my mates
@QC86: I’m also following on that WebRugby website, please confirm.
@Westers: QC86, hopefully
Come on Westville! 20-7 ahead after 40mins! House up 10-7 too…
@QC86: WebRugby has the QC vs Westville score as 20 – 7 to Westville in the 2nd half.
Who is correct?
@CHS08: Thanks mhlekazi. He lived a long and fruitful life. He was 95.
@QC86: Come on QC!!!!
Qc13 west 7 ht
@Playa:
anyway I’m sorry to hear about your Granddad bhuti.
Marlow hanging on 26-19 up 10 minutes left
@Queenian: Jerry out for 3 months!Thats a massive blow.Really unlucky, I wish him a speedy recovery.
Thanks for the updates on Saturday. I was out in the bundus, it was great to get some connection with the real world.
I’m leaving for Queenstown on Wednesday for my grandfather’s funeral. I have convinced the wife to take the N2.I hope to land in PE around lunchtime, and have lunch at Grey while watching them play Michaelhouse.She doesn’t know this part of the plan yet though
@Grasshopper: Hater alert
As I thought, GW are going to be a hard team to beat this year. Area of concern will be the loss of Vidima and now Coetzee – he is a great player as I have said, but seems injury prone I am afraid, the same thing happened last year, the boy was consistantly coming off the field with an injury. I sincerely hope for Jaco and GW, that they manage him correctly and do not try and get him playing too soon if he is carrying an injury, he is to good a player to risk
@Henkies: thanks Henkies, hoping School hit back today, seems they in for an up and down season. Certainly signs of a rival which is great news. Looking forward to some tight derbies again in the near future…. 2016 and 150 years!
@beet: It was good meeting you at last should see you during the morning today.
I am afraid to say my beloved Queens are in for a hard season, and to make todays game harder both injured players No 11 and No 10 will not be playing I heard that Jerry Danquah could be out for 3 months which is a huge blow to a team already battling. They will have to call on a lot of guts to be able to contain Westville today good luck to the Kudu.
I was impressed the way Glenwood played they never allowed themselves to be drawn into a loose 7’s type game that Bishops were hoping for and they should give most the big gun,s a run for there money this year. A good solid team without to many weakness.
I was also impressed with Selborne they have the making,s of a good team and should be Borders top team this year by quite along way.
I did not watch the Dale game but chatting to a few folks who did they were impressed by the way Dale played off the loose ball, it show what a difference Griffy makes being back there and a few people will get a surprise when they play Dale this year.
As for what I said the other day about Grey PE maybe battling at the Rec this year I think unless they get hit by lighting they will steam roll Queens with ease.
Well done Westville and Glenwood- two great results for the KZN boys. Very keen to see how Glenwood get on this year ,what a win to add to last year’s scalp against Paarl. Congrats Grassy!
@kcman: Amen mate!! If a coach has done his job properly during the week there is no need for him to run up and down the touch line telling his players how to play or the referee how to blow. This is actually not allowed – the referee should tell them to get into their technical area and stay there. Of course, there is a way to circumvent this – the team ‘medic’ simply takes over the role. To me, these so called medics are not necessary on the touchline – there are official medics on duty at matches. To my mind, if someone attached to the team wants the role of medic, then he must be the medic and only the medic. The referee should bannish him to the technial area the first time he makes a coaching or reffing comment.
@Andre T: I picture you in many many roles. That of a referee is not one of them.
@KCMAN: Any standout players for us yesterday? Your thoughts ahead of the Bishops match tomorrow?
@Grasshopper: That’s my boykie. I see even the Super XV team must rely on those ‘imports’
@Andre T: Kwa Xhosa Afrikaans Natal….;-)
@Grasshopper: What does the the ‘A’ in KXAN stand for?
@Andre T: I do, I want the KXN team to have a great Craven Week. Westville’s win was great to hear! I also want to win the Grogper cup, so go KXAN!
@Grasshopper: Jonas played the whole game. Grey backline was very good. It was not a forward dominated game. Great individual try by Tedder(10).
@Grasshopper: Stop pretending you care so much about the other KXN teams. We all know deep down inside you enjoy the victories against them.
@beet: again, great balanced write ups. Do you know how serious Jaco’s injury is? Did Vidima play? Hopefully Jonas played a full game…hard luck to Kearsney, seems they just ran into a bigger and better side. Imagine if Kearsney still had the Doops and Schramm…
@beet: True, but remember golf is a gentleman’s game
@Andre T: this from the golfer who still blames birds singing in the trees for his bad short putting game in 2011.
@beet: As n ref, we don’t even here those comments on the field. It definitely doesn’t influence us at all. If a team is good enough, they’ll win.
So sick and tired of parents always blaming the ref.
@Rucker: Welcome. Sipho Pierie then. He is a big unit.
Thanks to all and keep those comments coming about the players that impressed.
I also get irritated when school officials try to influence reffing decisions from the sidelines so I understand where KC MAN is coming from
I was very disappointed for our boys yesterday in the game against Louis Botha losing in the last minute of a great game of rugby. Both sides spread the ball far and wide and it was a great spectacle.
Louis Botha definitely outweighed us but our boys put in a far better performance than when they played against Queens last week and I can only seeing them improving from here.
One thing I would like to see outlawed are coaches walking up both touchlines with earphones and microphones blatantly shouting at the ref the whole time what he should be doing and what he needs to see, this is disgraceful because the ref was definitely influenced many times about what was being barked on from the touchline from these two imbeciles.
Coaches should remain in their seats or at least be put behind the poles where they cannot interfere with the run of play.
On top of it, when the Linesman in a First XV rugby match is also shouting out instructions to the ref and players it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Other than that it was a great game of rugby where Kingswood deserved to win had it not been for the divine intervention of the ref and him seeing what he wanted and what he was instructed to see.
Not bad for a school with 220 boys against a school of 1400.
Thanks for the write up Beet. Well done to both Grey and Kearsney. I have a feeling if there was less wind we would have seen a closer score line. But nevertheless there were some exciting moments and some good play by both sides. Roll on Day 2 !
@Beet. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. About PBHS v DHS, the winger # 11 is actually Sipho Phirie. Wayne Parker played Fullback. Talk is Boys High have an awesome scrumming unit, have yet to hit their straps.
Was impressed with the Dale, Grey, Selborne and Kearsney flyhalves. Glenwood no.13 was also very good. Dale no.4 has a very good workrate.
DHS was not that bad, they just came across a determined PTA boys
DP speel ook net teen skole van daar. Askies het gedink dis in Windhoek.
@Tierkopkraal: Ek het gewonder of hulle mekaar daar sou ontmoet.
Ek weet Monnas speel die 2de teen Windhoek Privaat. Die 4de teen Windhoek Hoer en die 5de teen Windhoek Gim. Al die games is in Walvis.
@Grasshopper: Did not watch all the games,Dale was good that what i saw think they will get better and better as the season goes on.
@Andre T: I spoke to one of Daniel Pienaars Coaches yesterday , He told me DP would have played Monnas at this Festival in Windhoek but it fell through.
@Andre T: Yes Dewald And Jacques. No relation.
@Tierkopkraal: Tierkop, is that the school where the Potgieters come from?
@Tierkopkraal: Opinions of the other games?
@Speartackle: HTS Louis Botha is the Bloem technical high school. They where lucky to beat Kingswood,Thought Kingswood was the better side.
@Speartackle: Nope HTS Daniel Pienaar is from Uitenhage. It is the oldest Technical High school in SA. Est in 1895. And the last of the Tech schools to accept girls(107 years) took a idiot of ex teacher to want to take the school to court so he could get his daughter in.After she finished school he left the school and teaches at his alma mater Die Brandwag. After this Daniel Pienaar has died a slow death with glimpses of a revival. DP should have won against Jeppe. But the same can be said about Jeppe if they lost,was a very poor game by the two sides. DP left after the game on a tour to Windhoek,think that was in the back of the boys heads not get injured.
@ Jordaan
At the end of the day DHS is DHS with a big and good history and yeah they not what they were but probably invited due to their name and history. Least they are Trying too !!!
I hope they get strong again as be a travesty if they go down even more and i mean no disrespect as i know many a dhs old boy as friends and they are dismayed …
Personally i dont know all the schools listed so when you say “caliber” i cant comment as im guessing you mean every school there is supposed to be a top gun.. not sure myself of that in rugby terms but all good schools in general i would say… DHS had a great result the other day v GC…. so lets see…
Are you really a College supporter? As last year there was a Jordaan who supported GW and then Westville and now College ( if its the same person )
Just curious ?
So Grey PE putting down a marker, even more reason why they should have played Glenwood…pity!
How do DHS get an invite to a tournament of this caliber, they are not even a tier 1 side in KZN??? Embarrassment!
Nice to see all 3 KZN Tier 1 teams winning, DHS is borderline Tier 1. Kearsney getting a little beating currently…
@CHS08: it could mean KES and Windhoek are weaker than usual too. Well done on your predictions.
@Grasshopper@Roger: I told you guys Dale and Selborne are strong and that they going to beast Windhoek and KES. I also correctly predicted the Hudson Park score and the Queens score aswell.
FT Selborne 20 – KES 11.
Selborne 20 – KES 11. 3 min to go.
KES just scored in left corner against wind. Selborne 17 KES 11. 21 min to go.
@Grasshopper: thanks Hopper. Hopefully we improve.
Queens College 3 Michaelhouse 18
Dale College 39 Windhoek Gim 12
@Balikibaba: Good luck to Bishops for the rest of the season, I’ll be watching on Piley Rees. Especially good luck against the Paarl & Stellenbosch sides..
Mike 8 Qc 3 ht
Well done, Green Machine! Beaten by a better side. Pleased we at least scored at the end.
Anyone watching dale game?
@Gungets Tuft: Near = year
@Grasshopper: Tredoux and the 2 new boys this near not in the squad?
Go House!!! KZN’s next win?
Jeppe squeak a 10-9 win, well done there!
23-11 to Glenwood, well done boys! Sounds like it was a tough game. Maybe Bishops were not game hardened yet…..
Glenwood 23 bish11 ft
Glenwood 23 Bishops 13 ft
@Balikibaba: Bishops might have scored last secs there…won’t get a big head at all, it’s only the 3rd game of the season, 20 to go! Always great to get a win over a great school like Bishops…
@Grasshopper: you do realize he is trying to get a reaction from you? Looks like Glenwood going to win fairly easily here. Well done. Don’t get a big head now. Lol
@Speartackle: When I get an answer from the school, otherwise using yearbooks and most of them were there in grade 8….. Jonas the flyhalf and Vidima the lock who is injured came later on, grade 10..
We must be making a lot of infringements. Big penalty count against us. Come on. Discipline.
This Dan Pienaar…………isn’t it the technical school in Bloem?
@Grasshopper: You think? When will you be sure?
Jeppe seem to be battling against Dan Pienaar..
@Speartackle: I think 13 of the 15 started at Glenwood in grade 8….so not sure about your conclusion…
@Grasshopper: It looks like Glenwood with all their afrikaans boys and Dale imports have a very strong team this year.
23-6 to Glenwood 40 mins gone…
Geez, not looking good for my team!
Marco Palvie must be on for Jaco
@Speartackle: Yes, we do have Afrikaners in Durban believe it or not…
@Grasshopper: This boy sounds very afrikaans , as if his forefathers could have enjoyed the Voortrekker Monument Christmas buffets.
Pity about the injury, heard promising things about him.
@Umtata: How bad is the injury?
@Umtata: Ah Jeez, that is our SA Schools hopeful Jaco Coetzee…..from bad to worse…
Glen 16 Bish6 ht
Glenwood no.8 carried off the field injured
@QC86: I should get the bonus point for that match – said PBHS by 38!!
@Umtata: Thanks for that guys. Nice to see the KZN teams supporting each other.
DHS and Westville making a tunnel for Glenwood
Well DHS back to their inconsistency, losing to Port Natal then beating George Campbell and now losing to PBHS quite heavily….lots to learn still. Hard Luck boys, now for Glenwood vs Bishops!
PBh 43-Dhs 8 ft
PTA Boys 43 DHS Boys 8
@Umtata: and sharks, pBH 22dhs 3 second half
WP recruiters at the Grey Fest
Westville 20 Marlow 10
If anyone wants min by min updates on the rugby at the Grey fest visit http://www.webrugby.co.za
Stats, teams, etc etc