It seems some of the pundits on the blog still do not know the manner in which schools compete for the Beeld Trophy. Some also think that the competition is only for the macro schools and disregard the remainder of the schools completely. Hopefully this guide, which has its emphasis on the large schools category, will assist in understanding the competition better.
The competition, which is run by the Northvaal Schools Association, is split into four categories based on the number of boys in each school as follows:
Category Students
Macro 600>
Large 351-599
Medium 176-350
Small
In the first stage (May – June) schools compete within their respective rugby provincial unions (Lions, Bulls, Falcons, Limpopo, Pumas, Leopards), culminating in the provincial finals. The winners and finalists of each union then go through to the proper Beeld Trophy, with the winners usually not playing in the first round.
The competition is then concluded through the quarter/semi-finals and the grand final in late August. The venue of the grand final is determined according to a priority list, which gives each union the opportunity to host it. The school whose first XV reaches the final and whose union is highest on the priority list, hosts all the finals.
Previously there was a formula in place to accommodate ‘developing’ schools, i.e. schools who had a certain percentage of previously disadvantaged boys as learners. The full complement of their boys was not taken into account in placing them in a certain category. This formula was scrapped by the Northvaal Schools Association in November 2013 as it was abused by some schools. From then on only the number of boys is taken into account.
A school can, however, apply to compete in a lower category if its rugby strength is poor. Schools that apply and are given consent to compete as a small school, will however compete in their own division and will not compete with genuine small schools with fewer than 175 boys.
As a matter of interest, in the Lions’ union only Monument and Florida are still taking part in the macro category. This is after both Noordheuwel and Marais Viljoen have withdrawn from the competition.
As far as I could ascertain, the schools taking part in the 2014 large schools category of the Beeld Trophy, are the following (I will appreciate any corrections):
Lions:
Alberton
Bastion
Dinamika
Jan Viljoen
Linden
Riebeeckrand
Randburg
Helpmekaar
Bulls
Tuine
Pretoria-Noord
Overkruin
Oos-Moot
HTS Tuine
Gerrit Maritz
Wagpos
Sutherland
Limpopo Bulls
Pietersburg
Frikkie Meyer
Warmbad
Hans Strijdom
Piet Potgieter
Nylstroom
Ellisras
Ben Vorster
Leopards
Potch Gimnasium
Potch Volkskool
Brits
Lichtenburg
Klerksdorp
Pumas
Piet Retief
Oosterland
Lydenburg
Genl Hertzog
Rob Ferreira
Secunda
Volksrust
Hoogenhout
Ermelo
Ligbron
Standerton
Falcons
Hugenote
Elspark
Brandwag
Benoni High
Heidelberg Volkskool
Transvalia
Hans Moore
Driehoek
Dr Malan
Eerste uitslae : Piet Retief 18 – 8 Oosterland (Pumas); Hans Strijdom 24- 8 Piet Potgieter (Limpopo)
@Woltrui: Ek stem nogal saam met jou voorspelling, ek dink in die Leeus sal dit beslis tussen Helpies en Linden wees. Bastion het ook ‘n goeie span. Die tradisionele sterk spanne soos Transvalia, Potch Gim, Helpmekaar en Ben Vorster is gewoonlik iewers teenwoordig by die uitspeelwestryde van die Beeld, maar so elke paar jaar is daar ‘n verrassing wat deurkom. Twee jaar terug het Standerton die Beeld gewen, terwyl niemand dit verwag het nie.
Ek weet Secunda, Klerksdorp en Potch Gim het verlede jaar sterk O/16 spanne gehad. En natuurlik Oos Moot wat die O16 gewen het.
@Woltrui: Beslis Oos-Moot by Bulls, maar moenie Tuine buite rekening laat nie, ook nie Frikkie Meyer in Limpopo nie, asook Potch Volkies by Luiperds (selfs Lichtenburg).
By Pumas Ermelo, Ligbron en Piet Retief deesdae.
Moenie die prioriteitorde van waar gespeel word as ‘n faktor uit die oog verloor nie!
@Lindenpa: Who is the favourites to win the Beeld big schools tournament in 2014 LindenPa?? I’ll take it the following teams must stand a good chance:
Jhb:
-Helpmekaar and Linden
Bulls:
-Oos Moot, Overkruin?
Limpopo:
-Pietersburg and Ben Vorster
North West:
-Potch Gim and Klerksdorp
Falcons:
-Transvalia
Pumas:
??
Of all these teams I take it Helpmekaar, Transvalia and Potch Gim must be the hot favourites.
@knowthegame: Helpmekaar is in an interesting situation in the Beeld trophy: Because of some big wins that some of their teams have achieved over some of their rivals in the large schools section of the Lions’ region (before Linden and Randburg moved up to large schools), the schools have agreed to let Helpmekaar go through to the play-offs at the end of the season as if their teams have finished on top of the table. This means that they do not play any of the league games during the season but only play in the Lions’ semi-finals against the team that finished 3rd on the log (4th if Helpies is also taken into account) and then obviously in the final if they go through.
For the rest of the season they only play friendlies. But yes, I agree that Helpies should move up to the macro division.
@knowthegame: No article by Lindenpa, so we all have to thank him for the effort put in. I’m one of those people included in this statement:
“Some also think that the competition is only for the macro schools and disregard the remainder of the schools completely.”
@knowthegame: Helpmekaar’s U/15’s definitely has the potential to be Beeld makro schools and Tuks reeks champs. That team would be wasted in any other league than the Macro schools. One of the best U’15 teams in the country
.
If Helpies can keep the team together…. Lots of poacher who must be watching that U/15 team-ala vultures in the KNP
a good aricle by beet-the lions have only a few macro schools but Helpmekaar should move into the slot-not only will it improve their overall game but with time they can mix it with the best.Their main focus is athletics and something you bloggers might not be aware of is that Helpies won the Macro school athletics this year and in process beat all macro schools in Gauteng- unfortunately rugby takes second place.what they also have to consider seriously is that to compete with the best and play in certain tournaments like Tuks super 16 they should have the same school calendar as all the macro schools.The way it’s now they follow the private school calendar and thats no good for their sport especially rugby.When the semi and finals of the Beeld is been played -Helpies are on holiday-meaning, they hardly train, no matches etc therefore they are always ill prepaired – a no brainer
@BoishaaiPa:
Blog the month!!!
@Speartackle: No comeback from the legendary Andre T??
@BoishaaiPa: Cape Town – Throw all the technical and statistical mumbo (admittedly not a personal strong suit) my way that you wish … it is unlikely to persuade me of the merits of Australia’s ascent to No 1 in the Test rankings at the expense of South Africa.
Het jy nog ‘n stats job bygekry BHP. Jou naam lyk my loop ver.
@BoishaaiPa: Hahahaha
@Speartackle: You dont feature at all but Andre T is second on the all time list of longest consecutive wins playing with a boner…1st is Nastase
@BoishaaiPa: Where am I on that all time list?
@Andre T: Lendl was no 1 for 157 consecutive weeks. Third on the all time list of longest consecutive No 1 spot.
1. Roger Federer (1) 237
2. Jimmy Connors (1) 160
3. Ivan Lendl (1) 157
@BoishaaiPa: Show me those stats.
@Andre T: As far as I can recall, Mr Lendl was No 1 for a long time without winning at Wimbledon despite playing there. So one competition is not vital for ranking top players or teams! As long as you win the other games yes?
In fact there are about 11 million school kids who play soccer in the Witwatersrand area
@Woltrui: All the macro schools that you mention in the Pretoria area are Afrikaans-medium schools. In the greater Johannesburg the only Afrikaans-medium macro schools (AFAIK) are Monument (double medium), Florida, Noordheuwel, Marais Viljoen (double medium), Kempton Park and EG Jansen. Kempton and EG are on the east rand and are playing in the Falcons region. All these schools are co-ed schools, so no boys’ only schools.
The English-medium schools generally do not play Beeld Trophy. There are only a few, like Benoni High, Trinityhouse (who play medium schools), etc. The likes of KES, Parktown and all the Saints-schools have never played Beeld, not that I am aware of in any case.
I think that is the reason why there are so few macro schools taking part in the Beeld Trophy in the Lions region.
Interesting to note the schools who opt out of the Beeld Trophy.
Remember years ago when I was still a tennis coach on the ATP Tour one of my big friends, Ivan Lendl, who is fluent in afrikaans btw, never wanted to play Wimbledon but he tried to become world number 1. John McEnroe then asked him how can he be world number 1 if he doesn’t want to play in the World Championship.
Same with these hensoppers who ‘opt out’
Maybe these schools, like Lendl, are just scared of grass.
Wonder why Wagpos, the agricultural school north of Brits is playing in the Pretoria big schools region and Brits is playing in the North West region?
Interesting article Beet/Lindenpa. Can’t be good for Lions Rugby if the Pumas region have the same amount of Macro schools (HTS and Nellies) as them. If you take the total amount of learners it make sense that the Lions region must have 3 times as many Macro Schools as Mpumalanga. The bulk of the macro schools in the Noordvaal is based in Pretoria. Centurion, Zwartkop, Eldoraign, Menlopark, Waterkloof, Garsfontein, Montana, Wonderboom(not including Affies-not playing Beeld).
Lindenpa, I speak under correction, but I think Warmbad and Nylstroom are medium schools in Limpopo.
It should also be noted that Merensky, Louis Trichardt and Frans dut Toit of Phalaborwa are also big schools, but they opted out of Beeld because of schools’ politics.
And lastly, a school may compete in a higher category if they wish to do so, but I’ve not seen this happening.