Northwood vs Michaelhouse
Expect a very good battle up front with the pick of the match ups being between props Kabelo Motlong (Northwood) and Gregory Jackson (Michaelhouse). Both boys scrum well and are outstanding ball-carriers, and definitely would not be out of place in the KZN Craven Week team. Another interesting battle will be between the flyhalves. Here Northwood’s Dawid Weersman, apart from having probably the biggest punt in KZN this year and a nice accurate long pass, is an excellent tackler. House’s Bader Pretorius is a talent of note and although he likes to carry the ball, his challenge will be to get the backline working, as the secret to success in this game may like in which set of backs makes better use of the front-foot ball their forwards generate. Northwood might bring on returning from injury hooker Beast Mthembu for the last 20-minutes. If this does happen he will duel with another good hooker in the form of MHS’s Bradley Roberts.
College vs Kearsney
Historically Goldstones is not a happy hunting ground for Kearsney and they will have to dig extra deep to come away from the famous ground with a win. Kearsney has generally struggled to match more physical packs like that of College so the challenge for the visitors lies in securing their setpiece ball especially lineouts and showing extra commitment to bringing down the College big ball carriers in tight broken play. College’s come from behind away draw against KES is perhaps regarded as a disappointing result but in a sense it’s a great wake up call for a team capable of finishing number 1 in KZN this season. The Red Black White’s four biggest inter-schools challenges starting with Kearsney still lie ahead with the result of this game putting College supporter optimism levels into perspective for the rest of the term. Most know what their pack of forwards are capable of, so key for College is making sure their backline plays with cohesion and effectiveness against a Kearsney line that his the ability to do lots of damage of their own.
Hilton vs DHS
Hilton will be desperate to end a 4-game losing streak. They have been troubled by injuries which saw several players either not start the last game or leave the field injured, so match fitness and inexperience will be a worry for them. They play a good enough all-round game to give DHS a full go up front and then challenge around the fringes and with backline where Tristan Blewett has been their standout player as far as getting over the advantage line is concerned. Right wing Terry Matsa with his pace also looks like he could be a dangerman, while promising young scrumhalf Matthew Dahl should have more of an opportunity to show his class, after having to play off the backfoot for a couple of weeks. DHS’s best performances seem to come when their flyhalf Le Roux van Zyl stays focused, as he has some terrific skills. DHS don’t really have big ball carriers in the forwards, so their emphasis should be on creating good platforms, letting their backline with ball in hand threats like Blessing Buthelezi and Mabhutana Peter have a go and then getting to the breakdown quickly. In the absence of first choice hooker Febana, they also need their lineouts to function well and their commitment in defence has to be good.
Glenwood vs Port Natal
Port Natal earned this opportunity to play Glenwood by beating George Campbell earlier this year and it follows on some very hard work put in by their players and coaching staff. Porties pushed a strong Glenwood Invitation XV very hard at their pre-season Night Series tournament and have some nice players to watch but they may be troubled by the speed at which Glenwood defends and applies pressure in the setpieces. Amongst those that spectators should keep an eye on is outstanding centre Chestwin Gaffley, super quick wing Karel Terblanche and 2-metre tall lock Charl Sonnekus (u19).
Voortrekker vs St Charles
St Charles are the favourites here but Vories can’t be underestimated. The home team has a decent sized pack which could keep St Charles big boys in check, meaning that Vories just need to get something extra out of their backs in terms of getting over the gainline, to make this game into very close affair that could go either way.
Westville
The Westville 1st XV will not be in action. Instead the lower teams will take on Richards Bay and Empangeni
| NORTHWOOD | MICHAELHOUSE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngoni Chidoma | 1 | Gregory Jackson |
| 2 | Cameron Silson | 2 | Bradley Roberts |
| 3 | Kabelo Motlong | 3 | Lee-Marvin Mazibuko |
| 4 | Greg Slater | 4 | Andy Vogel |
| 5 | Shane Kennedy | 5 | Gary Porter |
| 6 | Ross Muil | 6 | Zander Prinsloo |
| 7 | Calvin Silson | 7 | Jack Walters |
| 8 | Duncan Macdonald | 8 | Matthew Potgieter |
| 9 | Durran Krummeck | 9 | Nicholas Anderson |
| 10 | Dawid Weersma | 10 | Bader Pretorius |
| 11 | Nathan van Wyk | 11 | Jason Schwegmann |
| 12 | Sassa Makhanya | 12 | Jacques Swarts |
| 13 | Phiko Sobhale | 13 | Tyran Faber |
| 14 | Jabu Mahbida | 14 | Liam Furniss |
| 15 | Jaydon Stevens | 15 | David Broadley |
| MARITZBURG COLLEGE | KEARSNEY | ||
| 1 | T. Steyn | 1 | Tijde Visser |
| 2 | M. Mazwi | 2 | Curtis Louw |
| 3 | M. Dlamini | 3 | David Brown |
| 4 | W. Jacobs | 4 | Khanyisani Xaba |
| 5 | C. Bonsma | 5 | Tristan Dixon |
| 6 | S. Stuart | 6 | Patrick Zietkewitz |
| 7 | R . le Roux | 7 | Jesse Rich |
| 8 | D. Goodson | 8 | Stephen Tedder |
| 9 | M. Seba | 9 | James Hall |
| 10 | M. vd Linde | 10 | Tristan Tedder |
| 11 | B. Watson | 11 | David Zondi |
| 12 | M. Kriel | 12 | Sebastian Pau |
| 13 | M. Coetzee | 13 | James Tedder |
| 14 | X. Guma | 14 | Langa Hlongwane |
| 15 | B. Holder | 15 | Mitchell Nesbitt |
| HILTON | DHS | ||
| 1 | Andrew Peverelle | 1 | B. Xoshombe |
| 2 | Bafana Motloi | 2 | D. Roberts |
| 3 | Andrew Svenningsen | 3 | L. Dlungwana |
| 4 | Peter Frost | 4 | L. Whitfield |
| 5 | Jonno Smithers | 5 | N. Ndlovu |
| 6 | Ettienne Marx | 6 | A. Tshutsha |
| 7 | Brad Dickerson | 7 | P. Rees |
| 8 | Sebastien D. de Marigny | 8 | S. Ntuli |
| 9 | Matthew Dahl | 9 | K. Ngidi |
| 10 | Kieran Hayne | 10 | LR. van Zyl |
| 11 | Darren McGhee | 11 | S. Khumalo |
| 12 | Leo van Wymeersch | 12 | B. Buthelezi |
| 13 | Tristan Blewett | 13 | M. Peter |
| 14 | Terry Matsa | 14 | S. Biyela |
| 15 | Thomas Webber | 15 | D. Bryan |
| GLENWOOD | PORT NATAL | ||
| 1 | Kenny Van Niekerk | 1 | Andre Janse van Rensburg |
| 2 | Percy Mngadi | 2 | Wayne Wesson |
| 3 | Christoper Klopper | 3 | Frans van Rensburg |
| 4 | Kevin du Randt | 4 | LeClue Bierman |
| 5 | R Desmore | 5 | Charl Sonnekus |
| 6 | James Venter | 6 | Jan Welthagen |
| 7 | Macmillan Muller | 7 | Ewlth Kok |
| 8 | Jaco Coetzee | 8 | Ruan Smook |
| 9 | Kwazi Khanyile | 9 | Frans Janse van Niewenhuis |
| 10 | Curtis Jonas | 10 | Estienne Verster |
| 11 | Sam Matiwane | 11 | Ghano Prins |
| 12 | Ruben Fouche | 12 | Andre Nortje |
| 13 | Spam Ncgobo | 13 | Chestwin Gaffley |
| 14 | Ilungi Mukendi | 14 | Karl Terblanche |
| 15 | Morne Joubert | 15 | Carlo Gresse |
| ST CHARLES | VOORTREKKER | ||
| 1 | K Caruth | 1 | |
| 2 | B Greaves | 2 | |
| 3 | N Lawrie | 3 | |
| 4 | W Squires | 4 | |
| 5 | C Rigby | 5 | |
| 6 | S Mkize | 6 | |
| 7 | S Mwelase | 7 | |
| 8 | D Anderson | 8 | |
| 9 | N Page | 9 | |
| 10 | B Mingay | 10 | |
| 11 | M Reeves | 11 | |
| 12 | S Sibisi | 12 | |
| 13 | D Cox | 13 | |
| 14 | P Jacobs | 14 | |
| 15 | T Dlamini | 15 | |
Nice! Every schools got one of those guys. How’d your boy go yesterday? Hockey player right? Awesome results for college.
@Gungets Tuft: Well I enjoyed the history lesson.
@kcob: Struggled with Lambards for a while. Lamonds …. Old boy and Dux in 1902, staff member from 1911 till 1950. He also spent a year at DHS, part of the history between DHS and College. He had a legendary memory and could remember minute details of staff, including wives a kids birthdays, and also recognize every boy that every passed through College when he taught there. Claimed to have survived a lion attack ….
One of the legends, hence the name after him. Pardon the history lesson, I just can’t help myself
@kcob: Struggled with Lambards for a while. Lamonds …. Old boy and Dux in 1902, staff member from 1911 till 1950.
I understand why, for sure.
@kcob: I think it’s a general thing now. No booze at schools. Not sure if it applies to the privates – but there cannot be booze for sale on school premises, or as I understand it within 500m of a school. Waxies outside Westville springs to mind but as I understand it – new licenses will not be granted from premises within 500m of a school. Stay of execution for those who have already.
Eeish. My boy was on Lambards and looked across at the adjacent field and saw kids lying all over the place. Really hop they not serious. It was a pleasure playing college, as usual.
Funny; Kearsney won won game, u15b my sons team on his birthday. Classic! He reckons it was the best present he could ever get! Just shows how prized that scalpcan be.
Gungets; sad we could not have a pot at the pavilion after the match; when was prohibition enforced?
@Gungets Tuft: From what I hear – 3 of them due to getting the head on the wrong side in the tackle. So many in one game? Eish…..
@kcob: I heard the U14B game had 5 ambulance injuries. Not good at all.
Awesome day college. Well done everyone…lots of injured kids all over the place. Hope the not serious.
At College
U14A won an arm wrestle of note
U15A College won, can’t remember the score
16A 24-8
6th. 60-0 vs KC 5th
4th. 36-5
3rd. 36-5
2nd. 36-15
1st. 29-17
MHS are up 20-6 , about 10 mins into the second half.
@Grasshopper: injured unfortunately.
@CyndiAtRugby: are injuries bad?
@Grasshopper: Koos and Philani have injuries. I’m thrilled for both Chris and Sam for getting their opportunity to wear the green jersey.
I have watched College play 3 times this season, vs St Andrews, Wynberg and KES. My opinion, they have a very big and strong pack, great linout drive and are very strong on the ground. Stand out player for me is numbers 5 and 7. Their backline stand out player is definitely number 13 – very strong and fast and hits the line well. 14 and 15 also good. They wont lose easily at home
What happened to Tredoux & No11?
Hi Beet
regarding the MHS teamsheet, I have it that Walker is at 9 and Tattam is at 12.
Anyone with a contact at Vories. Please let me know or even better yet, post the Voortrekker team here.