The Eastern Cape school rugby season has been building up towards this huge intercity clash almost since Day 1. Selborne of East London and Grey High School of Port Elizabeth, the top two teams in the province will battle it out for top honours on Saturday, 16 August 2014.
Selborne has enjoyed a very good season against opposition both in and outside the province. They have the perfect Eastern Cape record so far: played 10 won 10. However in the bigger scheme of things, all that’s come before will count for little if they cannot beat Grey come Saturday. The motivation in the Selborne camp must be reaching peak levels this week and a lot of it will feed off what happened in the match last year. In the 2013 televised game, the Selbornians were competitive up until half-time and then conceded 35-points after halftime to finally lose 45-0. That sort of huge defeat isn’t lived down or forgotten in a hurry and Selborne will be eager to set the record straight. It won’t be easy though. In spite of Grey being without their 3 SA Schools players, there is enough quality and depth in the ranks to ensure they put a strong and determined team onto the park for this big derby. In the minds of many Grey has the capability of an SA Top 5 team. They have already beaten the best schools in the country but they have also allowed a couple of games to slip through their fingers and they definitely don’t want to let that happen again this weekend.
This match has the makings of a game of the season.
Eastern Cape table using BHP formula for ranking teams:
| # | EASTERN CAPE | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | MP | BP | Pts | Avg | BHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Selborne | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 362 | 144 | 218 | 40 | 3 | 43.0 | 4.30 | 3.65 |
| 2 | Grey HS | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 358 | 175 | 183 | 28 | 5 | 33.0 | 4.13 | 3.33 |
| 3 | Brandwag (Uitenhage) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 121 | -3 | 12 | 2 | 14.0 | 2.80 | 2.60 |
| 4 | St Andrew’s | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 292 | 270 | 22 | 24 | 5 | 29.0 | 2.90 | 2.24 |
| 5 | Dale | 11 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 256 | 195 | 61 | 32 | 5 | 37.0 | 3.36 | 2.18 |
| 6 | Grens | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 142 | 153 | -11 | 16 | 1 | 17.0 | 2.83 | 1.92 |
| 7 | Queen’s | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 171 | 241 | -70 | 16 | 3 | 19.0 | 2.11 | 1.70 |
| 8 | Nico Malan | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 167 | 201 | -34 | 16 | 2 | 18.0 | 2.25 | 1.67 |
| 9 | Marlow | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 160 | 190 | -30 | 12 | 3 | 15.0 | 2.14 | 1.53 |
| 10 | Daniel Pienaar | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 133 | 141 | -8 | 4 | 3 | 7.0 | 1.17 | 1.33 |
| 11 | Kingswood | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 108 | 142 | -34 | 8 | 1 | 9.0 | 1.80 | 1.32 |
| 12 | Hudson Park | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 138 | 180 | -42 | 4 | 4 | 8.0 | 1.00 | 1.24 |
| 13 | Framesby | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 124 | 153 | -29 | 4 | 3 | 7.0 | 1.17 | 0.87 |
| 14 | Graeme | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 151 | 226 | -75 | 4 | 1 | 5.0 | 0.71 | 0.46 |
| 15 | Cambridge | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 79 | 227 | -148 | 4 | 1 | 5.0 | 0.83 | 0.33 |
Selborne u15a’s won17-10
Selborne u16a’s lost 17-28
@CHS08: Give the okey a klap or two.
@GCollege86: Can’t wait. I still haven’t watched him play (in the 1st XV that is).
@CHS08: Yes Morgan is starting.
@Playa @ CHS Knight 07: My 12 year old brother always celebrates on Saturday mornings when I’m going somewhere, because he knows I’ll want to watch sports, World War 3 always breaks out when we both want to watch something. He loves the cartoon channels and I want to watch the Supersport Channels. I always win though. @QC 86 @ GCollege86: Please tell me Morgan is starting Saturday.
@Queenian: Last year it was televised, not sure about this year though. I hope it gets televised though…
@Playa: I’m not even married and yet I have to book the TV…
my sisters can be impossible at times. The only time they let watch sports all day is if my buddy CHS08 comes over 
.
@Queenian:
That could be a problem for me at my young, ripe age.
The Chiefs are childish though, WOW!
@Playa: Remember if you take my advice on the TV story don’t expect any “Hanky Panky” for a night or two.
Off the subject a bit just saw something on sports round up were the Chiefs were announcing there backline players for next year. I see beside there complete backline of this year they have now also signed Hosea Gear/Sonny Bill/Richard Kahui and the flyhalf from the Under 20 World Cup that’s insane that backline by itself be the best in the World.
@Queenian: No, not as far as I know, but I’ll double check and let you know.
@Queenian:
I’ll take your advice seeing as you’ve been there for much longer. Let’s see if it will work on an ex-KHS girl…those women are gangster I tell you.
@Playa: Is the Dale vs QC game going to be on TV ??????
@Playa: You have not been married long enough just change the channel to what you want and then act like you cannot hear anything. Always works.
@Playa: Hey the great game is next weekend nothing like a Kudu vs Tickbird.
@QC86: Thanks. I need to book the tv in case it clashes with those “Come Dine With Me” thingies. I seriously need to install that dual view before I find myself in a divorce court.
@Playa: 12h15
@Mike: Don’t be a sad panda. Do you know how difficult it is for me to back the Baboona?
In all reality, I am just looking forward to a great game of rugby between two of EC’s finest. So happy it’s being televised.
What time is kick off by the way?
@beet: @Queenian: Will ask Queenian to get the Muir results he is involved there.
@Mike: I will agree with you Grey PE seemed to have played better when they have been the under dogs.
@rugbyfan: Last match for most of these boys for their schools so I don’t think we can expect any holding back. I’m happy to let the masses back Selborne, more motivation for the Grey Boys.
@rugbyfan: let me get all the Muir results and add them to the mix
And sad to say that X factor is Vers and Bosch and they not there for this game, I watch them play Daniel Pienaar without these two and they were pretty average and only just won.
I think Selborne have a good chance of winning this game I know that Grey seemed to be favourites seen they beat Grey College Bloem but 3 SA Schools players out will make it hard.
Grey PE have been up and down this year so it depends what team arrives against Paul Roos and Grey Bloem there A game was there against Dale and Queens they looked suspect, seems when they cannot get the X factor going they battle. The games against PR and GCB this X factor was there and they won against Dale and Queens the X factor was against them and they lost one and came close to losing the other.
So this will be a interesting game.
Looking at this ECape rankings I would say Muir should be in there some were as they beat Cambridge and Drew with Grens both games were in East London.
@Queenian: its too close to call
Grey PE is giving me sleepless nights. I don’t want them to beat Selborne.
@Queenian:
Explains the change in form 
That is awesome news for Queens!
@Playa: Yes looks like it which is good.
@Queenian: Is John Duncan back at Queens? I noticed that the write up on the QC-Hangklip game was written by him.
@Knight_CHS07: Agree it will be very close I do know there another two QC boys that are doubtful starters.
@Playa: Jerry is not playing.
@Queenian: Cambridge will take it by 2 points. My boys are playing some good rugga lately…so i believe they can pull it off. I smell Kudu blood…
@Playa: I hope the Dalians get a good referee for Saturday’s game.
@Queenian: I’m not sure, I think 2010 was the las time Selborne won in EL. They won in PE in 2011 though.
Dale play Hudson this weekend.
QC to take it. Sorry, CHS08, I have to back my brothers from the Stormberg Mountains here
It won’t be easy though, I can tell you that much. Is Jerry playing?
Regardless of what happens, both sides can be proud of good seasons. I’m backing my men in blue to have the depth to win this one, but they will be underdogs against a full strength Selborne team. No more motivation needed.
@Playa: Who are Dale playing this weekend.
@CHS08: So any prediction on QC vs Cambridge on Saturday.
This will be a tight game when last did Selborne beat Grey in EL.
Also backing the Baboona!!! I hope they win this game!
Backing the Baboona here, but they’d have to play out of their pants. Maybe a game like they had against Dale is what they needed to get their act right this term.I do, however fear that 3 tough fixtures in a row against their 3 biggest rivals may take its toll.I hope not.
Well from a Border perspective that Queens victory and Dale narrrow loss are not enough, the Baboona must win this game, period . But they must improve and up their game considerably from that performance in King on Sat. Dale face tricky opposition and that’s gonna be an interesting game, but this is simply a must see match. I’m backing the Baboona.