I read this in the minutes of a Noordvaal Hoërskole Rugby vergadering:
4. Afstand – Geografiese Model:
Daar is veral ‘n bekommernis by die Skild- en Bowlbene rondom die groot afstande. Die
voorgestelde model, wat kostebesparing ten doel het, bly op die tafel vir oorweging en
verfyning.
Knowing that the old Transvaal is a big place and that travel costs are at a premium in 2024, I worked on a list of the away match travel distances (there and back) of the schools making up the four Noordvaal Ligas during the Noordvaal Cup round robin games.
NOORDVAAL RUGBY LIGAS – DISTANCES TRAVELED BY AWAY TEAMS DURING THE ROUND ROBIN MATCHES
| # | SCHOOL | LEAGUE | TOWN | MATCHES | AWAY | TOTAL KM | AVG KM |
| 1 | Merensky | NV Bowl | Tzaneen | 8 | 4 | 3160 | 790.0 |
| 2 | Piet Retief | NV Bowl | Piet Retief | 8 | 4 | 2930 | 732.5 |
| 3 | Lichtenburg | NV Shield | Lichtenburg | 8 | 4 | 2702 | 675.5 |
| 4 | Ben Vorster | NV Shield | Tzaneen | 8 | 4 | 2690 | 672.5 |
| 5 | Nelspruit | NV Cup | Mbombela | 9 | 4 | 2670 | 667.5 |
| 6 | Pietersburg | NV Shield | Polokwane | 8 | 4 | 2634 | 658.5 |
| 7 | Wesvalia | NV Shield | Klerksdorp | 8 | 4 | 2208 | 552.0 |
| 8 | Klerksdorp | NV Plate | Klerksdorp | 8 | 4 | 2046 | 511.5 |
| 9 | Ligbron | NV Plate | Ermelo | 8 | 4 | 1850 | 462.5 |
| 10 | Jeugland | NV Shield | Kempton Park | 8 | 4 | 1840 | 460.0 |
| 11 | Secunda | NV Shield | Secunda | 8 | 4 | 1680 | 420.0 |
| 12 | Rustenburg | NV Cup | Rustenburg | 9 | 5 | 1654 | 330.8 |
| 13 | Wagpos | NV Bowl | Brits | 8 | 4 | 1642 | 410.5 |
| 14 | Potch Gim | NV Bowl | Potchefstroom | 8 | 4 | 1592 | 398.0 |
| 15 | Potch Volkskool | NV Bowl | Potchefstroom | 8 | 4 | 1532 | 383.0 |
| 16 | Transvalia | NV Plate | Vanderbijlpark | 8 | 4 | 1450 | 362.5 |
| 17 | Hugenote (Springs) | NV Shield | Springs | 8 | 4 | 1320 | 330.0 |
| 18 | Kempton Park | NV Plate | Kempton Park | 8 | 4 | 1280 | 320.0 |
| 19 | Middelburg | NV Plate | Middelburg | 8 | 4 | 1272 | 318.0 |
| 20 | Eldoraigne | NV Bowl | Pretoria | 8 | 4 | 1258 | 314.5 |
| 21 | Randburg | NV Bowl | Randburg | 8 | 4 | 1230 | 307.5 |
| 22 | HTS Middelburg | NV Plate | Middelburg | 8 | 4 | 1200 | 300.0 |
| 23 | Dr Malan | NV Bowl | Meyerton | 8 | 4 | 1170 | 292.5 |
| 25 | Heidelberg VS | NV Shield | Heidelberg | 8 | 4 | 1118 | 279.5 |
| 24 | Die Anker | NV Shield | Brakpan | 8 | 4 | 1140 | 285.0 |
| 26 | Menlopark | NV Cup | Pretoria | 9 | 5 | 1116 | 223.2 |
| 27 | Alberton | NV Bowl | Alberton | 8 | 4 | 1100 | 275.0 |
| 28 | Marais Viljoen | NV Cup | Alberton | 9 | 5 | 1092 | 218.4 |
| 29 | Monument | NV Cup | Krugersdorp | 9 | 4 | 982 | 245.5 |
| 30 | Garsfontein | NV Cup | Pretoria | 9 | 4 | 896 | 224.0 |
| 31 | Montana | NV Plate | Pretoria | 8 | 4 | 802 | 200.5 |
| 32 | Helpmekaar | NV Cup | Johannesburg | 9 | 5 | 650 | 130.0 |
| 33 | Zwartkop | NV Plate | Pretoria | 8 | 4 | 622 | 155.5 |
| 33 | Oos-Moot | NV Plate | Pretoria | 8 | 4 | 622 | 155.5 |
| 35 | Waterkloof | NV Cup | Pretoria | 9 | 5 | 618 | 123.6 |
| 36 | EG Jansen | NV Cup | Boksburg | 9 | 4 | 392 | 98.0 |
| 37 | Noordheuwel | NV Cup | Krugersdorp | 9 | 4 | 386 | 96.5 |
@Loubser (Comment #5)
You also have to add the week games of Affies for the lower teams where this year they travelled regularly during the week to schools more than an hour away, hockey included. (Springs, Benoni, Rustenburg, Brits, etc). I might be wrong but don’t recall any week games for the lower teams being at home. But this is probable applicable to a lot of schools looking for games for their teams.
Yes, we’ve been doing this for years – as you can see, the 2 Tzaneen schools are in the top 4. It does take a toll on the kids, but it is what it is, and they sort of get used to it.
The flip side for visiting teams (also to Nelspruit, 5th), is the almost summer temperatures PLUS high humidity they experience in the Lowveld in the middle of winter. Google “humiture” to get an idea – I sometimes almost feel sorry for the visitors, especially the 1st team players who take the field at midday.
The sun often gets the MoM reward here!
@ OUD ANKER (COMMENT #4)
@Loubser (Comment #2)
Affies actually does not travel a lot contrary to popular believe, they travel as a school to Kimberley each year for the annual Diamandveld fixture and then they alternate between Grey, Gim and Maritzburg every 2nd year. Most of their fixtures are actually not that far away. In 2024 it is only Diamandveld and Maritzburg which are significant distances.
@Loubser (Comment #2)
Daar is ongelukkig nie baie skole wat al Grey se spanne en sport kodes kan games gee nie.So hulle moet maar gaan waar hulle games kry
@OUD ANKER (#1)
Very interesting statistics! This gives some perspective on how screwed Nelspruit (as an example) is in the Cup competition. I’m not even talking about finances, but just from a rugby perspective, those laaities can’t be at their best after travelling for 7 days on horse back just to reach their match destination and then to face the likes of Garsfontein/Kloof/EG.
I guess outside of the Noordvaal region, a school like Grey faces the same challenge, but in Grey’s case they are usually the favourite/juggernaut wherever they travel to.