The Westville Stayers XV, made up entirely of players that will be at the school in 2013, played expansive rugby to record a good 41-12 (7 tries to 2) win against Bolton Grammar, a touring team from the UK.
Try scorers were Louis Snyman (2), Tyrone Jackson, Andre De la Rey, Keegan Paverd and Brad Ellse.
With the exception of Matt Larkins (currently on a baseball scholarship tryout in the USA) and Zane Weir (injured), the team being used are the “probables” for 2013.
The concept of a Stayers team is unique to Westville. The matches offer the coaching staff an opportunity to see how the 2013 squad performances as a team and how individuals cope with their roles and responsibilities within this structure. The player assessments made puts the coaches in a handy position to either fix or build on these during the off-season months. Examples of how the approach is showing benefits have come in the form of being able to test steadily improving 3rd XV prop Jonty Osborne, finding a right player for the inside centre berth where several aspirants are being trialed and determining if there is a place for Grant Khomo Week stand out lock Jordan Martin in the starting XV. There has also been monitoring of Andre De la Rey in the leadership role.
Westville’s 15-man rugby season comes to an end of Friday 20 July, when the Stayers host Bradford, another UK school who should provide much stiffer opposition than Bolton did.
In terms of rugby, the focus at Westville then shifts to sevens.
@Grasshopper: College are hoping to take part in the surfski compeititions next year, it is hellova difficult because a lot of the series comps are held during the week, (Wall and back, Marine Friday series etc). With the talent at their disposal this year it would have been really useful but not to be. Still some solid paddlers coming through so look forward to that. My lightie is one who would love it – he is not partial to the quality of river water, but I think the coastal schools will rule the roost for surfski for a long time.
River, slalom – in KZN it is College generally 4 or 5 in the top 10 – Don Wewege is top with Murray Haw, Murray Starr and James Speed ruling the roost. The Wilson twins are following them in U16. Along with House and Hilton they have the advantage of a river virtually on the grounds, so bound to be strong.
@boxkick: You don’t have your colours up on a jersey. Feel like sharing which school you support, then we can know which extreme you subscribe to?
Still don’t know what you meant by your 15:20 comment?
@Gungets
I think you will find Glenwood are catching up quickly in canoeing; SA sprint champion Gene Prato and SA schools sprint schools champions; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/surfski-champion
http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/sa-schools-canoe-championships-2012
Mountain Biking too; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/glenwood-mtb-racing-strong-u18-win
I think I remember reading that Glenwood has 47 or more sports/extra curricular activities that boys can do…pretty good allround offering…
@beet – spot on
@gungets tuft – there are extremes in every aspect of life, your latest comment being one
@beet: To a point. What I meant was that if a school is 1st in South Africa at rugby, hockey and cricket, but has a 50% pass rate for Matric, they might have 25 rugby players, 18 cricketers and 18 hockey players a year joining. The rest would not bother. For sure, you have to attract good sportsmen, but woe betide a school that relies on that alone, it will be worse off than the school that relies on academics alone. Crawford do well – no sport to speak of.
I think the point Boxkick is making is about Marketing. If a boys school wants to market itself, major sport particularly rugby is still the best means to do it.
College does all those except surf, much to the disgust of my lightie and a few from Ballito. Their canoeing is without competition in SA (Africa Games Gold and many Dusi champs, plus an Olympic bronze on the flat water course), they have a SA rep at mountain biking (both track and downhill). Karrent do softball either …
No parent would send their boy to a school that they did not trust to give them the necessary academic grounding, so it is all moot.
@grassy
yah but half the activities Glenwood do other schools dont do e.g target shooting hence it not being popular .
schools are chosen for their all roundedness though but of all these things sports does make you think alot. for most kids, a school thats good at sports is always the most attractive to them .
@Gungets. totally agree. No one ever comments about the other activities kids do, eg Glenwood’s unbeaten chess team, their band, tennis, debating, softball, surfing, canoeing, mountain biking etc. Academics is the prime reason kids are at school, so that is vital too. College has the best results in KZN last year, but usually Westville are tops. Glenwood are rapidly improving across the board, not just at the top too. Sport is the advert for the school though and especially rugby, hence so much being put into recently…
@boxkick: Last time I looked Grey Bloem, SACS, Bishops and KES weren’t in KZN.
Not sure what you mean by the comment?
@Gungets Tuft – Think wider than KZN mate…..its not a bubble
@boxkick: Westville Girls High. Never hear about them sports wise (they might be good, I don’t know) but it is well known that they are the top school in KZN academically. Perhaps girls are different.
And actually, I mostly disagree with you. Any sane person realises that only 23 boys can be picked for the 1st 15 at Rugby, but they also realise that Grey Bloem, or SACS, Bishops, KES or Maritzburg College (and any of 50 other top schools) have much more to offer than just sport. Wasn’t sport that made me choose College, or my son choose College. If it was that then 5 schools would have been in the frame – but they weren’t.
Agree the sport makes up the majority of the marketing, but it is much more than that which attracts the quality. By quality – I mean every boy that makes up the fabric of the school, from Kearsney’s choir, College’s JSE Investing team, to DPHS’s gumboot dancers and the Hilton debating team.
@all – bursaries is a fact of life and will only get bigger…there is only one way a school can promote itself and thats through sport – if they dont perform on the sporting front, they dont attract quality – simple – I mean, show me the school in SA that attracts quality by publishing or promoting their academic achievements…Paarl Gym, Affies, Grey, Boys High, Paul Roos..
@beet: Yeah, I heard the same thing – “pocket money”. 40% of even the R25k fees is a lot of tom ….
WOW I am awed and amazed at how well you guys manage to hold down about 20 conversations under one blog.
Who says guys can’t multi-skill!!!
Just some quick comments and you can figure where they belong.
1) Glenwood 1st XV have been staying in Midrand since Wednesday in order to climatise. From what the boys are saying on Facebook, they are doing some hectic drills to get their breathing right.
2) I agree fully with NW_Knights that we shouldn’t look at why the boys have gone to certain schools but rather why they left their previous schools. There are a number of occasions where schools have been accused of ‘buying’ players (my son is not a product NO ONE can buy him) but the actual story is more about the boy being unhappy where he was. The grade 8 recruitment process, however, is a different story and its interesting how much bad mouthing of other schools happen in the period where parents must sign their kids up for schools.
3) I think it was Greenwood who said given a 100% bursary for Kearsney and 100% for Glenwood that Kearsney (or any other private school) would win. I totally disagree. I admire those parents who arrange their lives around the Saturday and public holiday lessons, the additional costs for events and the other aspects of private education. I have looked at how people perform in later years and there is very little evidence that shows private education is actually better for your child.
4) The reason why the names of the kids who have bursaries are not published is because of the stigma surrounding the bursaries. I know of a kid who was badly bullied at Westville because he had a 100% academic scholarship. The other kids said is was unfair that their fees were being used to pay for this kid. I know of another kid who had similar at DHS. You also have the stigma at some schools that if you don’t have a bursary you are not very good at sport. Some primary schools still publish this information as part of their bragging but not many high schools do.
5) Yes a good BE is part of making a great school but I have always looked to the school’s leadership team. If those people do not command some form of respect, then they shouldn’t be there. IMHO the better headmasters are those who can lead quietly and deal with issues when need be – the braggarts and ‘social’ heads do not seem to produce great learners or sportsmen.
GO SHARKS GO GLENWOOD GO COLLEGE
Regarding bursaries there was even talk that a schoolboy rugby player received a 140% bursary with the 40% being in the form of free items at the tuckshop.
@Grasshopper: Hahhahaa .. I know all three of the okes in the first picture. I can just imagine how tatty it might have got a bit later when Manning and Phillips got up to speed. I can think of a few others that would have been there and “passengers requiring assistance” by morning, will not mention their names .. all well known in Durban.
Geoff Phillips also has a talented family, son captained SA at Underwater hockey and daughter surfed for KZN (perhaps even longboard for SA – but under correction). Proof that Glenwood produces not only some good okes but some talent as well :-) … naughty buggers … not so long ago there was an annual fishing trip that they all used to go on, including Allan and others. Not a quiet weekend, always hoping the fish never bothered us.
@Gungets, yep that’s the bloke. Here is a pic of him; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/node/3521
Steven Jack looks a little heavy back then too…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: College offered 23 in 2011. Only 8 for Sport. 5 of those are privately sponsored by a Financial Service Group and 5 closed scholarships from a primary schools. One kid had 2 awards, one Closed and one College academic. Names and awards available in the College 2010 Magazine.
@Grasshopper: Peter and his wife still live out here. Peter is the most naturally talented athlete I have ever seen, his missus as well, done close to 10 Comrades – easy to see where the kids get their talent.
I count 32 here for 2011; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/bursary-awards-evening-2011
@Horsie, what proof do you have of that? I checked the Glenwood site and I am about 7 out, I count 27 boys here; http://www.glenwoodhighschool.co.za/glenwood-scholarship-and-bursary-awards-evening
@grassy
GW, along other schools, offer way more than 20 boet!!
@Gungets, yep Shaun is Greg’s younger brother. He was a really good scrummy and I think played KZN schools. Greg was the Glenwood fullback for about 3 years and achieved over 50 caps. Peter was also a Glenwood Old Boy and they actually lived in Durban North those days and travelled to Glenwood. Greg moved to Australia and played high level club rugby in Sydney for a bit until injury I think. Great Glenwood family that….
@Gawie, yep Glenwood offer about 20 bursaries/scholarships per year at grade 8 level, so about 10% of the scholars are on bursaries. They are split about 10 academic and 10 sports. Not sure what the % is, but probably aclose to 100% or even over 100% as the school fees are only R27,000 per year, so about a sixth of the fee of a private school. Normally the sports bursaries are for kids who are multi-talented, so not just rugby. They may offer a few others at later grades. For me, I have no problem with bursaries, as long as they are disclosed so who won the bursary and what % it covers. Also, kids on bursaries should not have any guarantees on being picked for teams or becoming a prefect. I would be happy to contribute to a bursary for a kid from a disadvantaged area as long as their age has been checked properly and we don’t get the fiasco of this year…..
@Grasshopper: Grassy – OROS .. eeisch. I hope his teaching is better than his cricket umpiring which is utterly diabolical.
@Grasshopper: Grassy – yep, Tony still at Northwood. Tony is a good man, he is a good educator but (with all due respect) I think the era of professionalism at schools is not his cup of tea. I chatted to him at College when Northwood played there, asked him about whether Northwood were going to allow Marne to play, he just shrugged it off, said something about people taking sport too seriously. He may be right, but being right should not blind you to reality, that success on the sports field is enormously important.
I believe he retires this year. Northwood in many ways will be poorer for him leaving but, as Ron Jury said in his farewell speech, “My decision was prompted by the deepening complexity of running a school like College and my perception that the school would be better served by a younger, more energised headmaster”. Ron – a brilliant educator (I must have been one of his few failures!!), has realised what lots of other headmasters must be confronting. Perhaps DHS have got it right – Headmaster/Mistress for academics, CEO for business. I think Northwood tried it a couple of years ago – another Jordan was appointed – not sure how that worked out.
@Grasshopper: Yeah, I know the odd kid goes to Glenwood from DPHS but it is uncommon and not a number that can be relied on. Almost certainly Conor Allen will go to Glenwood, John is a fervent Glenwood supporter. I know Peter pretty well but for the life of me cannot remember where he went to school. Met him running for Glenwood Old Boys running club so probably Glenwood. Pretty sure that Shaun (Manning) also went to Glenwood – was part of the furore over post-matrics.
@Hopper I am under the impression that Kearsney do not offer more than 50% scholarships, hence the reason why the Highbury star player went to Hilton instead (who offered 75%). @Beet can correct me if I am wrong here.
50% of what is probably now R160k per annum (before extras) is still a chunk of change. So when the parents are offered 75% or 100% bursaries/scholarships to more inexpensive schools they seriously consider that option.
@Hopper, do GW offer big bursaries/scholarships?
@Grasshopper: Very few kids at any of these private schools have 100% bursaries/scholarships. Also the private schools have to offer something that govt schools don’t necessarily have to attract kids, so sure it perhaps goes without saying that when faced with a choice of 2, a parent/s would opt for the private school even if it meant playing a little more. However until we have a situation in which private schools are dominating sports in KZN, there can’t be too much criticism leveled at them for doing out of their way to attract scholars and in that way just stay competitive on the sports front.
@Beet, yep I am aware all the schools have finite budgets and have to operate as a going concern, hence either need to break even or make some profit which then gets put back into the schools. My point is if you are given the option of a Kearsney 100% bursary or a Glenwood 100% bursary, it’s a no brainer…Kearsney wins. An example here is the Doops who were going to Westville and then got offered Kearsney. Gov schools can’t compete with private schools facilities and smaller classes, that does not mean the standard is lower just that the kids need to work harder to achieve. The gov schools like Westville, College, Glenwood especially and more recently DHS and Northwood are doing very well to even stay in touch with the private schools. No matter what you say, it does not cost R180,000 a year to have a kid at Michaelhouse/Hilton/Kearsney. The schools must be making some profit from this and then ploughing those profits into paying the best coaches and getting the best equipment/facilities.
@Grasshopper: You mustn’t miss what Gungets Tuft and others have posted before. Parents have choices. Even with bursaries, the private school fees + extras are beyond the means of many parents. The private schools aren’t the only ones actively competing for gr.7s, the likes of Glenwood, College, Westville and DHS are also in there trying to get the top kids.
State High Schools have never qualified for exclusive rights to primary school kids from govt schools. The private schools don’t have bottomless pockets. They work to budgets. Every school has an issue with another schools recruitment methods, even Glenwood frown at some of the practices employed by others.
Well done Westville for promoting swimming and actually making the public at large more aware of the sport in the process. As a result other schools are following in WBHS’s footsteps. The sport is benefiting from this.
@gungets
Not to mention almost the entire 1st XI cricket side!!
@grasshopper
I’d forgotten about glenwood. Yes they definitely always get someone but its almost ALWAYS one kid. Some years ago maybe more but now GW is not the school that Prep boys really associate themselves with while many Glenwood Prep boys attend DHS. In fact, I think there was as many as 4 who played for the u14 A and B team at DHS.
There are many other schools to get talent from though and Glenwood have done just that with their boys coming from all over
@Gungets, is Tony Jordan still at Northwood? Gosh, I think he was head in my day back in the mid 90’s! His boet Kevin Jordan (aka OROS) is still at Glenwood, probably the worst science teacher in history that guy.
@Star, we have had this debate before. If a school like Westville has the SA Swimming coach as an Old Boy he will influence young swimmers to go there. Also, Westville swimming club must be the strongest club in SA, so naturally the kids go to Westville. Westville have only been strong at swimming for about a decade, before that they were just as average as most of the other KZN schools. History tells us that DHS, College and Glenwood have usually been the strongest in swimming and waterpolo with Northwood having the ocassional goos year. This was due to all the surfers doing swimming. Westville are now trying to maintain that dominance by building the aquatics centre etc. Let’s just say others schools have upped their game in aquatics, Alan Burt at DHS and Steven La Marques at Glenwood. I see Glenwood is starting an aquatics programme this term. Also, with swimming you only need about 6 or 7 top swimmers swimming all the strokes and you pretty much win everything. It’s a lot harder in team sports to recruit that many. I remember in my day we had 4 SA swimmers and they did everything in the pool, so Westville just need to chat to the best 4 primary school swimmers in the province mention Chad Le Clos and Chad Ho as Old Boys, offer a bursary and wallaaa they maintain their dominance. Very clever to focus on swimming to raise the school profile….
@Gungets, you forgot that usually 2 or 3 DPHS boys go to Glenwood. In my year, we had about 5 including Greg Manning (son of Peter Manning) who ended up being one of our best allround sportsman. I think Horsie said John Allan is sending his lightie to Glenwood, a KZN primary schools flyhalf. But we all know the Kearsney, Hilton and Michaelhouse scouts will be out to get every kid any good at sport or academics there. That makes me think then, what is the difference between scouting a kid at grade 10 level and grade 8, yes 2 years at the school. To compete with the private schools never ending cash reserves Gov Schools should be able to recruit post grade 8. It makes me laugh how private schools moan about recruiting by Glenwood when they themselves do it even more just at another age level. One of my best mates was coming to Glenwood with me from Brighton Beach but in the November was offered a 100% bursary to Kearsney for being an SA schools tennis player. What parent would say no to that? He ended up being a competitor in most sports…..Kearsney have been doing it for years now…
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Fly – I hope so. Balance of power, good thing. Remember too that often child talent fades, sub-adult talent appears – generally a big blow to the scholarship :-)
There are still parents that see the value of a local school, especially for those boys who would just not enjoy boarding school. No shame at all in that, everyone is different. All that said under caution of course, since my son is away at boarding school. 2010 took quite a few of the top boys to DHS, good rubgy players (you know who they are) swimmers (at least 2 good ones that I know from lifesaving – one Pirates and 1 Surf). For boys to perform well they need to be happy, that’s the bottom line – I know a certain surfer that could not be happier than at School. All that stands between a young man and happiness is a pushy parent …
@gungets
Even though we won’t have the best of the Prep boys we will still have the majority as always in terms of numbers. In terms of DPHS swimmers, DHS hit the jackpot with last years gr.7s as they got th whole dphs top 3 swimmers plus 4 KZN WaterPolo players.
Also, surely some of the top boys will be at DHS next year mate!!!
@star: The parents find it very hard to look past the fees. They see that scholarship as being worth R180,000 a year. Not that they can eat it. The right way to look at a scholarship is what it saves you. In my case a 100% scholarship to Hilton is worth R63,500 – the fees and BE costs at College. It would be R11,000 a year at Northwood (he was offered a 50% there). Hope they made sure that the HC scholarship included all tours etc. Mate of mine had two 100% daughters at Durban Girls College (both went on to Protea colours) – it nearly sent him to the poorhouse when he had to pony up for 2 x 5 week tours to England at R35k each .. and the rest.
There always seems to be a parent who tries to influence the other boys so that their little Johhny is not on his own. I can remember ll the calls in our Grade 7 year. The trashing of schools by ignorant parents who actually did not know much about any of the schools. Made for some funny moments. Kearsney were by the far the most aggressive then. Trying to influence some of the College boys until the last minute.
@star: I’ve heard from a Michaelhouse parent that Hilton have quite a substantial rugby recruitment budget for next year. The Rand figure took quite a long time to say out loud.
@ Gungets. You are so right about Kearsney and Hilton. Hilton have scooped the Viljoen twins(WSPS) who besides being good rugby players are SA Swimmers. It seems strange that they would not be going to arguably the best swimming school that has been(in terms of results and outcomes).
@Gungets Tuft: And Clifton. DPHS swimmers and polo players highly sought after, and they also have some tin, so expect up to 10 kids jogging up the hill. Doing the numbers – of 80 odd boys – 15 to KC, 2 to House, 2 to Hilton, 6 to College, 4 to Westville, 2 Northwood, 2 Crawford, 10 Clifton. Leaves 37 boys. Where are they going?
Problem being, most of those 43 are scholarship boys, so the cream is being siphoned off.
@star: Not that many boys going to College if you look at total numbers. 5 in 2011, I think 5 this year, 2013 looking like about 10 but it is only R2500 to cancel that if they get headhunted by someone else. Your worry should not be College – their pockets are not deep enough to make an impact. Worry about Kearsney (eeeisch – on the prowl properly – up to 15 on their shopping list with DPHS moles doing their bit internally) and Hilton (who are shopping like drug crazed crackheads in Soho).
@Grasshopper: Hahhha .. had to stir the pot a bit boet, looks like we are getting way too pally-pally here – next thing we are going to be going out and buying pink Bulls rugby supporters kit!!
NW-Knight is right though – if all of Chelsea, Northlands, Penzance went to Northwood and a toll-booth on the Lagoon bridges stopped Durban North parents crossing the river, they would be immense. Umhlanga and Durban North are fairly affluent, so no issues with extra coaching, the best nutrition, great facilities (probably second only to KC, House, Hilton and College in KZN).
NW-Knight – do you know who is taking over from Tony Jordan – the right appointment might make all the difference, even if it is all just perception.
@ Grassy. And that is why GW still keeps trucking as I bet 90% of the feeder schools mentioned end up at GW. It is the same for Westville with their primary feeder schools. Prep unfortunately has become an end to itself and is no longer considered a feeder school to DHS hence the number of Durban North boys going through Prep and onto College. Both NW and DHS have been undermined by this process. Not too difficult to link the dots.
@Gungets, like the dig there at Glenwood aka Scumbilo High, which is not actually in Umbilo but close enough, like KES is close enough to Hillbrow. Glenwood would be fine with Penzance, Manor Gardens and Glenwood Prep being the main local feeders….
@NW_Knight: Hmm, yes. Attend your local high school. Not too bad in Durban North, but imagine living in Kokstad, Underberg, or Bulwer, …… or Umbilo
@All Black: And virtually all of the Prep boys you mentioned are from Durban North – never mind scrapping the feeder school system, I reckon it should be a law that you attend your local high school. Imagine what a powerful school NW would be!
I went to Merchiston. Had an unbeaten 1st team rugby and cricket.
I thought this was a schoolboy rugby site? 2 big games in Pretoria on sat and we talking about the U19’s.
@All Black, very interesting that. What happened to Merchiston? When I was in primary school (at Brighton Beach on the Bluff) Merchiston were the powerhouse of primary schools sport. Glenwood Prep was non existent, DPHS was OK, Westville Primary and Pitlochry were powerful, Penzance were strong too. Virginia in Durban North were also not bad….
A matter of interest: Maritzburg College. 1st team rugby Captain, 2nd rugby captain, 3rd rugby captain, 1st cricket captain and U16A rugby captain, Head Boy, Deputy Head Boy all from Prep.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: So I hear. I wonder why, what has changed. Went to the special assembly last year, when the Old Boys from 2010 all arrived back. Dave Magner was there, so the preference given to School is still there. Perhaps just the uncertainty over Magners replacement, but that should be resolved now, so perhaps there will be a change of heart.
My sources tell me that this year there may be as many as 10 going College’s way, as well as a few promising kids from Highbury, and some really good Merchiston boys, so hopefully that will kick start what has been a sluggish few years for College. I suspect it helps a lot that this years College Head Boy (Jesse Filaferro) and Deputy Head and 1st team rugby captain (Reegan Smith) are DPHS boys, and the 2010 Head boy was a DPHS boy (Andrew Hay). All got publicised at DPHS (Patter etc). Didn’t help that DHS refused to place a free advert for the DPHS Centenary Book in their yearbook, but College were happy to … :-/
@Gungets Tuft:
it seems that huge intake was just a once off then! 2013 doesnt look too bright
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Hahhahha .. no, sorry, DHS was just not on his list, don’t know why. Perhaps he got an inferior pencil or something
I think that TS had a lot to do with it – great ambassador. Perhaps (and I hate to day it) it was also partly as a result of a pretty poor sporting year for Prep, so perhaps not that many scholarships being handed out ..??. Having said all that, I reckon there were still a few that had other options but chose School anyway. It’s a good thing. I am a real supporter of strength vs strength, which is my main beef with massive spending to “try and be the best”. I cannot see the benefit to school, kids, or the province in one or two schools being so dominant that you have talented kids benched because of massive depth, or huge offsets in games, where 2nds play 3rds and 3rds play 5ths. I say that under caution because College was very strong for years, but without scholarships. The school reputation drew people, coaches like Skonk drew them. But it is better to have a more competitive environment – I wonder how much spread talent has had to do with the Sharks success.
My son went to open days, his list was College, Clifton, Northwood, Kearsney – in that order. Suspect I had a lot to do with his College choice, just as you probably had with your lightie. Sins of the Fathers . . . .
TS? simpsons mom? what was the MAIN reason though . surely one person was not why we had so many and lastly with so many of his mates going to DHS was your son not wanting to follow them?
@HORSEFLY NO.1: It was a huge year for DHS. Had TS recruiting, she did a great job. 1 to Westville, about 5 to Clifton, 1 to KC, 5 to College, 1 to NW but quickly moved to KC, 1 to House. One or two movements since then, otherwise as we were.
@gungets
Sjoe! Didn’t know that many of the 2010 DPHS year came to dhs!
@HORSEFLY NO.1: As legal as 65 of the 2010 year going to DHS :-)
Dunno – all based on talk over a cuppola Guinesses, so we might just have to wait and see.
@gungets
Are those 11 going to Kearsney or might? Is that even legal!!??
I know kearsney didn’t get any of the kzn u13A rugby players as their all going to other schools from what I heard. A new relationship between the CEO and Prep will be built but currently it isn’t there. Next year might be those average years for us as far as u14s go. This year was good(specially rugby) as this years grade 8s will be the matrics when the school turns 150.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: Stories I heard were that one of the kingpin mommies was frantically recruiting for Kearsney and winning the battle. 2 that were on her list have since bailed and will be going to College or Hilton (depending on scholarship offers from Hilton who are running around shopping up a storm!!), but it sounded like the KC list had about 11 names on it – high for DPHS. RN has always punted DHS but with him stepping down at the end of this year, and DHS getting a new head, perhaps the uncertainty has made people more cautious.
@Grasshopper: Affies team – 5 players that played against College are missing – Linde, Viljoen, J-V Rensburg, Schoeman, vd Heever. VD Heever is a copnfusiong one because there was a M vd Heever at #10 for their seconds as well as #12 for their 1sts. Dunno how to explain that, unless they are two separate people and the 2nds #10 is running at 13 for the 1sts this week. Don’t kno where Lee came from, he did not play 1sts or 2nds last week.
They will miss Linde properly, he is their backline playmaker. Schoeman goes without saying, he is their captain. If Affies have a weakness it is their midfield defense now that Linde is not there, but they are still a good side, despite the missing players.
Still, have to support our fellow Natalians, so go for it.
@Horsie, thanks for the news. Well it seems rugby is now and all year sport with most teams preparing for 2013 already. The boys will all have gym programmes and diets to stick too and will also have holiday practices etc……it’s getting overly intense really for so called amateurs. No wonder these kids look at using performance enhancing products. I bet every player is on Creatine, Glutamine and generic hormone boosters cocktails and mass builders/fat burners etc. In my day we were scared to take Creatine because we thought it was a drug and of course it made you bloat. In matric I could bench about 100kg max for 3 reps and weighed about 90kg being 6foot3. These days I would be small and weak. I heard a story of a school kid benching 150kg for 3 reps….madness!
@Horsey: hearing whispers he’s going to one of the Saints (either St Charles or St Henrys).
@Andre T, there are others I’m not too fond of, Balansingh, Slurry, Red Army etc…..they had some vendetta against Glenwood and me…..unless it was all one blogger causing kak under different avatars/aliases. Once they started posting pics of bloggers and allowing bloggers to have the same name that was the last straw for me….
@grasshopper
I hear that the DHS U16 coach has been moved up to the 1st XV, in terms of the old coach I don’t know. All I know is that the provisional squad is currently putting in some hard work at the gym.
@gungets tuft
I remember you saying some time ago on the old R365 that DHS wouldn’t be able to rely on their DPHS intake for next year. What made you say this?
@NW_Knight, I know boet. I have a horrible feeling we going to get klapped badly. I hope not but it could happen especially away from home. I mean College got 30 plus on Goldstones! If only the 1st team could fly up instead of bus it, that would make our chances better. We have felt the pain on a few ocassions in Bloem at the hands of the mighty Grey. Teams getting 80 to 100 points is not fun…
@Grasshopper: Promise you I was never Gerhard.
@Andre T, well if you are aka Gerhard then yes, but if you are just your sarcastic self then no worries, all good fun
@Grassy: you need to worry about 1 – 15
Do you mind if I irritate you here every now and then?
@Andre, nope was told by my mate so he must have got it there. I will never go back to that pile of dung. Full of kak stirrers and bloggers who have no clue about KZN schools or Glenwood rugby. Enjoying this site whilst bloggers debate in an adult manner and don’t get too personal.
@Grasshopper: I see you’re still spying there on 365?
The Affies side still looks very strong and it seems these 6 are the regulars not there;
Marcus Kleinbooi
Jurie Linde
Ryno Eksteen
Heinrich Viljoen
Nicolaas Janse Van Rensburg
Pierre Schoeman
@Gungets and College supporters, I believe this is the Affies team for Saturday against Glenwood, are there any particular players we need to be aware of?
15. C Pretorius
14. T v Wyk
13. M vd Heever
12. N Lee
11. A vd Merwe
10. H Postumus
9. L Venter
8. S Meiring
7. A v Heerden
6. D Bezuidenhout
5. G de Beer/A Collison
4. J Droste
3. C de Waal
2. F Steyn
1. WP Ellof
@grasshopper – John should be director of rugby at the school and keep Sean in check….
@NW_Knight, well good luck to Northwood. It seems there will be huge competition for players at feeder level in years to come with all of the top 8 schools getting professional coaches, implementing professional setups etc. Glenwood, Kearsney and Westville led this initiative for the past decade but College, Michaelhouse and Hilton have followed in hot pursuit. Now DHS have brought in a CEO and I hear a new coach. So we have Brad Mcleod-Henderson (Hilton), Ryan Strudwick (College), Sean Erasmus (Glenwood), Swys De Bruin (Northwood), Barend Steyn (Kearsney) and Grant Bell (Westville) as head coaches/Directors of Rugby. Schools seem to be looking and paying for more high calibre and high profile Old Boys for coaching roles. It seems the success of Jake White and the downfall of KZN Club rugby has made coaching at schools level in high demand. I would love to see John Allan coaching at Glenwood or him and Sean help groom a new young and upcoming coach…
@Grassy: Swys isn’t coaching any of the KZN teams next year, so no conflict. He already spends more time planning and working at NW than most other coaches. I agree about Campese – definitely a show pony and nowhere near the credentials or track record. Remember also that Swys is Head Coach (not just 1st team coach like his predecessors), which means he is responsible for all rugby.
@Gungets, hmmmm if I was a Northwood supporter I would be worried about that dual responsibilty, it might help attract kids wanting a fast route to the Sharks Academy but it will mean he might have to miss a few games like Sean had to this year. Not really a confidence booster when the boss can’t make vital games…
@Grasshopper: Campese was a show pony with no credentials as a coach. Mentor maybe, and considering how much of a loner he is, I wonder even about that.
Swys will be filling both roles, keeping his Academy responsibilities, as far as I know.
Re Northwood, getting Swys as the Director of Rugby/Head Coach whatever you call it is a big scoop by Northwood. But didn’t Northwood have David Campese in a similar role previously and that didn’t prove to pay dividends. Will Swys be hands on and fully committted? Sean Erasmus at Glenwood has been stretched this year with commitments to the Sharks Under19, Collegians and Sharks Craven Week. Is Swys giving up his Sharks duties? I think it will take at least 5 years to see the fruits of this investment…..
@NW_Knight: Agree about the coaching staff, I know them and think they are good guys. My comments about Swys were more about his influence at the Sharks Academy. People can say differently but it makes a huge difference. People playing at Northwood now know that they have the eye of an infuencial person at Kings Park, they need not worry about exposure when choosing schools.
Good to hear about the BE, they now need to make sure they get the right people in there and make it work as the pride of Northwood.
@Beet, nope Glenwood will be playing the Affies B side. But if we still have Coulsen and Vermaak out then we are not at full strength either. They are two class wings. However, what the annuals and record books will say is Glenwood 1st vs Affies 1st whatever happens…
@All Black: Mail me at gungetstuft@gmail.com – wheels within wheels.
Agree about Marx – at senior level he is going to be fine, but then his size might not be as big a factor, so he is going back to square one, just as all boys do when they graduate. I think he has what it takes and we will hear lots from him in the next 10 years. As long as he grinds a Shackle Dragger in the next few years he is OK with me :-)
@Gungets & @Grasshopper: Went into the NW BE for the first time a week ago and was pleasantly surprised. It was neat, clean and I would not have a problem with my sons being there. I agree that a good BE and buses are essential. NW now has both, so hopefully things will get better. I don’t think that it’s only Swys that will make the difference – he has some good people around him. I think that you will see an improvement across the board next year, but an even greater one the year after. The key is ensuring that ALL teams are showing improvement. Remember that Swys is Head Coach and responsible for the performance of all teams, while his predecessors were 1st team coaches.
@Grasshopper: 1) He is learning the trade and will be fine. Took Beast and Burden a couple of seasons to make the change. 2) All the other teams got it right. 3) I think Affies had a few injuries after the College game as well.
@Grasshopper: You’re gonna stump yourself here.
7 missing KZN CW players = B-Team
But
7 missing Affies players still = A-Team
@All Black
1) I heard one of the Lions props from KES is 123kg and 6foot3 so not sure how Marx is going to get much bigger props at senior level
2) The KZN ‘A’ team lost to a better EP side on the day. They let a lead go and I believe EP won in the last few minutes. The sides were equally matched and some believe EP should have played the final instead of the Lions. They probably would have given the Bulls a harder game.
3) Remember 7 Affies players will be at the SA schools trials, so it’s not their 2nd team, there will still be 8 regular 1st team players. Again we all know KZN sides do not do well at altitude, look at how College got well beaten by KES after tons of travelling and losing Dan Kriel. The Glenwood 1st’s will still do very well to win
Comments on the above:
1) Marx has been earmarked to play 2 for the Lions senior side. He will have much bigger/taller props to support him and therefore will not have problem. He cannot be judged on SBR props. If what you guys are saying is true then Bismark would never have been a hooker.
2) Grasshopper: You say the CW B team played against the Lions. Then what happened to the ‘A’ team against EP.
3) College 2nd team won on sat against Affies so Glenwood 1st team should not be too troubled by Affies.
@Grasshopper: Quite a few Durban North, Umhlanga and Ballito kids at College as well, this years Gr8’s bigger than expected. In Gr9, out of 80 in the BE there must be 15 from there, including 5 DPHS boys. Northwood could probably fill 2 Gr9 classes with kids that are at College, DHS, Glenwood and Westville. Add in Kearsney and Clifton and probably another class at least.
@star: On the soccer results – when College played Westville last (3rd term of 2011??) College won 5 (28%), Drew 5 (28%) and lost 8 (44%). The 1sts lost but the 2nds and 3rds won, as did the U16A. U15A and U14A drew.
@Grasshopper: I believe Grey will be a huge force again as from next year. Bog has gone into hiding since OFS’s loss to KXN at CW.
@Beet, Glenwood have the Bluff covered. I went to Brighton Beach Primary as a kid and anybody with sporting and academic aspirations went to Glenwood as Grosvenor is not a serious option…….just a bunch of Bluff Surfers at Grosvenor……
@beet: Is the Four Seasons still there?
@Grasshopper: I think the Affies starting 15 and the hockey starting 11 could be surprising this weekend. Will be interesting to see who runs out. When will they announce the teams?
@Gungets, hmmmm….Durban North, Umhlanga and as far as Balito are considered affluent areas in Durban so surely those parents will go with private education, hence probably Kearsney being the closest of the big 3 private schools. I do know many North Coast boys and sugar farmers kids board at Glenwood. I do agree with you, I school with a great BE is the key to a school that does well at sport. Look at Grey Bloem, they have probably 600 odd Boarders and they are virtually unbeatable in most sports, except swimming where as NW Knight mentioned Westville recruit any kid who can swim to ensure there is no competition there and claim to be the best in SA. Isn’t it obvious if you have the whole SA schools swimming side that you would do well at swimming. It’s a pity because traditionally DHS and Glenwood had the most surfers and they usually were the best swimmers….
@Andre T, yep we play the Affies 1st/2nd’s this weekend, thank god for that! We are not great travellers and that altitude/rock hard fields don’t suit us souties at all. Everyone knows evenan Affies 2nd side is strong, probably worthy of a Top 20 spot in the SA rankings. Grey Cherries is usually another very strong ‘2nd’ side. I think if the Glenwood pack can get parity then we will have a chance, but I am genuinely not expecting a win. I think our 2nd’s, 3rd’s, Under16A and Under15A do have a real chance of winning. More than 1 win on the day will still be better than last year, just one win at home (Under15A). We then play College at College next weekend, big derby and finally Grey Bloem at Glenwood. If there is ever a chance to beat Grey Bloem again it’s this year, but Grey are not the best rugga school in the country for nothing, they will not give it away and we will have to be at our utmost best. Grey Bloem look invincible at age group level and those teams will battle to keep the points difference down to 20/30 points….
@NW_Knight: “Anywhere there is a swimming pool” .. Hahhahha. But the summary is about right. There are a lot of Durban North boys travelling South across the river to Glenwood and DHS, and apparently Westville. I also know at least 5 that are at Kearsney, probably many more, but them being private it is not fair to compare. Interesting that 3 boys are on their way from Westville to Northwood – they must be in-area kids – or has NW started jacking up their BE, or has Swys started flexing his muscles?
I know Glenwood used to run a bus from Toti. Perhaps still do. I wonder who’s got the Bluff?
I think most Durban schools are community schools. NW draw from their small community. DHS draws from their community and NW’s. Westville draw from their community and those of DHS, NW, Kloof, Hillcrest and anywhere there’s a swimming pool. Glenwood have expanded their community to incorporate students in all 11 official languages and have truly embraced the South African community.
@Andre T: Its now called the China Mall in Mahatma Gandhi Road. How times change
@Andre T: Hahha. Yeah. Well, Smugglers is closed (I think – I haven’t heard anything since Delores was playing with her baseball bat 10 years ago), and the Vic Bar is not the same since Carlos popped his clogs. Spear is just going to have to raise his game and go somewhere else. Since Smuggies closed Horsefly #1 has been a lost soul!!
@Gungets Tuft: Spear is more the Point Rd type, those sleazy pubs around The Wheel area.
So where are all the Horseflies? At least you’ve got something to cheer about after that should-have-won game against Glenwood on TV.
@Andre T: Hahha .. no, not yet. When I have buddies then I can remember having a pot with them. Kilkenny on tap at the Shamrock or Stokers, or a single malt at Forresters … then I have mates :-))) .. maybe we will sometime. Invitation is open to any of the okes when in Gods Country.
@Andre T: Hashim is a DHS boy.
@Gungets Tuft: Maybe you’re right and the reason why he’s not going to the Bulls anymore. Perhaps he doesn’t want to play hooker anymore? I don’t know.
But
that he destroyed and mauled all KXN opposition thrown at him this year…….that I know.
Gungie……..I hear you and Spear are big buddies now.
@star: Must have been a hellova decision then. For me a bit easier I think because (down Grasshopper .. DOWN) the state of the College Boarding Establishments is a great deal better than DHS.
The Boarders at College (with due deference to the day-boys at the school, and there are a lot of good kids as day-scholars) are considered the spine of the school. They hold the ideals of the school high, they live there so have “my home” standards about it. Possibly due more to the fact that they play team sport for recreation every day, they form the majority of the 1st and A-teams, they contribute 2/3’s of the prefects and almost invariably the Head Boy is a boarder.
Glenwood have got it right as well (naturally Kearsney, Hilton and House have it as well), but I believe, more now than ever, a great BE is the most important thing a school can have.
Still, that much history, wow. Quite something.
Beet
You wrote an article on Ernie, a Lions boykie, who just won The Open……..now what about Hashim Amla? I see or hear no praises for his efforts. How about a tribute to him and his alma mater? Where did he go to school?
After all…..he must be the next big thing coming out of Durban since Shabby Shaik.
@Andre T: Midgets perhaps, but he struggled against the Bulls as well. They will target him, he has to lift just to stay up. No matter, the season is over and he will not have the same height issues at club level. I still think he has a long way to go as a hooker, but he has the essentials of a rugby player and is strong – the rest can be taught. I wish the lightie (sic) well, but wonder if he would not be better trying prop, with Bizzie, Chilli and Strauss there is a long queue at hooker. Props, not so much??
@Grasshopper: So this weekend you’re up against the Affie bench? I think it could be a thriller. When is Grey Bloem and where? I predict a Glenwood win there.
@Grasshopper: You okes are sharper than I thought
@Grasshopper: The rules are clear. By the end of the second game every player in your team must have played a full 70min game. So you have to manage this situation. But my point is that it all starts with the 22 players selected. If you have a concern that your 16th best player (and downwards) in the entire province isn’t good enough to hold his own against another big team at CW, you have a depth problem and you will never make it to the CW final. The 7 players wearing jerseys #16-#22 used against the Lions should have been good enough to hold their own and to help beat the Lions.
But yes you are right. The rules are lousy. Some concepts even the idea of Craven Week as the basis of selection for an SA Schools team are outdated. The only thing we can be grateful for is that these rules apply equally to all participants.
@Beet, you know what I meant. The rule to play all 22 is just rubbish, imagine if that was the rule for professional teams. Coaches pick certain players because they are better ‘starters’ or better ‘impact’ players. The coaches should be allowed to pick who they wish from the squad. I know it’s not fair on those who may not play but this is how it is in real rugby. It’s not fabricated in that way. Our coaches got it wrong, thinking they need the ‘best’ team for the Free State game and threw everything at that to make sure of a win and get a better day 2 and hopefully a final. We could have played a ‘weaker’ side in the 2nd half against the Free State and saved the best for a start against the Lions. Rugby at this level is about building confidence and to win that Lions game we needed the best start possible. Anyway, point made…..
About Craven Week I want to say again that if a squad of 22 is picked right, there should be no hint of a B-teamness about it. When I watched the Lions play on the Monday, 2 of their players that impressed me the most were their lock Brink (#18) and prop van Wyk(#17). The numbering on the jerseys could have been misleading. These guys are good players. But the point remains that at Craven Week, if you want to entertain any hopes of playing in the Saturday final, best the players you select to wear jerseys 16 thru 22 are in no what you regard as B-team players, but rather as other A-team players. This is the challenge not just for KZN (KXN) but for all the regional teams.
There were a number of reasons why we failed to beat the Lions on Day 3. If we are going to use personnel as a reason, I would much rather we said one of two things: 1. We didn’t have the depth of the Lions or 2. Our coaches knowing the rules, got their team choices wrong at CW.
But to use the excuse of B-team is not on. Our B-team was the Academy team and they didn’t play against the Lions.
Funny that because I thought KES was Dale Old Boys Club
hahaha, the dominant language of the Eastern Cape?
@Andre T: KXN!!! I don’t even want to ask. I think I know exactly what it stands for.
@Grasshopper: I don’t think Monnas will be a force next year but they have very strong u/14, 15 and 16 teams. Their u/16 backline very good which will be a first for Monnas who’s more known for their forwards. The one lock, Lions FB Herbst’s brother, is 6 feet 5 with Sonny Bill skills and the one flanker, Meintjies, harder than Massyn. The 13 also very dangerous. But as you’ll know being strong at age group level never guarantees a good 1st XV.
We need a few more Bekkers and Bothas and Coetzees from the platteland to toughen up and add more brain power to the team…………so does Glenwood.
@Andre T, yes the bench was sub-standard obviously. Quite a few front row players missed out who should have been there, Nqawe from DHS, Pini from Glenwood and Mxoli from Westville. Just those 3 would have been a better front row. Anyway, the selectors choose and there is nothing we can do about it. KZN has always lacked depth and it was shown up by an average Lions side. I reckon EP would have been better finalists. How are Monnas and KES looking for next year?
@ Gungets- My Grandfather was at Prep in the foundation class which is 102 years ago. But it( is more the link with DHS where my great grandfather was arguably the first official dux in 1879( during the Zulu wars). I was trying to line myself up with your son as we both faced the same historical decision(although he is a generation off of course).
With regards to Marx did anyone think that he had put on a bit of FORM??
@star: Northwood U15 was already a good side in 2012. Build on that and they are going to be very good.
@Gungets Tuft: He was scrumming against KXN midgets, even on his knees he was taller than your front row.
@Grasshopper: Pity to hear your bench was so sub-standard.
@HORSEFLY NO.1: DPHS always announces their scholarship winners so it will be easy to tell what the rationale is for boys going to Westville. Westville still run a bus from Durban North, as do DHS, so the whole community school thing is pretty much out of the water. Northwood is once again 100% subscribed from “in area”, whatever value that holds, because our government is determined to kick that concept in the balls. It is completely wrong, because other than the boarders, the loyalty to a school comes from the community. And Old Boys of course – which is where Northwood saw it’s backside. The merger of Northlands and Brettonwood was not accompanied by a huge effort to bring the Old Boys together – major blunder!
@Andre T: Ja, I know, was on my way back to correct and you got here first. Too tall for a front ranker at the moment, his hips are always above his head when scrumming against asmaller players, so he has to scrum up or go to ground. Also he takes all the power in the scrum on engage because the props only catch up 30cm later, so up he goes. We will hear lots from him at senior level, he is just too big right now.
@star: You could not possibly have more history with Prep than I have with College, Prep is only 102 years old, my family have been at College for 102 years.
To be blunt – I am not sure Prep was the best thing for my son. It is a good school, no doubt, but he would have been just as well off at Northlands or Chelsea. We knew that by Grade 4 but to change would have been quite an upheaval, so we left it.
@Gungets Tuft: He plays hooker
@Andre T, watched the games and was not blown away by Marx, a good player but not the 1 man wrecking ball everyone in the Vaal built him up to be. He is also not a hooker, far too tall and scrums up, which he will never get away with at senior level. Secondly, if our captain Moberly, both Doops, Moon, Vermaak and Arnott started it would have been a different result. KZN put all their eggs in the Free State basket. The Lions were so one dimensional and their backs were very average and slow. The Bulls showed this in the final, far too big, fast and skillful in the backs. KZN schools don’t pack their sides with EP backs, they come up at primary school and go through the ranks. A handful came up a few years back and those ended up being the cheats. I think we have learnt not to trust them and audit every kid on a bursary now. KZN is the only province to do this so far so I am sure there are plenty of other cheats in other provinces. The Glenwood backs like Coulsen, Vermaak, Marwana and Potgieter are actually pretty big. Only Mkhabela the scrummie and Makasi are small…..so not sure what you on about…
If Marx keep standing up like that at U19 he is going to blown off the park. He will be facing taller bigger guys so it might be easier for him to stay down. Right now he should be playing lock, not prop. He is a good player, just not a prop yet.
@Grasshopper: I wanted to add to the above post the fact that if you KXN okes( and in particular Glenwood ) keep on loading your teams with those small Eastern Cape players, you’re going to be continiously mauled by the bigger schools and provinces. You need more muscle and brains in your backlines.
@Grasshopper: Which ever side was on the park……..he mauled them.
@greenhopper
the u16s didnt do too bad this year and i think there were many missed opportunities. they played 15 won 10 and lost 5. of the 5 they lost 3 were in reach namely college, kearsney and gw
if reading the paper is anything to go by , and what the department intends implementing, there isn’t really going to be a “feeder zone
@HORSEFLY NO.1: who do you think the probable will be at DHS next year and what strategy have they got in place , preseason etc
how did the u16 do this year ?
@Andre, do you mean Marx mauled our B side? Our A side played on the Monday and mauled the Free State. Loved the way the Bulls gave them a serious klap in the final :-)
@Andre T: Marx set some kind of new record for popping his head out of the scrum at CW. He was far less influencial at CW than he’s been in KES games. Also Surprise was surprisingly slower that the 10 point something he was reported to run the 100m in. He looked like he was carrying some extra weight tho. The KES player I really liked is Cyle Brink. Fantastic in the air – lineouts, receiving kickoffs, attacking the ball from his own team’s kickoffs.
Star and Beet
The KES boys have gone dead quiet, even Vleis. I would have thought they’d be chirpy looking at the way KZN CW team was mauled by Marx.
@Andre T: The thing is the KZN and for that matter the KES season is pretty much over for most. There is really just one big local derby game in the 3rd team when College meet Glenwood.
When KES lost to PHBS for the 2nd time it sucked a lot of life out of the KES guys.
But I agree the change in R365 format was a let down.
@star: I think the acid test would be if you lived in Durban North or on the Berea as opposed to Westville would you have sent your son to Northwood or DHS. The community school concept seems a lot easier to support if one is a Westville resident.
But then again that is perhaps the whole point. Westville folks over a long period of time have backed the school. It’s not just “now” thing, it’s been this way since WBHS came into being, that’s why is it what it is today.
@ T. It must be a quiet day on the Wes Rand. You can include Slurry in the above. On the old 365 I had some great moments with Roger and Martin from KES. The change in the blog has really stuffed up the team dynamics. Those GW/KES battles were legendary.
Where’s Spear? Has he also joined?
Where’s Gerhard and Ballassingh and Red Army?
@SpearTackle – you talking about cricket ? (50’s) ?
@star: So Northwood only lost to Glenwood this season – sure they lack depth which is in stark contrast to WBHS – we all know WBHS U15A and B are pretty similar strength, in fact, I think the U15B’s were unbeaten this year ?
Gosh man, we can’t agree all the time……we need some controversy……….how far is the audit for underaged players? When will Porcelain Pat play a full season? How many fifties will Kearsney put up next year?
Jeepers man
@pedantic-Westville lost 7-0 away at Northwood. They were however the better team and a few poor decisions/leadership issues were complicit in the result. The problem NW have is depth. The Westville U15B were 40-0 up at half time.
I think NW still has long way to go but Swys is defintely a building block. You must remember when my son’s U14A lost to NW last year it was the first time in 40 years that this had happened(and boy did the rest of the school remind them of that). The point that I think that Swys understands is that he needs the raw material to start clawing back results. These boys were not necessarily attracted away from Westville but were accepted for a specific purpose.There was certainly no unhappiness just certain academic targets not being met.Ultimately for NW to succeed it has to gain the the community support and cohesion which comes from a community based school.Gungets mentioned that he was a 7 iron from the school and yet his son went to Prep and to College.He talks about history but I had more history with regard to Prep and DHS but still chose the community schools and I think is one of the real reasons Westville keeps on coming up trumps.
@beet: I think it’s a little early for that – need some results first. there have been more than just the 3 WBHS boys, but it has more to do with unhappiness with WBHS than with the attraction of NW.
@star: Northwood’s current U15’s are very strong already with only Glenwood looking capable of beating them – Another 3 quality players would make their Under 16’s powerful next season and with their current U16’s looking relatively strong, things could look good for NW 1st XV in 2014.
What was the Westville vs NW U15A result this year?
Interesting developments …
@star: With Northwood having acquired the services of Swys, a coach from the Sharks Academy, I wonder if this is now part of the attraction for parents and boys who are moving to the Durban North school???
@horsy-I think the move to WBHS is based on a combination of scholarships and the current rep. of the school. I have just been informed that 3 quality WBHS U15s(flank,prop and FH) are going to NW. That would make NW a real handful at U16 level next year and put Westville’s much vaunted depth to the test.
@greenwood
Good point you make. There.
The Westville A sides. Have kinda been fader.
Their U14A side was fantastic vs. Glenwood and was thought. To be kzns best side till they lost to DHS. After that they became quite average , even their u16s, they started well but were never the same after the KES game while its the opposite for College who started badly but have been playing some goood rugga recently. Also their 1st XV of course!
Grasshopper – Westville want to be top of Kzn at any price – It’s ironic that their “stayers” team is named as such as recent history has shown that in Kzn they
have been faders who cannot carry momentum to the end of the season —so lets see what happens next year
@grassy
Well with the strength of dphs it is understandable why dphs boys are soo highly sought after. It is sad when these things happen though!
Hopefully DHS find talent in other places and have a good side next year, same for GW!
@Horsie, it seems Westville might be flexing their financial muscle. It’s really sad when you see DPHS and Glenwood Prep Boys going to Westville. I can understand a few drifting across the divide but not up the hill….Surely Richard Neave/Hank Pike will promote DHS and Louis Arde at Glenwood Prep promotes Glenwood. The key for both schools is to ensure the cream from the preps go to their high schools. Westville already have Westville Prep, Pitlochry, Highbury and Atholl Heights, why do they need to fish around in Durban
@star
I only recently saw what you said about that Phipson boy on another post, I see that a lot of Prep boys are going to wbhs, is that mainly on scholarship or choose?
@star: Oh okay. Thanks for the help.
No U16s started against Bolton. I did hear a coach say before the U16 match that they looking for guys to put up their hand for inclusion in the Bradford game today
@star: u16s involved in the Stayers team specifically. Both vs Stirling and Bolton.
@beet- I am feeling my way forward at this stage. What specific input has been contadictory?
@star: Some of your input keeps contradicts what I’m being told and I thought I was getting my stuff from the best possible source.
I think stayers should be narrowed down to Grade 11s as the U16s had an earlier game and were not in the mix. I liked the hooker Vorster who has also come up from 3rd team and was behind M. Jackson and Buthelezi. The backline has a familar feel about it with the only question marks being at flyhalf and inside centre. All of Schlemmer,Larkins and Anderson could put up their hands for the critical pivot position.They also tried McHardy there but I feel he must control things from the base of the scrum.
The game itself seemed more like a practice run with no kicking allowed and drop goals for posts.At half time the team changed substantially and I just hope the opponents did not feel slighted.
It was also good to see Mickey Arthur at the game and chatting to Schlemmer who won his scholarship to Westville and is the Dolphins U17 player of the year.
With regard to soccer ,I believe the Westville 1st team,U16A and U15A were all unbeaten locally last year and when they played Glenwood they won 83% of the games.It was a simiilar picture against DHS and College.
@grassy
They are usually very strong but I think came last at the Grey tourno, I heard that they sent a weakned side though. For the past few years WBHS, DHS and College have been the strongest with any of these being abble to beat another but now GW has crept in to the picture and might cause trouble to the traditional big 3
DHS and Glenwood did well in the recent Grey Bloem soccer tourno, Glenwood taking 3rd spot. How are Westville compared? Stronger?
Soccer is bigger than 7s at WBHS . They are good !