On Saturday Selborne College will welcome Queen’s College to The Fortress in what is one of the most anticipated schoolboy derbies of the season. The match will come off the back of 2 reasonably comfortable victories for both teams, Queen’s having a bit of a runaway victory winning 52-10 against Port Rex and Selborne winning 20-7 against Hudson Park. Ask any Border schoolboy rugby pundit and they’ll tell you form flies straight out of the window with this derby, so the fact that Selborne beat Port Rex unconvincingly,17-10 and Queen’s drew 13-13 against Hudson Park will mean very little in the context of this clash. Queen’s having won the 1st fixture in Queenstown in April will go in as favourites and Selborne an uncharacteristic tag of underdogs and also in context of the season as whole.
The home team will be missing two key players, with elusive centre Darren Ketzner is out with an ankle injury and captain Siphesihle “Pitsa” Punguzwa, the robust flanker broke his jaw against Hudson Park and probably played his last game in the black and white. Selborne have some big men up front with Kyle Slinger, the man anchoring the scrum at tighthead, reported to weigh around 120kg and it’s expected that Kevin Taylor’s men will try outmuscle Queen’s up front. Jedwin Harty at 8thman will be crucial in linking up with his halfbacks of the base of the scrum, the 17 year old has shown great promise this season and will look on a fine season based on his individual performances. The backline will struggle to match their more fancied counterparts, but this season they have given the ball some air, something they are known for, expect some eye catching stuff from young flyhalf Lungelo Gosa who’s a great runner of the ball and Viwe Mzaidume at fullback who has a deceptive step will cause some problems for Queen’s defence. Selborne had 4 representatives at the recent Craven Week in new captain Andrew Miles, Simela Qinela, Mick Meintjies and Onke Nyaku.
Queen’s will be without the services of 2 Craven Week players, hooker Keegan Emms (wrist injury) and openside flanker James Snelling (bout of flu). The VIP halfback combination of JP Smith and Joshua Stander is expected to play a big part for Queen’s, but expect a bit of trouble from the centre combination of the hard running Aubrey Ferreira and flee footed Simon Bolze. The back 3 will be full of running with new fullback Siphu “Dagg” Zaula expected to live up to the name the Queen’s faithful have bestowed upon him. Expect the Queen’s pack to stand up well against their much bigger counterparts from Selborne, with Kevin Kaba relishing playing in the loose trio at 8thman after a season and half at no.4, he’s hit some great form in the no.8 jersey and will play a vital role in leading that forward pack. Queen’s boast 3 Craven Week reps in Mandilakhe Ponco, Aubrey Ferreira and Lilitha Jonas.
Expect a tense clash that will be decided within 10 points because Selborne are a very different prospect at The Fortress, the comfortable 29-7 victory for Queen’s at The Rec in April is done and dusted and will count for very little come kick-off at 15h00 on Saturday
SELBORNE 1st XV
1. Simela Qinela 2. Dylan Domoney 3. Kyle Slinger 4. Matthew Nass 5. Mick Meintjies 6. Michael Hansen 7. Andrew Miles (captain) 8. Jedwin Harty 9. Onke Nyaku 10. Lungelo Gosa 11. Qhayiya Mgiyana 12.Nanele Tyali 13. Jade Labuschagne 14. Cwenga Mqingwana 15. Viwe Mzaidume
QUEEN’S 1st XV
1. Tiaan Bartman 2. Khanya Mzilikazi 3. Marcus Dell 4. Sifundile Tyebileyo 5. Justin Hollis 6. Mandilakhe Ponco 7. Dylan Gibbens 8. Kevin Kaba 9. Juan-Phillip Smith 10. Joshua Stander 11. Chumani Mase 12. Aubrey Ferreira 13. Simon Bolze 14. Lilitha Jonas 15. Siphuxolo Zaula
(Final score: Selborne 17 Queens 26)
@Ludz:
I recall that Warrick actually played ahead of Phanta at hooker for the Selborne U15A team.
@QC86: @GCollege86: yeah,that was very evident in both games,the friendships that have been built will last a lifetime and I look forward to seeing many more of these battles,these are two good sides which will make their respective schools proud as they move on to high school next year,hoping Queen’s get a couple more over the Selbornians
Agree with QC86 that there will still be many more hard battles between the two sides. Of the 2 games that this Selborne team has lost since u/9, one of them was against this Queens side two years ago. What is so nice to see is that the boys respect for each other on the field and is the biggest of friends off the field. Nice to still see it at school level rugby.
@ludz: yes that was him bringing on the tee,selborne play their no8 at 12 to close down Elano and it seems to work,selborne also put some big hits on elano and no 15 and that made them hesitant,those two sides are going to have many more massive battles in the future,yes the passing of Paul Reeves will be felt for along time,he was a good man, RIP
@GCollege86: @QC86: really sad to hear about their coach’s passing as well
@QC86: I also saw him,they have a promising,you have some strong boys,hooker was strong,they closed off Elano Smith (Queen’s 13) and he’s a big part of the Queen’s gameplan and not nearly enough ball spread to Squaba on the wing who has electric pace. Was talking to a couple of the juniors and they said GCollege86’s son was missing and I saw him take the kicking tee onto the field everytime there was a kick. I’m assuming it’s GCollege86’s son because they said he was the injured star player
@ludz,yes plays hooker,only lost 2 games since u9,i thought they should have lost in Queenstown but were saved by their flyhalf[drop goal],who is very good,he is the son of Gcollege 86,he did not play on Saturday,broke his cheekbone at u13 Craven week,thats why their backline was not to fluid on sat against QC
@QC86: your boy play in the 13A? Watched that game,they are undefeated I believe and believe it or not Queen’s 13A has lost twice,both to Selborne
@ludz,you are to kind ,thank you,lots of banter in our family when it comes to QC v Selborne,my youngest plays for the u13s so grant is my middle son,in my playing days we never lost to Selborne but now i am having to eat abit of humble pie,but with the QC firsts winning i saved abit of face,thank goodness
@QC86: oh thought so, met your other boy this weekend,Grant,very nice boy. Watched a bit of their game on Saturday,they have a very good side. Grant even told me that his dad loves Queen’s,we even joked about him moving to Queen’s
@QC86: Yes thanks. I got word from Stefan U as well that it had been moved. Unfortunately Michael B who would be an excellent fill in for Tyler at centre also has fitness issues from what I’ve heard. Real pity.
Also wish the Sharks would do a better job of informing the public of changes in schedules. Seems like they are content with no one watching their juniors.
@beet,one change to the sharks u19 side,Tyler Fisher out with concussion,could also explain why the backline battled in George,game moved to Friday 4.00 pm
@ludz,yes i am rudi,and thanx for the kind words,warrick and phanta are still great friends they speak daily,i think they miss home and find strength from each other,his family are good customers of ours in king,phanta can eat alot of red meat,saturdays game will be played in great spirit, of that i am sure
@QC86: @beet: ya will be good to see Warrick versus Phanta,ironic that the probable starters will be the 2011 SA Schools hooker,but Warrick has done pretty to come out of Phanta’s shadow and become 1 of the 2 Sharks u19 hookers
@QC86: if I may ask sir,are you by any chance Rudy Venter,seeing as you went down to watch Warrick Venter in George
@beet,a little tighthead from that sharks no16 would bring tears to my eyes,like it did in George
@QC86: Thanks. A huge test coming up this Saturday vs Lions. I think after Saturday we will have a really good idea of our u19 team’s strength compared to WP and the Bulls. Maybe even get to see a nice frontrow battle between 2 former school teammates at some stage.
@beet,i went down to George,game was very scrappy,bit greasy underfoot, but no rain during the game,sharks loose forwards had huge games, no7 had a standout performance,carried alot of ball up,set pieces were good,backs looked shakey compared to the cheetahs game,no10 got a bump on the head early in the game,maybe that was the problem,no 9 was alot slower clearing the ball from the rucks and mauls compared to the great game he had last week, and with Du Preez’s head spinning the backs had no space ,the Eagles never gaveup and were no walkover
Beet, no I did not go to George, but my friend, who’s son (ex Selborne) played went.
Ludz, the QC u/16 really impressed me. Big forwards and very mobile. They are probebly the top u/16 team in Border now. Cant remember what they did against Dale.
Have a look at some video and photos on Facebook: (1) Action Gallery and (2) Q4action Photography
@GCollege86: the u16A result gave me a glimmer of hope for the next two years,they were also quite weak as u14 and u15 and they’ve gradually improved,these boys have really shown an improvement over the past few years and 1 can only hope they come through nicely in the 1st,2nd XVs over the next few years,personally hope none of the u15s play 1st XV rugby
@GCollege86: Did you by any chance attend the u19 game down in George on Friday?
Selborne vs Queens College 28 July 2012
Selborne 1st Rugby XV lost Queens College 1st XV (17-26)
Selborne 2nd Rugby XV beat Queens College 2nd XV (15-3)
Selborne 3rd Rugby XV beat Queens College 3rd XV (30-0)
Selborne 4th Rugby XV beat Queens College 4th XV (26-21)
Selborne 5th Rugby XV beat Queens College 5th XV (24-5)
Selborne 6th Rugby XV beat Queens College 6th XV (15-14)
Selborne 7th Rugby XV beat Queens College 7th XV (19-15)
Selborne U16 A Rugby XV lost Queens College U16 A XV (13-25)
Selborne U16 B Rugby XV beat Queens College U16 B XV (36-7)
Selborne U16 C Rugby XV beat Queens College U16 C XV (63-5)
Selborne U15 A Rugby XV beat Queens College U15 A XV (69-0)
Selborne U15 B Rugby XV beat Queens College U15 B XV (20-0)
Selborne U15 C Rugby XV beat Queens College U15 C XV (33-7)
Selborne U15 D Rugby XV beat Queens College U15 D XV (33-0)
Selborne U14 A Rugby XV beat Queens College U14 A XV (20-3)
Selborne U14 B Rugby XV beat Queens College U14 B XV (50-0)
Selborne U14 C Rugby XV beat Queens College U14 C XV (58-0)
Selborne U14 D Rugby XV beat Queens College U14 D XV (24-5)
Played: 18, Won: 16 and Lost: 2
Yeah some of their results weren’t a true reflection of how they played,but 5 losses and a draw aren’t so bad,in fact last year’s team also had 5 losses and a draw. Hangklip,Cambridge and Dale over the next 3 weeks the boys will hope to end with 3 wins
Well done Queens College. A double against Selborne in this day and age is a huge achievement. The Queens season as a whole might have fallen a bit short of expectations but their performances in the big Eastern Cape games has turned 2012 into a memorable season for them.
Great game,Stander showing again why he’s so highly rated,this boy has a big future,flanker Mandilakhe Ponco was immense,wonderful ball carrier and was solid on defence,quite possibly man of the match,all in all a well grinded out team effort,Selborne captain and flanker Andrew Miles was huge for Selborne
Dylan Gibbens try,converted by Joshua Stander 26-17
Try Mick Meintjies,conversion missed 19-17
19-12,Joshua Stander penalty
16-12,halftime
Andrew Miles,2nd try,converted by Onke Nyaku
Queen’s defence top notch
16-5,Joshua Stander penalty
13-5,Josh Stander penalty
10-5,Josh Stander penalty
7-5,Selborne try by Andrew Miles
7-0,Kevin Kaba try,converted by Josh
@boxkick: was the boy’s choice in my opinion,he would’ve been at the Sharks or Stormers
@Ludz – by what you r saying Stander is a “running” 10????? Whats he going to do at the bulls – waterboy
Flyhalf battle will be interesting,in my opinion the 2 rightful flyhalves for the Border Craven Week side,if it rains thn Josh and his men will have a mountain to climb,otherwise,if they play on a dry surface,it’s gonna be Taylor’s boy who will be up against it
Well my money is on home team Selborne especially if old coach Taylor can get his 10-man game going. Selborne have 1 or 2 big boys like Slinger and some fatties they can bring off the bench. Their locks have done a lot of the ball running when I watched them, so if the other forwards can step up and work off this frontfoot ball, they should control possession and the game.