Author name: Hannes Nienaber

Maritzburg College play Kearsney College on Goldstone’s at Maritzburg College in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.

It will be a lustrous occasion. If 27 rugby matches and 15 hockey matches were not enough it is Reunion Day at College and the place will be teeming with spirit – the great love for the old place that brings Old Boys backs and the enthusiasm of the present boys to grace the occasion with the comforting assurance to the Old Boys that the old place has lost none of its vigour and determination.

And then on top of it all the match will be broadcast live, and the broadcast of school matches in South Africa has a huge viewer ship.

The weight of history is very much with College. The two schools started playing in 1943 when Maritzburg College went down to Kearsney and won. The next year Kearsney came up to College and won, but winning for Kearsney has indeed been rare.

In theory the two teams this year are close indeed. Kearney are now 19th on the FNB Top 20, Maritzburg College 20th, but Kearsney have dropped to 19th, College risen to 20th. They could be passing each other.

Maritzburg College have played 11 matches, losing only to Paul Roos, KES and Michaelhouse. Kearsney have played 13, losing to Affies, Paul Roos, Nico Malan and Hilton. Kearsney had good wins over Queen’s and Glenwood. College had good wins over Grey PE, Hilton and Westville.

Results against common opponents:

Paul Roos: Kearsney lost 30-20, Maritzburg College 22-21
Hilton: Kearsney lost 13-6; Maritzburg College won 24-14
Northwood: Kearsney won 49-6, Maritzburg College 43-6
DHS: Kearsney won 27-21, Maritzburg College 20-0

Kearsney have three players who were in the KwaZulu-Natal Craven Week wide in 2011 – the Du Preez brothers, Daniel and Jean-Luc, and outside centre Sandile Kubheka. They have three sons of Springboks in their side – the two De Preez and Matthew Reece-Edwards, the scrumhalf son of Hugh, a burly fullback. The Du Preez twins are both forwards, son of scrumhalf Robert.

Maritzburg College have their twins – the Kriels, Jesse at fullback and Daniel at centre, both powerful, game-changing players. Sadly Daniel is injured and will not be playing against Kearsney.

On the surface it seems that the weight of emotion and history will be on the side of Maritzburg College while Kearsney will have the weight of top players. But it could still be that the weight – and strength – of the College forwards could have the last say.

The match will be televised live on SuperSport One at 2.45pm.

The teams:

Maritzburg College: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Marcel Coetzee, 13 Richard Bamber, 12 Murray Janse van Rensburg, 11 Banele Ngwenya, 10 Lukas Booysen, 9 Josh Rencken, 8 Reegan Smith (captain), 7 Cameron Christie, 6 Jacque Conradie, 5 Robert Kamhoot, 4 Everett Pieterse, 3 Mvelo Khumalo, 2 Vuyo Khathide, 1 Alex Cahill.
Replacements: 16 Banele Mhlong, 17 Jonathan Grobler, 18 Seko Buthelezi, 19 James Smith, 20 Kelvin Elder, 21 Gareth Orr, 22 Cyle Muil.

Coaches: Ryan Strudwick, Steve Botha

Kearsney College: 15 Joshua Devine, 14 Dean Seals, 13 Sandile Kubheka, 12 Tyler Smith, 11 Isolethu Ngidi, 10 Tristan Tedder, 9 Matthew Reece-Edwards, 8 Ayron Schramm, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jarred Hayes-Hill, 5 Daniel du Preez, 4 Jayson Hirshovitz, 3 Mthunzi Moloi, 2 Roy Meaker, 1 Jono Deighton (captain).
Replacements: 16 Biaggo Pelliccia, 17 Ben Karnezos, 18 Sean Kelly, 19 Guy Francis, 20 Blair Cremer, 21 Travis Pears.

Coaches: Barend Steyn, Francois Lubbe

Date: Saturday, 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 15.00
Television broadcast: Live on SuperSport One (Further broadcasts 3 June at 12.45 on SS5, 4 June at 04.30 on SS1, 5 June at 19.15 on SS1)
Venue, Goldstone’s. Maritsburg College
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 23°C, dropping to 9°C
Referee: Jaco van Wyk (KZN Referees’ Society)

Rugby programme, 2 June:

Goldstone’s
10.00: 5th XV
11.10: 4th XV
12.20: 3rd XV
13.30: 2nd XV
15.00: 1st XV

Nicholson’s
10.00: 9th XV
11.10: 8th XV
12.20: 7th XV
13.30: 6th XV vs St Patricks

Snow’s
10.00: U14A
11.00: U15A
12.00: U16B
13.10: U16A

Lamond’s
10.00: U15B
11.00: U15C
12.00: U15F vs Kearsney D
13.00: U16C

Leach’s
10.00: U14C
11.00: U16D
12.00: U14B
13.00: U14F vs Kearsney D

At Hilton:

Midweek: U15G vs Hilton E

Falcon
09.00: U14D vs DHS

At St Charles:

Conway
09.00: U16C vs St Charles B
11.00: U15C vs St Charles U16C
12.00: 15E vs St Charles C

Smith
10.00: U14E vs St Charles C

By www.rugby365.com

On Saturday Hoërskool Florida meet Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in an FNB Classic Clash at Hoërskool Florida.

It should be a fairly even game as both schools have had erratic seasons which make any prediction hazardous.

Florida have played 10 matches, winning six. Their most notable victories are those over Eldoraigne and Monnas, whom they usually beat however strong the Krugersdorp school is and this year it’s not as strong as usual. Marais Viljoen of Alberton has played eight, winning five. Its most noteworthy win was over Transvalia. They have just two opponents in common.

Against common opponents:
Parktown: Florida won 34-11, Marais Viljoen 26-17
Monument: Florida won 28-25; Marais Viljoen lost 24-8

Florida has two players in it side who played for the 2011 Golden Lions Craven Week side – scrumhalf Eric Botes, flyhalf C-Than Moos, who was at fullback at times, and wing Tshepo Mooki. That suggests that Florida should have the upper hand in the match.

The teams:

Florida: 15 Steven du Plessis, 14 Tshepo Mooki, 13 PJ Rheeders, 12 Bouke Gouws (vice-captain), 11 Ché Stevens, 10 C-Than Moos, 9 Eric Botes, 8 Jodé Mostert (captain), 7 Phillip van Vuuren, 6 Sabello Dlamini, 5 Jacques du Preez, 4 Gerbrand O’Kelly, 3 Kyle Kruger, 2 Waldo Esterhuizen, 1 Clinton Theron.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Williamson, 17 Joseph Dweba, 18 Morné Strydom, 19 Brandan Rieck, 20 Erwin Harris, 21 Armand Goosen, 22 Jaco Barnard.

Marais Viljoen: 15 Brandon Bothma, 14 André Lombaard, 13 Tyler Blanc, 12 Stephen Erasmus, 11 Juan Odendaal, 10 Dwayne le Roux, 9 Chase May, 8 Andries Brits, 7 Rahul Maharaj, 6 Mauritz Pienaar, 5 Herman du Plessis, 4 Cullen Reyneke, 3 Handré Griesel, 2 Henco Saaiman, 1 Wian van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Muller, 17 Tiaan Hitzeroth, 18 Brandon Morkel, 19 Jeandré Volschenk, 20 Vusi Nkosi, 21 Dewald van der Merwe.

Date: 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 12.00
Venue: Hoërskool Florida
Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 17°C, dropping to 6°C
Referee: Eduan Nel (Golden Lions Referees’ Society)

VOORTREKKER en Hentie Cilliers is ongetwyfeld die vroeë gunstelinge om as kampioen van die Griffon-liga gekroon te word. Die twee