Grey High set for tough Rec Ground exam from Queen’s

A trio of high-profile cross-border clashes will light up the schools’ programme in the Eastern Province and Border regions on Saturday as old rivals prepare to square off against each other.

A massive clash looms at the Recreation Ground in Komani where Grey High will attempt to become only the second Eastern Cape side to get the better of Queen’s College this season after Pearson‘s win against Queen’s at the Graeme College Festival.

Since then, Queen’s has lost only to Cape Town team, Rondebosch Boys’ High, and coaches Clinton Loest and Tyrone Rankin have built up a sense of continuity in their team which has obvious advantages.

For the third match in a row they have named an unchanged side under the captaincy of flank Jeffrey Niland and the understanding they have created within the squad could be a big factor in meeting Grey’s challenge.

Grey, themselves, have put together a good record so far, losing only to Paul Roos and Wynberg Boys’ High in their Western Cape derbies.

With the Craven Week trials out of the way, they can now return their focus to what has become the most formidable test in Eastern Cape rugby this season.

Coach Matt King is well aware of what lies ahead: “This weekend is, perhaps, the biggest challenge we have faced since playing Paul Roos away earlier in the season,” he said.

“We are playing arguably the best team in the Eastern Cape on their home ground. The Rec is such a fortress and the Queen’s boys are so proud of their school. It’s going to be an extremely challenging afternoon for us.”

King has called on his players to play with greater precision than they did in their previous encounter against Wynberg, when they lost 27-32 in Gqeberha.

“We will need to overcome the electricity which will envelop the stadium and execute our game plan more accurately than we did in our defeat against Wynberg,” he said.

In the other two anticipated showdowns, Graeme College travels to East London to face Hudson Park, while St Andrew’s College will be seeking redemption on the Lower Field in Makhanda when they host Selborne College.

The Graemians have shown impressive form since losing to Hilton College in the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival, racking up five wins in a row before bending the knee to St Andrew’s.

However, Hudson Park loom as a formidable test for the visitors, particularly on their home turf where they will be fired up to repeat their victory of 2023.

Graeme coach Jonty van der Meulen is still looking for better consistency across the board from his team.

“We are definitely still searching for that consistency across different facets of play,” he said. “We need to improve on those areas that didn’t go well against St Andrew’s.”

Players such as Ayola Mali, Aya Bill, Luke Doyle, and Erin Nelson have been in good form for Graeme and they will need to be at their best on Saturday to combat the bustling play of Hudson No 8 Bubbles Mtshini and the Gidi brothers, Landile and Likho.

The clash in Makhanda is shaping up to be a cracking affair with St Andrew’s eager to regain their winning touch after losing their unbeaten record to Queen’s last weekend (17-38).

In an earlier game this season, Selborne went down to Queen’s by a similar margin (22-40) and that suggests that there is little to choose between the sides for Saturday’s encounter.

Since the loss to Queen’s, Selborne has got their season back on track with hard-earned wins over Port Rex and Dale College in recent weeks, matches in which they showed the sort of character and toughness they will need when tackling St Andrew’s on Lower Field.

TEAMS

Queen’s College vs Grey High at Rec Ground, Komani, 14:30

Queen’s College: 15 Mveli Mqolo, 14 Ayathanda Mtyando, 13 Thina Fenako, 12 Splash Magwebu, 11 Ncutu Kepe, 10 Inganathi Mnunu, 9 Ayola Somhlahlo, 8 Khaka Xoseni, 7 Acwenga Saul, 6 Jeffrey Niland (captain), 5 Sambesiwe Vetman, 4 Zeacke Mata, 3 Ahlume Gqetywa, 2 Bullz Manqina, 1 Amyoli Ngxongwana

Grey High: 15 Meyer Prinsloo, 14 Noah Mbizi, 13 Bradley Myburgh, 12 Ciaran Killian, 11 Akhumzi Masoka, 10 Tristan Kemp, 9 Ray-Dylan Wilkinson, 8 Sibonelo Stuurman, 7 David Melariri, 6 Cody Wilmot, 5 Joandre van Jaarsveld, 4 Riley Higgs, 3 Ross Atkinson, 2 Evan Mucka, 1 Daniel Naude.

Hudson Park v Graeme College, Hudson Park (East London), 13.40

Hudson Park: 15 Likho Gidi, 14 Zearan Booysen, 13 Lunathi Dolo, 12 Ukhona Kama, 11 Masibulele Kwakwini, 10 Mahle Zinto, 9 Landile Gidi, 8 Sibabalwe Mtshini, 7 Likhanye Mandila, 6 Phindokuhle Mdlalana, 5 Sange Gwarube, 4 Tatenda Saunyama, 3 Tyrique Peters, 2 Kwazokuhle Pasha, 1 Manyano Mpendu.

Graeme College: 15 Inathi Planga, 14 Elgin Fanton, 13 Erin Nelson, 12 Torres Fourie, 11 Masi Maboza,
10 Alden Walters, 9 Luke Doyle, 8 Ayamila Bill, 7 Ayola Mali, 6 Lwandle Dlamini, 5 Andrew Muir, 4  Akho Tonjeni, 3 Athi Bonga, 2 Lebo Mahasele, 1 Bagcine Njengele.

St Andrew’s College v Selborne College, St Andrew’s Lower Field, 14.30

St Andrew’s College: 15 Will Stevens, 14 Asante Chivere, 13 Alastair de Kock, 12 Aphindile Ngcuka, 11 Qhawe Madikizela, 10 Myles Sansom, 9 David Chorley, 8 Joshua van Zyl, 7 Luca Nigrini, 6 Coel Trollip, 5 Matthew Harvey, 4 William Beamish, 3 Sivatho Mjali, 2 Adam Nurse, 1 Amo Habi.

Selborne College: 15 Bungqina Nuku, 14 Linamandla Ndamase, 13 Njongo Mbanga, 12 Aaron James, 11 Chad Weimann, 10 Oliver Schmidt, 9 Aaron Senekal, 8 Travis Enslin, 7 Connor Maree, 6 Lwandle Bacela, 5 Luca Liebenberg, 4 Matthew Bean, 3 Zothando Mrara, 2 Luke Bowman, 1 Robert John-Osunkwo (captain).