Old boys to boost crowds in KZN clashes
Maritzburg College vs Kearsney College
Goldstone’s will be pumping on Saturday when Maritzburg College hosts Kearsney College on the Red, Black, and White‘s Reunion Weekend in a King Price Derby Series clash.
Not only will College be out to make their Old Boys happy, they’ll also be aiming to avenge a 14-16 loss to the One-Stripe early in 2024, which set their campaign back.
It won’t be a simple task. Kearsney has made strong strides this season. College’s form, meanwhile, has been somewhat inconsistent.
Last time out, College almost pulled off a massive upset, going down 21-22 against unbeaten Westville Boys’ High. They were also very good when they travelled upcountry to take on Pretoria Boys High, coming away with a 45-28 win, but it’s difficult to predict what they’re going to produce.
However, the aforementioned Old Boys’ Reunion and Goldstone’s are huge plusses for coach Nico Breedt‘s boys.
The Goldstone’s impact was on full display in 2024 when College hosted Affies, who went down to unbeaten Paul Roos by only five points, lost to Paarl Gim by one, and Grey College by four. Paul Roos trounced College 46-0 and Grey won 48-0. Yet, Affies only narrowly escaped defeat on Goldstone’s, with a last-minute penalty lifting them to a 39-37 win.
There’s good, young talent coming through the Kearsney ranks, with four of their players included in the Sharks Academy Week team, which is an u17 outfit. College has three, but they also feature front ranker Indiphile Mlotshwa and eighthman Wasi Vyumbwera in the Craven Week side.
If College plays the kind of game they played so successfully against Westville, Kearsney could be in trouble. Twice this season – against Hilton College and Michaelhouse – they’ve come up short against teams that were intent on hitting it up hard off rucks and mauls, and in the channels on either side of them. When those teams were able to build up momentum, they won going away.
Last time out, Kearsney gave a good account of themselves against Durban High School (DHS), who play a similar game to Hilton and Michaelhouse, and the One-Stripe ran in some eye-catching tries. They feature exciting offensive talent, which should bring them points. The big challenge for the visitors will be how effective they are on defence.
Durban High School vs Hilton College
Durban High School‘s (DHS) Van Heerden’s Field will be jam-packed, no doubt, for their Founders Day clash with Hilton College.
It’s going to be a big-hitting, physical battle between two very well coached teams that understand their roles and their game plans, which, in many ways, mirror that of the opponent.
Hilton looked fantastic in their last match, a 53-15 dismantling of Glenwood High at the Sharks Schools’ Rugby Day. When they build up a head of steam, their combinations hunt together, and forwards and backs seamlessly combine. DHS, though, prides itself on its defence and they’re disruptive when stopping the opposition. Building up momentum against School is a huge challenge.
In many ways, this is a battle of two teams in which they each know what is coming. The question is, what are they going to do about it?
DHS heads into the contest off the back of a 28-33 defeat to Westville Boys’ High, who won 23-15 at Hilton in their season-opener. School fell 16 points behind on Bowden’s Field, but they showed their spirit by rattling off 17 points without reply to take a 28-27 lead before two late penalties won it for the Griffin. They’re never out of a contest.
Much will depend on the quality of ball supplied to Hilton flyhalf Liyema Nela, who is able to dictate play with a well-rounded game.
One of the features of schoolboy rugby this season has been the incredible talent in the midfields and there will be no shortage of that in Saturday’s showdown. The clash between DHS’s Zingce Simka and Nathan Aneke and Hilton’s Tristan Uys and Khazimla Makali should be fascinating. Simka brings physicality, Aneka’s a smooth runner, Makali has pace to burn, and Uys owns some underrated subtle skills, among other qualities.
Hilton be without Ricky Adonis, the hattrick hero of their big win over Glenwood. John Grubb wears the number 11 jersey in his place, while there’s also a change on the right wing, where Joshua Kok gets the start.
Up front, two rugged packs will vie for supremacy, and two tough loose trios will play a massive role in the outcome of the contest. Much will depend on who controls the loose exchanges, especially the pace of recycled possession.
Expect a high-quality, tightly contested clash.
Westville Boys’ High vs Glenwood High
Westville Boys’ High has already dealt with those KZN opponents perceived to be their toughest challengers this season, beating Hilton College 23-15, Northwood 16-14, and DHS 33-28, but there are no gimmes, and Glenwood High showed on their Old Boys’ Day last weekend that they can be an awfully tough nut to crack.
In front of their loyal supporters, on Dixon’s Field, Glenwood took it to Northwood, and it was only right at the death that the Knights managed to pull clear with two late tries, which took them to a 30-16 victory. The result, though, had been in the balance until then.
Glenwood’s 2025 team has taken a step forward since a tough 2024 season. Still, though, they exhibit some inconsistency, which has cost them a game or two.
They’re capable of playing outstanding rugby. The manner in which they roared into a 29-0 lead against Milnerton High at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival was awesome. Then, they let it slip and ended up claiming a narrow 37-34 win. That’s the Green Machine this season.
They visit Bowden’s Field on Saturday, the home of Westville Boys’ High, who boast a pristine record of 10 matches played and 10 wins. They also have eight members of the Sharks Craven Week team in their ranks. Glenwood has none.
However, Westville is coming off an emotional 33-28 victory over DHS last week. That opens them up to the possibility of a let-down performance. They’ll know that, and they’ll be focused on their execution on Saturday. Still, if they don’t assert themselves early, Glenwood will be encouraged, and the challenge could become far more testing than it might otherwise appear.
Westville was able to play the game against DHS in the right areas at crucial times in their big win, and their tactical kicking will, again, be extremely important. If they own that contest, they’ll be hard to stop.
Goal-kicking, too, has a role to play, with two of the best kickers around, Jade-Will Koopman (Westville) and Joshua Kopp (Glenwood), handling those duties. Koopman’s perfect return against DHS, which brought him 18 points, was a match-winning contribution.
South African Schools fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya left the field in Westville’s win over DHS, and he won’t be in the starting 15 on Saturday. Lux Sononkonkono, an Academy Week player, who took over from Siyaya and did a masterful job, will again wear the number 15 jersey.
TEAMS
Kearsney College – 15 Lwazi Mbebe, 14 Valentino Lenge, 13 Doan Nel, 12 Keanu Williamson, 11 Bukho Hlwatika, 10 Jayden Jonsson, 9 Fynn Verbaan, 8 Nhlanhla Ndlovu, 7 Oliver Ludwig, 6 Simanya Mlakalaka, 5 Thomas Francke, 4 Joseph Roylance, 3 Azania Thela, 2 Micah van Wyk, 1 Luke Fauré.
Maritzburg College: 15 Amahle Hadebe, 14 Caleb Scheepers, 13 Olwethu Kosani, 12 Jordan Thackwray, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 Liyema Tseko, 9 Dom du Toit, 8 Wasi Vyumbwera, 7 Cyril Cherayi, 6 David Colenbrander, 5 Rory Stanton, 4 Mian Pretorius, 3 Alanda Ngubane, 2 Theo Boshoff, 1 Indiphile Mlotshwa.
Durban High School: 15 Jordan van Wyk, 14 Amogeleng Mataboge 13 Nathan Aneke, 12 Zingce Simka, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Cilermo Carolus, 9 Jaydon Roberts, 8 Bradley la Grange, 7 Ambesiwe Sipanga, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Zion Smith, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Omphile Kola, 2 J Botha, 1 Elvino Witbooi.
Hilton College: 15 James Peattie, 14 Joshua Kok, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Tristan Uys, 11 John Grubb, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Zander Muller, 7 Emmanuel Dankwah, 6 Jacques Olivier, 5 Andrew Schell, 4 Andre Boshoff, 3 Mholi Khuzwayo, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Khanya Jekwa
Westville Boys’ High: 15 Lux Sononkonkono, 14 Ntobeko Sithole, 13 Jadrian Afrikaner, 12 Sean McGough, 11 Avumile Lisa, 10 Jade-Will Koopman, 9 Liam Simpkins, 8 Lwandile Simelane, 7 Lwandle Makhanya, 6 Brandon Eke, 5 Lwandile Mlaba, 4 Moustapher Gcina, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Ross Calvert, 1 Sibusiso Hlongwa.
Glenwood High: N/A
