Brackenfell hosts Tigers, Strand tackles mighty Milnerton
Brackenfell takes on visiting Tygerberg at 12:35 on Saturday, aiming for a bounce-back performance after losing last time out.
They visited SACS two weeks ago and came off second, going down 25-43. The Tigers, meanwhile, picked up a 29-12 win over Strand.
Brackenfell competes fiercely in the lineouts, and their no. 8, Wade Fortuin, is dangerous off the back of rolling mauls. With his strong ball carrying, he’s a problem from close range, even for multiple defenders.
Tygerberg will need to ensure their defensive line is narrow and rushing. Brackenfell enjoys playing through the middle, and a line break can very quickly turn into a try.
Brakkies are feisty. They scored three tries in the last 10 minutes of their SACS loss. The Tigers will need to be every bit as ferocious in their season finale on Saturday.
The Parow locals are no strangers to set-piece battles, and they will need their tight five to set the tone up front. They’re a team that relies on their forwards’ ball carrying ability. That sucks in defenders and sets Tygerberg up for swift attacks.
An all-out encounter can be expected, but there’ll be a happy ending for only one team, unless, of course, there’s a draw, and Naas Botha, famously, had something to say about draws…
Also in Cape Town, along the Blaauwberg Coast, Milnerton hosts Strand at 12:30 on Saturday and Millies will feel the fire inside after a morale-boosting, belief-building, come-from-behind 14-12 win over Stellenberg last Saturday.
Down 0-12 at the break, Milnerton kept Stellenberg scoreless in the second half and Chadlin Sellidon‘s accuracy off the kicking tee helped secure a narrow two-point win.
Sellidon, at fullback, and captain Morgan Lodewyk, at centre, lead the Milnerton attack, Lodewyk is a big guy and uses his physicality well. His tenacity often leads to try-scoring attacks. Sellidon, meanwhile, often finishes what his skipper starts, and then tacks on two from the kicking tee.
Strand boasts some skilful and impactful players in flank, Schalk Beukes, and scrumhalf Jayden Steenkamp. They, too, won’t be concerned about their attacking ability.
The bigger questions, though, revolve around their set piece and midfield play. Can their tight five match Milnerton’s?
If so, then it could be a battle of strong finishers vs strong finishers. In recent games, both sides have scored most of their tries in the second half.
Teams
Hoërskool Brackenfell vs Tygerberg High School at 12:35 in Brackenfell on Saturday.
Brackenfell (likely): 15 Zane van Schalkwyk, 14 Deros Manya, 13 Luhle Ngqentsu, 12 Yibonge Malote, 11 Migile Carelse, 10 Junior Louw, 9 Jean Oosthuizen, 8 Wade Fortuin, 7 Kamva Simama, 6 Seth Braaf, 5 Zander van Zyl, 4 Jeandre Limby, 3 Liam Hine, 2 Ethan Carr, 1 Siraaj Cook.
Tygerberg: N/A.
Milnerton High vs Hoërskool Strand at 12:30 in Blaauwberg on Saturday.
Milnerton: 15 Chadlin Sellidon, 14 Leo Weber, 13 Sebastien Stroobants, 12 Morgan Lodewyk, 11 Litha Tasana, 10 Zaide Vigeland, 9 Tristan Strydom, 8 Jeremy Armstrong, 7 Joshua Vomberg, 6 Andrew Kansley, 5 Kgaugelo Mokgobu, 4 Xavier Wolmarans, 3 Dane van der Merwe, 2 Divine Ambrose, 1 Chadley Davis.
Strand: 15 Ashton Mitchell, 14 Keahan Josephs, 13 Gerber de Goede, 12 Lyle Julies, 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Justin Phillips, 9 Jayden Steenkamp, 8 Rohan Bezuidenhout, 7 Joshua Lourens, 6 Schalk Beukes, 5 Dewald Bernard, 4 Keagan Coetzee, 3 Timothy van den Bergh, 2 Ruben Paanakker, 1 Christopher Els.
