Framesby out to extend winning record against Grey High
Grey High will be aiming to exploit their home-ground advantage to put an end to a run of defeats against their Gqeberha arch-rivals, Framesby, in a King Price Derby Series blockbuster, on the Kolisi Field, on Saturday.
After a run of defeats which lasted just more than a decade, the Framesby players have stepped up to the plate in recent years and have registered three successive victories. That fact will have the Grey supporters on edge when the referee blows the opening whistle.
Neither side have been overly impressive this season, with Grey High having lost their last three games to Wynberg Boys’ High, Queen’s College, and St Andrew’s College.
Coach Matt King’s men have not played since that 31 May showdown with St Andrew’s, but their players have been exposed to provincial-level rugby and there is enough talent in their ranks to rise to the occasion.
Burning brightly will be a fierce determination not to suffer a fourth straight defeat to Framesby as they try to salvage something from the season in the final weeks of the school’s programme.
It could boil down to a thrilling clash between the exciting backlines, with players such as Meyer Prinsloo, Bradley Myburgh, and Tristan Kemp poised to challenge the Framesby defence.
The visitors would do particularly well to keep an eye on Prinsloo, whose incisive running from the back has often undone the tightest of defences this season.
Framesby are no slouches in the attacking arena and Cole Hilpert, Mondre van Heerden, and Jaiden Brewis will be fired up to register another momentous result.
There’s been next to nothing between the sides in their last three encounters, with the margin of victory for Framesby being four points in 2022, and two points in 2023 and 2024.
This one could again go down to the wire.
Another exciting clash looms on the Strydom Field, at Pearson, where the home side is gearing up for the traditional onslaught from Graeme College (kick-off 14.20).
Several Graeme players, including Luke Doyle, Erin Nelson, and Lucritia Magau, showed up well at the FNB Craven Week, with Nelson and Magau making the SA Schools A team.
If they find their rhythm early on, they could make things awkward for the home team.
Pearson will rely on the skilful Denilo Jordaan at flyhalf to call the shots, but they also know that only a concerted team effort will help them to get across the line against a potent Graeme outfit.
In Humansdorp, Gqeberha team DF Malherbe will get a chance to test themselves at a higher level with they play Nico Malan (14.40 kick-off).
It will take a mighty effort by the visitors to hold a team which has operated efficiently in all departments this year.
Grey High v Framesby results since 2014
2014: Grey won 29-19
2015: did not play
2016: Grey won 45-19
2017: Grey won 13-9
2018: Grey won 39-19
2019: Grey won 22-17
2022: Framesby won 14-10
2023: Framesby won 17-15
2024: Framesby won 19-17
Teams:
Grey High: 15 Meyer Prinsloo, 14 Noah Mbizi, 13 Bradley Myburgh, 12 Ned Taggart, 11 Akhumzi Masoka, 10 Tristan Kemp, 9 Adam Holmboe, 8 David Melariri, 7 Jean Nel, 6 Cody Wilmot, 5 Ed Scorey, 4 Riley Higgs, 3 Ross Atkinson, 2 Blake Parker, 1 Evan Mucka.
Framesby: 15 Calestin Felkers, 14 Jaco George, 13 Cole Hilpert, 12 Reon Saaiman, 11 Maarten Kleynhans, 10 Jaiden Brewis, 9 Mondre van Heerden, 8 Eden Calitz, 7 Aiden Dennis, 6 David Matyani, 5 JJ de Lange, 4 Raynardt Brown, 3 Owen Wessels, 2 Luke Didoft, 1 Nathan Birkholtz.
Pearson: 15 Keano Beling, 14 Matthew Els, 13 Sibu Mkhontwana, 12 Hanro Botes, 11 Siya Ncwadi, 10 Denilo Jordaan, 9 Kadin Kretzmann, 8 Robert Harris, 7 Cameron Knoetze (captain), 6 Siphe Myataza, 5 Mlibo Toni, 4 Ryan Herbst, 3 Jordan Bruintjies, 2 Nicholas Gillespie, 1 Joshua Pienaar.
Graeme College: 15 Alden Walters, 14 Lucritia Magau, 13 Erin Nelson, 12 Torres Fourie, 11 Elgin Fanton, 10 Ethan Bokbaard, 9 Luke Doyle, 8 Ayamile Bill, 7 Ayola Mali, 6 Lwandle Dlamini, 5 Mikhulu Yolani, 4 Akho Tonjeni, 3 Athi Bonga, 2 Lebo Mahasele, 1 Bagcine Njengele.
Nico Malan: 15 Elroy Skosana, 14 Kobus Strydom, 13 Gelden van Niekerk, 12 Enzo Machaba, 11 Tequane Koopman, 10 Leighton Lawrence, 9 Lleyton Mienie, 8 Pietman Kleinhans (captain), 7 Chrisjan de Lange, 6 MC Ferreira, 5 Ruben van Dijk, 4 Ulrich van Zyl, 3 Andre van der Merwe, 2 Janu Janse van Rensburg, 1 Waldo Krige.
DF Malherbe: not available.
