Gimmies to host Grey College in Welkom on Saturday
Encounters between Welkom Gimnasium and Grey College always produced some exhilarating rugby and tomorrow’s clash in Welkom promises to once again deliver on this promise.
It will be the 17th time that these two schools’ first teams lock horns on the rugby field.
Welkom have yet to beat Grey but will be looking to capitalize on their home-ground advantage as this will be only the second time that the two sides are not meeting in Bloemfontein. These two side have played to a draw in 1985 (18-all).
Grey College, however, have already started their year off strong, beating a promising side from Hoërskool Trio in their first game of the season at the President Steyn Sports Day in February.
Welkom Gim retains their playmaker flyhalf, Ronaldo Kiewiet as well as loose-forward, Ethan Jones, and prop, Tristan Appolis, from the team that lost 64-15 in Bloemfontein last year.
Though they also started the season well, with a 25-16 win over Helpmekaar last weekend, the Black Jerseys will know that they will need to up their game when they face Grey.
Grey College would do well not to underestimate their opponents though, as they have shown in the past that they can produce a brilliant running brand of rugby which was able to break through a number of teams’ defences last year.
Fullback, Vincent Wolhuter played an excellent game against Trio and will be one to keep an eye on throughout the season.
Grey’s forward pack has a vast amount of experience in Ranon Fouché (prop), Jean Erasmus (prop), Jean-Henri Smit (flanker), Marno Stopforth (flank) and JJ Theron (No. 8) who all played for the first team last year already, along with Martin Botha (winger) and the Bloemfonteiners will look to dominate up front.
The teams:
Welkom Gimnasium: 15 Naylen Goeda, 14 Taschon Meas, 13 Mojalefa Mathoka, 12 Jayden Weideman, 11 Naven Goeda, 10 Ronaldo Kiewiet, 9 Julian Samuels, 8 Ethan Jones, 7 Ayanda Silwanyana, 6 Danté Smith, 5 Tyrese Brouers, 4 TBC, 3 Tristan Appollis, 2 Waynedrew George, 1 Keanan August.
Grey College: 15 Vincent Wolhuter, 14 Martin Botha, 13 Benito Goeda, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Tolmay Hayden, 10 Pharrell van Wyk, 9 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Marno Stopforth, 6 Jean-Henri Smit, 5 Schalk du Plessis, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Ranon Fouché.
Kick-Off: 12:30
