Grey to run a couple of last experiments during President Steyn Sports Day
Grey College will still make some experiments during their first outing of the season against Hoërskool Trio of Kroonstad during President Steyn’s annual Hester van der Walt Sports Day just outside Bloemfontein.
This Saturday it will be the 30th time that President Steyn will host this sports day. It will be the kick-off of the winter sport season in the central region.
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It will be the first time that these two schools meet on the rugby field with Trio taking to the rugby field for the first time in their existence in 2022, while Grey College has a prodigious rugby record since its founding back in 1855.
Grey will still use the matches during the day as trials as some of their senior players are still competing in the various summer sports they offer. They have also opted to pick players Jean-Henri Smit (flanker), JJ Theron (Nr. 8), Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf) and Martin Botha (wing) on the bench.
All four represented Grey’s First XV in 2022 and will without a doubt probably be the stalwarts within the group for this year.
As such, we can expect to see heavy rotation from the bench as the boys all look to make an impression when Grey College’s second stringer, Cherries, take on Louis Botha.
After playing their first game ever at this very festival only a year ago, in which Trio suffered a 3-20 loss to Jim Fouché, the boys from Kroonstad continued to grow throughout the season, getting to play Jim Fouché again in the Kovsie League’s Shimla-final, winning that game 22-19.
Trio will be looking to repeat the success of their remarkable debut season, but face their toughest challenge to date.
While Grey may still be in their trial period, make no mistake, they will not be coming into this match unprepared and will be looking to show Trio and the rest of South Africa that they are once again able to rank among the best rugby schools in the world.
This clash will therefore undoubtedly, be one of the most exciting fixtures of the day.
Fichardtpark face Wesvalia just after lunch. The Wesvalia boys from Klerksdorp will be looking to avenge the 29-3 loss they suffered when they last met the Fichies in 2022.
This match would provide Fichies with some much-needed preparation before they face Hoërskool Diamantveld of Kimberley next week in the main match of their own sports day. The match against Diamonds will also be a Wesgrow League encounter.
Fichies’ halfback pairing of Devanté Claassen (scrumhalf) and Dailen Geldenhuys (flyhalf), could keep Wesvalia busy on Saturday.
Hentie Cilliers travel from Virginia to come to meet Bloemfontein locals Jim Fouché on the Gonval Store Park grounds.
Hentie Cilliers make the most of their visit to the City of Roses by bringing along the full complement of their rugby age-grade programs as their u14s, u15s and u16s also face their opposite Jim Fouché teams on the B-field later in the day.
JF will be looking to continue building on the success they experienced in the previous season. Their eighthman, Calvin Bolt, flanker Stefan Venter and lock CJ Raath will keep Henties busy in the trenches.
Zastron and Ficksburg will both be making the two-hour drive to Bloemfontein to meet each other on the B-field. Ficksburg should be the favourites for this meeting, but that will only fuel the Zastron boys to make a statement during their game.
The teams are:
Grey College vs Hoërskool Trio at 16:10:
Grey College: 15 Vincent Wolhuter, 14 Benito Goeda, 13 Ronaldo Duarte, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Johan Goosen, 10 Heinz Stockenström, 9 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 8 Keegan Scholtz, 7 David du Toit, 6 Liam Santos, 5 Schalk du Plessis, 4 Marno Stopforth, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Ranon Fouché.
Hoërskool Trio: 15 Jaco Steyn, 14 Louis Boshoff, 13 Haaron Kabeya, 12 Charlton Basson, 11 Thuto Kekane, 10 Byron Biennas, 9 Ethan Smith, 8 Ewald Tolmay, 7 Tapiwa Mavheje, 6 JD Kirstein, 5 Pieter van Schalkwyk, 4 Henco Kriek, 3 Anrhu Mulder, 2 Heinrich Loubser, 1 Juandré Vorster.
Fichardtpark vs Wesvalia at 13:50:
Fichardtpark: 15 Pule Motsilili, 14 Edward Mpinga, 13 Duan Viviers, 12 Dandré van der Merwe, 11 Janco Mollentze, 10 Dailen Geldenhuys, 9 Devanté Claassen, 8 Erick Klopper, 7 Wian Pienaar, 6 Jan-Nel du Plessis, 5 Nathan Dodd, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Nathan Swanepoel, 2 Jaco Jansen van Rensburg, 1 Luhan du Plessis.
Wesvalia: 15 Chad Hofmeyr, 14 Teboho Sekonyela, 13 Xander Smit, 12 Philip Jansen van Rensburg, 11 Werner Kruger, 10 Richardt van Heerden, 9 Deon Viljoen, 8 Hanré Venter, 7 Francois Dumond, 6 Wian Calitz, 5 Vian Botes, 4 Marco Dreyer, 3 Heinrich Jansen van Vuuren, 2 André Taute, 1 Koos Kleynhans.
Louis Botha vs Cherries at 12:40:
Louis Botha: 15 Ayanda Qinisa, 14 Unathi Frans, 13 Thabiso Majoro, 12 Phelile Katse, 11 Babongkile Mafantere, 10 Sipho Dzingwa, 9 Oratile Maphile, 8 Mogomotsi Mokunyane, 7 Sakhekile Mzamo, 6 Kwanda Tokwe, 5 Rapeo Finger, 4 Ofentse Tholometsi, 3 Daniel Tjimbundi, 2 Neo Mothibeli, 1 Tshiamo Senoamadi.
Cherries: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Pretorius Ekeji, 13 Hanré du Plessis, 12 Niko Schoeman, 11 Ruben Cilliers, 10 Pharrell van Wyk, 9 Erich Visser, 8 Marcel Coetzee, 7 Juliun Cosmo, 6 Wehan Voges, 5 Juan Venter, 4 Arno van der Merwe, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Dian Venter, 1 Nathan Jansen van Rensburg.
Jim Fouché vs Hentie Cilliers at 11:30:
Jim Fouché: 15 Christiaan Strydom, 14 IJ Jonker, 13 Heinrich Hattingh, 12 Altus du Plessis, 11 Dillon Calitz, 10 Hanko Botha, 9 Tristan van der Walt, 8 Calvin Bolt, 7 Stephan van Rooyen, 6 Stefan Venter, 5 SW van der Merwe, 4 CJ Raath, 3 Wianru van den Berg, 2 Ian Nel, 1 Bernard Labuschagne.
Hentie Cilliers: 15 Andisile Mentz, 14 Obakeng Chupologo, 13 Paballo Motlolosi, 12 Bongumusa Ngidi, 11 Ashwon Mellen, 10 Paseka Mokoena, 9 Meguel Davids, 8 Taula Valter Veale, 7 Tfhopine Nthamntubo, 6 Owen Posholi, 5 Gift Gubai, 4 Anzani Melupi Mokhotu, 3 Bongani Alfred Maduna, 2 Jose Sebia, 1 Lerato Mabona.
Zastron vs Ficksburg at 12:40 on the B-field
Zastron: 15 Khutle Mdladlamba, 14 WG Rautenbach, 13 Kamo Masiloane, 12 Juandre Beukes, 11 Mawethu Maqudela, 10 Lecha Leballo, 9 Rheinico Nel, 8 CJ Bouwer, 7 Martin Naude, 6 Frans Botha, 5 GD Bruwer, 4 Markus Allersthon, 3 Derick Bouwer, 2 Christin du Toit, 1 Jan Adrian Grobler.
Ficksburg: 15 Robert Ntholi, 14 Bokomosa Kgang, 13 Lefa Lehalehale, 12 Khotso Potloane, 11 Deacon Vollenhoven, 10 Ernest Makhele, 9 Tlonolofatso Matlotlo, 8 Lebo Lebohla, 7 Karabo Morobe, 6 Thato Chaka, 5 Retabile Montsho, 4 Damian Holliday, 3 Molibeli Theoha, 2 Juandre Steenkamp, 1 Thabo Mafane.
