High-flying Drostdy to meet Swartland, Hugenote awaits Hermanus
HTS Drostdy has reason to be confident for their home battle against Hoërskool Swartland at 13:20 on Saturday.
They’ve won their last four games in a row, and all by handsome margins. Their smallest margin of victory during that streak was the 26 points by which they beat Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington) 40-14 last weekend.
The visitors are on a good run of their own, having won their last six matches, including a big 61-28 win over Hoërskool Robertson last time out.
While the Donkies‘ backs have provided a highlight reel’s worth of tries this season, one must not overlook their forwards’ efforts, which have afforded the backs those opportunities.
Eighthman Simamkele Lahlekile gets around the field in a hurry, usually one of the first men to the breakdown, and his strong carrying earned him a try against Hugenote.
Hooker Winsor Solomon is a key contributor to lineouts and the rolling maul, and also an active participant around the field. He scored two tries on the weekend from open play.
The Worcester locals cruised to a 61-9 win in Malmesbury last year, but this is an improved Rockies outfit, which is expected to put up a tougher fight on Saturday.
Hoërskool Hugenote, the winners of six of their eight matches, will aim for win number seven against the visiting Hoërskool Hermanus when the two sides meet at 12:00 on Saturday.
If Hermanus distributes the ball quickly, their outside centre, Juda Stevens, and left wing, Carlin September, are dangerous runners with elusive pace.
Drostdy tested the Wellington locals on the weekend with their dynamic backs, so with those lessons in the book, Hugenote should be well prepared for the challenge that awaits.
Hermanus will be in for a tough physical examination. Against Drostdy, Hugenote’s pack performed admirably, especially in the first half. They’ll go hard at Hermanus.
Hugenote is favoured at home, and they are expected to enjoy the lion’s share of possession. If Hermanus plays to their strengths and gets the ball out wide swiftly, it could be an interesting and contrasting clash of styles.
Since starting their season with five successive losses, Hoërskool Bellville has now won their last three matches in a row. Last weekend, they beat Milnerton High 27-20. They’ll visit Mossel Bay for a 12:40 showdown with Hoërskool Punt.
Bellville won 17-5 the last time they met, and given their recent good run of form, they’ll fancy their chances of a follow-up victory.
They’ve hit their attacking stride lately, with outside centre Caylem du Plessis being an integral part of their try-scoring, which included dotting down twice last weekend.
Turning back the tide at home will be a tough ask for Punt.
TEAMS
HTS Drostdy (likely): 15 Anwill Jacobs, 14 Tristin Syster, 13 Brent-Leigh Exstraal, 12 Paultin Willvino, 11 Darren Makeza, 10 Jano van Deventer, 9 Wernard de Villiers, 8 Simamkele Lahlekile, 7 Joniel Claasen, 6 Werno Ramsauer, 5 Jean-Louis Matthee, 4 Eugene Walker, 3 Jurick van der Berg, 2 JP Lotriet, 1 Juann Jansen van Vuuren.
Hoërskool Swartland: 15 Vusi Johannes, 14 Juan Hilburg, 13 Adieu Crawford, 12 Enrico Louw, 11 Zaidell Paulus, 10 De Wet van Aswegen, 9 Markus Vorster, 8 Jean Beukes, 7 Christian Cupido, 6 James Joubert, 5 Finn Fowlds, 4 Jared Fredericks, 3 Ernst Coetzee, 2 Winsor Solomons, 1 Jacques van Zyl.
Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington): N/A.
Hoërskool Hermanus: 15 Jesse Arnoldus, 14 Obinna Enenchukwu, 13 Juda Stevens, 12 Giano Da Kosta, 11 Carlin September, 10 M-Jay Matinka, 9 Alden May, 8 Rehan Gotze, 7 Liam Prodehl, 6 Ronnie Williams, 5 Tony Martins, 4 Xalyn Bazier, 3 Antonio Booysen, 2 Tinus Visagie, 1 Ethan Richards.
Hoërskool Bellville: 15 Alvino Loggenberg, 14 Marlon Claasen, 13 Caylem du Plessis, 12 Xandru Büter, 11 Liam Kuyk, 10 Marno Botes, 9 Juvan Rousseau, 8 Cade Mong, 7 Henré Kleynhans, 6 Zandro Stramrood, 5 Corné Smit, 4 Steven Zyl, 3 Zander van Wyk, 2 Ryno Higgs, 1 Alex Cronje.
Hoërskool Punt: N/A.
