Hudson, Brandwag will kick off Grey rugby festival

Hudson Park and Brandwag will fire the first shots in what is shaping up as another exhilarating exhibition of schoolboy rugby when the annual Grey High Rugby Festival kicks off in Gqeberha on Thursday.

The two teams are sure to provide an entertaining start to the festival on the Kolisi Field, and should be matched by the opening game on the Pollock Oval, where Ithembelihle come up against St Charles College.

Ithembe will relish the opportunity of some regular competition and have been working hard for the last three weeks in preparation for their games against St Charles and Parktown.

While age-group fixtures will take place at various venues, a total of 16 first team matches will be played over the two days, culminating with an intriguing showdown between Grey and Graeme College at 15.25 on Saturday.

The Makhanda school registered a rare win over Grey last year and there will be plenty of expectation from both sides when the opening whistle is blown.

Besides the opening clash between Hudson and Brandwag, a number of fascinating matches litter the first day’s programme.

Queen’s College has had a good run this season but will need to maintain a high level of play against St Stithians outfit in the 12.55 clash.

The Johannesburg team had a notable win over St Andrew’s College in their own Easter Festival and the lads from Komani will be well-tested.

Graeme opens their festival with a tough encounter against Jeppe, who will be smarting after losing to KES at the weekend.

The outcome of that match will provide a good indication of what awaits St Andrew’s on Saturday against Jeppe after the College team registered a close win over Graeme this past Saturday.

Hosts Grey will also look to bounce back from a series of setbacks, having lost two and drawn one of their last three matches.

St John’s College could feel the brunt of that in Thursday’s feature game, although the Johannesburg team are fully aware of the challenge ahead and will have prepared accordingly.

The first team fixtures are:

Thursday, 2 May 2024

Kolisi Field

09:10 – Hudson Park v Brandwag; 10:25 – Westville v Durbanville; 11:45 – St Andrew’s College v Parktown Boys’ High; 12:55 – Queen’s College v St Stithians College; 14.05: Graeme College v Jeppe High School for Boys; 15.25: Grey High School v St John’s College

Pollock Oval

12:55 – Ithembelihle v St Charles College; 14:05 – Mali Foundation XV v Muir College

Saturday, 4 May 2024

Kolisi Field

09.10: Hudson Park v St Charles College; 10.25: St Stithians College v Brandwag; 11.45: St Andrew’s College v Jeppe; 12.55: Queen’s College v Durbanville; 14.05: Dale College v Westville Boys’ High; 15.25: Grey High School v Graeme College

Pollock Oval

10:25 – Ithembelihle v Parktown Boys’ High; 14:05 – Muir College v St John’s College