Hudson Park aiming to stop Queen’s College’s winning run

Hudson Park will be desperate to regain the winning touch, but they face what has become the toughest challenge in Eastern Cape schools’ rugby this season when they host Queen’s College, in East London, on Saturday.

The Hudson outfit has not won since a victory over Eldoraigne in the KES Easter Festival, and they head into Saturday’s showdown after recent setbacks against Framesby and Graeme College.

That means coach Onke Dubase and his charges will have to press the reset button to handle the formidable challenge the high-flying Queenians will pose.

Even home-ground advantage will not make it any easier for Hudson Park as Queen’s is riding a four-match winning streak and their confidence will be at a peak.

In their recent games, flank Jeffrey Niland‘s team has seen off Eastern Cape powerhouses Selborne, Dale, St Andrew’s, and Grey High.

With a solid pack of forwards and dangerous backs, Queen’s will start as the outright favourites, but there can be no room for complacency as Hudson has everything to play for and will be fired up to claim a signature win.

In another massive showdown, Selborne College makes the trip to the Free State to face one of the giants of South African schools’ rugby, Grey College.

Although the Bloemfontein side has lost twice this year, to Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High, they remain one of the benchmarks in schools’ rugby and with flyhalf Darius Erwee and the explosive Ethan Adams looming in the midfield, it could be a tough afternoon for the visitors.

Selborne welcomes back hard-working flank Dominic Stegmann, who missed last week’s defeat against St Andrew’s. He and captain, prop Robert John-Osunkwo, will have to marshall the forwards if they are to have any chancing of maintaining a degree of parity.

Another exciting clash looms in Nxuba (formerly Cradock), where Marlow Agricultural will pit their renowned fighting qualities against the winning ambitions of Dale College.

It has not been a great season for Qonce’s Dale, but a number of their losses have been by narrow margins. They got back on the winning track against Cambridge High last weekend and would like to build on that this weekend.

Marlow will be highly motivated after a disappointing loss against Nico Malan last Saturday when the only points they scored came from a penalty try.

It was a rather error-prone display and coach Derik Olivier will be calling for greater precision all-round to secure a home win against the never-say-die Dalians.

TEAMS

Hudson Park vs Queen’s College at 14.30

Hudson Park

15. Likho Gidi, 14. Athan Gravitt, 13. Ukhona Kama, 12. Lunathi Dolo, 11. Masibulele Kwakwini, 10. Mahle Zinto, 9. Landile Gidi, 8. Sibabalwe Mtshini, 7. Likhanye Mandila, 6. Phindokuhle Mdlalana, 5. Hlumelo Gobile, 4. Tautenda Saunyama, 3. Manyano Mpendu, 2. Kwakokuhle Pasha, 1. Tyrique Peters

Queen’s College
15. Mveli Mqolo, 14. Ayathanda Mtyando, 13. Splash Magwebu, 12. Thina Fenako, 11. Ncutu Kepe, 10. Inganathi Mnunu, 9. Ayola Somhlahlo, 8. Khaka Xoseni, 7. Acwenga Saul, 6. Jeffrey Niland (captain), 5. Sambesiwe Vetman, 4. Ethan Oosthuizen, 3. Ahlume Gqetywa, 2. Bullz Manqina, 1. Amyoli Ngxongwana

Grey College vs Selborne College at 14:00

Grey College
15. Lamla Mgedezi, 14. Benjamin van den Berg, 13. Ethan Adams, 12. O’Ryan Klein, 11. Thristan Maree, 10. Darius Erwee, 9. Sherwin Buys, 8. AJ Booysen, 7. Adem Nieuwoudt, 6. Xander Smit, 5. AJ Meyer, 4. Claude Steyn, 3. JG Badenhorst, 2. Tian Fourie, 1. David Hayidakis

Selborne College
15. Oliver Schmidt, 14. Iviwe Kabale, 13. Aaron James, 12. Armand van Rooyen, 11. Chad Weimann, 10. Bungqina Nuku, 9. Aaron Senekal, 8. Connor Maree, 7. Dominic Stegmann, 6. Lwandle Bacela, 5. Luca Liebenberg, 4. Matthew Beän, 3. Zothando Mrara, 2. Luke Bowman, 1. Robert John-Osunkwo (captain).

Marlow Agricultural vs Dale College at 14.00

Marlow Agricultural
15. Du Preez Vermaak, 14. Ockert du Preez, 13. Dawid-Malan de Ridder, 12. Gian Steyl, 11. WJ Pienaar, 10. Cole Hurter, 9. Logan van Vuuren, 8. GD Jordaan (vice-captain), 7. Adrian Joubert, 6. CJ Botha, 5. Marnus Malan, 4. Burgert van Heerden, 3. Herman le Roux, 2. Markus Bester, 1. Zian Jacobs.

Dale College
15. Phikomozi Mtyalela, 14. Achumile George, 13. Milani Madide, 12. Nxande Ngcaba, 11. Amahle Mehlomane, 10. Soso Dyani, 9. Wethumtha Malawana, 8. Liyabona Mayikana, 7. Ebenezer Sarpong, 6. Linamandla Peter, 5. Qhawe Mtati, 24. Kungawo Jaca, 3. Phawu Ludwaba, 2. Lakhanya Mbewu, 1. Azole Sodlaka.