Queen’s faces tricky trip to Marlow
Marlow Agricultural will be aiming to become only the second Eastern Cape team to put one over Queen’s College this season when they square up in a fascinating clash at Marlow on Saturday.
The Queenians are currently riding a six-match winning streak, having beaten all the big guns in the region, with their last loss coming at the KES Easter Festival against Rondebosch, in Johannesburg, way back in April.
The only local team to have beaten them this year is Pearson, who won a close encounter 20-17 at the Graeme College Festival in Makhanda.
It’s safe to say that Queen’s have picked themselves up in impressive fashion since that setback and the confidence they have gained from getting the better of such formidable opponents, such as Selborne College, Grey High, and St Andrew’s College should make them favourites to win again.
With their industrious flank and captain Jeffrey Niland leading their charge, Queen’s have built up a strong thread of continuity in their team and backline players such as Ncutu Kepe, Thina Fenako, and Mveli Mqolo have produced some standout efforts.
They will make the trip to Cradock, though, knowing that only the ignorant would not take heed of the threat that Marlow presents.
Although they haven’t enjoyed quite the same sort of success, with four losses and a draw in their 14 games, they are a team capable of rising to the occasion.
Under captain Gian Steyl and vice-captain GD Jordaan, an opportunity to take down the form team in the Eastern Cape this year will have them fired up to produce the goods in front of their home supporters.
If Marlow dominates the territorial game, the boot of centre Dawid-Malan de Ridder could also have a big say in the final outcome.
In Kariega, Muir College will be aiming to overturn an earlier loss to Die Brandwag, but this time it will be away from home in the next round of the Tinara Cup.
Brandwag is in the driving seat of that competition, having already beaten Muir 26-10 and Daniel Pienaar 22-19.
If they can repeat that victory over Muir, they will claim the title, even with the return game against Daniel Pienaar still to come.
Teams:
Marlow Agricultural vs Queen’s College, near Cradock at 14:15.
Marlow Agricultural: 15 Du Preez Vermaak, 14 Ockert du Preez, 13 Dawid-Malan de Ridder, 12 Gian Steyl (captain), 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.
Queen’s College: 15 Mveli Mqolo, 14 Ayathanda Mtyando, 16 Thina Fenako, 12 Splash Magwebu, 11 Ncutu Kepe, 10 Inganathi Mnunu, 9 Ayola Somhlahlo, 8 Khaka Xoseni, 7 Sivuyise Mnyimba, 6 Jeffrey Niland (captain), 5 Sambesiwe Vetman, 4 Acwenga Saul, 3 Ahlume Gqetywa, 2 Bullz Manqina, 1 Zeacke Mata.
Brandwag vs Muir College at 14:10 in Kariega
Brandwag: 15 Wendell Uithaler, 14 Enzo Martin, 13 Angelo Adams, 12 Derono Potgieter, 11 Dwayne Louw, 10 Leewin Kammies, 9 Keeran Kayster, 8 Duane Meyer, 7 Erik Rudman, 6 Josh Badenhorst,
5 Damian le Roux, 4 Justin Swanepoel, 3 Liam Erasmus, 2 Nathan Fraser, 1 Zandré van der Mescht.
Muir: N/A
