Robbies and Worcester Gim revive contest for the South Western Rugby Shield

On Saturday, Hoërskool Robertson and Worcester Gimnasium will be competing for the coveted South Western Rugby Football School Shield for the first time since 2005.
The shield was donated in 1908 and was a point of pride in the Boland for many years until Robertson won it for the last time.
When the sides met in Worcester last season, the Gimmies were victorious by 47-21 after a dominant second-half performance saw them pull away from the visitors who kept it close at 13-14 at the break.
The Robbies have been a force to be reckoned with so far this year and Saturday’s matchup is set to be a much tougher challenge for the “Bosvarke”.
The home team’s captain, Bernardo Diedericks, has been a revelation this year. In 2023, he was a member of the SA u18 Sevens squad which earned a bronzde medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, and he’s carried the skills and knowledge gained there into this season, seemingly not putting a foot wrong.
He’s supported well by the likes of their dynamic flyhalf, Jaydan van Niekerk, and Tyron April, at fullback.
The Gimmies, however, have no shortage of pace and flair among their ranks, with flyers, Vuyolwethu Bavuma and Alungile Mothibe, on the wings.
Their front row, Amaan Adendorff, Armand Croeser and Wilfred Slingers has been just as impressive this year, and they provide a destructive extra ball-carrying options for their team.
Last weekend, the Robbies beat Swartland in a thrilling battle by one point, 24-23, they’ll be battle-hardened and ready for Saturday’s clash.
The Gimmies, however, have already been involved in several tightly contested games this year and they won’t be phased by the prospect of another tough battle, having already shown they have big-match temperament.
Meanwhile, there’s also a bunch of other exciting games taking place in the region.
The unbeaten Charlie Hofmeyr squad tackles Oakdale‘s second team in Ceres.
The matchup has produced some top-quality rugby in the past, with the Riversdal second stringers proving a more than competent opponent, but Charlies would like to make a statement with a good result this weekend.
Montagu has also been fired up this season and they will be anxious to add another victory when they host Labori, after having had to settle for a 29-29 draw against Hoërskool Punt, from Mossel Bay, last weekend.
The Punt team continues their campaign with a match against DF Malan, while Langenhoven Gimnasium and Hoërskool Oudtshoorn do battle on the Garden Route.
TEAMS
Hoërskool Robertson vs Worcester Gimnasium at 13:00
Hoërskool Robertson: 15 Tyron April, 14 Jo-Haylin Jansen, 13 Bernardo Diedericks, 12 Tyron Matthys, 11 Winsor de Koker, 10 Jaydan van Niekerk, 9 Kyle Cedras, 8 Ethan Fourie, 7 Groban van Wyk, 6 Ivor Thmpson, 5 André Gelderblom, 4 Mychal Swart, 3 Petrus Coetzee, 2 Yannick du Plessis, 1 Jeandre Viljoen.
Worcester Gimnasium: 15 Lorenzo Harmse, 14 Vuyolwethu Bavuma, 13 Breyton Cupido, 12 Lukewin van Heerden, 11 Alungile Mothibe, 10 Lohenzel Jansen, 9 Luke Cupido, 8 Jayd-Will de Klerk, 7 Valentino Nomadluka, 6 Shaun Dyantyi, 5 Joshua Coetzee, 4 Waylan Pienaar, 3 Wilfred Slingers, 2 Armand Croeser, 1 Amaan Adendorff.
Other fixtures
u19: 11:40 – Porterville vs Steynville Secondary; 11:45 – Hoërskool Tygerberg vs Melkbosstrand; 12:15 – Hoërskool Bellville vs Hugenote; 12:40 – Hoërskool Brackenfell vs Hoërskool Strand; 12:50 – Langenhoven Gimnasium vs Hoërskool Oudtshoorn; 13:00 – Charlie Hofmeyr vs Oakdale II; 13:15 – Montagu vs Labori; 13:30 – Hopefield vs Piketberg;