Rondebosch hosts SACS, Gimmies take on Boland Landbou in Paarl derby
Last season, Rondebosch Boys’ High did the double over SACS. The Newlands outfit will be eager to avenge those losses, and they’ll head into Saturday’s derby clash on the Tinkie Heyns Field at 12:10 feeling confident.
SACS won both of their matches at the Grey High Rugby Festival, beating Selborne College and Kearsney College. ‘Bosch also went two for two at the same festival, with wins over KES and Glenwood High, respectively.
In their first southern suburbs’ derby of the season, SACS defeated Bishops 22-17. Inside centre James Sale was influential in that success and scored a try. He’s a serious line-breaking threat, and the hosts will be well aware of the danger he poses.
Rondebosch have threats of their own. Lock Bjorn Morkel scored twice in their win over KES, while left wing Caleb Bell has caught the eye all season long. Before the Grey High Festival, he ran in four tries in a narrow two-point loss to Boland Landbou.
Last season, Rondebosch won 40-17 away, but only 23-20 at home. SACS appears to be a tougher unit this season than they were last year, so an almighty clash is on the cards, and it will be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
At 12:45 on Saturday, Paarl Gimnasium hosts Boland Landbou on the JA Kriel Field in a Paarl derby.
Since a 19-20 loss to Stellenberg High at the beginning of the season, Gimmies have been on a dominant seven-game winning streak, which they plan to extend against the Farmers, whose campaign has been less successful.
They’ve been up against some tough teams this season and began with four defeats, but they’ve won two of their last three, scoring hard-fought two-point wins over Rondebosch Boys’ High and Hoërskool Noordheuwel.
Their fighting spirit is best exemplified by their captain and blindside flank, Juan Visagie. He’s athletic, a line-breaking threat, and he often muscles his way over the try line from close range.
Paarl Gim has an enviable arsenal of skillful and powerful players. Flyhalf Louis Koen is tough to catch, while captain and inside centre Ethan Barker is tough to stop. Up front, hooker Charles Whitehead is a danger off the back of the rolling maul.
Last season, Gimmies’ free-scoring 1st XV won 80-29 on the farm. There’s little chance of seeing over 100 points in the game again on Saturday. Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
Hoërskool Hugenote (Wellington) faces a daunting challenge from Worcester’s HTS Drostdy, who will be the visitors on Saturday. Kickoff is at 12:50.
Last year, Drostdy powered their way to a 50-0 victory, and they’ve impressed this season, especially on the attack. They swamped their opponents at the Grey High Rugby Festival, overrunning St Stithians 74-0 and Selborne College 67-12. They won’t be short of confidence.
The Donkies‘ right wing Tristan Syster dotted down four times against St Stithians, while left wing Darren Makeza scored a hat-trick against Selborne.
Hugenote has won five out of six this season, but Drostdy looks, by far, like their toughest challenge yet. They’ll be hard-pressed to slow down the exciting visitors.
TEAMS
Rondebosch (likely): 15 Shellvon Mabooi, 14 Joshua Kirby, 13 Kelebogile Nkwana, 12 Kean van Zyl, 11 Caleb Bell, 10 Eathon Williams, 9 Ateeb Julius, 8 Kirwan November, 7 Ben Gray, 6 Linakho Mehlomakulu, 5 Bertus Versfeld, 4 Bjorn Morkel, 3 Matthew Pelser, 2 Liam Lewis, 1 Sivuyile Sobili.
SACS (likely): 15 Nahum Koen, 14 Luca Simone, 13 James Sale, 12 Rob Boyes, 11 Josh Gorgens, 10 Jake Dave, 9 Jordan Forbes, 8 Stephan Kruger, 7 Dom Raisbeck, 6 Kwakhanya Gobe, 5 Cameron Hirst, 4 RJ Cunningham, 3 Deen Fortuin, 2 Zac Dall, 1 Qiraan Hermans.
Paarl Gimnasium (likely): 15 Thomas Saunders, 14 Corné de Beer, 13 Derik Cloete, 12 Ethan Barker, 11 De Waal Vivier, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Hendré van Zyl, 7 Dirk Hugo, 6 Corné Niemand, 5 Jean Dreyer, 4 Bernhardt Schulze, 3 Sebastian Bekker, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Jayden Steyl.
Boland Landbou (likely): 15 Gehano van Bo, 14 Steyn Lamprecht, 13 Divan Meyer, 12 Cobus Immelman, 11 Erchel Hanga, 10 Caleb Seroot, 9 Oloff Seroot, 8 Josua Kruger, 7 Juan Visagie, 6 Jacques Bester, 5 Reiner Visser, 4 Chad Meintjies, 3 Tiaan Malan, 2 Adrian le Roux, 1 Nico de Beer.
Hugenote (Wellington): N/A.
HTS Drostdy (likely): 15 Anwill Jacobs, 14 Willvino Paultin, 13 Brent-Leigh Exstraal, 12 Jano Van Deventer, 11 Darren Makeza, 10 Ruan Nortje, 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.
