Sharks High Schools Rugby Day a treat for fans of schoolboys’ rugby
Fans of schoolboys’ rugby will be afforded a rare treat, an opportunity to watch the 10 leading boys’ schools in KZN in action, all in one place, the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, on Saturday.
The matches form part of the Sharks High Schools Rugby Day and will play an important role in the selection process for the provincial teams, with u16 and u15 matches also being contested on the surrounding fields at the home of the Sharks rugby team.
You can catch every moment live on SuperSport Schools.
The first of the games, between Northwood and Clifton, takes place at 11:40 after a couple of curtain-raisers, which will feature regional teams in action.
Both went down last weekend, with the Knights falling just two points shy of Michaelhouse in Balgowan, while Clifton was well beaten at St Charles College on the latter’s Old Boys’ Weekend.
It was a first defeat for coach Jacques Deen‘s Northwood team, who fell behind 5-21 early on, but then battled their way back into the game to eventually go down 22-24. It took a committed and outstanding defensive effort from ‘House in the second half to keep the visitors at bay.
Northwood will fancy their chances on Saturday. They face a Clifton team that is still unsettled in the backline. They’re still trying to determine their best combinations and this week they’ve moved Adam Selikow to fullback, with Handré de Bruin running out at outside centre, and Nkanyiso Ntshangase moving from the midfield to do duty at flyhalf.
Clifton has competed well up front in many games, but they’re still seeking greater offensive flow behind the pack.
Northwood, meanwhile, has shown a sharp edge if they can secure quality ball. They have a strong pack capable of delivering it. When they have done that, it has made them a very challenging proposition, as Die Brandwag (50-0) and Hudson Park (40-8) found out at the KES Easter Rugby Festival.
At 13:20, Durban High School (DHS) takes on St Charles College.
The Horseflies are surely buzzing (excuse the pun) after they overturned a 6-18 half-time deficit to beat Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s last weekend.
St Charles, too, were on song in a 50-15 win over Clifton. Unfortunately, Saints picked up an injury or two, which has resulted in the shuffling of a number of players in their backline.
Both teams play a very attractive game. DHS, under Peter Engeldow, has consistently scored some of the most exciting tries of the last two seasons to be found anywhere, while St Charles, especially now that they’re under the guidance of their new Director of Rugby, Craig Dwyer, has a very attacking and exciting approach to the game.
Dwyer spent the past 10 years coaching rugby in New Zealand. Thus, Saints are a little less concerned with a structured build-up than most South African teams and more focussed on creating multiple options when on the offensive.
The DHS vs St Charles clash has the potential to be a real running treat for spectators.
Maritzburg College and Westville Boys’ High meet at 15:00. It should be a cracker.
Both teams have powerful packs, and both are blessed with exciting playmakers. At fullback, they possess two of the most exciting counterattacking players in the country.
Luyanda Kunene, who made SA Schools last year, wears the number 15 for College, and has the potential to break open any game with his speed and eye for a gap. The same, though, could be said of Westville fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya. He, unfortunately, missed a number of games earlier in the season with a knee injury, but his return is a massive boost for the Griffin and for fans of the game.
Something to keep a close eye on will be the front row battle. Many schoolboy rugby fans are aware of College’s acclaimed lineup of Rambo Kubheka, Siya Nyathi and Aiden Botha, but they might be less familiar with Westville’s Akhona Maseko, Jeshua Ferreira, and Bandile Mncwango. They shouldn’t be. They’re a formidable unit.
Ferreira is a former prop and his move to hooker has given Westville a solid and extremely strong front row. They gave a massive Monument pack fits in a 25-22 upset of the Krugersdorp school at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.
Both Maritzburg College and Westville play an abrasive game, with hard-hitting defence. Last year, College controlled the contest in a 27-8 victory on their Reunion Weekend. Westville, though, will believe they’re in with a good shot at reversing that result on Saturday.
At 16:40, it’s the turn of Kearsney College and Michaelhouse to do battle.
Michaelhouse won last time out against Westville. They’ve also lost three times in 2024, but on each of those occasions a penalty kick would have been enough to change the result to either a draw or a win.
Kearsney made a strong start to the season and pulled off a shock 16-14 upset of Maritzburg College on Stott Field in the Red, Black and White‘s season-opener.
More recently, though, they’ve been on a run of losses against tough opposition, including Framesby, Rondebosch, EG Jansen, and Hilton College. The latter match, played last weekend, was a classic, which produced 92 points. If you missed it, you can watch it on SuperSport Schools.
Michaelhouse, given their greater success this season, will be slightly favoured, but they’ll be challenged by a One-Stripe lineup that put up 37 points on a Hilton College defence that is usually very tough to break down. One of the primary reasons for Kearsney’s success on Gilfillan Field was an astute decision to move Cameron Veenstra to fullback. He’s a dynamic force on the counterattack.
Michaelhouse will be directed by one of the best all-round flyhalves in the game, Luke Davidson, who ran out for the Academy XV last year, but will be in the running for the Craven Week no. 10 jersey this year.
Up front, there’s sure to be an exciting battle between ‘House loosehead Aphiwe Shelembe and Kearsney’s captain and tighthead Anele Cele. They’re two of the best in their positions and also good contributors around the field.
The action concludes at 18:20 with a showdown between Hilton College and Glenwood.
One has to admire Hilton’s approach. They have their style – it’s easily recognisable – but, when it is effectively implemented, it is very tough to stop. Their opposition know what is coming, but knowing what to expect and preventing Hilton from imposing themselves is a super-tough challenge.
Hilton, after some early season blips, has also hit form and their 55-37 win over Kearsney last weekend was their fifth win on the trot. They’re solid up front and enterprising at the back.
Glenwood has a young team and, although the results haven’t always gone their way in 2024, they have clearly been making good strides. In their most recent outing, against Westville on Bowden’s, they fought their way back from 3-20 down to eventually lose by just three points in a very entertaining clash.
In their earlier games, the Green Machine struggled to find offensive fluency, but they’ve played some delightful running rugby in recent weeks and will be a good measuring stick for Hilton.
Derek Heiberg‘s charges play with typical Glenwood tenacity and physicality, which makes their meeting with Hilton especially interesting, because Brad Mcleod-Henderson‘s men exhibit the same qualities.
FIXTURES
08:30 – Urban Tier 2A vs Urban Tier 2B
10:00 – Zululand/Southern KZN vs Northern KZN/Midlands
11:40 – Northwood vs Clifton College
13:20 – Durban High School vs St Charles College
15:00 – Maritzburg College vs Westville Boys’ High
16:40 – Kearsney College vs Michaelhouse
18:20 – Glenwood vs Hilton College
TEAMS
Clifton College
15 Adam Selikow, 14 Lwandile Myeni, 13 Handré de Bruin, 12 Devan Schwartz, 11 Wandile Ngubane, 10 Nkanyiso Ntshangase, 9 Kyle Akal, 8 Bryce Beeslaar, 7 Jamie Brown, 6 Josh Howells, 5 Lukhanyiso Nala, 4 Matt Hammond, 3 Lungani Ngcobo, 2 Richard Castle, 1 Njabulo Dlomo
Northwood – unavailable
Durban High School
15 Aka Boqwana, 14 Adriano Jackson, 13 Duncan Basson, 12 Zingce Simka, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Allston Cedras, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Khanyisa Stamper, 7 Bradley le Grange, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Thando Luthuli, 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve, 3 Bongani Dlamini, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Unaye Mndau
St Charles College
15 Salmaan Mohammed, 14 Likuthi Mbalana, 13 Athenkosi Qumo, 12 Okuhle Peti, 11 Matthew Ludick, 10 Ukhanyo Ntsangani, 9 Matthew Fick, 8 Stefan Veldsman, 7 Sam Odell, 6 Lazola Makaula, 5 Reece Curtin, 4 Raphael Ajibade, Christian Allardice, 2 Marlon Mbewe, 1 Lutho Mrwata
Maritzburg College
15 Luyanda Kunene 14 Reinhardt Jacobsz, 13 Swelihle Mbatha, 12 Nkululeko Sithole, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 James Slevin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemke, 7 Naz Isaacs, 6 Struan Ooshuizen, 5 Jake Jansen, 4 Bohlale Maphisa, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siya Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka
Westville Boys’ High School
15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Jade-Will Koopman, 13 Michael Satade, 12 Blake Allbon, 11 Jadrian Afrikaner, 10 Unathi Mlotshwa, 9 Ryan Pistor, 8 Brandon Eke, 7 Seth Gwynn, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Rhys Mitchell, 4 Moustapher Gcina, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Jeshua Ferreira, 1 Akhona Maseko
Kearsney College
15 Cameron Veenstra, 14 Valentino Lenge, 13 Jude Greig, 12 Jarred van Staaden, 11 Daniel Eager, 10 Doan Nel, 9 Murray Weyer, 8 Qhamani Mlalandle, 7 Connor McIntyre, 6 Callum Steer, 5 Ryan Sim, 4 Heinrich Fourie, 3 Anele Cele, 2 Blake Kruger, 1 Kudakwashe Kachambwa
Michaelhouse – unavailable
Hilton College
15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Sebastien Gaboreau, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Daniel Sweeney, 11 Ricky Adonis, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Hanu Pieterse, 7 Stewart Falconer, 6 Ross Brown, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Trent Chubb, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Oliver Proudfoot
Glenwood – unavailable
