Stellenberg and Milnerton kick off the weekend’s fixtures with a bang on Friday
Stellenberg faces Milnerton at 20:20 tonight to kick off the weekend’s fixtures before Hoërskool Durbanville takes on Tygerberg on Friday.
Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now
Last weekend, Milnerton got the best of Parel Vallei by 26-24 after seeing away with DF Malan by 33-22 the weekend before, but the Stellenberg boys have looked tuned-in of late and seem set on finishing their season with strong performances in their last games.
The home team’s nimble centre, Frank Hitimana, leads their attack, much in the same way as another Milnerton old boy, the Springbok, Damian de Allende, would have done when he wore the Millie jersey.
and their eighth man, Liberty Nyashanu, has also stood out for Milnerton this season.
For the visitors, their goal-kicking centre, Ruben Thompson, and top try-scorer flanker, Marco Ferreira, are the ones to keep an eye on.
Luc Cilliers starts at left wing, and Heinro Swart stands in for their regular scrumhalf, Clyde Frieslaar. Those are the only changes to the Stellenberg starting lineup from the team that faced Outeniqua and just narrowly lost through a penalty conversion in the final moments (10-8).
Last weekend, Stellenberg returned to winning ways with a comfortable 43-21 victory over Hoërskool Bellville.
The Jade Brigade look primed to end their season strong, and it will take a massive effort by the hosts to stop them tonight.
Hoërskool Durbanville also looks to carry on building momentum in their clash with Tygerberg.
The Durbies have had an excellent season, beating Paarl Boys’ High (26-25), Rondebosch Boys’ High (35-19) and HTS Drostdy (61-3) to name only a few.
They saw away their rivals Brackenfell last weekend with a comprehensive 45-10 victory and will hope to capitalize on the momentum and carry it through until they face Stellenberg in their big derby and final match of the season.
Their electric centre, James Nero, is not available for this weekend’s game yet as he is still returning from Trinidad and Tobago where he was the top scorer in the SA U18 Sevens team that earned bronze at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Nero’s absence is, of course, noted, but the Hoërskool Durbanville boys have no lack of options for pace in the backline.
Valrhino Olckers (fullback), Cayden Louw (winger) and Monray Daars (scrumhalf) have been exceptional for their side this season, as Durbanville seems to be scoring tries for fun at the moment.
Even their eighth man, Jayden Nell, who has already committed to SARU Sevens next year, can turn on the after-burners when needed.
Tygerberg lost to Swartland 16-10 last weekend after beating Melkbosstrand 22-17 the weekend before.
The Tygerberg Tigers’ pair of locks, Tyrique van Reenen and Gian Brand can take inspiration from those who have come before them, as the Springbok locks, Marvin Orie and Eben Etzebeth, both wore the Tygerberg jersey before them
What bodes ominously for the hosts though is the fact that HTS Drostdy beat them by 73-5 only a month after Durbies annihilated the team from Worcester by 61-3.
They will need to be at their very best to avoid another big score on Saturday.
The teams are:
Milnerton vs Stellenberg at 20:20 on Friday:
Milnerton: 15 Keegan Wood, 14 Carl Moatshe, 13 Morgan Lodewyk, 12 Frank Hitimana, 11 Qhamani Mangele, 10 Devon Damons, 9 Raqeeb Kaspery, 8 Liberty Nyashanu, 7 Cole Wegeworth, 6 Ethan Wilson, 5 Dylan Peverett, 4 Keenan Togni, 3 Khanyisa Tafeni, 2 Keagan Harding, 1 Liam Ross.
Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Liam Smith, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Thompson, 11 Luc Cilliers, 10 Tyron Labuschagne, 9 Heinro Swart, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Marco Ferreira, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Corne Bruwer, 4 Zian Erasmus, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Niel de Beer.
Tygerberg vs Hoërskool Durbanville at 11:20 on Saturday:
Tygerberg: 15 Higgen White, 14 Therlow Goudhard, 13 JD Pombo, 12 Luke Moses, 11 Mikyle Philander, 10 Marius Griebenow, 9 Shane Steenkamp, 8 Dillon Fillies, 7 Zuhayr Pillay, 6 Prince Misengue, 5 Tyrique van Reenen, 4 Gian Brand, 3 Ashton Maloy, 2 Ezra Glover, 1 Ethan Abrahams.
Hoërskool Durbanville: 15 Valrhino Olckers, 14 Damian Hendrickse, 13 Lian Jordaan, 12 Blane Marais, 11 Cayden Louw, 10 Shaun Klein, 9 Monray Daars, 8 Jayden Nell, 7 Evert Bouwer, 6 William Goldswain, 5 Liam Baird, 4 Rikus Saaiman, 3 Anru van Rhyn, 2 Devon Strydom, 1 Wian Koen.
Other fixtures on Saturday:
11:50 – Hoërskool Bellville vs Strand; 12:30 – Brackenfell vs Melkbosstrand.
