Westville vs Northwood intriguing, St Charles eyes a win at Glenwood
One of the most interesting KZN rugby clashes this weekend takes place on Bowden’s Field at Westville Boys’ High, where Northwood offers the opposition. The potential for rich entertainment is high.
The Knights, fresh off a 20-10 victory over Maritzburg College, are enjoying an excellent season. Their results also include a 10-7 win at Hilton College, and a 7-7 draw with DHS, which most people would peg as the best team in the province this season.
Number two in KZN, though? On current form, neither Westville nor Northwood would be a wrong answer. Overall, the visitors boast the better record this season, but the Griffin‘s recent form, which has been assisted by a run of games at home – their schedule was mostly away last season – has been eye-catching.
A 36-36 draw with KES was one of the games of the season, with both sides running in six tries, while last weekend Westville showed grit and an exciting running game to overcome an 8-23 deficit to eventually comfortably beat Hilton College 40-26.
The battle up front is going to be interesting. Northwood’s pack is an uncompromising unit, but Westville has consistently owned the honours in the set scrums throughout the season, even when faced with bigger opposition.
Behind the pack, both teams boast exciting runners and flyhalves who make things happen. Siya Nkosi, for Northwood, and Unathi Mlotshwa, for Westville, are both fine all-round no. 10s. If they receive decent ball, they both have the keys to exciting backlines.
No one, though, has been quite as exciting as Westville fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya. Northwood will need to be pinpoint with their tactical kicking and kick chase. If they are not, the Sharks’ Craven Week no. 15 will hurt them. He’s a highlights’ package waiting to happen.
The midfield should present another battle within the battle to keep an eye on. Westville’s combination of Michael Satade and Blake Allbon dovetails wonderfully well together, but Northwood’s Bongane Khumalo and Ramatuku Sikhakhane are an enterprising combo, too.
As always, rucks will be an important area of contestation, and that’s where Westville’s lead-by-example captain Chris Cloete has excelled all season long. Opposing coaches have often cited his excellence over the ball, and it earned him a call-up to the Sharks’ Craven Week side.
Despite all of their success, Northwood had only one player selected for the Craven Week, captain Vuyo Gwiji, but he’s still out of action. His absence is a big loss for the Knights, but they play well as a unit and rugby is a team game.
Northwood has, for the most part, been a very difficult defence to break down, with only Jeppe truly getting on top of it this season. However, if there is a team that passes the eye-test as one with the capability of opening up the Knights’ defences, it is Westville. The visitors will need to bring their A-game to Bowden’s. Then, anything is possible.
St Charles College, meanwhile, visits Glenwood and has, probably, its best opportunity yet to win on the Green Machine‘s hallowed Dixon’s Field.
It has been a bit of a deflating season for Glenwood. However, they have a young team and there have clearly been some signs of growth.
They’ve tended to finish strongly. The issue has been, though, that they have too often found themselves too far down to pull back the opposition. Therefore, a strong start is an absolute necessity.
Coach Derek Heiberg, no doubt, has been seeking a complete game all season long from his charges, and they’ll need that good first half against Saints, who haven’t had any problems starting strongly. They’re an entertaining side, blessed with some wonderfully skilled playmakers, and they’re not confined to the backline.
One of the most exciting talents is lock Raphael Ajibade, who’ll be turning out for the Sharks at the Rhino Week. He has scored some of the season’s most exciting tries, whether utilising his power or a serious turn of pace.
Everything, though, goes through the St Charles scrumhalf, Matthew Fick, who, once again, has cracked the Craven Week nod for the Sharks. He’s a force offensively and defensively, a consistent and excellent contributor.
Glenwood, if they can get quality ball, will be dangerous. However, a number of teams have successfully cut down the Green Machine’s space this season, forcing them to play from deep and turn to the boot. No doubt, Saints’ coach Craig Dwyer, a Glenwood old boy, will have picked that up in analysing his former school.
If they do get good ball, however, Glenwood has, in the halfback pairing of Lian Lochner and Juan Viljoen, players with the ability to create opportunities for those around them, or even do it all themselves, which Lochner, especially, is adept at doing.
TEAMS
Westville Boys’ High vs Northwood at 14:30
Westville: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Jade-Will Koopman, 13 Michael Satade, 12 Blake Allbon, 11 Jadrian Afrikaner, 10 Unatho Mlotshwa, 9 Ryan Pistor, 8 David Humphreys, 7 Brandon Eke, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Wandile Simelane, 4 Oliver Gcina, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Jeshua Ferreira, 1 Akhona Maseko
Northwood: 15 Aphiwe Buthelezi, 14 Kwenzo Dlamini, 13 Ramatuku Sikhakhane, 12 Bongane Khumalo, 11 Carlos Lovell, 10 Siyanda Nkosi, 9 Jed Mun-Gavin, 8 Dewald Mostert, 9 Ethan Macey, 6 Ayavuya Makula, 5 Titas Cesonis, 4 Lian Terblanche, 3 Sphe Ntshangase, 2 Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, 1 Reuben Vos
Glenwood High vs St Charles at 14:00
Teams TBC
