Wynberg aims to build on pre-season promise as schoolboy rugby returns to Cape Town
After an action-packed Easter break, the Cape Town schools are all back and ready to get the local season going in earnest this weekend.
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Wynberg Boys’ High seeks to continue their strong start to the season when they host Hoërskool Durbanville. – Link to Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Durbanville
Since they kicked off their season with an 84-3 mauling of Windhoek High at the Wynberg Rugby Festival, the Wynberg first team has shown no signs of slowing down. They followed up that performance with wins over St Andrew’s College and Kingswood College at the Bishops 175 Rugby Festival, and they’ll be intent on taking that rich vein of form into their clash with the Durbies on Saturday.
Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed has set the pace and spearheads his side’s attack with great success.
With flyers like Brandon Ashburner and Levi Brown in the backline, Wynberg will aim to overrun their visitors, while their big pack of forwards controls the game up front.
Durbanville has experienced a contrasting start to their season. It started with a tough day at the office against Paarl Boys’ High at the pre-season Porterville “Bulfees”, where they lost 7-73. Since then, they’ve also come up short against SACS, Waterkloof and Monument, so they’ll be anxious to get one in the winning column as soon as possible.
There are more than enough avenues to score in the Durbie lineup, with exciting young talents like Valrhino Olckers and Tobie Roelofse in their midst. However, playing against some of the toughest teams in SA early in the season, they haven’t been able to find their rhythm, but Wynberg will know that their challengers from the northern suburbs will be ready for a fight.
Meanwhile, SACS hosts Stellenberg and Milnerton plays away at Rondebosch Boys’ High. – Link to Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Milnerton
Rondebosch suffered an early 13-17 defeat to Oakdale Landbou but they’ve been unstoppable since then, recording wins over Durban High School (DHS), Westville Boys’ High, Kearsney College and Hoërskool Rustenburg.
Rondebosch hooker, Justin Amos, represented his school with distinction at last year’s Craven Week, as part of the Western Province squad, and his flyhalf, David Simon, played centre for the WP XV at that event.
Milnerton’s big ballcarrier, Frank Hitimana, made the Western Province Academy Week team in 2023, but even without a star-studded lineup, they’ve shown they mean business already this season with strong performances against Boland Landbou and St Charles College.
They’ve just returned from a tour to Namibia and will be excited about having an opportunity to upset ‘Bosch on their home field.
Stellenberg are still chasing a first win of the season after a tough start against powerhouses, Paarl Gimnasium, Noordheuwel and Affies, but the Jade Brigade will not be disheartened as they endeavour to prove they can compete with the big dogs in the Western Cape this year.
They will be targeting this weekend to make a statement against a crippled SACS side, who will be without their injured captain Seth Bradford and vice-captain Ben van Coller, as well as Thando Sithole and Quewinn Lackay. Their absence means starts for Matt Forbes, Siphe Mbungendlu, Daniel Grant and Endi Sidinile, while Nic Reynolds takes on the captain’s responsibilities.
Despite mixed results so far this season, SACS has shown potential and played some enterprising rugby. They will rely on their depth in talent to see them through against the visitors.
TEAMS
Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Milnerton at 12:15
Rondebosch Boys’ High: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Caleb Louw, 13 Randall John Davids, 12 Harry Soboil, 11 Shakeel Abrahams, 10 David Simon, 9 Caleb Belelie, 8 Alutha Wesi, 7 Matthys du Plooy, 6 Sebastian Boswell, 5 Tom Barnard, 4 Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, 3 Abongile Nxazonke, 2 Justin Amos, 1 Matthew van der Merwe.
Milnerton: 15 Chadlin Sellidon, 14 Rami Moatshe, 13 Morgan Lodewyk, 12 Frank Hitimana, 11 Keagan Wood, 10 Chadwin Sellidon, 9 Devon Damons, 8 Keagan van Blerk, 7 Ethan Wilson, 6 Briint Davids, 5 Mathew Gabriel, 4 Keenan Togni, 3 Chadley Davids, 2 Keagan Harding, 1 Liam Ross.
Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Durbanville at 12:20
Wynberg Boys’ High: 15 Morne Noble, 14 Kunene Gadu, 13 Albert Lourens, 12 Brandon Ashburner, 11 Levi Brown, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Tyrone Gombe, 8 Torren February, 7 Aden da Costa, 6 Jamie Stride, 5 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 4 Jaythen Orange, 3 Benjamin Matthews, 2 Xabiso Mkiva, 1 Luqobo Makwedini.
Hoërskool Durbanville: 15 Valrhino Olckers, 14 Dale Martin, 13 Markus van der Walt, 12 Tobie Roelofse, 11 Zayde Cleophas, 10 Claydon Carlse, 9 Kyle Albertus, 8 Adrian Freemantel, 7 Tiaan Kearns, 6 Jayden Short, 5 Liebrecht Winterbach, 4 Murdoch van Dyk, 3 Anru van Rhyn, 2 Juan Smit, 1 Hubert Winterbach.
Stellenberg vs SACS at 13:10
Stellenberg: 15 Dehan Neethling, 14 Luka Tonitz, 13 Estian Steyn, 12 Ruben Pretorius, 11 Luc Cilliers, 10 Eben Rademan, 9 Christiaan van der Bijl, 8 Dale du Toit, 7 Stefan Visser, 6 Alex Schoeman, 5 Zian Erasmus, 4 Daniël du Plessis, 3 Ryk Groenewald, 2 Almero Keizer, 1 Dean Janse van Rensburg.
SACS: 15 Jack Benade, 14 Endi Sidinile, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Matt Carrick, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Rayaan Solomons, 9 Matt Forbes, 8 Connor King, 7 Daniel Grant, 6 Siphe Mbungendlu, 5 Pierre van Selm, 4 Callum Hirst, 3 Ikhona Maxegwana, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Ethan Combrink.
