Derbies dominate end of season
Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:43
No.15 Janco Lehmann slots another one for Augsburg on Tuesday
The final weekend of Western Cape schools rugby is upon us! Get out there one more time!
Unfortunately the most intriguing game involving a Western Cape side on Saturday takes place in Bloemfontein where Paul Roos meet Grey College in an FNB Classic Clash.
The Maroon Machine won last year's game and will be going for an historic double, but will have to take the field without the injured Craig Barry. It's never wise to bet against Grey especially when revenge is on their agenda, but, as in all derbies, the scoreboard starts at 0-0.
Locally, the big Interschools fixtures are Boland Landbou at home to Oakdale, Bishops hosting neighbours Rondebosch and Wynberg visiting SACS.
The duel at the Farm looks the most interesting. Landbou have not had a memorable season by anybody's standards and were extremely lucky to get off the hook against the Tigers last week. They tired towards the end, something one cannot afford in a high-pressure derby situation.
Oakdale are the top dogs in the South Western Districts, even if they did slide out of the Die Burger semis last week, 13-14 against Framesby. They have a very cohesive unit, honed over two years together by Pine Marais and Willie van Rensburg, and a wily playmaker in Christiaan Rust. It's going to be close.
Bishops really shouldn't experience much difficulty against the old enemy, the only real concern lurking in coach Dave Mallett's mind being his lads' tendency to take their feet off the gas. However, the opposition and the fact that this is the season finale should see them home against Rayn Smid's warriors.
SACS and Wynberg are both at a pretty low ebb right now, but the presence of thousands of enthusiastic Old Boys should raise everyone's spirits enough to ensure an exciting game.
The two Paarl giants have a stress-free weekend ahead. Gim entertain a Stellenberg side that has struggled throughout the season to score tries; Boishaai hit the road to play Durbanville, who've also had a rather undistinguished year.
Even with Oakdale down at Windmeul, there's lots going on in the South Western Districts area. The Small and Medium Schools Burger semifinals take place at Oudtshoorn High on Saturday. Uniondale play Itembelihle of PE in the former category, the host school faces an injury- and-illness-hit Despatch in the latter.
In Mossel Bay Punt entertain Interschools arch-enemies Langenhoven Gym, a side that doesn't seem to have played much recently. In Riversdale, Langenhoven High welcome Swellendam for what promises to be an absolute humdinger, given both schools' outstanding results this year.
The big Boland confrontation is at Wellington, where Hugenote face Swartland. The Rockies have the edge up front, but the backs look evenly matched. Too close to call.
Narrowly beaten in Swellendam last time out, Robertson will be taking no chances against a resurgent Charlie Hofmeyr team, for whom flyhalf Lee-Grant Hofmeester and left wing Luwandré Visagie have been in great form.
Montagu and their visitors Bredasdorp have both had very similar fortunes this winter, but hosts Hermanus should be able to take care of Overberg. Goudini haven't done anything of late that suggests that they pose much threat to Pietman Albertyn's Bonnievale lads on the Dairymen's home turf.
Two Western Province Premier B teams travel out to the Boland.
De Kuilen go into their meeting with Worcester Gym at Bosvarkpark knowing that the local side has had an even more wretched time of it than the Kuile have in recent weeks. Kuyper Albertyn's troops look good to take this one.
Monument Park should return triumphant from their Interschools with Vredenburg, even given last weekend's debacle against HTS Bellville. Vredenburg may have stunned everyone by defeating Swartland back before the World Cup, but have done next to nothing since then.
Over the mountains in the opposite direction come HTS Drostdy to meet HTS Bellville. The Donkeys have spent the last six or so weeks losing by excruciatingly narrow margins to Western Province Premier A opposition. Given Drostdy's excellent showing at Gym on Tuesday, the Bellville boys might as well start looking for cover now.
Other Boland travelers are Moorreesburg's Dirkie Uys, who hit the Mother City to play their Interschools fixture against Jan van Riebeeck. Johan Jacobs's youngsters have looked impressive throughout the campaign, give or take the occasional defeat. It is hard to see them losing this one.
In Premier B action Brackenfell roll out the carpet for their Interschools rivals Tygerberg High, knowing full well that the latter have not achieved their national number 13 ranking by the pencil-and-blindfold method. The Brakke will have to pull out all the stops to get anywhere in this one and even then success is highly unlikely.
Enormously relieved after winning last Saturday's derby, Bellville High welcome a Hottentots Holland team that should find the step up a bit too hot to handle.
Locally, the only 15-a-side fare to come after the weekend is the Nite Rugby at Goodwood on Wednesday, 25 August.
The First XVs on show are Table View, Labori, Milnerton, Durbanville, DF Malan and hosts President. The matches start at around 15.00, with the big guns trotting out from 17.45 and the curtain expected to drop around 21.45.
By Tony Stoops
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