As was reported last week, predictions for schoolboy rugby this season have been a treacherous proposition! Once again, your humble correspondent is glad that there are no schoolboy rugby markets on any betting platforms as I would then be in a more parlous financial predicament than Comair!
I am not willing to believe that anyone gave Boland Landbou or Rondebosch serious chances in their respective games last weekend, but both sides produced great performances to secure famous victories in the southern suburbs. In Gauteng, St John’s pulled off somewhat of a shock result by winning in Pretoria against Boys’ High. The results in the Eastern Cape’s big fixtures were largely predictable and the same perhaps goes for those in KZN, although Glenwood came within 1 point of what would have been a seismic shock in the Midlands against Hilton.
So, onto this weekend. Some schools have finished their commitments for the term and some are about to play their last couple of games for the season. It is almost time to turn the focus to provincial rugby, but this weekend has a few massive games in store.
In the Western Cape, Bishops play Rondebosch in the headline match. The first Bish/Bosch clash of the season will take place on the Piley Rees. This game is both the Premier Interschools clash on Supersport and my #clashoftheweek, and I will be in Cape Town to cover the day. In another traditional southern suburbs encounter, Wynberg host SACS. Wynberg will be heavily favoured after SACS reached their nadir last weekend in taking 66 points from Paarl Gim. Boland Landbou are at home to Paarl Boys’ High. This is a potential banana skin for Boishaai, with Landbou coming off a famous win away to Bishops last time out. Finally, in another massive game, Oakdale welcome Paarl Gim to the Plaas in Riversdale. There should be a huge crowd on hand to watch two excellent teams.
Moving to the Eastern Cape, a number of schools are not in action this weekend, having a break until next term. The only real fixture of note is Dale’s match with Kingswood in King. Dale had a week off last weekend owing to the school being in mourning following ANOTHER tragedy, this time in the junior school following a bus crash that claimed a number of lives. Kingswood will be keen to use this as a sharpener for K-Day next weekend.
In KZN, there are 3 fixtures that stand out, with two taking place in the Midlands. Hilton survived a huge scare last weekend against Glenwood and they welcome Kearsney in a traditionally tightly contested encounter. Westville are at home to Maritzburg College, who had a good win over Kearsney last weekend. Finally, Michaelhouse are at home to St Charles in what will surely be one way traffic, despite House perhaps having one eye on Hilton/Michaelhouse next weekend.
Finally, in Gauteng there is a lot of action this weekend, however two grudge matches stand out for me. Dr EG Jansen are at home in Boksburg to Monument in a Valke/Lions clash between the heavyweights of both provinces. In a battle between two private schools in Joburg, St John’s, fresh off their win over Boys’ High last week, are at home to Saints who could be in for another long day.
Bishops v Rondebosch
Bishops have lost three in a row, after having previously looked almost unbeatable. After their performances at the Grey High Festival I thought they would go close to unbeaten, but the wheels have fallen off somewhat. Despite that, the match against Rondebosch will always cause both schools to raise their game and I am expecting a much improved Bishops performance in front of their home crowd.
Rondebosch could not have had better preparation for their biggest game of the season than the giant killing act last week against Paul Roos. They will fancy themselves to cause an upset on the Piley Rees on TV on Saturday. Their key players are all in good form and this is going to be a humdinger!
Winner: Bishops
Wynberg v SACS
Wynberg were brought back down to earth last week against Boishaai, who ended their run of big wins. They should not be too disheartened though, and welcome a southern suburbs foe who are low on form and confidence and are surely there for the taking. Wynberg can lay down a marker as the top southern suburbs school in the first round of clashes between the 4 schools.
SACS were predictably thrashed last weekend by Paarl Gim, in what was the easiest prediction of the year so far. They have not clicked this season, but where there is life, there is hope, and they will be desperate to down their more fancied near neighbours away form home.
Winner: Wynberg
Boland Landbou v Paarl Boys’ High
I did NOT see Boland Landbou’s win on the Piley Rees last weekend coming. The plucky men in black dug in to beat Bishops 14 – 7 in a famous win and the result came at the right time, in preparation for the visit of Boishaai, a school vastly superior in numbers. This could be another major upset.
Boishaai easily dealt with the Wynberg challenge last weekend and will be full of confidence after a string of good recent results. This Boland Landbou side should not be underestimated though.
Winner: Boishaai
Oakdale vs Paarl Gim
Oakdale have quietly gone about their business this season, and last week’s 50 point drubbing of the tenacious Durbanville side away from home should serve notice as to how good this side can be. The match against Gim is always one of their biggest challenges and they will be right up for it. Expect a huge crowd and an entertaining game.
Paarl Gim had a routine win last weekend agaisnt SACS but this will be a far sterner test, away in Riversdale. Like their Paarl foes away to another Landbou school this weekend, this match has potential to cause problems for this Gim side who have lost two other games when they were expected to win.
Winner: Paarl Gim
Dale v Kingswood
Dale have suffered enough tragedies to last a lifetime, never mind one season for the close knit school from King William’s Town. They were in mourning last weekend and quite reasonably cancelled the Grey clash and are coming up against a decent Kingswood side who will be confident of a rare win at ‘The Graveyard’.
Kingswood have had a mixed set of results this season but will go into their last game before K-Day expecting a victory against a Dale side who have had their minds elsewhere this season. This should be a comfortable win for the men from Makhanda.
Winner: Kingswood
Westville v Maritzburg College
Westville raised their game last weekend against Michaelhouse, not letting themselves down at all in going down by 10 points. This is another massive game for them, against a College side who are having a season to forget. The Westville team will be desperate to score a rare win over their more illustrious opponents.
I have watched a fair bit of College this season and was quite surprised they were able to score what turned out to be a comfortable win over Kearsney last weekend, on their Reunion. College will be wary of this Westville side and it should be a tense and tight encounter. Neither result would surprise me.
Winner: Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse vs St Charles
In a match that gives me similar vibes as last week’s Paarl Gim v SACS game, the only thing preventing a cricket score for House this weekend is complacency. They have had a solid season and despite being wiithout the services of a couple key players for parts of the season, they have acquitted themselves well.
St Charles will surely be dreading the short trip to the Midlands this weekend. They are not even in the same league as this House side and could spend a lot of time kicking off this weekend!
Winner: Michaelhouse
Dr EG Jansen vs Monument
These two traditional powerhouses meet in a grudge match in Boksburg on Saturday and this will not be one for the faint hearted! Jansen scored a good away win against Helpmekaar last weekend in a fractious encounter and will need to be good again to stand a chance against a powerful Monnas side.
Monnas have had a good season and have an abrasive pack that will look to dominate up front and then let their talented backline express themeselves. Travelling to Boksburg is never easy, but Monnas will feel they can get out of there with bragging rights.
Winner: Monnas
St John’s vs St Stithians
St John’s scored a memorable victory over Boys’ High in Pretoria last weekend, and must be salivating at the prospect of putting a big score on their biggest rivals in Joburg from an IEB perspective. They are at home and are massive favourites to notch up a big score.
Saints have had a miserable season, perhaps summed up by taking 60 from Jeppe at home last weekend. They go into this match with little confidence, against a side who is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Saints are probably looking forward to ruling a line under this season, but will need to be determined on Saturday to prevent a rout!
Winner: St John’s
