Time for the big one down South

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:50:00 +0200

The trees of charming Paarl are bedecked in brightly-coloured bunting, the Groot Brags are being rehearsed and the Old Boys rugby games have been decided. Yep, it's Interschools time.

Boys' High have suffered throughout the year from injury problems, but seem to have everyone fit for the Faure Street showdown. They had to make do without the deadly kicking of Gavin Hauptfleisch for a long period, but managed to beat mighty Affies in Pretoria without him. 

The Auret Street manne also have a dynamic loose trio, but Gim's Christiaan Smit went to Craven Week, too. It's all a tale of checks and balances.

Possibly the most interesting tussle will be at the base of the scrum where Gim captain Willie Viljoen is going to have a titanic duel with nuggety Louis Nel.

The world's premier schools rugby clash is impossible to predict. Last year Boishaai were favourites, but the result was pretty close. This year, the boot is on the other foot, so to speak, with Gim in imperious form all season, but only a reckless man would bet his wine-farm on the outcome.

There's also another big derby up in Riversdale where Oakdale meet Cradock's Marlow. 

The visitors enjoyed a very good 2009, but haven't shone quite as brightly this time round. Oakdale may have beaten Outeniqua, but they have been unable to withstand Paul Roos or Paarl Gim in recent weeks.

Hopefully these two twenty-point defeats will have sharpened the Bulls' appetite, but it really looks like a cliffhanger is in store.

Back to the Western Cape where there are two other Premier A clashes.

Wynberg looked a much-improved team against Bishops last Saturday, but will have their hands full when Boland Landbou come calling. The Windmeul pack is likely to be the deciding factor. 

Up Newlands way SACS will face Rondebosch, their self-confidence renewed by their performances over the last six weeks. Godfrey Tundube's cohorts have visited opposing trylines frequently enough of late to suggest that they might well pull this one off.

Paul Roos cross the mountain to take on HTS Drostdy at Trappespark. The Maroon Marauders will be back at full-strength with the return of their SA Schools contingent, not that they seem to have missed them over the past few weeks. Indications are that the Donkeys could be in for a torrid time.

Bishops shouldn't raise a serious sweat away to Brackenfell. The Brakke have been on the receiving end of some big hidings of late, last week's close-run thing with Drostdy definitely being the exception rather than the rule.

Premier B action features Monument Park hosting a Stellenberg side that must be wondering what went wrong in their defeat to DF Malan last time out. The Parkies have every reason to be optimistic regarding this one.

Bellville High shouldn't be losing much sleep over their visit to neighbours HTS Bellville, the rugby equivalent of a gentle full toss on leg stump.

DF Malan host Super League side Parel Vallei in what should be a pretty even affair. Durbanville head for the city centre to face a Jan van Riebeeck outfit that hasn't quite put it together in 2010. 

Tygerberg High will be hosting a Milnerton team that has had its moments this year, but lost to average Fairmont last time out. This is not going to help much when the Green Tigers go in for the kill. If you fancy running rugby, watch this one; just bear in mind that most of the running will be in one direction.

Two sides visit the Boland. Strand meet Hugenote in Wellington in a match between two sides who had wretched outings last Saturday. At least things should improve for one of them ! 

De Kuilen make their annual pilgrimage to the Porterville Sports Day at which they will be facing Bonnievale. Other games on the programme include Piketberg against Montana, Dirkie Uys versus Ceres newcomers Bella Vista and hosts Porterville, who ran in six tries in their 36-16 home victory over Goudini on Wednesday, taking on Vredendal.

Potentially the most interesting Boland fixture is in Clanwilliam where unbeaten Augsburg Gim welcome a Swartland side that trounced Strand last weekend. However, the Rockies appear to have injury concerns regarding several of their key players.

Montagu host vastly-improved Charlie Hofmeyr and Langenhoven High visit Robertson in two other enticing contests. Otherwise, it's Stellenbosch at home to Overberg, Hottentots Holland travelling to Hermanus, Hopefield welcoming Velddrif and Vredenburg rolling out the mat for Worcester Gym.

New Orleans and Klein Nederburg prepare for next week's derby with a trip to Emil Weder and a visit from Wesbank respectively. Both Paarl sides should end the day with their morale boosted.

Industrious Swellendam are taking a break this weekend. On Wednesday they whipped Ashton Secondary 33-0, with both wings, Waldo Thomas and Michael Jaftha, scoring twice. Next Wednesday the Swellies host Bonnievale in a massive local derby.

The Oakdale crunch-match apart, the pickings are pretty meagre in the South Western Cape unless you can make it to Mossel Bay where Punt take on PW Botha.

By Tony Stoops