Preview: Oakdale vs Marlow

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:06:00 +0200

The Clash of the Farmers, this week's FNB Classic Clash, Oakdale vs Marlow, Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale of Riversdale vs Hoër Landbou Marlow of Cradock, the Bulle against the Wolramme. This year's clash is in Riversdale.

They are both small schools - Oakdale with roughly 360, Marlow with roughly 260 - but they are all boarders.

They are also farm boys, relishing in physical activity. Rugby suits them perfectly and they achieve far, far more than their size suggests. The same is true for Boland Landbou. All three are able to mix it with the best in the land and all three travel a lot to do so. Marlow will get in a bus and drive some 650 km to get to Oakdale.

This year's FNB Classic Clash will be a highlight in the season of these two sides. Like meeting like always had a bit extra to it. Marlow had a great side last year and beat Oakdale in the Cradock mud 19-10. They have not been doing as well this year though they had a good (19-14) win over Boland Landbou and another recently over Queen's in Cradock (25-12). Of their 13 matches they have won six and lost seven. Marlow have been improving this year.

Oakdale have played 14, won nine and lost five. Their win over top opponents was as a 9-8 defeat of Outeniqua. They have easier access to opponents than Marlow have.

Both schools are thoroughly admirable.

Oakdale have a formidable pack, all eight of whom have played representative rugby, including prop Nicol du Plessis and flank JJ du Toit who were at Craven Week. Both half backs, Ivan Ludick and Christian Rust, were also at Craven Week for South Western Districts. Christiaan Rust is normally a centre but moved to flyhalf when Meyer Hauptfleisch broke his ankle preseason. Christiaan Rust had to take over the kicking as Meyer Hauptfleisch is only now making his way back and is on the bench for Saturday.

Marlow now fall under Eastern Province Country Districts as Eastern Province is confined to the coastal area, roughly from Port Alfred to Humansdorp. Flank Ricky van Straaten, eighthman Paul Schoeman and right-wing Deswell van der Berg made the side for Craven Week.

Clearly it will be a tough match for both sides with home advantage favouring Oakdale.

The teams:

Marlow: 15 Rocco Prinsloo, 14 Deswell van der Berg, 13 Lodewickus van Zyl, 12 Lood de Jager, 11 Robert Brunsdon, 10 Marlou van Niekerk, 9 Kobie van der Walt, 8 Paul Schoeman, 7 Bennie Kitching, 6 Ricky van Straaten, 5 Henfred Linde, 4 Wessel Potgieter, 3 Nardus Rademeyer (captain), 2 Hermanus Bekker, 1 Arnold Fouché.
Replacements: 16 Ilandre Waters, 17 BJ van der Merwe, 18 Johan van der Vyver, 19 Mellville Gravett, 20 Daniël Holmes, 21 Erenst van der Westhuizen, 22 Louis Snyman.

Coaches: Jaco Beukes, Neels Dreyer

Oakdale: 15 Ryno Wepener, 14 Wentzel Lombard, 13 Michael Bernard, 12 Francois van der Vyver, 11 JP de Jager, 10 Christian Rust, 9 Ivan Ludick (captain), 8 Christopher Richardson, 7 JJ du Toit, 6 Leon Bredenhandt, 5 Ruan Snyman, 4 Tienie van Wyk, 3 Nicol du Plessis, 2 JJ Botha, 1 Pieter Badenhorst.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Steyn, 17 Dawid Malan, 18 Wynand Fourie, 19 HW Potgieter, 20 Christian Willemse, 21 Meyer Haupfleish, 22 Dewald de Lange.

Coaches: Willie Janse van Rensburg, Pine Marais, Thys Rall

Date: 31 July 2010
Kick-off: 14.00
Venue: Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale, Riversdale
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 21°C and a light westerly wind - a good day for rugby.
Referee: Grant Riddels (SWD Referees' Society)