Fierce onslaught expected from Graeme as rivals clash
ONE of the Eastern Cape’s most famous derbies heads the schools rugby programme when St Andrew’s host Graeme College on Lower Field in Grahamstown tomorrow.
Now billed as an FNB Classic Clash, the rivalry between the two schools stretches back to 1878 when Graeme won by a try to a goal.
Since then it has been a day of high intensity and, although Graeme have had their moments, St Andrew’s have been the dominant force.
Since the results were recorded from 1922, St Andrew’s have won 74 and Graeme 22, with six draws.
That trend has continued in the last decade, with Graeme’s only success since their win in 2007 coming three years ago in a close 24-20 result.
The home team will again go into the match as strong favourites, but they will know to expect nothing less than the fiercest onslaught from the Graemians.
Fresh from an overseas tour and a solid 31-15 win against Durban High School, St Andrew’s will be keen to maintain the form they showed last year when they went through the season unbeaten in the Eastern Cape.
A Graeme win would buck the odds, but derbies have a way of throwing up those sorts of surprises.
Meanwhile, another major rivalry resumes in Uitenhage when Brandwag pop across the valley to take on Daniel Pienaar.
In this FNB Classic Clash, it is difficult to see the home side changing the pattern of the last decade in which Brandwag have won nine matches.
The only DP win since 2008 came in 2012 with a 28-23 scoreline.
Their results this year suggest another win for Brandwag, who have lost just two of 10 matches, while Daniel Pienaar have a losing sequence of seven matches since beating Florida in the St John’s Easter Festival.
In Queenstown, both Queen’s and Grey High will be out to prove a point in their clash on the Rec ground.
Before last weekend’s Grey Festival they were well beaten in inter-schools matches, Grey losing 43-8 to Paul Roos Gym and the Queenians being trounced 54-0 by Selborne.
Queen’s are a tough unit at home. and it could go down to the wire.
In Port Elizabeth, Westering will be looking to use home-ground advantage when they host cross-town rivals Victoria Park, while Woodridge will want to extend the good form they showed in the Grey Festival when they travel to Alexander Road.
This weekend’s fixtures, subject to change, are (home teams first, 11.30am start unless stated): Alexander Road v Woodridge (12.00), Cillie v Andrew Rabie, Daniel Pienaar v Brandwag (12.10), St Andrew’s v Graeme (3pm), Queen’s v Grey (3pm), Humansdorp v Otto du Plessis, John Walton v Molly Blackburn, Jim Fouche v Marlow, Solomon Mahlangu v Ndzondelelo, Nico Malan v Muir (1.30pm), Westering v VP (12.30), Bertram v Arcadia, Pearson v Despatch (2.15pm), Kingswood v Hudson Park (1.30pm), Volkskool v DF Malherbe (1pm)