Top derbies set for high intrigue
Schools renew rivalry with exciting play on cards
SCHOOL rivalries kick into high gear this weekend as rugby season officially gets up and running this weekend with some tasty Border derbies.
From an East London angle, the biggest match on offer will be the first of two derby meetings between massive co-ed rivals Hudson Park High and Cambridge.
Hudson did the double over Cambridge last season, so Cambridge will be going all out to get the win and some bragging rights.
Hudson are well and truly into the rugby season having already played five matches.
They started with two losses, going down 14-8 to Dale College and then 36-5 to Nico Malan.
Two wins in a row – 12-10 against Pearson and then 16-11 against Muir – were offset by their 20-8 loss against Pretoria Boys in their last match.
Cambridge have played only two matches so far winning both, a 17-7 victory over Hangklip and then a 23-12 win against Pearson.
Form however should not play a major role in the result as the passion and intense rivalry between the two sides should bring out the best in both teams.
In arguably the major clash on the Border, Queen’s College welcome Selborne College to Queenstown for their annual derby.
Last year spoils were even as Queen’s and Selborne claimed a win apiece and this match should be very exciting.
Selborne look to have the upper hand heading into the match however having enjoyed an unbeaten start to their season racking up four wins on the bounce.
An 85-0 mauling of Stirling was followed up with wins of 33-20, 20-11 and 55-10 over Framesby, King Edwards School and Pearson respectively.
Queen’s have, in stark contrast, had a horrible start to the season with three losses and just one win.
They opened with a 22-15 loss to Grens before beating Kingswood 15-10.
They then went down 18-3 to Michaelhouse and were swept aside 27-7 by Westville.
Selborne will thus head into the match as slight favourites but with Queen’s playing in front of a home crowd at the REC, anything can happen.
Two intriguing battles will then round out the main weekend derbies with Grens taking on Dale and Stirling up against Port Rex.
Grens are a relatively unknown quantity and surprised everyone a few weeks ago with an entertaining victory over Queen’s.
They lost to Fichardtpark 36-15 in their opening match but followed that up with the stunning upset win over Queen’s and will be champing at the bit to account for another College.
Dale however are in top form having won all five of their matches so far.
They have accounted for De Vos Malan 53-0, Hudson Park 14-8, Graeme College 22-13, Windhoek Gim 39-12 and Parktown 35-0 and will be going all out to add Grens to the list of casualties.
Stirling will then be fronting up against Port Rex in a very interesting clash.
Both sides have only played one match to date but had markedly different starts to the season.
Stirling were crushed by Selborne while Port Rex thumped the Caltex Raptors 41-7.
Their opposition however could not be more different as Stirling were up against possibly the strongest team on the Border while Port Rex started off against one of the weaker sides in East London.