Aliwal host Hangklip in Classic Clash

On Saturday it's Hoërskool Hangklip's turn to travel the 160 km from Queenstown to Aliwal north on the Orange River to play Hoërskool Aliwal-Noord in an FNB Classic Clash - a meeting of country cousins on pretty equal terns.

Hangklip won at the death in Aliwal North in 2010 but last year Aliwal-Noord hammered them in Queenstown. This suggests that home ground is not such an advantage.

Hangklip believe that they have a better side than the one they had last year. The present team is more united and has a better spirit. They believe that their forwards could be decisive in the winning of the match.

Aliwal-Noord have not been having a great year and believe that it could be a while still before they are back to their usual strength.

The season's results:

Aliwal-Noord play more towards the Bloemfontein while Hangklip, in Border, play more towards East London.

Hangklip have played seven, winning three. Aliwal-Noord have played 11, winning four. The only opponents they have in common are Volkskool of Graaff-Reinet with very different results.

Volkskool (Graaff-Reinet) beat Aliwal-Noord 17-5

Hangklip beat Volkskool Graaff-Reinet 26-19

That suggests the upperhand for Hangklip.

Player experience:

Hangklip have three players back from last year's fixture - wing Chessry Solomons and locks Morné Hartzenberg, who is a flank this year, and Armand Pieterse, who is the captain this year.

Aliwal-Noord have four back from last year's victorious side - fullback Martin Bezuidenhout, centre Jan Adam Watkins, flyhalf Willem Venter, flank Marko Kruger and their captain Glen Pletzen, a hooker last year but an eighthman this year.

That suggests the upperhand for Aliwal-Noord.

Player achievement:

Hangklip are in Border and have one player who went to Craven Week - scrumhalf Justin Bell.

Aliwal-Noord had two players in the Eastern Province Country Districts team at Craven Week - Nicholaas Poone, who is not in Saturday's team, and Glen van Pletzen. They also had two players at the Academy Week - hooker Zenande Mpalisa and lock Vuyo Jam.

That suggests the upperhand for Aliwal-Noord.

The teams:

Hangklip: 15 François Rossouw, 14 Kululekani Duna, 13 Andrich Friebe, 12 Tiaan Smuts, 11 Chessry Solomons, 10 Riaan Pretorius, 9 Justin Bell, 8 Amber Coetzee, 7 Wiehan le Roux, 6 Morné Hartzenberg, 5 CJ Dempsy, 4 Armand Pieterse (captain), 3 Dillan McCaskill, 2 Hendrik Voogt, 1 Isak Maartens.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Jonker, 17 Ruben Mattheus, 18 Stefan de Kock, 19 Darren Williams, 20 Dane Flusk, 21 Marcel Borman.

Coaches: Willem Basson, Jannie Rossouw, Phillip Smith

Aliwal-Noord: 15 Martin Bezuidenhout, 14 Thembelani Kojana, 13 Jan-Adam Watkins, 12 Riques Jooste, 11 Aphiwe Dinga, 10 Willem Venter, 9 Wihan Schmidt, 8 Glen van Pletzen (captain), 7 Marko Kruger, 6 Jovaan Cloete, 5 Conraad Potgieter, 4 Vuyo Jam, 3 Arno Naudé, 2 Zenande Mpalisa, 1 Shannon Jantjies.

Date: Saturday, 21 July (2012)

Kick-off: 14.00

Venue: Hoërskool Aliwal-Noord

Expected weather: Partly coudy with a high of 17°, dropping to -1°

Rugby programme:

A Field

08.30: Under-11A

09.30: Under-14A

10.20: Under-15A

11.25: Under-13A

12.20: Second XV

14.00: First XV

B Field

08.30: Under-7A

08.55: Under-13B

09.30: Under-11B

10.30: Under-9A

11.30: Third XV