Bishops go to Grahamstown
It is a gathering of church schools - two Anglican and one methodist. In days of yore Bishops would play three matches in Grahamstown, the third against Catholic St Aidan's, which is no more. Grahamstown really is a city of churches and schools.
St Andrew's first met in 1896 but it did not really become an annual fixture till 1921 when travelling was easier and Bishops went to Grahamstown. That was also the first year that Bishops played Kingswood, which was eight years before they played Paarl Boys' High and Paarl Gim.
St Andrew's and Bishops have a great deal in common - both Anglican foundations in the mid-19th century, both with the same sort of staff, pupils and ethos though St Andrew's is almost entirely boarding and has much smaller numbers than Bishops which has grown greatly in recent years.
There are lots of happy ghosts who will flutter around Lower Field on Saturday - Lower Field which has been College's main sports field since 1898. There will also be happy ghosts down at the Albany Club at this time.
Bishops have won more often than St Andrew's if that matters. The last time St Andrew's won was in 2013. This was followed by three Bishops victories.
Matches in days gone by were played in mid season. Now the schools have each played just one match. Last Saturday St Andrew's beat Hudson Park 31-7 and Bishops beat Piketberg 34-10.
Bishops no longer come to St Andrew's with just the 1st XV and a dance afterwards. Now there are five teams.
Programme for the Day
All matches are played on Lower Field
09.00: Under-14A
10.00: Under-15A
11.00: Under-16A
13.40: 2nd XV
15.00: 1st XV
Of the teams that met last year Matt More and Jason Brown are back for St Andrew's, Rob Macdonald for Bishops
Teams
St Andrew's: 15 Sean Varty, 14 Jack Allanson, 13 Ant More, 12 Matt More, 11 Byron Sharwood (vice-captain), 10 Murray Wilson, 9 Oscar Evans, 8 Robert Quarmby, 7 Zadok Makani, 6 Graham De Vos, 5 Jason Brown, 4 Christian Roebert, 3 Callum Dugmore, 2 Dean Jenkins (captain), 1 Chulumanco Mngxaso
Bishops: 15 James Ipser, 14 Ross Goodwin, 13 George Spencer, 12 Robert Macdonald (captain), 11 Murray Bruce, 10 Aydan Labuschagne, 9 William Rose, 8 Felix Burt (vice-captain), 7 Matt Norton, 6 Justin Muller, 5 Aidan Neill, 4 Ross Doyle, 3 David Courie, 2 Ghaalieb Kenny, 1 Benjamin Nel
Replacements: 16 Terrence Pettersson, 17 Reece Meyer, 18 Tim Sharples, 19 Matt du Plessis
Date: Saturday, 1 April 2017
1st XV kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Lower Field, St Andrew's
Results Down the Years
1896: Bishops won 5-0
1898: Bishops won 9-0
1903: Bishops won 5-0
1921: St Andrew's won 15-0
1922: Bishops won 18-3
1923: Bishops won 3-0
1924: Draw 8-8
1925: Bishops won 3-0
1926: St Andrew's won 28-0
1927: Draw 3-3
1928: Bishops won 11-3
1929: Bishops won 20-9
1930: Bishops won 23-6
1931: Bishops won 16-0
1932: Bishops won 13-12
1933: St Andrew's won 9-8
1934: St Andrew's won 21-3
1935: St Andrew's won 6-5
1936: Bishops won 24-0
1937: Bishops won 8-6
1938: Draw 3-3
1939: St Andrew's won 16-0
1940-45: World War II
1946:: Draw 11-11
1947: Bishops won 8-6
1948: Bishops won 9-3
1949: Bishops won 6-3
1950: Bishops won 14-0
1951: St Andrew's won 5-3
1952: Bishops won 3-0
1953: St Andrew's won 28-0
1954: Bishops won 14-3
1955: Bishops won 8-3
1956: Draw 3-3
1957: St Andrew's won 9-6
1958: Bishops won 6-3
1959: St Andrew's won 16-3
1960: St Andrew's won 25-0
1961: Bishops won 11-5
1962: Bishops won 8-3
1963: St Andrew's won 11-3
1964: Bishops won 19-12
1965: Bishops won 3-0
1966: St Andrew's won 12-8
1967: St Andrew's won 6-0
1968: Bishops won 11-9
1969: St Andrew's won 17-3
1970: St Andrew's won 8-6
1971: St Andrew's won 6-3
1972: Bishops won 10-3
1973: Bishops won 12-11
1974: Bishops won 12-0
1975: St Andrew's won 15-0
1976: Bishops won 19-9
1977: Bishops won 41-3
1978: St Andrew's won 9-4
1979: Bishops won 49-3
1980: Bishops won 9-3
1981: Bishops won 18-6
1982: Bishops won 25-12
1983: Bishops won 23-12
1984: Bishops won 13-12
1985: No match
1986: Bishops won 30-3
1987: Bishops won 11-3
1988: Bishops won 50-6
1989: Bishops won19-9
1990: St Andrew's won 15-4
1991: Bishops won 19-16
1992: Bishops won 41-17
1993: Bishops won 21-18
1994: Bishops won 30-21
1995: No match
1996: Bishops won 18-12
1997: St Andrew's won 47-17
1998: St Andrew's won 20-19
1999: Bishops won 27-20
2000: St Andrew's won 18-17
2001: St Andrew's won 19-15
2002: Bishops won 27-8
2003: Draw 12-12
2004: St Andrew's won 10-8
2005: St Andrew's won 28-10
2006: Bishops won 41-6
2007: No match
2008: Bishops won 64-18
2009: Bishops won 17-12
2010: Bishops won 25-24
2011: Bishops won 26-22
2012: St Andrew's won 19-16
2013: St Andrew's won 28-21
2014: Bishops won 39-15
2015: Bishops won 35-33
2016: Bishops won 27-17
Played: 90
Bishops won 58
Drawn: 6
St Andrew's won 26