CC: Maritzburg College vs Kearsney
Maritzburg College play Kearsney College on Goldstone's at Maritzburg College in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday.
It will be a lustrous occasion. If 277 rugby matches and 15 hockey matches were not enough it is Reunion Day at College and the place will be teeming with spirit - the great love for the old place that brings Old Boys backs and the enthusiasm of the present boys to grace the occasion with the comforting assurance to the Old Boys that the old place has lost none of its vigour and determination.
And then on top of it all the match will be broadcast live, and the broadcast of school matches in South Africa has a huge viewer ship.
The weight of history is very much with College. The two schools started playing in 1943 when Maritzburg College went down to Kearsney and won. The next year Kearsney came up to College and won, but winning for Kearsney has indeed been rare.
In theory the two teams this year are close indeed. Kearney are now 19th on the FNB Top 20, Maritzburg College 20th, but Kearsney have dropped to 19th, College risen to 20th. They could be passing each other.
Maritzburg College have played 11 matches, losing only to Paul Roos, KES and Michaelhouse. Kearsney have played 13, losing to Affies, Paul Roos and Hilton and drawing with Nico Malan of Humansdorp. Kearsney had good wins over Queen's and Glenwood. College had good wins over Grey PE, Hilton and Westville.
Against common opponents:
Paul Roos: Kearsney lost 30-210, Maritzburg College 22-21
Hilton: Kearsney lost 13-6; Maritzburg College won 24-14
Northwood: Kearsney won 49-6, Maritzburg College 43-6
DHS: Kearsney won 27-21, Maritzburg College 20-0
Kearsney have three players who were in the KwaZulu Natal Craven Week wide in 2011 - the Du Preez brothers, Daniel and Jean-Luc, and outside centre Sandile Kubheka. They have three sons of Springboks in their side - the two De Preez and Matthew Reece-Edwards, the scrumhalf son of Hugh, a burly fullback. The Du Preez twins are both forwards, son of scrumhalf Robert.
Maritzburg College have their twins - the Kriels, Jesse at fullback and Daniel at centre, both powerful, game-changing players. Sadly Daniel is injured and will not be playing against Kearsney.
On the surface it seems that the weight of emotion and history will be on the side of Maritzburg College while Kearsney will have the weight of top players. But it could still be that the weight - and strength - of the College forwards could have the last say.
The match will be televised live on Supersport 1 - SS1, 201.
The teams:
Maritzburg College: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Marcel Coetzee, 13 Richard Bamber, 12 Murray Janse van Rensburg, 11 Banele Ngwenya, 10 Lukas Booysen, 9 Josh Rencken, 8 Reegan Smith (captain), 7 Cameron Christie, 6 Jacque Conradie, 5 Robert Kamhoot, 4 Everett Pieterse, 3 Mvelo Khumalo, 2 Vuyo Khathide, 1 Alex Cahill.
Replacements: 16 Tyron Maher, 17 Jonathan Grobler, 18 Seko Buthelezi, 19 James Smith, 20 Kelvin Elder, 21 Thato Molelekoa, 22 Cyle Muil.
Coaches: Ryan Strudwick, Steve Botha
Kearsney College: 15 Joshua Devine, 14 Dean Seals, 13 Sandile Kubheka, 12 Tyler Smith, 11 Isolethu Ngidi, 10 Tristan Tedder, 9 Matthew Reece-Edwards, 8 Ayron Schramm, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jarred Hayes-Hill, 5 Daniel du Preez, 4 Jayson Hirshovitz, 3 Mthunzi Moloi, 2 Roy Meaker, 1 Jono Deighton (captain).
Replacements: 16 Biaggo Pelliccia, 17 Ben Karnezos, 18 Sean Kelly, 19 Guy Francis, 20 Blair Cremer, 21 Travis Pears.
Coaches: Barend Steyn, Francois Lubbe
Date: 2 June, 2012
Kick-off: 15.00
Television broadcast: SuperSport One
Venue, Goldstone's, Maritsburg College
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 23°C, dropping to 9°C
Rugby Programme, 2 June 2012:
Goldstone's
10.00: 5th XV
11.10: 4th XV
12.20: 3rd XV
13.30: 2nd XV
15.00: 1st XV
Nicholson's
10.00: 9th XV
11.10: 8th XV
12.20: 7th XV
13.30: 6th XV vs St Patricks
Snow's
10.00: U14A
11.00: U15A
12.00: U16B
13.10: U16A
Lamond's
10.00: U15B
11.00: U15C
12.00: U15F vs Kearsney D
13.00: U16C
Leach's
10.00: U14C
11.00: U16D
12.00: U14B
13.00: U14F vs Kearsney D
At Hilton
Midweek: U15G vs Hilton E
Falcon
09.00: U14D vs DHS
At St Charles:
Conway
09.00: U16C vs St Charles B
11.00: U15C vs St Charles U16C
12.00: 15E vs St Charles C
Smith
10.00: U14E vs St Charles C