CC: Up in Limpopo

We go right to the north of South Africa  for this FNB Classic Clash on Saturday - Ben Vorster of Tzaneen against Hoërskool Pietersburg of Polokwane.

Ben Vorster go south for the match. In fact there is no other direction they can go for a Classic Clash.

They were originally have played against Merensky in a Northern Limpopo derby - as far north as you can get in Far North - but Merensky withdrew and so Pietersburg have stepped enthusiastically in.

That is good as it gives the two schools the chance to get on good terms. They have not always been on good terms - not after three of their players went north to the Vossies and not when Pietersburg marched off the field in 2009 in protest against the refereeing. This Classic Clash may just be the right medicine for better relationships.

In earlier times when Pietersburg was a 'Macro School' Pietersburg and  Ben Vorster played friendlies and Pietersburg usually won. From 2008 on Vossies have had the better of exchanges, losing only in 2010. Last year the Vossies beat the Pieties 50-24.

Both schools play strong opposition and travel far to do so. This year Ben Vorster, for example, have played Potchefstroom, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Wellington and Port Elizabeth teams - apart from others. Pietersburg played teams from Johannesburg, Vereeniging and Mpumalanga.

Ben Vorster have developed into one of the strongest schools in South Africa, just below the Top 20 on the FNB Top 20 ranking. They are well represented at provincial weeks, playing for Limpopo Blue Bulls - Far North in days gone by. Last year they had 11 in the Craven Week side to Pietersburg's three. This year Ben Vorster have 13.

Five of Ben Vorster who were Craven Week in 2011 are back in the Ben Vorster side - Trevor Nkwamba, who was a hooker at the 2011 Craven Week but is at loosehead this year), lock Anton du Toit, outside centre  Don Mlondobozi, wing Viljoen Dreyer and wing Grant Pinto who speaks Portuguese, Afrikaans and English but no indigenous African language, which sometimes frustrates him when people assume he does! Neither Du Toit nor Mlondobozi will go to CW, as they both turn 19 this year; Du Toit recently played in his 50th first team game.

There are a few players from the 2011 Grant Khomo team as well - locks Erick van Niekerk and Floyd Ntimane and centre Matjikenjane "Jinx" Malopo. Pietersburg have four in their 22 who were at the Grant Khomo Week last year - Mogau Mabokela, Madot Mabokela, Friederich Cilliers and Anston Mokgokolo.

And, by the way,  Edri Vorster is the great-grandson of Ben Vorster after whom the school was named when it was opened in 1962.

Teams

Pietersburg: 15 Ruan Steynberg, 14 Selebale Maatli, 13 Arno Archer, 12 Jaco Retief (vice-captain), 11 Arno van Staden, 10 Lehan Viljoen, 9 Charles van der Walt, 8 Rinus Bezuidenhout, 7 Juandré Viljoen, 6 Vince Fibiger, 5 Sipho Siboza (captain), 4 Jacques de Lange, 3 Mogau Mabokela, 2 Wiaan Pretorius, 1 Stephan Kruger
Replacements: 16 Madot Mabokela, 17 PJ Malan, 18 Du-Rand Viljoen, 19 Villa Viljoen, 20 Friederich Cilliers, 21 Jako Ferreira, 22 Anston Mokgokolo

Coaches: Coach: Tiaan Lee, Everard Bye

Ben Vorster: 15 Marcel Steyn, 14 Grant Pinto, 13 Don Mlondobozi, 12 Jinx Malapo, 11 Viljoen Dreyer, 10 Edri Vorster, 9 Andries Welgemoed, 8 DeWet Botha (captain), 7 Christopher Durow, 6 Awie Engelbrecht, 5 Erik van Niekerk, 4 Anton du Toit , 3 Jacques Louw, 2 Willie van Vuuren, 1 Trevor Nkwamba 
Replacements: 16 Mauritz Joubert, 17 Rudolf Boshoff, 18 Floyd Ntimane, 19 Schoeman Mynhardt, 0.Theo Maree, 21 LeRoy Ndlovu, 22 Adriaan Maebane, 23 Arno Maree

Coach: Abndre Hay

Date: Saturday, 19 May 2012
Kick-off: 12.40
Venue: Hoërskool Pietersburg
Expected weather conditions:
Referee: Danie Pita

Programme for 19 May 2012

A Field

08.00: Under-14A
09.00: Under-15A
10.00: Under-16A
11.15: 2nd XV
12.40: 1st XV

B Field

08.00: 3rd XV
09.00: Under-16B
10.00: Under-14B
11.15: Under-15B