Glenwood have mountain to climb

Glenwood go up and over the mighty Brandenburg from their subtropical paradise to the hard, brown Highveld, from Durban the 640 km to Bloemfontein where mighty Grey College lie in wait.

Last year Grey were to have played in Durban but snow on the Berg prevented their descent to the warm coast. This year it suggests that will be rainy and cold going over the Berg but dry and colder in Bloemfontein and no snow. The group going up to Bloemfontein is big - 26 rugby teams, 11 hockey teams plus golf, tennis, squash, table tennis, mountain biking and cross country teams and debating teams. It is a serious business taking place over two days for debating and cross country happen on the Thursday.

The last time Glenwood came to Bloemfontein they lost 28-6.

These are two of the very best rugby schools in South Africa, a match really worth attending.

Ranking

On the FNB Top 20, Grey College is ranked fourth, Glenwood 15th. That means that they are part of the schools rugby elite - with in the Top 20 amongst hundreds of rugby-playing schools. Year after year they are in the Top 20.

Season so Far

Grey College have played 17 matches, winning 15 and losing just to Outeniqua and Affies. In their 17 matches they have played against six Top 20 teams.

Glenwood have played 19 matches, winning 12 and losing eight. They have played against eight Top 20 teams. There is nothing soft about Glenwood; they take on the best anywhere.

Results against Common Opposition

Affies: Grey lost 37-31; Glenwood lost 53-23

Boland Landbou: Grey won 50-13; Glenwood won 36-13

Framesby: Grey won 36-9; Glenwood won 26-24

Monument: Grey won 13-8; Glenwood lost 26-20

Paarl Boys' High: Grey won 35-28; Glenwood won 17-15

Selborne: Grey won 41-5; Glenwood won 41-5

Representative Players

Grey's players are eligible for Free State, Glenwood's for KwaZulu Natal.

SA Schools

Grey: Ruan Kramer, EW Viljoen

Craven Week

Grey: EW Viljoen, Henry Immelman, Stephen Rautenbach, Julian Delicado, Heinrich Sander, Andries Kriek, Marius Louw, Casper Fourie, Ruan Kramer, Andrew du Plessis, Martin Wipplinger, Ruben Terblanché, De Wet Bezuidenhout

Glenwood: Kerron van Vuuren , Koos Tredoux, Ntokozo Vidima, Mzwandile Mazibuko, Jaco Coetzee, Sphamandla Ngcobo, Morné Joubert, Corné Vermaak

Academy Week

Grey: Carel Janse van Vuren, Alex Jonker, André Swarts, Wayne Wessels, Dian Badenhorst

Glenwood: T Tobejane, Lindo Ngcobo, Bradley Ellse, Curtis Jonas, Kwazi Khanyile, Jaco Coetzee, Waylon Hippolite, Seth van den Heever, Percy Mngadi, Dewaldt van Tonder

That adds up to 36 players who were at national Under-18 weeks this year.

The usual fullbacks on each side are exceptional players - EW Viljoen who is heading for Western Province, and Corné Vermaak, who is heading for the Free State. Both are players of remarkable, speed, skill and vision. Both are quick to counterattack. They are both players who can change the course of a match. Sadly, for this match, Viljoen will not be there as he is away playing for SA Schools.

Teams

Grey College: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Theo Ferreira, 13 Johan Nel, 12 Carl Durow, 11 Charl Pretorius, 10 Andre Swarts, 9 Heinrich Sander, 8 Alex Jonker, 7 Marius Louw (captain), 6 Luan Reynders, 5 Dewet Bezuidenhout, 4 Casper Fourie, 3 Callie JV Vuuren, 2 Martin Wipplinger, 1 Andrew du Plessis

Glenwood: 15 Corné Vermaak, 14 Morné Joubert, 13 Nkululeko Mcuma, 12 Akhona Nela, 11 Sphamandla Ngcobo, 10 Curtis Jonas, 9 Kwazi Khanyile, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Wandi Mazibuko, 6 Waylon Hippolite , 5 Seth van den Heever, 4 Ntokozo Vidima, 3 Koos Tredoux, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Percy Mngadi

Date: Friday, 9 August 2013

1st XV kick-off: 13.00

Venue: Grey College, Bloemfontein

Expected weather conditions: No rain is expected. Thursday is partly cloudy with a high of 14°C, droppin to -3°C. Friday is sunny and a degree warmer.

Rugby Programme

Main Field

07.45: Under-19E

09.00: Under-19D

10.15: Under-19C

11.30: Under-19B

13.00: Under-19A

Oval

07.45: Under-19H

09.00: Under-19I

10.15: Under-19F

11.30: Under-19G

Grey College A

07.45: Under-16C

09.00: Under-16A

10.15: Under-16B

11.30: Under-16D

 

Grey College B

07.45: Under-14A

09.00: Under-14C

10.15: Under-14B

11.30: Under-14D

Windmill A

07.45: Under-15A

09.00: Under-15C

10.15: Under-15B

11.30: Under-15D

Windmill B

07.45: Under-14E

09.00: Under-15E

10.15: Under-14F

11.30: Under-15F

Tommix

07.45: u16E