Landbou targets Boishaai scalp
PREVIEW: After powering their way to a Cape Town Southern Suburbs 'Grand Slam', Boland Landbou will fancy their chances against Paarl Boys High in what should be the clash of the weekend.
The schoolboy season is building to a crescendo, with only a few rounds remaining.
Most of the teams are playing for bragging rights this weekend, while others are building towards bigger clashes that could make or break their season.
@rugby365com looks ahead to some of the biggest match-ups this Saturday.
BOLAND LANDBOU V BOISHAAI
The power in the Western Cape has long resided in the Winelands.
This season, the Winelands sides have dominated their Cape Town Southern Suburbs counterparts – with Paul Roos and Paarl Gym winning all of their matches against Bishops, Rondebosch, SACS and Wynberg, and Boishaai prevailing in all but one fixture (a 27-30 loss to Wynberg at home).
Paul Roos completed a clean sweep of the Southern Suburbs teams when they thrashed Bishops 42-7 this past Saturday. Gimmies beat three of the four schools, with the recent match against Bishops cancelled due to inclement weather.
Meanwhile, Boland Landbou claimed a 'Grand Slam' of their own, when they beat Rondebosch 27-22 last week. According to Schoolboy Rugby Blog website, it's the first time the farmers have beaten all four of the 'big' Southern Suburbs schools since 2012.
Landbou could go one better this weekend if they beat Boishaai.
They've built up some momentum, having won their last five matches, and will be aiming to close out their season with the scalps of Boishaai, Paul Roos and Oakdale.
Landbou has stumbled at times this season, losing to Hilton, Helpmekaar and Monument, as well as sustaining a 13-47 defeat at the hands of Gimmies. They're yet to lose 'on the farm' though and may welcome the challenge of hosting Boishaai.
Boishaai may have a point to prove. While they are not as strong as Paul Roos, Grey College and Affies this season – having sustained losses in all three meetings with the top dogs – they may feel that they let themselves down in the loss to Wynberg.
A defeat to Landbou would prove a further setback, as they build towards the Paarl derby on 3 August.
Gimmies will play their final match before that derby – against Durbanville at home – this weekend.
KES V MARITZBURG COLLEGE
KES started their season well, winning seven of their first nine matches.
They've been less successful in their last four, drawing with Westville, losing to Affies and Jeppe, and claiming a solitary win against Pretoria Boys High.
KES will be looking to bounce back from the 13-23 loss to Jeppe when they host Maritzburg College in their final fixture on Saturday.
College, of course, will have their point to prove.
DHS has been the form side in KwaZulu-Natal this season and consolidated their position with a win over a strong Northwood side last week.
College has been less consistent. The coming game will present them with an opportunity, especially after a narrow win against Pretoria Boys last week.
Meanwhile, Pretoria Boys will host Affies – who have beaten all opponents in the Noordvaal region this season and are favourites to finish as the top of that particular pile.
WATERKLOOF V NOORDHEUWEL
After dominating for much of the season against relatively weaker opponents, Waterkloof was handed a 27-43 loss by Affies last week.
Waterkloof still has plenty to play for, though, as the front-runners for the Noordvaal Cup title. They will play their last home match this weekend and should be determined to make the advantage count against Noordheuwel.
If Waterkloof slips up, EG Jansen – who sit in second place on the Noordvaal Cup log – could move ahead in the standings, providing that they beat Rustenburg, who are in sixth place.
The clash between Monument (third) and Garsfontein (fourth) could also influence the rankings.
SELBORNE V DALE
Selborne has enjoyed a relatively good season to date, winning nine of their 13 games.
They were competitive in the losses to Pretoria Boys and Grey College and may come to lament the two defeats to Queen's College.
They will have the opportunity to bounce back when they host Dale College this weekend.
Dale has been wildly inconsistent this season, losing eight of their 13 games.
That said, they did beat Grey High 32-25 earlier this season and lost 28-29 in their most recent meeting with Selborne.
Meanwhile, Queen's will be aiming to add another Eastern Cape scalp to their collection when they host Graeme College this Saturday. They last beat Graeme in 2019.
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