Neighbours Clash in Graaff-Reinet

Volkskool and Union High are neighbours in Graaff-Reinet who meet in an FNB Classic Clash on Saturday in the Jewel of the Karroo, Graaff-Reinet, a lovely down amidst mountains.

That two schools are next to each other at the foot of a hill. Being next to each other adds spice to their annual derby matches. There have even been occasions on the past where they have picked a combined team to play bigger schools.

The fact that they get on really well with each other certain seems to add an edge, but mercifully it is an wholesome, sporting edge.

One is English-speaking, the other Afrikaans-speaking but they are both schools that run from start to finish (Grade 1 to Grade 12), and that shows in their rugby, for the interschools starts with six-year olds on Friday morning.

In the last five years Union High won three times and there were two draws. Volkskool will be eager to get a better look-in. Last years match was a draw  6-all but described as a thrilling match.

Season so Far

Union High have played 16 matches, winning six and losing ten.

Volkskool have played 12, winning and losing six.

Results against Common Opponents

Stirling: Union High won 22-14; Volkskool won 21-12

Winterberg: Union High won 26-10; Volkskool won 27-21

Cradock: Union High lost 22-5; Volkskool won 21-20

Sentraal (Beaufort West): Union High won 29-17; Volkskool lost 14-12

Representative Players

Both teams' players are eligible for Eastern Province Country Districts. Volkskool had greater representation.

Craven Week

Volkskool: Erwin Ittershagen-Strauss, Phillip Crouse, Tiaan van Solms

Union High:  Kwezi Ansah

Academy Week

Volkskool:  Dirk Louw, Antonie de Beer

Union High: -

Experience

Volkskool have seven of their 2013 team back, Union High two.

Volkskool:  Heinrich Cloete,  Tiaan van Solms,  Erwin Ittershagen-Strauss, Phillip Crouse, Ryno de Klerk, Stephan Bezuidenhoudt, Antonie de Beer.

Union High: Lunathi Makinana,  who was a scrumhalf last year but a flyhalf this year, Joshua Harpur

Teams

Volkskool: 15 Jean Lottering, 14 K Hoffman, 13 Chris Pietersen, 12 Heinrich Cloete, 11 Rowyn Lamont, 10 Tiaan von Solms, 9 Z Carolus, 8 Dirk Louw, 7 Arnu Grasman, 6 Erwin Ittershagen-Strauss (captain), 5 Phillip Crouse, 4 Ryno de Klerk, 3 Francois van Rooyen, 2 Stephan Bezuidenhoudt, 1 Antonie de Beer

Union High: 15 Lihle de Beer, 14 Kyle Minnaar, 13 K Thsuni, 12 Ace Mali, 11 Kwezi Ansah, 10 Lunathi Makinana, 9 Tagon Jackson, 8 Siba Maqethuka, 7 Phillip Nel, 6 Kukhanyile Mali, 5 Dylan Ford, 4 Josh Harpur, 3 Brian Welman, 2 Juan van der Merwe, 1 Lubabalo Menzi

Date: Saturday, 16 August 2014

1st XV kick-off: 16.00

Venue:  Botanical Gardens Sportsfields (Botanics), Park Street, Graaff-Reinet

Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 21°C and a low of 10°C

Rugby Programme

Friday, 15 August 2014

Laer Volkskool

11.30: Batman & Spiderman

12.30: Under-7A (10-a-side)

13.00: Under-8A

13.30: Under-9A

14.05: Under-11B

14.45: Under-13C

15.30: Under-13B

Saterdag 16 Augustus

Botanics

08.30: Under-11 A

09.20: Under-13A

10.20: Under-14A

12.30: Under-15A

13.30: Under-16A

14.30: 2nd XV

16.00: 1st XV

Results Down the Years

1922: Draw 0-0

1926: Volkskool won 53-3

1928: Volkskool won 15-0 and 22-7

1931: Union High won 14-6

1932: Union High won 17-12 and 3-0

1933: Volkskool won 15-7 and 3-0

1934: Volkskool won 8-0 and 12-6

1935: Volkskool won 12-3 and Draw 0-0

1936: Volkskool won 14-3 and Union High won 13-8

1937: Volkskool won 6-0 and 6-0

1938: Draw 3-3 and Volkskool won 17-0

1939: Union High won 7-3 and 13-3

1940: Union High won 19-3 and 11-0

1941: Volkskool won 8-6 and Union High won 6-0

1942: Union High won 3-0 and 6-0

1943: Volkskool won 8-0 and 18-0

1944: Volkskool won 38-6 and 21-0

1945: Volkskool won 20-3 and 18-3

1946: Volkskool won 14-0 and 8-0

1947: Volkskool won 31-0 and 14-3

1948: Draw 3-3 and Volkskool won 3-0

1949: Volkskool won 8-3 and 6-3

1950: Draw 3-3 and Volkskool won 3-0

1951: Draw 14-14 and Union High won 6-3

1952: Draw 8-8 and Draw 3-3

1953: Volkskool won 8-3 and 9-6

1954: Volkskool won 12-0 and Draw 0-0

1955: Volkskool won 6-3 and 9-6

1956: Volkskool won 12-3 and Union High won 3-0

1957: Draw 0-0 and Union High won 19-5

1958: Union High won 6-0 and 6-0

1959: Union High won 3-0 and Volkskool won 9-0

1960: Union High won 14-9 and 14-3

1961: Volkskool won 13-6 and Union High won 16-8

1962: Union High won 6-5 and Draw 3-3

1963: Volkskool won 19-6 and Union High won 8-6

1964: Draw 8-8 and Draw 6-6

1965: Draw 6-6 and Volkskool won 14-6

1966: Union High won 14-0 and Volkskool won 16-0

1967: Volkskool won 8-3 and 9-0

1968: Union High won 6-0 and Volkskool won 11-6

1969: Union High won 17-3 and 14-6

1970: cancelled for flu

1971: Union High won 22-0

1972: Volkskool won 4-3

1973: Union High won 18-6

1974: Volkskool won 10-0

1975: Union High won 9-6

1976: Union High won 10-6

1977: Volkskool won 31-3

1978: Union High won 14-3

1979: Draw 16-16

1981: Volkskool won 18-3

1982: Volkskool won 4-0

1983: Draw 11-11

1984: Volkskool won 14-6

1985: Volkskool won 16-4

1986: Volkskool won 6-3

1987: Union High won 9-6

1988: Volkskool won 22-7

1989: Union High won 10-9

1990: Volkskool won 6-4

1991: Volkskool won 9-7

1992: Volkskool won 15-6

1993: Volkskool won 23-3

1994: Volkskool won 31-16

1995: Volkskool won 22-7

1996: Volkskool won 36-0

1997: Union High won 10-3

1998: Volkskool won 18-15

1999: Union High won 13-10

2000: Union High won 13-0

2001: Volkskool won 18-5

2002: Volkskool won 19-18

2003: Union High won 26-14

2004: Draw 16-16

2005: Volkskool won 32-27

2006: Union High won 30-3

2007: Union High won 18-16

2008: Volkskool won 32-8

2009: Draw 12-12

2010: Union High won 25-15

2011: Union High won 16-6

2012: Union High won 13-8

2013: Draw 6-6