Noord-Kaap off to Cradock
Noord-Kaap trek from Kimberley to Cradock to Marlow for Saturday's rugby. All the teams will make the 490km journey for their matches.
Last year Noord-Kaap won the battle between the two strong rugby 1st XVs 27-16 but that was in Kimberley.
This will be Noord-Kaap's fourth match after beating Klerksdorp 33-5, Lichtenburg 60-7 and Welkom Gymnasium 36-24 in Bloemfontein last week. Welkom Gym are a strong side this year as they have the players from the Griffons Academy in their team.
Last weekend at the Fichardtpark Rugby Day Marlow also played a Welkom side, beating Goudveld 24-12.
Ten of the Noord-Kaap 1st XV squad turn 19 this year, six 17. Three of them were in the Griquas team at last year's Craven Week - Boetie Bowers, who played for Boland at the Grant Khomo Week, Brandon de Melim and Mot Holtzhausen who played for Griquas at Under-13, Under-16 and for two years at Under-18. Flyhalf Cleo Adams played for Boland at Last year's Craven Week. He was then at Schoonspruit in Malmesbury. Zwayne Farmer was also at school in Malmesbury, Hoërskool Swartland, when he played for Boland at the 2014 Academy Week. Prop Arthur Jones played last year for Limpopo when he was at Hans Strijdom in Naboomspruit which is now officially called Mookgophong.
Noord-Kaap 1st XV: 15 Wilfred Bowers, 14 Gladwin Niewenhuysen, 13 Zayne Farmer, 12 Howard Lottering, 11 Cameron Hufke, 10 Cleo Adams, 9 Brandon De Melim (captain), 8 Gerhard Holtzhausen (vice-captain), 7 Willbritte Uys, 6 Duan Steenkamp, 5 Lihan Viljoen, 4 Rian Kotze, 3 Arthur Jones, 2 Jahnu Pieterse, 1 Stefan Smit
Replacements: 16 Conrad van Aswegen, 17 Schalk Smit, 18 Wynand Bester, 19 Thulani Njenje, 20 Algurnand Heyns, 21 Jose George, 22 Brennon Jordaan, 23 Ewan Marcus
Coach: Schalk van der Merwe
Noord-Kaap 2nd XV: 15 Juan de Klerk, 14 Tiego Segalwe, 13 Ruan Schultz, 12 Brennon Jordaan, 11 Christopher Andrews, 10 Ewan Marcus, 9 Jose George, 8 Marnus Ross, 7 Thulani Njenje, 6 Juandre Smit, 5 Algurnand Heyns, 4 Jarred Barnard, 3 Schalk Smit, 2 Conrad van Aswegen, 1 Wynand Bester
Replacements: 16 Marvin Jones, 17 Luke Goldsmith, 18 Hendro Stassen, 19 Lloyd Mostert, 20 Benodick Moses, 21 Rosche Rossouw, 22 Kenwin Crouch, 23 Marc Aitken, 24 Hannes Jacobs
Coach: Rohan Victor