2020 Schools Day at Newlands
It is presumably the last time there will be a Schools Day at Newlands. Let’s hope the schools provide again the exciting rugby that has been a feature of Schools Day, even though it is a sad farewell to glory.
This farewell to Newlands will take place on 10 March 2020, the 17th Schools Day in the present series.
Schools played their part in the very founding of Newlands. The first match in fact played on the ground was between SACS and Bishops, a trial to see if the ground could stand up to match play. It did, and a week later the ground was officially opened.
From 1898 till 1931, schools played at Newlands for shields. Then schools on the Western Province gave up playing for trophies. In 1932, a Schools Day was introduced at Newlands which lasted till 1950 when it was stopped for becoming too competitive.
In 2004 the Western Province Rugby Football Union came with a new form of Schools Day, where schools were invited to play in shortened (20 minutes a side) matches with no kicks at goal. This will be the last of such days.
The gates of the gresat old ground will open at 13.00 and close at 21.30 after nine matches involving the 1st XVs of 18 schoolks..
Fixtures
14.00: Scottsdene High vs Gordon High
14.46: SK Walmers RFC vs Busy Bee RFC
15.32: Milnerton High vs Melkbosstrand High
16.18: Brackenfell High vs Durbanville High
17.04: Bellville High vs Stellenberg High
17.50: SACS vs Boland Landbou
18.36: Wynberg Boys’ High vs Paul Roos Gim
19.22: Rondebosch Boys’ High vs Paarl Boys’ High
20.08: Paarl Gim vs Bishops