Captain's profile: Craig Glover
Other than the enormity of running onto Goldstones, Glover will need to get his side to be firing on all cylinders to overturn a 20-23 defeat to Kearsney in the corresponding fixture in 2015. The closeness of that encounter is perfectly aligned to the results over the past decade.
Since 2006, the split between the two sides is five wins each.
"In 2004, Kearsney spoiled College's party by convincingly winning on the occasion of that year's Old Boys' Reunion at Goldstone's. They followed that up in 2005 with their first ever win on their home ground against College. In 2015, in an intense battle, College was on the receiving at Kearsney, losing 20-23.
"The teams have played against each other on 70 occasions. College have claimed 58 victories, Kearsney 10 and there has been two draws. The stats since 2000 make interesting reading. College shade Kearsney nine-seven in the 16 encounters. The average score is 19-17 to College. In fact over the past decade the result has been split between the two sides," Glover said.
The grade 12 No.8 has been picked up by the Kwa-Zulu Natal Academy this year and is looking forward to leading his full strength team against a team that features quick backline players.
"Kearsney seem to run a strong, basic pattern of rugby which can be dangerous if we lose focus. They have some quick backline players who will break our defensive line if we don't front up on defense.
"Fortunately we have no injuries at the moment, so we will be playing our full strength side. There are quite a few chaps back from last year but there are also a number of newer players being 'blooded' for next year. I think this gives us a good balance.
"Our season started off shaky against some strong opposition. We went into the Kearsney Easter Festival at the very beginning of our season and we did not fare well. We have definitely grown as a team over the past weeks and we are working well together now," he added.
Other than being selected in the KZN Academy, Glover has also represented Natal in the 2014 Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, however, that does not compare to the highlight of short career.
"The honour of leading your team onto the hallowed grounds of 'Goldstone's' field is a feeling that is hard to describe. That, coupled with my first game for the first XV at Maritzburg College in 2015, where played and beat Durban High have got to be the highlights thus far," he added.
While he feels he is a strong ball carrier, Glover is looking forward to transforming his game even more when he links up with the Academy while pursuing a career in the field of fitness and sport.
