CC: A Border Battle
This Saturday Zweliyandila and Ntsonkotha meet in an FNB Classic Clash, a match that has been played as a Classic Clash since 2004, a match identified by the Border Rugby Union as representing the best of the township schools.
It is a great occasion for both schools, situated as they are in townships where unemployment and poverty are endemic. The match will be enthusiastic, giving people a taste of the good life, but sadly the boys from these schools seem not to make the Border Country Districts sides for Craven Week.
Zweliyandila is down the R72 from East London, a location. Nearby is the Chalumna River flowing into the Indian ocean. It was there that an Irving and Johnson fishing vessel, the Nerine, netted the first coelacanth.
Ntsonkotha is situated in Newlands Location, a rural village beyond Mdantsane, the sprawling township where roughly half of the population of East London lives.
The schools do not play a great deal and so it is hard to gauge their strengths. In 2009 Ntsonkotha beat Zweliyandila 22-8 but Zweliyandila won the next two – 11-6 in 2010 and 23-6 last year.
The teams:
Zweliyandila: 15 Sisa Fihlani, 14 Andile Pengu, 13 Lukhanyo Msalela, 12 Ntlanyla Rala, 11 Gcomani Mzinjani, 10 Unathi Sadana, 9 Sphamandla Dama, 8 Abongile Mente, 7 Vuyo Stofile, 6 Thembela Blanket, 5 Zuko Zondeki, 4 Yanga Skoti, 3 Awethu Silwana, 2 Sandile Mpithi, 1 Sinethemba Jack.
Replacements: 16 Mpunzi Vimbani, 17 Lizwe Bhekiso, 18 Sinetho Dama, 19 Hlangalwethu Nogoko, 20 Simphiwe Jange, 21 Luvo Sandi, 22 Zomsa Langatye.
Ntsonkotha: TBC
Date: Saturday, 5 May
Kick-off: 10.00
Venue: Dou Location
Expected weather conditions: Mostly sunny with a high of 20°C, dropping to 17°C, a good day for rugby.
