Derby in Middelburg
The Middies against the Rooi Bulle in an FNB Classic Clash in the Mpumalanga town where such a clash would be a highlight, a brightening up of winter drabness in the coal-mining town.
They are the big rugby schools in the town and HTS's Rooi Bulle have dominated. But there will be the memory of 2009 when the Middies won and won big – 33-10. Apart from the miracle of that victory all the signs point to a victory for HTS.
HTS are ranked fourth on the FNB Top 20 while the Middies are not there at all. They playa against stronger opposition than Middies do and have beaten Centurion, Monument, Kearsney, Nico Malan, Affies, Garsfontein, Boland Landbou and Diamantveld. They surprised by losing their first match of the year against Transvalia and then against the strong Boksburg side, Dr EG Jansen.
The Middies on the other hand have beaten Ermelo, Hoogenhout of Bethal and Dr Malan but lost to Noord-Kaap (51-0), Potch Gim and Bloemfontein's Jim Fouché. It is a different league.
Middies have back on the wing Bennie Mashabane who was in the 2013 Craven Week side at Craven Week.
Teams:
Hoërskool Middelburg: 15. Marnus Aucamp, 14. Bennie Mashabane, 13. Telvin Mhlongo, 12. Cyprian Nkomo, 11. Fana Ngwenya, 10. Chris Hanekom 9. Ruben Roodt, 8. Joshua Mey, 7. Nefdt du Toit, 6. Mpumelelo Mathias, 5. Marius Verwey (captain), 4. Philip Olivier, 3. Duane van Wyk, 2. Jopie Kuhn, 1. Steven Pieterse
Replacements:16. Marcel Dique, 17. Dillon Venter, 18. Barrie Viviers, 19. Dewald Coetzee, 20. Charvic Lloyd, 21. Ruben Dhooge, 22. Wian Lombard, 23. Lunga Mahlangu, 24. Zothane Ngcobo
Coaches: Gert van der Westhuizen, Piet Bothma
HTS Middelburg: Barend Smit (captain), Liaan Prinsloo, Jacques du Toit, Ruan Ludick, Jan Rens, Lohan Bennett, Stephan Enslin, Eric Basson, Derik Willemse, Chrisjan Steynberg, Driaan Bester, Dehan Opperman, Kyle van Aswegen, Gerik Mynhardt, Ruan Groenewald.
Replacements: Walter Janse van Rensburg, Steven Stols, Johandré Olckers, Marko Maré, Bernhard Kotzenberg, Christiaan van Rooyen, Brandon Parr-Bailey, Reynard van As.
Date: 17 May 2014
1st XV kick-off: 12.45
Venue: HTS Middelburg
Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 21°C, dropping to 19°C
Referee: Alex Jonker (Mpumalanga Referees' Society)
