Easter festivals in Joburg, KZN in the spotlight

SPOTLIGHT: After a weekend of close calls and upsets, the Easter festivals in Johannesburg and at Kearsney should provide the leading schools – and one or two dark horses – with the chance to make a statement.

Affies may be relatively pleased after holding Paarl Gym to a 16-16 draw on the JA Kriel Field this past Saturday.

While the Pretoria-based juggernauts haven’t quite atoned for their defeat to Boishaai at the North-South tournament, the recent result suggests that the race for top spot this season may be a lot closer than most suspect.

Meanwhile, Boishaai were brought to earth after sustaining 28-34 defeat at Oakdale. Stellenberg beat Wynberg 24-10 in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, while Westville won 16-14 at Northwood.

Perhaps some of the so-called big schools are keeping their powder dry for the upcoming festivals.

It’s interesting to note that, of the top dogs, Paul Roos (five victories) and Grey College (seven) are the only teams who have won every match this season.

Paul Roos bolstered their record with a 37-7 win over Grey High this past weekend, while Grey College claimed a 29-18 victory at Outeniqua.

@Rugby365com takes a closer look at the four big festivals that will be held over Easter weekend.

KEARSNEY FESTIVAL

The battle between the hosts and EG Jansen on the first day could be interesting, given that Kearsney have won three out of four matches to date, and Jansies have struggled for consistency in the early stages of the season.

Milnerton stunned the schoolboy rugby community when they took down Bishops and Rondebosch last year, and may fancy their chances against a touring Peterhouse side, as well as Glenwood, who are coming off a defeat to Maritzburg College.

DHS were the top side in KwaZulu-Natal last season, and have already won five matches on the bounce in 2025. Monument have blown hot and cold, but are coming off a 70-24 win against Jeppe. This clash between these teams on Saturday has the potential to be the best of the weekend.

Thursday, April 17:

Milnerton vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
Dale vs Durbanville
DHS vs Rustenburg
Kearsney vs EG Jansen
Monument vs Glenwood
Framesby vs Westville

Saturday, April 19:

Durbanville vs Rustenburg
Framesby vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)
Glenwood vs Milnerton
Westville vs EG Jansen
Kearsney vs Dale
DHS vs Monument

Monday, April 21:

Monument vs Milnerton
Dale vs Glenwood
Framesby vs EG Jansen
DHS vs Durbanville
Rustenburg vs Westville
Kearsney vs Peterhouse (Zimbabwe)

KES FESTIVAL

The hosts will have plenty to prove, following their 0-102 defeat to Paarl Gym at the North-South tournament earlier this season.

That said, Rondebosch and Northwood will go into the games against KES as favourites.

Noordheuwel have held their own against some of the best in South Africa in recent months, losing to Paul Roos by seven points, Grey College by two and Garsfontein by six.

Another tough encounter against Affies looms this weekend, but Noordheuwel are edging closer and closer towards a big scalp.

Saturday, April 19:

Northwood vs Pearson
Eldoraigne vs Hudson Park
Queen’s College vs Parktown
Affies vs Noordheuwel
Jeppe vs Selborne
KES vs Rondebosch

Monday, April 21:

Eldoraigne vs Pearson
Rondebosch vs Queen’s College
Affies vs Selborne
Parktown vs Hudson Park
Jeppe vs Noordheuwel
KES vs Northwood

ST JOHNS FESTIVAL

SACS pushed Boland Landbou close last week, and will expect to pick up wins against St Davids and Voortrekker Bethlehem when they head to St Johns.

The hosts will tackle Hilton, who recorded some mixed results against Grey High and Graeme College at the recent festival in Gqeberha, as well as Kingswood.

Maritzburg College will look to build on their recent win against Glenwood when they face a Golden Lions XV and Nelspruit.

Thursday, April 17

Kingswood vs Randburg
Graeme vs Voortrekker Bethlehem
Golden Lions XV vs Maritzburg College
SACS vs St Davids
Welkom Gym vs Nelspruit
Pretoria Boys vs Diamantveld
St John’s vs Hilton

Saturday, April 19

St Davids vs Golden Lions XV
Welkom Gym vs Diamantveld
SACS vs Voortrekker Bethlehem
Graeme vs Pretoria Boys
St John’s vs Randburg
Kingswood vs Hilton
Nelspruit vs Maritzburg College

ST STITHIANS FESTIVAL

Michaelhouse are still searching for their first win of the season, after recording two draws and four losses.

It remains to be seen how they will fare against St John’s from Harare, and in the second fixture against the hosts.

Hartpury College from England will line up against Wynberg, who are coming off a loss against Stellenberg, as well as Bishops, who had a poor 2024 season.

This year, Bishops have won five out of six games. If they come through the fixtures against Helpmekaar and Hartpury at St Stithians this weekend, they will take some much-needed momentum into the showdown with Paul Roos on 26 April.

Thursday, April 17:

St Stithians vs Clifton
Northcliff vs Marais Viljoen
Michaelhouse vs St John’s (Zimbabwe)
St Charles vs Windhoek (Namibia)
Wynberg vs Hartpury College (England)
Helpmekaar vs Bishops

Saturday, April 19:

Clifton vs Windhoek (Namibia)
Northcliff vs St Johns (Zimbabwe)
St Andrews vs St Charles
Bishops vs Hartpury College (England)
Helpmekaar vs Wynberg
St Stithians vs Michaelhouse

Results: Saturday, April 12:

Jeppe 24-70 Monument
Helpmekaar 29-47 Garsfontein
EG Jansen 34-27 Kempton Park
Waterkloof 23-23 Menlopark
Maritzburg College 37-25 Glenwood
Northwood 14-16 Westville
Paul Roos 37-7 Grey High
Paarl Gym 16-16 Affies
Outeniqua 18-29 Grey College
SACS 18-21 Boland Landbou
Oakdale 28-26 Paarl Boys
Bishops 24-12 Brackenfell
Milnerton 17-28 Rondebosch
Wynberg 10-24 Stellenberg
Durbanville 21-20 Drostdy
Marlow 31-36 Brandwag
Queen’s College 51-12 Stirling