FNB Classic Clash in Kimberley
It's a big day in Kimberley this Saturday – an FNB Classic Clash between rivals Diamantveld and Noord-Kaap.
Sadly, it's not a friendly rivalry for whatever reason between what are the two top rugby schools in the town. The rivalry is of short duration as Noord-Kaap as a school came into being, really, in 1887 when it had just on 400 pupils. Now it has over a thousand, bolstered early by changed demographics in some Kimberley schools.
The rugby is part of a whole Interschools occasion as the two schools aim for greater harmony between them. The rugby match will be the climax to a week of activities.
On Monday there was a Pro20 cricket match on the Diamond Oval which Noord-Kaap won by 9 wickets. Then on Monday evening the staffs of the two schools had a joint dinner, which was 'great fun'.
On Tuesday there was boys' and girls' hockey, Noord-Kaap won all but the girls Under-14 match.
On Wednesday there was a swimming gala and in the evening senior and junior debating and a senior and a junior quiz. Noord-Kaap won on each occasion.
On Thursday there was a golf day with many participants, including a team from each school. Again Noord-Kaap won. They also had tennis matches and then chess in the evening. Noord-Kaap won the tennis and the chess.
Friday is netball day and there will also be a rugby match between the Old Boys of each school at GWK Park, the Griquas' stadium.
Then comes Saturday and the five rugby matches.
The Classic Clash could be a cracker as both sides have excellent backlines. Diamantveld believe that their strength is in the backs and the Noord-Kaap backs have lots of speed.
There is not much difference between the performances of the two schools so far this year. In the first FNB Top 20 of the year Noord-Kaap are ranked 14th, Diamantveld 18th, which really is close amongst all the great rugby schools in South Africa.
They have not had any opponents in common, not that there is always a lot to learn from who beat whom, because matches of this nature tend to have their own being and their own ways of working results out. But in theory Noord-Kaap have the stronger side.
They have seven players in their side who went to the Craven Week in 2012, Diamantveld none. One of the Noord-Kaap players at Craven Week is leading scorer Dimitrio Tieties who scored 12 points in the 2012 Classic Clash. The others are Ryan de Wee, Hillford Clarke, Luaan Dowie, Nico Graaff, Lehan Muller, who is the captain and Doc Booysen. Half their pack was at Craven Week last year, two of them flanks. Add a strong pack to speedy backs and they should have the taking of the game. Should!
There will be only five matches on Saturday – 1st XV, 2nd XV, Under-16A, Under-15A and Under-15A.
Recent Results
2003: Noord-Kaap won 18-13 and Diamantveld won 24-22
2004: Noord-Kaap won 22-20 and 13-10
2005: Diamantveld won 26-18
2006: Noord-Kaap won 11-10 and Diamantveld won 48-16
2007: Diamantveld won 17-11 and 28-0
2008: Noord-Kaap won 27-24
2009: Noord-Kaap won 24-13
2010: Noord-Kaap won 21-12
2011: Noord-Kaap won 44-7 and 27-20
2012: Noord-Kaap won 22-15
Teams
Diamantveld: 15 Ronaldo Abrahams, 14 Jon-Pierre Abrahams, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Ruan Maritz, 11 JD Swanepoel, 10 Deon van Zyl, 9 Hanco Swart, 8 Jacques van Zyl, 7 Nardus Bosman, 6 Jaco Cloete, 5 JD Fourie, 4 Johan Obbes, 3 Werner Goosen, 2 Daniel van Zyl, 1 Ruan Langeveld.
Replacements: 16 Francois Botha, 17 Arrie Conradie, 18 Theunis Swart, 19 Darryn Bron, 20 Avumile Mantyi, 21 Elvine Fredericks, 22 Marno Willemse.
Noord-Kaap: 15 Ryan de Wee, 14 Leon Becker, 13 Dimitrio Tieties, 12 Luke Mason, 11 Hillford Clarke, 10 Guilermo Minnie, 9 GM Bruwer, 8 Gerhard Holtzhausen, 7 Luaan Dowie, 6 Nico Graaff, 5 Lehan Muller (captain), 4 Thulani Njenje, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Willie van Aswegen, 1 Lux Khoza
Replacements: 16 Geo Davel, 17 Joubert Steyn, 18 Bradley Leijdeckers, 19 Luan Pretorius, 20 Dillon Walsh, 21 Henry van Zyl, 22 Aldro Haines, 23 Rickus Zwart
Date: 20 April 2013
Kick-off: 13.45
Television: The match will be broadcast live on SS1
Venue: GWK Stadium, Kimberley
Expected weather conditions: 50% chance of rain from thunder storms with a high of 20°C, dropping to 7°C
Referee: Jaco Kotze (Free State Referees' Society)
