Oakdale target final flourish
PREVIEW: Oakdale head into their final fixture of the season against Boland Landbou as favourites while Graeme will tackle Queen’s College in the big Eastern Cape derby.
Paarl Boys High edged Paarl Gymnasium 35-33 in a thrilling derby last Saturday to finish at the top of the unofficial school rankings.
Both teams enjoyed successful seasons, with Boishaai winning 15 of their 16 matches, and Gimmies winning 13, drawing two, and losing one.
While a number of schools will continue to compete until the end of August, Boishaai and Gimmies won’t be caught at the top of the rankings.
Several other big derbies will be staged around the country, while the race for playoff places in the Noordvaal Cup is heating up.
@Rugby365com takes a closer look at some of the biggest match-ups scheduled for this weekend.
OAKDALE V BOLAND LANDBOU
Boishaai may look back on an otherwise perfect season and lament their 26-28 defeat in Riversdale.
Meanwhile, Oakdale will finish the year knowing that they were the only team in South Africa to beat the No.1-ranked side.
It’s been a year to remember for Oakdale, who’ve recorded a series of important results, and contributed several players to the South Western Districts and SA Schools teams.
Since losing to Grey College and Rondebosch at the start of the season, Oakdale have gone on to win 10 of their next 12 matches.
They made a statement last week, when they beat Paul Roos 21-17 in Riversdale.
Oakdale will be favourites once more when they host Boland Landbou ‘on the farm’ this Saturday. Boland Landbou have lost six of their last seven games.
Oakdale won this fixture 21-13 when it was staged at Boland Landbou in 2024.
However, Boland Landbou emerged victorious in the previous clash staged in Riversdale (17-11 in 2023).
GRAEME V QUEEN’S COLLEGE
The leading teams in the Eastern Cape will collide at Graeme College this Saturday.
Graeme come into this match with a record of 12 wins, one draw, and three losses. Their only defeat at home came against St Andrews (10-17) in May.
Queen’s College have been the form side in the region this season, and may fancy their chances of another big win this Saturday.
Queen’s have won 14, drawn one, and lost two in 2025.
Their most recent victory at Selborne (31-28) stretched their winning streak to eight games.
NOORDHEUWEL V MENLOPARK
Noordheuwel claimed a shock 28-22 win against Noordvaal Cup title favourites Garsfontein last week.
Meanwhile, Helpmekaar beat Rustenburg 38-22 to surpass Garsfontein at the top of the Noordvaal Cup log.
The next two rounds of the competition will be particularly interesting, as teams like Noordheuwel (third place) attempt to climb the ladder and secure home advantage for the playoffs.
Noordheuwel are currently enjoying a six-game winning streak, and will expect to beat Menlopark at home this Saturday.
Menlopark began the season with seven wins and a draw – a run that included victories against Outeniqua and Helpmekaar.
They went on to drop four games in a row, before snapping their losing streak with a 39-37 win against Monument last week.
SELECTED FIXTURES (AUGUST 9)
Affies v Pretoria Boys
Nelspruit v EG Jansen
Noordheuwel v Menlopark
Rustenburg v Monument
Waterkloof v Transvalia
DHS v KES
Glenwood v Maritzburg College
Graeme v Queen’s College
Dale v Selborne
Oakdale v Boland Landbou
Durbanville v Outeniqua
Milnerton v Stellenberg
RESULTS (AUGUST 2)
Grey High 15 Grey College 48
Waterkloof 19 Affies 64
Jeppe 39 KES 31
Noordheuwel 28 Garsfontein 22
Helpmekaar 38 Rustenburg 22
Menlopark 39 Monument 37
Transvalia 20 Nelspruit 19
Northwood 5 DHS 38
Maritzburg College 27 Pretoria Boys 31
Dale College 10 Graeme College 17
Selborne 28 Queen’s College 31
Milnerton 26 Bishops 42
Stellenberg 18 Boland Landbou 10
Paarl Gym 33 Paarl Boys 35
Oakdale 21 Paul Roos 17
Outeniqua 45 Worcester Gym 13
Wynberg 59 Parel Vallei 13
Rondebosch 34 Drostdy 26
SACS 43 Brackenfell 25
* Picture credit: JJ Pfaff photography
