St John’s host Parktown

Johannesburg is a huge city but these two old and famous schools are close enough to be considered neighbours, which makes rivalry all the keener and on Saturday their rivalry is enhanced by being an FNB Classic Clash.

Parktown is a state school, St John's an Anglican foundation. St John's was founded in 1896, Parktown 24 years later. There are many similarities in ethos and boys between the two.

Both started off playing soccer on the crisp days of the Highveld winter but when in the 1930s grass fields came to Johannesburg they gleefully skipped over to the rugby game, crying alleluia, no doubt. Since then they have been happy rivals.

Both of them are eager about their rugby, not in the FNB Top 209 but they are schools able to compete with the best, and they play good opposition.

Results this Season

This year St John's have fared rather better than Parktown.

Parktown have played 14 matches, winning three, drawing one and losing 10

St John's have played nine matches, winning two and losing eight.

Opponents in Common:

St Alban's: St John's beat St Alban's 17-3; Park town drew with them 11-11.

Menlopark: Menlopark beat St John's 22-0 and Parktown 85-15

Teams:

St John's: 15 Duncan Stead, 14 Dorio Venter, 13 Conor Moses, 12 Oliver Gnodde, 11 Tijan Oberholzer, 10 N icholasZille, 9 DylanTesta (captain), 8 Micheal  Siebert, 7 Walter Malan, 6 Simon Greef, 5 Lorenzo Masselli, 4 Frans Retief, 3 Alistair Marquis, 2 Linathi Mgaga, 1 Muhammad Omar  

Coaches: G Kretzmann,  D Botha

Parktown: 15 Darron Solomon, 14 Jonathan Stafford, 13 Siya Mlambo, 12 Innocent Ngwenya, 11 Madosha Tambwe, 10 Wayne Davenhill, 9 Karaden-Hunt Mollentze, 8 Daniel Thompson, 7 Joshua Bosch, 6 Ethan Frasca, 5 Yannick Ngoy, 4 Brandon Henning, 3 Siyasanga  Mthathi, 2 Kenny van Graan, 1 Liam Clay

Coach: Andrew van Zyl

Date: 7 June 2014

1st XV kick-off: 13.00

Venue: Burger Field, St John's

Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 12°C and a low of  0°C

Rugby Programme

Burger Field

08.00: 3rd XV

09.00: 15 A

10.00: 16 A

11.00: 2nd XV

13.00: 1st XV

Mitchell Field

08.00: 16 B

09.00: 5th XV

10.00: 4th XV

11.00: 16 C

C Rugby Field

08.00: 15 B

09.00: 15 C

10.00: 14 A

D Rugby Field

08.00: 14 C

09.00: 14 B