The Battle for Kimberley
The Siege of Kimberley was famous in South African history. This FNB Classic Clash between Diamantveld and Noord-Kaap in the diamond capital of the world is not a siege but a battle for top spot amongst Kimberley schools.
Diamantveld and Noord-Kaap are by far the top sides in Kimberley. They may not have been as successful this year but they are still amongst the top sides in South Africa, unafraid to play against anybody. Perforce they play out of Kimberley a great deal.
Season so Far
Noord-Kaap have played 12 matches. They won four and drew one. The draw was with the powerful Paarl Boys' High side. They had good wins over Marlow, Hentie Cillie, Upington and Hoërskool Middelburg. Amongst Top 20 sides, they lost to Wynberg and Oakdale.
Diamantveld have also played 12 matches, winning nine and losing to three Top 20 sides – Menlopark, HTS Middelburg and Maritzburg College. Perhaps their best win was over Bethlehem Voortrekker.
The only opponents they have in common are Upington. Diamantveld beat them 52-26 and Noord-Kaap beat them 43-6.
Representative Players
Both schools' players are eligible for Griqualand West and are obviously at the heart of the provincial team. They provide 16 of the 22 in the Craven Week side.
Craven Week
Diamantveld: JD Swanepoel, JP Abrahams, Nardus Bosman, Brandon Smith, Gerco Nortjé, Keaton Gordon.
Noord-Kaap: Wilfred Bowers, Leon Becker, Gerhard Holtshauzen, Robbie Petzer, Brandon de Melim, Damian van der Bergh, Rikus Swarts, Geo Davel, Ulric Sellar, Daniello Huyster
Academy Week
Noord-Kaap: Ewan Marcus
Diamantveld: Johan Joubert, Janco Cloete, JD Fourie, Wayne Bothma, Werner Goosen, Nicolaas Roets
Teams
Diamantveld: 15 Keaton Gordon, 14 Etdeon Greyvenstein, 13 Nico Roets, 12 JD Swanepoel, 11 Henri Rossouw, 10 Gerco Nortjé, 9 JP Roets, 8 Johan Skema Joubert, 7 Nardus Bosman (captain), 6 Janco Cloete, 5 JD Fourie, 4 Wayne Botma, 3 Nathan Christiaans, 2 Brandon Smith, 1 Werner Goosen
Noord-Kaap: 15 Lukas Oberholster, 14 Wilfred Bowers, 13 Siyambuka Lawu, 12 Daniello Huyster, 11 Thomas Fortuin, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Brandon de Melim, 8 Hannes Jacobs, 7 Gerhard Holtzhausen, 6 Willbritte Uys, 4 Rikus Zwart, 5 Bradley Leijdekkers, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Geo Davel, 1 Qhama Hina
Date: Saturday, 9 August 2014
1st XV kick-off: 12-15
Venue: Hoërskool Diamantveld, Kimberley
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a possibility of a thunderstorm, a high of 16°C and a low of 9°C
Rugby Programme
A Field
08.30: Under-15A
09.30: Under-16A
10.40: 2nd XV
12.00: Introduction of 1st XVs
12.15: 1st XV
B Field
08.30: 3rd XV vs Kimberley Boys' High 1st XV
09.40: Under-14A
10.40: Under-15B
Results Down the Years
Noord-Kaap vs Diamantveld
Since 2006, there have been Classic Clashes. Where there are two matches in a season, the first was a Classic Clash. Of the eight played so far Noord-Kaap have won seven.
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
2013: Noord-Kaap won 27-19
