Three KZN school matches
We preview three exciting schools matches in Durban this weekend.
Westville vs Glenwood
Westville host Glenwood in a much anticipated table topping early season clash.
Westville have come off a testing 19-0 away win against George Campbell. The encouraging signs from this game were Westville’s strong finish and their sound defence. However, injuries remain a concern with five players sidelined through injury.
Apart from school trials, Glenwood was not in action last week. However their players have been hardened in match conditions this season during their successful tour of Argentina. They will field no fewer than six KwaZulu-Natal Craven Week players in their starting line-up including SA Schools and Sharks Under-19 player Siyabonga Tom.
Players to Watch: Jackson Buthelezi, Westville’s gutsy tackler is known for stopping opponents in their tracks with his low hits and will be playing in his new position of hooker. Carel Swart, the lightning quick modern-day No.8 has an eye for a gap.
The teams:
Westville: 15 L Snyman, 14 W Ndlovu, 13 B Ellse, 12 S Mchunu, 11 K Paverd, 10 D Rust, 9 R McHardy, 8 T Ngcongo (captain), 7 E Niel, 6 A De La Rey, 5 N Le Roux, 4 C Eibig, 3 N Mxoli, 2 J Buthelezi, 1 M Downer.
Glenwood: 15 U Makasi, 14 S Ngcobo, 13 D Coulson, 12 N Marwana, 11 S Tom, 10 W Potgieter, 9 M Mkhabela, 8 C Swart, 7 R Kay, 6 V Mthembu, 5 W Mazibuko, 4 S Ngxabi, 3 M Coetzee, 2 S Pina, 1 M Worral-Clare.
Kearsney vs Northwood
Kearsney face Northwood on Botha’s Hill. The Kearsney team will be looking to put together a much stronger defensive performance this weekend. Kearsney were put to the test by a very good Sarel Cilliers team during the recent tour to Northern Natal. Sarel Cilliers played an exciting brand of expansive rugby and could have won the high scoring encounter which ended 34-31 in Kearsney’s favour, had it not been for an handling error made in the last play of the game, that resulted in a Kearsney try.
Northwood probably did not get the credit their victory in Zululand against Empangeni deserved. More and more big schools from the Durban Metro area are finding the going really tough on trips to the northern parts of the province, so for Northwood to return home after a 10-0 win from a game played in a torrential downpour is a good achievement. This Northwood team may lack the size and experience of the sides they’ve put out in the last couple of seasons but at the same time they do look a lot fitter and quicker around the park in 2012.
Player to Watch: Jean-Luc du Preez, Kearsney’s powerful ball-carrier who is hard to bring down. Wade Worthington, the tall strong Northwood centre has a good combination of skills, strength and pace.
The teams:
Kearsney: 15 W De Bruin, 14 J Bowman, 13 S Kubeka, 12 T Smith, 11 I Ngidi, 10 T Tedder, 9 M Reece-Edwards, 8 G Francis, 7 JP Du Preez, 6 T Harwood, 5 D Du Preez, 4 A Schramm, 3 M Moloi, 2 B Pelliccia, 1 J Deighton (captain).
Northwood: 15 D Hlongwa, 14 J Wittstock, 13 D Elson, 12 W Worthington (captain), 11 N Ndimande, 10 B Scott, 9 D Mntungwa, 8 TC Edmunds, 7 C Sillson, 6 G Murran, 5 C Maduna,4 S Mkhonza,3 N Kunene,2 C Smith, 1 N Lambris.
Port Natal vs DHS
Port Natal’s home game against DHS will be their eighth of the season. The White Knights team will run onto the field with settled combinations and a high level of match fitness. The visitors can expect to be stretched by a Porties team who like to spread the ball wide and have a mobile pack that can get to breakdowns quickly.
DHS have a reasonably big frontrow and are therefore expected to dominate the scrums, collisions and tighter phases of this game. They also have a backline with a lot of potential. Last year School were slow starters to the season. Areas in which they need to show improvement this time round are conditioning and ball retention. If they have the legs to go the distance and can recycle their ball efficiently, they should be up for this challenge.
Players to Watch: Christiaan Prinsloo, Port Natal’s well-built forceful hooker who leads his team by example in all facets of the game. Le Roux van Zyl, DHS’s big young flyhalf will be called on to dictate the tempo of this game with good run-pass-kick decisions if his pack are able to get the upperhand.
The teams:
Port Natal: 15 JP Helberg, 14 P Mzileni, 13 A Fivaz, 12 M Pieterse, 11 K Cordier, 10 H Janse van Rensburg, 9 W Spies, 8 W Heydam, 7 S Kruger, 6 C Hefer, 5 E van Rensburg, 4 J Wiggil, 3 W Engelbrecht, 2 C Prinsloo (captain), 1 W van Tonder.
DHS: 15 M Peter, 14 K Tlale, 13 X Falake, 12 N Ngubane, 11 Ovono, 10 LR van Zyl, 9 A Kellner, 8 G Munro, 7 R Venter, 6 ENgobese, 5 C Donkin, 4 D Mare, 3 MPedro, 2 Z Nqawe (captain), 1 JP Pieterse.
By Beet
