Walker Bay Classic Clash
It's a beautiful bay where whales visit in leisurely fashion and cliff walks are popular and proteas flourish and perlemoen are the only bone of contentions. And eager rugby is played, as it will be this Saturday when Hawston play Hermanus in an FNB Classic Clash.
If the last two years are anything to go by, this will be a close encounter. Last year Hermanus won 10-5 when each side scored a try. In 2010 Hawston scored a try in the last minute to win 25-22.
Hermanus have back from last year's victory Chad Kleinsmidt, De Wet van Niekerk, Morris Kaplan and Clinton Shaw.
Hawston are better off with eight back, including their captain – Morné Adams, Carlton Celie, Arno Fortuin, Roland Swartz (captain), Logan Niemand, Morné Geldenhuys, who started last year but is on the bench this year, Daniël Bantom and Pieter Plaatjies. Swarts will be playing in his third Classic Clash – victoriously in 2010 and in defeat in 2011.
Hawston expect much of their backs, especially their centres, Roland Swarts and Arno Fortuin. Swarts was in the Boland Academy team in 2011 while Fortuin was in the Boland Craven Week side. But they are fearful of the Hermanus forwards, lest they do to them this year what they did last year.
None of the Hawston players made this year's provincial sides but Hermanus had two players in the Boland Craven Week team – eighthman Dian Koen and threequarter Chad Kleinsmidt.
The only opponents they have in common are Gansbaai. Against them Hawston won 36-0 and Hermanus 31-0. For the rest they tend to go their own ways, which Hermanus, with greater resources, can do more widely. Hermanus won six of their 11 matches including a win over the strong Hudson Park side of East London. They also had a draw with Augsburg of Clanwilliam. Hawston won seven of their 13 matches.
The teams
Hawston: 15 Gaywon Fortuin, 14 Hughen Meiring, 13 Arno Fortuin, 12 Roland Swarts, 11 Logan Niemand, 10 Morné Adams, 9 Shaquile Cedras, 8 Daniel Bantom, 7 Keenan Lukas, 6 Carlton Celie, 5 Peter Plaatjies, 4 Jayden Wentzel, 3 Gideon Petersen, 2 Ruaan Poole, 1 Lee-Aan Adonis.
Replacements: 16 Julian Julies, 17 Jonwan Bisolati, 18 Danfred Bruintjies, 19 Lehandre Tobin, 20 Morné Geldenhuys, 21 David Prins, 22 Raymond Windvogel.
Coach: Anton Esau
Hermanus: 15 Stephano Haarhoff, 14 Leolin Zas, 13 Bevan Simmers, 12 Chad Kleinsmidt, 11 Jacques van der Merwe, 10 Ewan Adams, 9 Clinton Shaw, 8 Dian Koen, 7 De Wet van Niekerk, 6 Nicolen Carelse, 5 Alex Koberzig, 4 Jamie Gerber, 3 Schalk Roos, 2 Jurie-Jan Swart, 1 Matthew Spring.
Replacements: 16 Martin van Wyk, 17 Prieur du Plessis, 18 JJ Terblanche, 19 Peter Bonthuys, 20 Vincent van Niekerk, 21 Ian Cornelius, 22 Morris Kaplan.
Coach: Graham Bellingan
Date: Saturday, 4 August 2012
1st XV kick-off: 13.15
Venue: Hermanus High School
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 18°C, dropping to 6°C.
