West Coast Classic Clash
When the Dutch first settled at the Cape in the 17th century, they went up the West Coast, mostly in search of minerals. But Capetonians have tended to go east to Mossel Bay, George and Oudtshoorn, Knysna and Plett, the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth, Port Alfred and East London and Durban.
This has left the West Coast along to its gentle ways.
Gentle? Yes, for they are mainly farming people, long suffering and grateful in the same breath. But they are less gentle on the rugby field, for rugby is the main sport for men and they are enthusiastic for it in the farflung province of Boland, not that players from Schoonspruit and Piketberg contribute many to the Boland sides.
Each year, Piketberg hosts an early-season tournament, which many schools find attractive.
Matches between the two schools have usually been close. Perhaps the closest of them, all was the agonising Classic Clash of 2013 which Schoonspruit won 24-23. That was the last time Schoonspruit won. The bulkier Piketberg side has won the next three, but all by small margins – 32-26, 32-27 and, last year, 23-21.
It is an exciting and popular game each year, this year in Malmesbury, a Schoonspruit home match.
Schoonspruit have lost four of their six matches, Piketberg one of their six. Schoonspruit lost to Langenhoven Gim of Oudtshoorn, Klein Nederburg of Paarl, Weston and Nico Malan of Humansdorp.
Charlie Hofmeyr of Ceres beat Piketberg, a handsome 34-6.
They have no opponents in common.
Teams
Schoonspruit: 15 Curt-Lee Klaasen, 14 Zandré Molligan, 13 Ralthon du Toit, 12 Lucian Berends, 11 Zandré Maarman, 10 Alverto Damon, 9 Adriaan September, 8 Cameron Essex, 7 Nathan Solomons, 6 Dillon Collins, 5 Jadian Strydom, 4 Terence Lesch, 3 Maxwell Mentoor, 2 Keanu McQuire, 1 Renaldo Roems.
Replacements: 16 Rejano America, 17 Devon Owies, 18 Yulrick Pitersen, 19 Jason Sass, 20 Brady Rinkwest, 21 Durwin Fortuin, 21 Ayden Lawrence.
Hoërskool Piketberg: 15 Burdty Joubert, 14 Chris Rheeder, 13 Nicol Visser, 12 Nicki van der Westhuizen, 11 Alex Ratilained, 10 Piere Mouton, 9 Monroe van Rooy, 8 Brietonne Turner, 7 Wian Coetzee, 6 Angus Sifolo, 5 Jacques Mouton, 4 Jac Goosen, 3 Kobus Brand, 2 Dewald van Deventer, 1 Hennie van Zyl.
Replacements: 16 Jody van Tonder, 17 Pieter Grundlingh, 18 Lorenzo Fouché, 19 Dewaldt Lambrechts, 20 Wilhelm van der Merwe, 21 Calib Lintnaar, 22 Cyall Lintnaar, 23 Louis Bester.
Date: Saturday, 13 May 2017.
Expected weather: Sunshine with a high or 22°C and a low of 7°C. A lovely day for rugby.
