There have been several skirmishes already, but the intensity in the Eastern Cape schools programme will move up a few notches when the Pam Golding Properties Graeme Rugby Day kicks off at 8am in Grahamstown on Saturday (March 12).
There have been several skirmishes already, but the intensity in the Eastern Cape schools programme will move up a few notches when the Pam Golding Properties Graeme Rugby Day kicks off at 8am in Grahamstown on Saturday (March 12).
Following the inaugural tournament in 1998, held to celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary, the Graeme Rugby Day has become a permanent feature of the Eastern Cape calendar, growing such in popularity that the organisers have a list of schools on a waiting list keen to be involved.
While it is still early in the preparation of many teams for the forthcoming schools programme, the day gives the coaches an ideal opportunity to assess their charges for the new season, and a chance to test certain combinations.
Of particular interest on Saturday will be the performance of Kingswood and Queen’s when they play in the feature match of the day at 4.10pm.
These teams had a thrilling battle in Queenstown last year, which Queen’s eventually won, and they should provide an exciting finale to what should be another festival of schools rugby at its best.
Kingswood have fielded some strong teams in recent years and underlined their prowess with they claimed the crown of Grahamstown by beating both St Andrew’s and Graeme last year.
Inevitably, the sides will have changes in personnel, but the passion and willingness to entertain should ensure a fine spectacle.
Hosts Graeme have generously conceded the top game to the Kingswood-Queen’s showdown and will play the main curtain-raiser against tough Cradock school Marlow Agricultural.
It will be something of a Graeme-Marlow derby because the U14, U15, U16 and second teams from the schools will all square off.
Graeme first team coach Jonty van der Meulen said they were looking forward to playing against opponents they rarely face.
“We know that Marlow are always a tough school to play, who have a lot of passion and often punch above their weight,” Van der Meulen. “But we are looking forward to the challenge and have tried to prepare as thoroughly as possible, given the limited time we have had.”
Eastern Cape powerhouses Grey High and Selborne will be aiming to lay down a marker for the season when they come up against Stirling and Framesby respectively.
The East London side have arguably the tougher assignment because they face a Framesby side who will be keen to atone for a less than successful season in 2015.
These teams produced a thriller in their corresponding clash in 2014, with Selborne winning 33-29. Naturally the composition of the teams will have changed, but the match should provide a good indication of the teams’ prospects for the year.
Grey High had been due to play Brandwag before the Uitenhage school had to withdraw due to other commitments.
Stirling, who are on a mission to improve their rugby, bravely stepped in to take on Grey and even if some are predicting a mismatch, nobody will be taking the game lightly.
“We know Stirling will be out to take our scalp and we have to be properly prepared for this game,” Grey coach Tim Fraser said.
The Somerset field fixtures are:
8am: Dale v Pearson
9.10am: Union v Hudson Park
10.20am: Grey High v Stirling
11.30am: Muir v Cambridge
12.40pm: Selborne v Framesby
1.50pm: St Andrew’s v Nico Malan
3pm: Graeme v Marlow
4.10pm: Kingswood v Queen’s
