Graeme College have again generated a mouth-watering set of fixtures for their annual Pam Golding Properties Graeme Rugby Day in Grahamstown on Saturday, 24 March.
With all the the Eastern Cape’s leading schools involved in this popular event, the hosts have put together a smorgasbord of matches right from U14 level to the first teams to sate the appetite of every schools rugby fan.
Graeme have not shied away from the tough challenges in this year’s festival, as they have scheduled themselves to face Grey High in the main match of the day. The match is scheduled for a 16:10 kickoff on Graeme’s Somerset field.
These two schools produced a thoroughly absorbing encounter when they met in Port Elizabeth last year. Despite Graeme giving one of their best performances against their PE opponents in recent years, they finally went down 22-15 against Grey.
With Grey a perennial powerhouse in the region, this should prove another fascinating showdown as the Grahamstown lads strive to prove a point. That, though, is just the final course in the programme and there is something for everyone during the day.
Starting with what should be an interesting test for Pearson against Muir in the festival’s opening game. After their outstanding season last year, when they were unbeaten against Eastern Cape opposition, much attention will be on St Andrew’s when they take on Hudson Park. This is one of several cross-border clashes which litter the programme as EP schools get a chance to take on their East London rivals.
Known for their running brand of rugby, St Andrew’s are sure to be a handful for the Hudson outfit. A second top regional clash will see crack Uitenhage side Brandwag take on Queen’s. The former will need to be on guard against a unit capable of playing an all-round game based around energetic forwards and exciting backs.
Another team which never fails to excite with their three-quarter play are Dale and they should provide a tough examination for Humansdorp outfit Nico Malan.
Marlow have often played Grey in this tournament, but this year they will have a fresh challenge. It doesn’t get much easier for the Karoo team, however, because Selborne aren’t a side to be taken lightly. But the Cradock outfit are great scrappers and their team unity and commitment see them regularly punch above their weight.
The main curtain-raiser will provide another Grahamstown-PE showdown and Kingswood will have their credentials thoroughly examined by the always competitive Framesby side. Besides the action on the Somerset field, a further 15 games, which also involve U14 and U16 teams, will be played on the Marais A and B fields.
The fixtures are:
SOMERSET FIELD
08.00 Pearson 1st vs Muir 1st
09.10 Union 1st vs Cambridge 1st
10.20 Brandwag 1st vs Queen’s 1st
11.30 Nico Malan 1st vs Dale 1st
12.40 Selborne 1st vs Marlow 1st
13.50 St. Andrew’s 1st vs Hudson Park 1st
15.00 Kingswood 1st vs Framesby 1st
16.10 Graeme 1st vs Grey High 1st
MARAIS A FIELD
08.00 Graeme U16 vs Grey High U16
09.00 Graeme 2nd vs Grey High 2nd
10.00 Port Alfred 1st vs Nathaniel Nyaluza 1st
11.00 Selborne U16 vs Marlow U16
12.00 Pearson U16 vs Muir U16
13.00 Union High U16 vs Cambridge U16
14.00 Brandwag U16 vs Queen’s U16
15.00 Nico Malan U16 vs Dale U16
MARAIS B FIELD
08.00 Graeme College U14 vs Grey High U14
09.00 Graeme College U15 vs Grey High U15
10.00 Pearson High U14 vs Muir U14
11.00 Selborne U14 vs Marlow U14
12.00 Brandwag U14 vs Queen’s U14
13.00 Union High U14 vs Cambridge U14
14.00 Nico Malan U14 vs Dale U14
Photo: Supplied
during their clash with Grey High in 2017. St Andrew’s will tackle Hudson Park in the Pam
Golding Properties Graeme Rugby Day in Grahamstown on March 24.
Photo: Supplied
and Mhlangabezi Ntwanambi in their schools rugby clash against Queen’s in Grahamstown last year.
Photo: Supplied
