After being involved in a thrilling derby match, even tougher assignments await two Gqeberha rugby sides on Saturday.
This past weekend Framesby and Grey High battled in a match that could have gone either way. Both sides scored three tries apiece but in the end the single conversion by Framesby flyhalf, Logan Muller proved to be the difference in the 17–15 victory.
It is not often that Framesby gets to win at Grey, and this will boost their confidence for the next challenge, when they travel to Kimberley to take on Diamantveld.
Although Framesby will be ecstatic about beating Grey, they will have to lift their game to win in Kimberley.
Both Framesby and Grey made numerous unforced mistakes, and will want to do better in their next outings.
Grey will again be at home on Saturday, but are in for a very difficult encounter in the annual derby against the classy Grey College from Bloemfontein.
Pearson is going from strength to strength and, playing at home in Gqeberha, very nearly got the better of the strong Graeme College.
It was another match that could have gone either way, but the visitors from Makhanda pulled through by two points, winning a very entertaining encounter of attacking rugby 31–29.
If Pearson can produce another performance like this, they must be in with a chance of upsetting the strong Marlow outfit in Gqeberha on Saturday.
The u/18 international series, in which South Africa will face their counterparts from England and France, will take place in the Western Cape on 11, 15 and 19 August. A Western Province invitational will be the fourth team.
A number of Eastern Province players – Batho Hlekani (Graeme College), De Wet Fourie (Daniel Pienaar), Imaani Pemba (Grey), Zibabalwa Booi (Ndzondelelo) and Dominic Malgas (Nico Malan) – will be contenders for a place in the national squad, after playing in the match between the SA Schools’ side and the SA Schools’ A side.
Lavela Pongolo (Grey) is also a contender, but will depart on Friday with the South African u/18 Sevens team to compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
It is going to be difficult for EP not to lose their best school players to the bigger provinces.
Hlekani is the first of the stars who has already signed up for the 2024 season and will be available for the Sharks.
Saturday’s fixtures
Grey High v Grey College; Diamantveld v Framesby; Pearson v Marlow; Woodridge v DF; Daniel Pienaar v Nico Malan; Kingswood v Graeme College.
Results
Graeme College 31, Pearson 29; Daniel Pienaar 24, Port Rex 7; Nico Malan 26, Kingswood 20; Framesby 17, Grey 15; Marlow 13, St Andrew’s College 10; Otto du Plessis 28, DF Malherbe 7; Punt 24, Despatch 18; Bergsig 67, PJ Olivier 0.
