Framesby are building something special. Their emphatic 24-15 dismantling of Selborne College at the Wildeklawer Graeme College Festival on Saturday proved their earlier victory over St Andrew’s was no flash in the pan.
The Gqeberha outfit are hitting their straps at exactly the right time, and their second consecutive scalp against an established East Cape boys-only school will have sent ripples through the schoolboy rugby fraternity. This was no lucky win. Framesby looked exceptionally well-drilled for such an early point in the season, suggesting the coaching staff extracted every ounce of effort during the off-season.
That meticulous preparation is paying dividends, and Framesby will march into the Noord Suid tournament in Pretoria on Friday brimming with confidence and carrying genuine momentum. The real test awaits, though, with fixtures against Nelspruit and EG Jansen looming large.
Nico Malan stage stunning comeback
While Framesby impressed with consistency, Nico Malan produced the tournament’s most jaw-dropping moment. The Humansdorp side found themselves in a hole against Queen’s College on Friday evening but refused to capitulate. Instead, they unleashed an astonishing 26 unanswered points to snatch a 26-19 victory in the festival’s main fixture.
Trailing early, Nico Malan showed composure beyond their years. Rather than forcing the issue, they trusted their structure and let their support play do the talking. Wave after wave of attacks eventually broke Queen’s resolve, turning what looked like a certain defeat into a statement victory.
Like Framesby, Nico Malan will test themselves in Pretoria, facing Welkom Gimnasium and HTS Middelburg. Both Eastern Cape sides will fancy their chances of making noise at the Noord Suid tournament.
Grey High launch campaign with intent
Grey High’s season opener against Hudson Park carried extra intrigue, with centre Ciaran Killian leading the side into what promises to be a brutally challenging fixture list. The 33-12 victory provided encouraging glimpses of what this Grey side can offer, though they’ll need to sharpen considerably before facing the powerhouses lurking in their schedule.
The scoreline suggests a comfortable afternoon’s work, but the coaching staff will know there’s substantial room for improvement. Grey will need every training session to count if they’re to match it with the country’s elite outfits.
Pearson show ticker in feisty encounter
Pearson have been steadily climbing the pecking order over recent seasons, and their 22-17 triumph over St Andrew’s showcased exactly why. Playing with 14 men for a significant portion after a red card, Pearson dug deep and found something extra.
Their defensive line speed occasionally crossed the threshold into overeager territory, but when it mattered most, that tigerish defence held firm. It was gritty, uncompromising rugby that will serve them well in the battles ahead.
Festival delivers the goods
The Wildeklawer Graeme College Festival continues to grow in stature, delivering another weekend of compelling early-season action. As has become tradition, the hosts saved their appearance for the final fixture, and Graeme College didn’t disappoint their vocal supporters, running out 42-28 winners against Marlow in an entertaining, free-flowing contest.
From closely fought encounters to dominant displays, the festival provided the perfect platform for Eastern Cape sides to gauge where they stand ahead of tougher assignments.
First XV results
Friday
PJ Olivier 22, Mzansi Academy 5
Woodridge 15, Mary Waters 14
Union High 39, Port Tex Tech 11
Dale College 27, Die Brandwag 24
Grey High 33, Hudson Park 12
Nico Malan 26, Queen’s College 19
Saturday
Port Alfred High 17, Ndzondelelo 12
Muir College 26, Otto du Plessis 19
Daniel Pienaar 24, Stirling 24
Kingswood 78, Cambridge 0
Framesby 24, Selborne 15
Pearson 22, St Andrew’s 17
Graeme College 42, Marlow 28
