The twelve rugby teams involved in the FNB Eastern Cape Classic Clashes Festival will be under huge pressure to perform in every match.
Matches will be played at the Nelson Mandela University on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
At the launch of the u/18 tournament the chairperson of the Eastern Province Schools Rugby Association, Gerald Antonie, had a clear message to the respective captains, Sheldon Jaftha (Spandau Secondary), Jordan Maarman (Mary Waters), Hlumelo Klaas (Ithembelihle), Siyolise Maswana (Mzontsundu Secondary), Kevin Speckman (Ukhanyo Secondary), Sibabalwe Booi (Ndzondelelo High), Mxaku Lukhanyile (Molly Blackburn Senior Secondary), Siphenathi Yoli (Kwazakhele High), Lutho Qusheka (Alexandria High), Jordan Jaftha (Asherville Secondary), Ambesa Magoma (Booysen Park Secondary) and Alexander Kolbey (Gelvandale High).
“You won’t be playing for fun, you will have to perform,” said Antonie.
He warned that the team finishing last in the tournament would be replaced with the best-performing school coming out of the Community Cup competition in next year’s tournament.
The teams are divided into three pools, and will battle it out over the first two days to qualify for Monday’s play-offs. Matches will start at 08:00 on Monday. The final will kick off at 14:00.
All individual performances will certainly be looked at as the process to find the best u/18 and u/16 players in Eastern Province is in full swing. Trial matches took place in Nxuba (Cradock), and teams will now be picked for the next round which will be held at Pearson on May 9.
FNB Fixtures
Saturday
Madibaz Stadium
09:00: Mary Waters v Gelvandale (Pool C);
10:20: Mzontsundu v Booysen Park (B);
11:40: Alexandria v Spandau (B);
13:00: Molly Blackburn v Kwazakhele (A);
14:20: Asherville v Ukhanyo (A);
15:40: Ndzondelelo v Ithembelihle (C).
Madibaz B-Field
09:00: Kwazakhele v Ukhanyo (A);
10:20: Asherville v Molly Blackburn (A);
11:40: Ithembelihle v Gelvandale (C);
13:00: Mary Waters v Ndzondelelo (C);
14:20: Booysen Park v Alexandria (B);
15:40: Spandau v Mzontsundu (B).
Sunday
Madibaz Stadium
08:00: Molly Blackburn v Ukhanyo (A);
09:20: Mzontsundu v Alexandria (B);
10:40: Ndzondelelo v Gelvandale (C);
12:00: Kwazakhele v Asherville (A);
13:20: Booysen Park v Spandau (B);
14:40: Mary Waters v Ithembelihle (C).
Grey High host their annual festival with matches being played tomorrow and Saturday in Gqeberha. All the first team matches will be played on the Kolisi Field, starting at 09:10.
Grey Fixtures
Day 1
09:10: Ithembelihle v Pretoria Boys;
10:25: Selborne College v Brandwag;
11:45: Westville v Voortrekker;
12:55: Graeme College v KES;
14:05: Queen’s College v Jeppe;
15:25: Grey v SACS.
Day 2
09:10: Hudson Park v St John’s;
10:25: Selborne College v Jeppe;
11:45: Graeme College v Voortrekker;
12:55: SACS v Pretoria Boys;
14:05: Queen’s College v KES;
15:25: Grey v Westville.
The annual Wildeklawer tournament in Kimberley is another big one followed by school rugby fans. On Saturday Framesby, from Gqeberha, will be in action against Welkom Gimnasium at 10:20. On Monday Framesby will take on Maritzburg College. The kick off time is 12:40.
Results
Oakdale 47, Framesby 10;
Grey 36, Dale 17;
Pearson 24, Stirling 5;
Nico Malan 45, Despatch 10;
Brandwag 18, Muir 18;
Volkskool 40, Westering 10.
