Feast of schools' action
REVIVING old memories will be the order of the day when two big school reunions take place this weekend, while a massive derby in the eastern suburbs will highlight the sports programme when Victoria Park host Pearson tomorrow.
Grey High and Collegiate hold their reunions, with the girls' school celebrating their 140th anniversary by renewing a sporting rivalry with East London's Hudson Park.
Their contests take place tomorrow with the first team netball and hockey matches both being played at 12.30.
Meanwhile, Grey will be working out a plan to prevent Wynberg scoring a hat-trick of rugby victories after a long string of success against their Cape Town rivals.
Grey have shown a tendency to fade late in their matches this season and captain Johann van Niekerk said this week they would need a big effort throughout the match to turn the tide.
"We hope to use our home ground advantage, but we will definitely need a full effort for the 70 minutes," Van Niekerk said. "Also, being reunion weekend, we want to step up to the plate and give a good performance."
As their last two victories testify, Wynberg are no longer the pushovers they once seemed to be and have become a force in Western Cape rugby.
Grey will not only be tested on the rugby field. Tonight's first team hockey match at 7pm will be a proper examination of the home team's credentials. Given the strength of hockey in the Western Cape, Wynberg have always produced competitive teams and they will be looking to give their schoolmates a boost this evening.
At VP, the home side will have their hands full when they take on a strong Pearson team, who provided four players to the EP Craven Week and Academy teams.
Pearson scrumhalf Nathan Augustus will lead the way for the visitors and VP will need a concerted team effort to keep them at bay.
Across town, Framesby face one of their most serious tests of the season when they host the tough Boland Agricultural outfit.
The Western Cape side do not have an unblemished record, but their losses have been by close margins and they will be a handful for the home 15.
There are two interesting fixtures in Uitenhage, with Brandwag hosting Mossel Bay outfit Punt and Muir at home to Westering.
Brandwag's powerful pack should give them the edge over Punt, while the clash on the hill promises to be a closely contested affair.
Westering have spoilt what was developing into a good run of success with recent one-point losses to DF Malherbe and Union High. They would like to rectify that against Muir, but will have to keep centre Lunathi Nxele and his colleagues in check.
The rugby fixtures, subject to change, are (home teams first, 11.30am start unless stated):
Alexander Road v Andrew Rabie, Bertram v Ndzondelelo, Brandwag v Punt (12.50pm), Despatch v Cillie, DF Malherbe v Gill, Framesby v Boland Agricultural (1.30pm), Uitenhage v Gamble Street, Queen's v Graeme (2.30pm), Grey High v Wynberg (3.30pm), Port Alfred v Newton Tech, Woodridge v Humansdorp, Lungiso v Solomon Mahlangu, Marlow v Hudson Park, Muir v Westering, Otto du Plessis v Nico Malan, VP v Pearson (12.30pm), Ithembelihle v David Livingstone, St Andrew's v Selborne (2.30pm), Kingswood v Caltex Raptors (3pm).
ýDue to the pressure of space, the Grahamstown schools' matches will be previewed in tomorrow's Weekend Post. - Neale Emslie
