In the Noordvaal Region, the boys will take to the field to not only win a match but to take home an object that is not known in the rest of the South African schoolboy circles, a trophy. Yes, it is true in this modern day us cavemen in Noordvaal still play to win a trophy.
Pionier and Bekker Hoërskole will face each other in the final of the PUK 16 Finals. Pionier has beaten Piet Retief 21-14, Volksrust 18-12, Ferrum 34-10 and at the Tony Stoops Festival, won against De Kuilen won 26-15 but lost against Nico Malan 19-17 and Brackenfell 67-12. Their last two losses at the Tony Stoops Festival is not an indication of a failing season but rather the hallmark of a team willing to fight above its own weight limit. Bekker has beaten Alberton High 58-6, Overvaal 12-3, Leeuwenhof 22-18 and Ferrum 52-0, Greytown 61-5, Newcastle 50-0 and lost to 12-19 against a GLRU Inv and won against a PBHS XV 40-21 at the Best of West festival. So a season with only one blemish. That is the history of these two top teams let us wait and see who makes history on Saturday.
In the NWU Vall Series, it is Alberton who takes on Secunda. Both these schools have more or less similar results against the same opponents. Alberton has victories against Dr Malan 47-3, Standerton 26-6, Hoogenhout 19-9, Hans Moore 27-24 and lost against Centurion 5-15, Louis Botha HTS 17-36 and Potch Volkies 27-24 at the Glenwood Festival. Secunda also unbeaten with victories against Dr Malan 13-18, Hoogenhout 32-0, Standerton 22-0, Brits 58-0 and Hans Moore 51-13. So if you compare results from competition both teams play no clear favourite here bu Alberton is my choice because ................
Then all eyes will turn to Menlopark Hoërskool who hosts the semi-finals of the TUKS series. The match everybody is speculating about is the one between Garsforntein and Monnas. Monnas had a slow start to the season and their surprise loss against Eldoraigne, albeit without five players will be etched in all's memories. But Monnas has shown at the Kearsney Festival that they will have a big say where the TUKS series trophy will end up. They recorded victories against Dale 33-16, Middelburg HTS 40-8 and on the last day won against a highly rated Selborne 19-12. Garsfontein, on the other hand, had two very different results at the Noord vs Suid Tournament. On the first day, they lost 17-46 against Paarl Gim but came back on the second day and beat Boland Landbou in the dying minutes with 43-41. If Monnas can starve their backline of quality ball like Paarl Gim did, with their big forwards they will win the day BUT any loose kicks to the back will see Garsies run at them with devastating results. So, in short, take them on up front and if they run at you DEFEND defend and pray.
The second semi-final is played between EG Jansen and Nelspruit. EG Jansen will want to forget the Noord Suid tournament as well as Kearsney Festival losing all their matches. Five in a row. Nelspruit, on the other hand, had a "successful" st John's festival losing to Paul Roos on the first day but winning in the next two matches with causing the upset of the week on the last day by beating Helpmekaar 20-12. So an easy win for Nelspruit? Not at all. EG Jansen will be relieved after their star flyhalf Ruben Beytell was cleared to play this weekend after an injury scare but their team is fifteen young men that give their best in every game and do not know the meaning of giving up. The highlight of this match should be the duel between Ruben Beytell of Jansies and Stephan van der Bank of Nelspruit. Both flyhalves but were Ruben will run any defensive structure to pieces Stephan is at the opposite pole. Against Helpies he again showed that he can control any game with his educated boot. With both teams known for giving it all until the end, this could be the highlight of the day at Menlopark.
Then Pretoria has two other matches to look forward to. First Waterkloof hosts KES. Both teams undefeated at the KES tournament and both teams playing a similarly open and attractive style of rugby. Waterkloof has put away the disastrous start to their season against Grey College and has improved with every match afterwards, six in a row. KES, on the other hand, is still unbeaten this year with a record of five out of five. Both team's supporters claim a top 10 place in the country who will be right? In the other match, people will flock to see, not because of the two teams' results this year but rather a fixture played between two gentleman schools. Pretoria Boys High hosts Maritzburg College. Pretoria Boys High is looking a lot better since Rudi Dames has taken over as Director of Rugby and although the result is not what everybody is looking for a steady progress can be seen. Maritzburg College is coming to Pretoria win two victories out of four matches with the victories not against sides of note. So bad rugby attended by thousand? No passionate rugby played by both teams giving their all with the crowd enjoying every second thereof. The winner of the day will be rugby and friendship.