The NoordVaal will be all-out action, with most of the action reserved for today (Friday) while KES and Jeppe will be one of the few fixtures on Saturday.
However, all eyes will be on Krugersdorp where Monnas will host the all-conquering Grey College with the Malcallum Marx trophy up for grabs. The 1stXV match will kick off at 18:10 (SA Time) in what promises to be a match played at a fast pace while the forwards will give no inch or any sympathy. Grey College already played three games in 2025, beating Trio (38-10), Welkom Gim (60-17) and Oakdale (25-10). This is a team with several stars all over the pitch, however, what was more impressive, especially against Oakdale is the way they absorbed the pressure from Oakdale's massive pack of forwards and despite trailing at the end of the first half, they came out in the second half, shifted up a few gears and calmly scored several tries with their speed out back enjoying the quality ball. Grey is an excellent balanced team with stars that can rip any defence apart. Add to that their brilliant coaching staff and you have a team that are serious contenders to end the 2025 season as the best there was. Monnas on the other hand did beat Welkom Gim 38-26 a week ago, however, I expect that Monnas will grow into a NoordVaal contender at the end of the season, but will find the going very tough today.
The other big clash is when Garsfontein hosts Noordheuwel in Pretoria at 14:00. Garsfontein showed in their win (26-18) against Jeppe that maybe only Oakdale can face them upfront. Garsfontein struggled in the first half trying to run the disciplined Jeppe's defence off their feet, which they could not. In the second half, they used their big forwards to maul their opponents to pieces. Will Garsfontein stick to their winning forwards or d they switch back to the all-out attack game plan we got used to during the past few years? Noordheuwel had a good first outing against Rustenburg (40-12), showing they are ready to earn the crown of Krugersdorp with their good pack of forwards and blistering pace out back, however, Garsfontein should win it with relative ease if .........
Most of the other matches are quarter-finals at the various NWU Puk competitions. The general feeling was that teams like Waterkloof, Menlopark and EG Jansen competing is "unfair," however especially Oos Moot who lost to Waterkloof with only three points and Ben Vorster is making those encounters interesting and exciting.
Oos Moot will face Nelspruit who beat Middelburg (18-13) and EG Jansen (24-22) but lost to Middelburg HTS (18-14) already this year. Everything points to a Nelspruit but I doubt if Oos Moot warriors will bother to read the writing on the wall, however, do not be surprised if this becomes the upset of the weekend.
A struggling EG Jansen should beat Ben Vorster, however, it will take a special effort.
Middelburg HTS will face Waterkloof who did not yet convinced. Waterkloof beat Ben Vorster (30-47) and Oos Moot (24-21) while a much improved Middelburg HTS beat EG Jansen (30-12) and Nelspruit (24-18), which should make Middelburg HTS the favourites. Add to that the effect of local referees, garage pies and the chip and dip in Middelburg and Waterkloof will have a looooong 150 kilometres back to Pretoria. This should be your 16:10 match to watch, sandwiched in between the Garsfontein/Noordheuwel and Monnas/Gey College matches.
On Saturday KES hosts Jeppe for the unofficial "Soutie" championship of the NoordVaal. KES had a struggling win over St John's (17-15) while Jeppe beat Die Anker (35-05), Pretoria Boys High (27-18) and lost to Garsfontein (18-26). Jeppe should be the favourite to win. Jeppe is definitely not the team of 2024 yet, however, there are several players in that team that can become overnight heroes at the Noord/Suid Festival. Combined with great coaching and a fighting spirit that never stops, they will upset several teams in their 2025 season.
NoordVaal Fixtures for the week ending 23 March 2025
Bergsig Akademie vs Lichtenburg
EG Jansen vs Ben Vorster
Garsfontein vs Noordheuwel
Heidelberg Volkies vs Jeugland
Hugenote Springs vs Wagpos
Kempton Park vs Piet Retief
Marais Viljoen vs Pietersburg
Menlopark vs Transvalia
Middelburg vs Eldoraigne
Middelburg HTS vs Waterkloof
Monnas vs Grey College
Nelspruit vs Oos Moot
Potch Volkies vs Montana
Pretoria Boys High vs Parktown
St David's vs St Alban's
Wesvalia vs Klerksdorp
Zwartkop vs Die Anker