From early-season skirmishes, the Eastern Cape schools rugby programme is set to escalate into full-scale battles as the Graeme College Festival kicks off in Makhanda on Thursday.
With many of the province’s top teams in action, the festival presents a valuable opportunity for coaches and players to assess their squads and fine-tune their game plans at this early stage of the season.
Adding an exciting new element to the competition, St John’s College from Johannesburg will make their festival debut. Under the guidance of coach Katleho Lynch, they bring a dynamic style of play that is sure to challenge their opponents.
The Gauteng side will open their campaign on Thursday at 11:45 against East London’s Cambridge. A strong performance in this fixture will set the stage for their highly anticipated clash with hosts Graeme College on Saturday afternoon.
As always, Graeme College have not shied away from tough opposition. They will face a stern test against Brandwag in the final match of Thursday’s schedule.
Both teams head into the contest with momentum after impressive warm-up wins last weekend - Brandwag triumphed 31-7 over Otto du Plessis, while Graeme dominated Daniel Pienaar 51-17. Their 15:30 showdown promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Another key fixture on the opening day will see Queen’s College take on Pearson in the main curtain-raiser. Given their history of tightly contested matches at this festival, another intense battle is expected.
Friday’s action will feature several high-stakes encounters, beginning with Grey High taking on Hudson Park at 1pm in a classic cross-border rivalry.
While Grey have traditionally held the upper hand in this matchup, Hudson Park will be eager to upset expectations early in the season.
At 14:15, Dale College, coming off a hard-fought win over Port Rex, will face Humansdorp’s Nico Malan. With Nico Malan proving their credentials by defeating Kingswood last weekend, this clash has all the makings of a nail-biter.
The festival’s final Friday fixture will see Selborne take on Marlow Agricultural in what promises to be a fiercely contested match.
Marlow, who played to a dramatic 25-25 draw against St Andrew’s after struggling with their goal-kicking, will be looking to convert their chances more effectively this time.
Meanwhile, Selborne, fresh off a grinding 12-3 victory over Hudson Park, will need to be at their best against the physical Cradock outfit.
With such a strong lineup of matchups, the Graeme College Festival is set to deliver an action-packed showcase of schoolboy rugby at its finest.
The first team fixtures on the Somerset field are:
Thursday, March 20
09:15 Port Alfred High v Mary Waters
10:30 Muir v Otto du Plessis
11:45 Cambridge v St John’s
13:00 Hangklip v Stirling
14:15 Pearson v Queen’s
15:30 Graeme v Brandwag
Friday, March 21
09:15 PJ Olivier v Mzansi Academy
10:30 Woodridge v Port Rex
11:45 Daniel Pienaar v Union High
13:00 Grey High v Hudson Park
14:15 Nico Malan v Dale
15:30 Selborne v Marlow
Saturday, March 22
09:15 Cambridge v Otto du Plessis
10:30 Stirling v Pearson
11:45 Gill v Muir
13:00 Queen’s v Brandwag
14:15 St Andrew's College v Framesby
15:30 Graeme v St John's