New Zealand schoolboy rugby is cooking while the South African season is coming to a standstill as the June holidays are on hand and everybody is preparing for the several youth weeks that is coming in the next four weeks. However, action and passion still on display wherever schoolboys play rugby. Enjoy.
New Zealand:
Auckland Premier 1A - A weekend of big clashes in Auckland. Log leaders and the only unbeaten team Auckland Grammar travel to Sacred Heart College who has lost two of their four league games in this competition. Although Auckland Grammar is looking very good this season this will be no easy game and Sacred Heart College may just give Auckland a bit of a scare especially in the first half of the game. St Kentigern who is struggling without their scouted players should win this weekend against Mount Albert Grammar who has only won one from four starts. King's College hosts De La Salle College in the game of the weekend. Both teams have only lost one game with 1 bonus point the difference between them on the Points Table. The national champions of 2018, St Peter's College travels to Kelston Boys' with both teams also having lost one game with both teams on 15 log points. A very physical encounter is expected wit St Peter's known to win the close games.
Central North Island - St John's Hastings and St Paul's meet in the game of the weekend. Both teams are unbeaten and according to the informed not much to choose between the two sides. St Paul's building on a successful 2019 when they ended second while a transformed St John's Hasting is attempting to forget their third from the bottom in 2018 performance. St Paul's for me to win but .....
Crusaders Championship - St Andrew's College who is the only unbeaten team left in this competition will be at the top of the points table on Sunday as they play Timaru Boys High who only have one game in this competition in 2019. The "biggest" game this weekend will be against St Bede's College who travels to Christ's College, St Bede's only loss this season was against Nelson College (18-20) and is currently joint third on the Points Table with Christchurch BHS on 20 points. Christ's College is in the fifth spot with 18 points after five games. The rest of the top five teams should all win without working too hard.
North Harbour 1A - In the match of the weekend Westlake BHS who is currently unbeaten travels to number two Whangarei Boys' High School whose only loss was against Manurewa High early in the season. Westlake will be confident in beating Whangarei BHS and defend their title of 2018 but expect a very close game. Westlake will play bottom of the log Takapuna Grammar next week in the last league games of this competition.
Otago - League leaders Southlands Boys High play South Otago High which will be an easy win for Southland while second-placed King's High should not experience any problems with St Kevin's.
Super 8 - The first week of action with Palmerston North BHS beating Hastings BHS with 32-25 earlier this week.
Wellington Premiership - Still four unbeaten teams with St Pat's Silverstream who won this competition last year already played and won Wellington Collge (30-12) earlier this week. The game between Aotea College and St Pat's Town who is currently both unbeaten is the main game in this competition for the weekend with St Pat's town may be just the favourites as they are at home. The other unbeaten team is Rongotai who is coming up against Hitt International Boys' School (HIBS) who is currently bottom of the log, should be still unbeaten on Sunday morning.
South Africa:
Central Region - Nothing
Eastern Cape - Both Pearson and Daniël Pienaar are not having great seasons but homeboys Daniël Pienaar could just be the favourites to break their three matches losing streak with Pearson who will still be hurting after their 3-87 beating by St Andrews. Framesby should continue their great season when they travel to Kingswood but Kingswood is having a great season also and will be confident to win their fifth game in a row. But Framesby should. The impressive St Andrew's should add the 2019 scalp of Queens to their collection while Selborne should also not experience much resistance from Stirling.
KwaZulu-Natal - Hilton should cruise past the Sarel Cilliers threat but Kearsney will know they were in a battle against the high riding Northwood. Northwood will make sure they win their last game of the season to end the season with a record of played 13 and won 10. Maritzburg College would be over their loss against Hilton (17-21) of last weekend and should beat Michaelhouse who is already on a three-match losing streak.
NoordVaal - Helpmekaar travel to Middelburg HTS and will return with their fifth win in the VirSeker Cup competition and in the first place on the Cup log. Helpmekaar seems to be at full strength and their backline should be as potent as ever giving the defenders of Middelburg HTS a horrible time. In the only other VirSeker Cup game Noordheuwel host Waterkloof in what could be their first win in the VirSeker Cup competition.
Middelburg and Hugenote (Springs) will battle it out for the second place on the log in the Shield division of the VirSeker Cup with Middelburg who lost to Jeugland (38-40) last weekend the favourites.
The game I will attend is the one between Pretoria Boys High and St Johns being played in Pretoria. Pretoria Boys High is looking better in every match they played this year but if they have the ammunition to beat a very good St John's team is doubtful.
Western Cape - The battle of the "burbs" they call it with Rondebosch the out and out favourite in 2019. Bishops lost to Boishaai (23-41) last weekend ending a four much winning streak which included their win against Boland Landbou (53-19) of three weeks ago. Rondebosch lost to Stellenberg (19-26) in one of the shocks of the year last weekend also ending a winning streak of an impressive eight games. Rondebosch it should be.