Grey College clinch a thriller while Selborne and Stellenberg soar on

Grey Bloem battled it out against the Maroon Machine while Selborne hosted Grey High and Stellenberg traveled to Durbanville in a triple KP weekend

As proud hosts, the KP Derby Series saw Paul Roos and Grey battle it out in Bloem.

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This past Saturday’s action saw three provincial derby-days showcased throughout the country. Grey College and Paul Roos the standout, as two titans of the school-boy scene locked horns in a ‘best of the rest’ feel match-up. In combination, the Eastern Cape hosted Selborne against Grey High while Hoerskool Durbanville hosted Stellenburg down in the Western Cape. 

The headline of the weekend saw the City of Roses buckle down for a mammoth battle. Roos vs College as the pair fought for fourth in the country. Over 100 Springbok representatives had been produced from the two. The traveling XV of Paul Roos, suffering from a season drop-off after an unbelievable unbeaten 2024, were keen to replicate their heroics from last year. When hosting Grey, the maroon men had dished out Grey’s worst ever result. A dominant 36-3 win in favour of the Stellenbosch outfit. However, Paul Roos had struggled to maintain their high standards in the year following. Sitting at 4th in SA, a drop off due largely to the sheer dominance of their provincial rivals, Paarl Boys’ and Paarl Gim. Their hosts hadn't escaped the wrath of the aforementioned Paarl duo either earlier in the season. Despite each having a slight slip this year, the game wasn’t primed to be affected at all. As Jannie Geldenhuys put it before the game (Grey’s head coach), “Each year of schools’ rugby is unique, and this year is a new year. Our focus is what we want to achieve within this match.” (https://ssschoolsplus.co.za/springbok-breeding-grounds-go-head-to-head-in-city-of-roses ) Regardless of the season each has had, the two have still managed to supply 6 SA School players. Lamla Mgedezi, Ethan Adams, AJ Meyer and JG Badenhorst from College and Gert Kemp and Altus Rabe from Roos. All six were absent for the game due to international duty. So with the groundwork for the clash laid, the game got underway. Grey would light the touch paper first, throwing their support into early rupture. A try-time within three minutes of the occasion. Weathering Grey’s momentum after the try, Roos would strike back just over ten minutes later. A Travis Phieffer penalty followed by Roos’ first five pointer of the game, would see the away side take a 10-7 lead. However, minutes later the crowd would witness Benjamin van den Berg crash over for Grey, before Eddie Mabena would grab his first of the afternoon. Swinging the game right back into Grey’s favour. 19-10 up, a late Roos try just as the buzzer neared for the first 35, would see Paul Roos cling onto their hosts. Cling they did, as steadily the second period drifted away with neither capitalizing on scoring chances. Both sides were looking for an opening to swing the game in their favour and just as the clock passed the 53rd minute mark, Roos would break through. Tiaan Basson touched down for his side’s third of the afternoon. A Pheiffer conversion and second penalty minutes later would see the maroon machine take a 25-19 lead. With College looking down the barrel of a major home loss, heroics were required. With just three minutes left on the clock, the ball got flung out to Darius Erwee who cross-field kicked it to perfection into Mabena’s hands in the corner. Mabena, leaping in the air to snatch it right from Paul Roos starlet Keenan Stoffels. Lighting the surrounding support into ecstasy. A pressure kick from Erwee would follow, as the flyhalf converted the winning try and stole the game for his side. 26-25 it ended, as Grey dramatically grabbed the dub. 

Across provincial borders, Grey High traveled to take on East London’s Selborne. In their traditional black and white shirts, Selborne’s XV was set to defend the ‘Fortress’ against a rival that first challenged the home side way back in 1926. With neither claiming a top 20 spot in the school rankings going into this encounter, Grey themselves were coming off four losses in their last five. At the same time, Selborne attempted to end the year strongly after two recent derby losses to Queen’s and Dale. It really was all to play for as the XVs ran out in front of hundreds of supporters. The first half would ultimately go the way of Grey High. Tries from Bradley Myburgh and Evan Mucka combating a Noah Mbizi yellow for the travelers. As well as an earlier try from Selborne courtesy of Liam Hansen. 14-7 up at the break, Grey High had done the hard part. Get a lead. Unfortunately, keeping it became a growing issue in the second 35. Travis Enslin struck almost immediately after the restart before a second for Hansen gave Selborne the best possible response. Both converted by the boot of Bungqina Nuku, Selborne soared into a 21-14 lead barely within 10 minutes of the second half. After the flurry of action, Selborne would ease into a position of power. Seeing the game out safely over the next half hour or so. With an added six points from penalties to tie the bow on their victory. 27-14 it ended, Selborne sinking Grey High to their sixth loss in nine. 

The final action from the derby-series weekend saw Durbanville make a rare appearance in the campaign as they hosted Stellenburg. Set for a historic season, Stellenberg had begun 2025 by claiming a ‘Southern Suburbs Crown’. Beating all four sides within the first half of term 2, much of this promise had diminished over the course of the past few months. Four straight losses prior to last weekend’s victory against Milnerton. However, the side had still stuck in the top 15 in the country. Their hosts on the other hand were coming off a single loss in their last five fixtures. Setting things up nicely for a top quality showpiece. However, a slow first half would ensue as things got underway in last week’s u18 international series host town. A single Durbanville try from Tylo Hess the difference between the two at the break. The second half however would not be as uneventful. Stellenberg roared into life with three tries in 10 minutes from the 47th to the 57th minute. Tryscorers in the form of Yanos Malnur, Ralton Rhode and Daniel Mongie. A trio of scorers that in the end carried their side over the line. 21-7 up after the turnaround, a late 61st minute try from Juan Smith was not enough for the hosts. Seeing things end 21-14 in favor of Stellenburg, as the season begins wrapping up for both. As well the majority of sides across the country, with just two derby weekends left of 2025.