Bishops fly up from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth to play St Andrew's in Grahamstown on Saturday, an ancient and enjoyable fixture, filled with the keen rivalry that is best amongst friends.

The two schools are similar - both mid-19th century Anglican foundations, both with the sons of fathers who are professional men, businessmen and farmers. Both schools were honoured by CJ Rhodes with Rhodes Scholarships of their own. Both once had university classes that made their contribution to Rhodes and Cape Town Universities.

In fact when they first met in 1896 they were colleges of the university kind and playing for the Anderson Cup with SACS and Victoria College. Two years later the same happened.

In those early days travel was not easy by ship or by train. Then it became the fashion to travel in convoys of cars. Now they fly. Earlier, only the 1st XV would play. This year Bishops are flying up five teams. With their entourages, that would put a lot of pressure on the available accommodation in Grahamstown and so they stay overnight in PE and then bus up to Grahamstown for the rugby and other fun and then bus back to PE for Saturday night.

In days of yore Bishops would play three matches in Grahamstown - against St Andrew's, Kingswood and St Aidan's, the Jesuit school which is now long closed. The St Andrew's match would be on the Saturday and that evening there would be the Matric Dance which was called the Bishops Dance.

It was such a  good time for players, staff and parents with delightful memories of fun and laughter around a table at Upper, at the Albany Club and at the Old Andrean Club. And in the midst of it all there was a serious rugby match - and the ghosts of Axel, Etienne and Bricks.

The match this year could be close. St Andrew's are at home and playing their last match. In addition some changes to the team have produced a change in fortune - victories of Marlow in Cradock and Dale at home, both teams who had been outperforming College. Bishops, on the other hand, have been having a strong season and are currently ranked 14th on the FNB Top 20.

St Andrew's had two players playing for Eastern Province Country Districts at Craven Week this year - fullback Ntsiki Mlamleli who will be playing flyhalf against Bishops, and wing Athenkosi Manqoyi. Mlamleli was a Craven Week in 2010 as well. In addition lock Sintu Manjezi represented Eastern Province at the Grant Khomo Week for Under-16s.

Bishops had three players at Craven Week - Tim Swiel, who was mostly a flyhalf at Craven Week but will be at fullback against St Andrew's, prop Tshepo Motale and eighthman Tarquin Carlsson. In addition their strong centre Johnny Kotze was in the Western Province Academy side. Tim Swiel was chosen for South African Schools and Johnny Kotze for the SA Academy side.

Teams

St Andrew's: 15 Chris Ford, 14 Athenkosi Manqoyi, 13 William Cahill, 12 Ian Herold (vice-captain), 11 Peter Lever, 10 Ntsiki Mlamleli, 9 Jason Baggott, 8 Stuart Stopforth, 7 Anthony Everard, 6 Jason Kankowski, 5 Jake Green, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 David Murray, 2 Garrick Bowker, 1 Robin Murray (captain)
 
Coach: Simon Holderness
 
Bishops: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Kris Otto, 13 Jason Morris, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Llewellyn Eksteen, 10 James van Heerden, 9 Luke Johnston, 8 Tarquin Carlsson (captain), 7 Ghaalib van der Ross, 6 Jo Miller, 5 Floris Groeninx, 4 Nick Schooling, 3 Tshepo Motale, 2 Lusanda Doli (vice-captain), 1 Emelio da Graca

Coaches: Dave Mallett, Kevin Foote, Gareth Hayden
 
Date: Saturday, 6 August 2011
Kick-off: 14.30
Venue: Lower Field, St Andrew's
Expected weather conditions: Grahamstown has weather rather than climate and Saturday will be sunny with bits of cloud, a high of 15°C, dropping to cold 6°C
 
 Programme for the day's rugby
 
10.00: Under-14As
11.00: Under-15As
12.00: Thistles vs Bishops Under-16A
13.15: 2nd XVs
14.30: 1st XVs
 
Results Down the Years

Where there are gaps for no match since 1921, it was a logistical matter only, not petulance of any kind as the two schools get on remarkably well.
 
1896: Bishops won 5-0
1898: Bishops won 9-0
1903: Bishops won 5-0
1921: St Andrew's won 15-0
1922: Bishops won 18-3
1923: Bishops won 3-0
1924: Draw 8-8
1925: Bishops won 3-0
1926: St Andrew's won 28-0
1927: Draw 3-3
1928: Bishops won 11-3
1929: Bishops won 20-9
1930: Bishops won 23-6
1931: Bishops won 16-0
1932: Bishops won 13-12
1933: St Andrew's won 9-8
1934: St Andrew's won 21-3
1935: St Andrew's won 6-5
1936: Bishops won 24-0
1937: Bishops won 8-6
1938: Draw 3-3
1939: St Andrew's won 16-0
1940-45: World War II
1946:: Draw 11-11
1947: Bishops won 8-6
1948: Bishops won 9-3
1949: Bishops won 6-3
1950: Bishops won 14-0
1951: St Andrew's won 5-3
1952: Bishops won 3-0
1953: St Andrew's won 28-0
1954: Bishops won 14-3
1955: Bishops won 8-3
1956: Draw 3-3
1957: St Andrew's won 9-6
1958: Bishops won 6-3
1959: St Andrew's won 16-3
1960: St Andrew's won 25-0
1961: Bishops won 11-5
1962: Bishops won 8-3
1963: St Andrew's won 11-3
1964: Bishops won 19-12
1965: Bishops won 3-0
1966: St Andrew's won 12-8
1967: St Andrew's won 6-0
1968: Bishops won 11-9
1969: St Andrew's won 17-3
1970: St Andrew's won 8-6
1971: St Andrew's won 6-3
1972: Bishops won 10-3
1973: Bishops won 12-11
1974: Bishops won 12-0
1975: St Andrew's won 15-0
1976: Bishops won 19-9
1977: Bishops won 41-3
1978: St Andrew's won 9-4
1979: Bishops won 49-3
1980: Bishops won 9-3
1981: Bishops won 18-6
1982: Bishops won 25-12
1983: Bishops won 23-12
1984: Bishops won 13-12
1985: No match
1986: Bishops won 30-3
1987: Bishops won 11-3
1988: Bishops won 50-6
1989: Bishops won 19-9
1990: St Andrew's won 15-4
1991: Bishops won 19-16
1992: Bishops won 41-17
1993: Bishops won 21-18
1994: Bishops won 30-21
1995: No match
1996: Bishops won 18-12
1997: St Andrew's won 47-17
1998: St Andrew's won 20-19
1999: Bishops won 27-20
2000: St Andrew's won 18-17
2001: St Andrew's won 19-15
2002: Bishops won 27-8
2003: Draw 12-12
2004: St Andrew's won 10-8
2005: St Andrew's won 28-10
2006: Bishops won 41-6
2007: No match
2008: Bishops won 64-18
2009: Bishops won 17-12
2010: Bishops won 25-24

Played: 85
Bishops won 54
Drawn: 6
St Andrew's won 25

St Andrew's provided the scores from 1990 onwards. This is a first effort to obtain a comprehensive list and may have errors. Corrections could be sent to paul@sportsmedia365.com.