Selborne College go down the coast from East London to meet Grey high in Port Elizabeth on Saturday in an FNB Classic Clash. There is a difference in momentum between the 1st XVs two schools which suggest that Selborne should have the upper hand.

Of course, the match is in Port Elizabeth, on Grey's home ground, and that could well be a weapon for them.

Selborne, who have a massive pack, have maintained a high standard throughout the season and are currently third on the FNB Top 20. Any team that draws with Grey Bloem can beat anybody. Grey had a good start to the season but have rather faded and have slipped off the FNB Top 20 altogether.

But if the Paarl Interschools is anything to go by, a surprise result would not be all that surprising! Such is the glory of sport.

Against common opponents

Bishops: Grey won 16-15, Selborne 24-23
Grey College: Grey lost 69-21 , Selborne drew 16-16
Hilton: Grey won 39-15, Selborne 31-17
Queen's: Grey lost 18-17; Selborne won 19-13 and drew 22-22
Wynberg: Grey won 51-10, Selborne 11-8
Dale: Grey lost 22-20; Selborne won 27-9 and 31-19
Graeme: Grey won 46-6, Selborne 36-11

Grey Bloem and Dale apart, there is not a lot of difference.

Provincial representation

Grey fall under Eastern Province, the coastal strip from Uitenhage to Nico Malan and excluding places like Grahamstown and Cradock. Selborne fall under Border.

Craven Week

Grey:  Gary Loest,  Siviwe Bisset, Byron Westcott,  Marius le Roux, Michael Willemse, Jan Enslin, Fikile Sofisa - seven in all.

Selborne: Joshua van Rooyen, Dylan De Wilzen, Emihle Baneti,  Cameron Opperman, Siphesihle Punguzwa, Andrew Love, Jason Orpen, Ryan Germishuys, Siphatho Qinisile, Yakha Qinela, Freddy Lubbe - 11 in all, including the whole of the Selborne/Border tight five.

Academy Week

Grey: Alex Banfield

Selborne: Nobody

The representation tells us that there is a lot of talent in both sides. Grey will know that Selborne are most vulnerable when the big forwards are moved around.

Teams

Grey: 15 Gary Loest, 14 Allister Loock, 13 Siviwe Bisset, 12 Byron Westcott, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Alex Banfield, 9 Ricardo Do Pinheiro, 8 Neil Strydom, 7 Zaine Marx (captain), 6 Michael Willemse, 5 Marius le Roux, 4 Gareth Ehret, 3 Vukile Sofisa, 2 Caleb Rightford, 1 Jan EnslinSelborne College: 15 Joshua van Rooyen, 14 Kane Amos-Brown, 13 Uzuzhake Ngantweni, 12, Dylan de Wilzen, 11 Emihle Baneti, 10 Geoff Lundersted, 9 Cameron Opperman (vice-captain), 8 Khwezi Mona, 7 Freddy Lubbe, 6 Siphesihle Punguzwa, 5 Jason Orpen, 4 Andrew Love, 3 Ryan Germishuys, 2 Siphatho Qinisile (captain), 1 Yakha Qinela 

This is Selborne's second FNB Classic Clash this term and they have exactly the same side that drew with Queen's.

Date: Saturday, 13 August 2011
Kick-off: 15.30
Venue: Pollock Field, Grey High, Port Elizabeth
Expected weather conditions: 40% chance of rain with a high of 15°C, dropping to 9°C.

The visit is not only rugby. There will be competition at fishing (in Bluewater Bay), golf, tennis, squash, debating, chess and hockey. In all they are bringing 18 rugby teams.

Rugby Programme

Pollock Field

08.30: Under-14A
09.30: Under-15A
10.30: Under-16A
11.45: 4th XV
13.00: 3rd XV
14.15: 2nd XV
15.30: 1st XV

Philip Field

08.30: Under-15B
09.30: 5th XV
10.40: Under-14B
11.45: Under-16B

Pyott Field

08.30: 8th XV vs 7th XV
09.40: 7th XV vs 16C
10.50: 6th XV
12.00: 15C

Gordon Field

08.30: Under-14D
09.30: Under-15D
10.30: Under-14C

Results down the years

1972: Grey won 9-0
1973: Selborne won 20-4
1974: Selborne won 10-6
1975: Selborne won 22-21
1976: Grey won 17-11
1977: Grey won 21-4
1978: Selborne won 26-19
1979: Selborne won 22-13
1980: Selborne won 18-12
1981: Grey won 24-7
1982: Grey won 12-10
1983: Grey won 29-9
1984: Grey won 18-6
1985: Selborne won 7-6
1986: Selborne won 15-10
1987: Grey won 12-6
1988: Selborne won 12-10
1989: Grey won 27-3
1990: Selborne won 17-9
1991: Grey won 7-0
1992: No match
1993: Grey won 16-15
1994: Selborne won 50-6
1995: Grey won 18-17
1996: Selborne won 10-8
1997: Selborne won 20-10
1998: Selborne won 31-10
1999: Selborne won 23-22
2000: Grey won 28-0
2001: Grey won 28-12
2002: Grey won 16-15
2003: Grey won 20-14 and 38-13
2004: Grey won 18-16 and Selborne won 20-11
2005: Grey won 16-3 and 62-3
2006: Grey won 16-15
2007: Grey won 18-3
2008: Grey won 38-16
2009: Selborne won 22-15
2010: Selborne won 30-17