On the weekend of the 22^nd of April, Penryn College hosted Uplands College in the annual winter sports derby (FNB Clash).  Throughout the weekend, scholars and their families, teachers, alumni and the larger Lowveld community came out in their numbers to support both schools. SuperSport Schools made sure that all the action was broadcast live for those who were not able to join the derby festivities on the weekend. While the expected matches took place on the netball and tennis courts, rugby and hockey fields, the academic and cultural competitions of debating and chess were also hotly contested. Adding a little musical flavour, spectators and scholars alike were treated to the upbeat musical talent of the marimba band which provided background music while hockey games were being played on Penryn’s Astroturf.

Despite the derby being held at the beginning of the winter sports calendar, it was an exciting weekend that produced a variety of results across the various disciplines. It re-established the competitive nature of both schools and the annual rivalry which has been sorely missed in this full competitive context due to Covid restrictions these last two years. Highlights from the weekend were the boys and girls first team hockey matches which both drew with scores of 1 – 1. The games showed the determination of both sides who played with focus until the final whistle. Although Penryn’s first netball team went down 29 – 33 to a feisty Uplands side, Penryn’s debating and chess teams both took home wins as did the final first XV rugby match of the day. Neither Penryn nor Uplands College backed down from challenges on the field, playing to the final whistle in a nail-biter of a match that saw Penryn claim their victory of 36 – 29.