SuperSport Schools Plus | Maritzburg and DHS impress, stage set for Hilton vs Michaelhouse

Clifton College and Northwood set the interschools’ action in motion at the KZN High Schools Rugby Day on Saturday at Hollywoodbets King’s Parkafter a couple of curtain-raisers between regional teams.

For most of the first half, Clifton led, but the match swung dramatically in the Knights‘ favor five minutes before half-time.

They had made a somewhat lethargic start to the contest and trailed 5-6 when Clifton attempted a counterattack, but an ambitious long pass was intercepted, quickly offloaded, and Northwood went over in the right-hand corner and into the lead for the first time .

They extended their advantage from there, adding another try before the break, to go into it 19-6 ahead. Still, they hadn’t played anywhere near their potential which, coach Jacques Deen reminded them about.

“I just had to make them realize that they are capable of doing better. I had a bit of a go at them, a bit of motivation. They reacted, which is positive. If they didn’t react, then there’s a problem. The second half was much better, and they are capable of doing that for 70 minutes,” he said.

That positive reaction was worth 42 points, without reply, as Northwood stretched away to run out 61-6 winners.

Deen said he wasn’t sure why his players started so slowly. It could have been the big stage of King’s Park, he surmised, adding that, for some players with ambitions of playing the game professionally, running out at the home of the Sharks should have served as motivation.

Northwood, though, played some terrific rugby in the second half, attacking from all areas of the field. “With our coach, Jeremy McLarenwe give them quite a bit of freedom,” Deen said.
“Initially, we try and soften them up. We try maul, maul, maul, maul. And then we start playing from anywhere, but we have to earn that right first.”

The Knights also gained the upper hand in the second half in the set pieces, claiming a number of tightheads. With a surfeit of possession, “we started enjoying ourselves,” Deen said.

Durban High School (DHS) were next up against St Charles College and, like Northwood, they came on strongly in the second half to break open a tight contest.

It was just 14-0 in favor of the Horseflies when the teams turned, but they added 40 more points while Saints scored 12.

Captain Duncan Basson scored one of School’s eight tries, four of which were converted by Bocqwana well and two by Allston Cedars.

Saints’ scrumhalf Matthew Fick, who earned selection for the Sharks’ Craven Week team in 2023, caught the eye with his immense work rate and outstanding defensive work, especially. He robbed DHS of another try with a spectacular try-saving tackle, ripping the player back from the try line as he was about to give down, and also added a sensational 60m solo try-scoring effort, which included a goose step and a dummy .

DHS faces Oakdale and Paarl Boys’ High at the Absa Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley on Thursday and Saturday respectively and, said DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engeldowhe wanted his team to drive their intensity ahead of those clashes, which he described as test matches.

“We wanted to be ruthless and physical, and I said this is the perfect opportunity to do that. Here, mistakes happened. Next week, it’s going to be about the tempo. We need to up it.

“The boys did well. It’s not about the mistakes. It’s about the effort and the work rate. To put 54 points on St. Charles, who have had a really good season to date, and a very good win at their Founders Day last week, makes me very happy.

“As we go into this week, it is something that we’ve worked towards and we have to go out there and do our best, and this was good prep for it.”

DHS faces a very tough Absa Wildeklawer schedule, but their great rivals, Maritzburg College, whom they beat 21-18 in Pietermaritzburg, faces the toughest schedule of them all. They take on Gray College on Thursday, followed two days later by unbeaten Paul Roos.

That’s why College coach Tim Orchard was pleased to see his charges deliver a ferocious and effective performance against Westville Boys’ Highwhich allowed him to withdraw some players later in the game to give them a break ahead of the massive demands that lie ahead.

“We are very happy with that,” he smiled, after College powered their way to an unexpectedly large 40-10 victory.

The key to their success was that intensity, and the Red, Black and White delivered it in spades from the first whistle.

“We spoke about that during the week,” Orchard said. “We wanted to start well, bring the fight to them, bring the physicality and win that battle. We felt that we could get a lot of joy against them [if we did that].

“[A lack of intensity] cost us last week [against DHS]. We wanted to lay down a marker in terms of effort this week at training and get it right in our match here today.”

Westville has shown this season that they are strong in the set scrums, and Monumentdespite possessing a super-sized pack, discovered that at the Kearsney Easter Festival. On Saturday, though, College had the edge over them Griffin. They also tightened up their ball control at lineout time, which was something that hurt them against DHS.

Their reward was a six to two advantage in tries, with five of the six going to the backline, which reflected the quality ball provided by the pack. the centers, Swelithle Mbatha and Nkululeko Sitholescored three between them, with Mbatha going over for a double.

Jadrian Afrikaner crossed for a brace for Westville.

They’ll want to quickly fix any areas of concern ahead of the Gray High Rugby Festival where they’ll face Durbanville and Dale College.

Michaelhouse and Kearsney College dished up an eight-try feast, with ‘House winning it 34-19 after leading 15-7 at the break.

Playing without their sidelined captain, Carlyle Hawkins, it was a solid performance from the Balgowan boys. As was the case with Maritzburg College, good quality ball from the pack benefitted their backline.

In fact, all of the Michaelhouse tries went to backline players, with Jack Hughes, Luke Davidson, William Riddle, Stefan Moolman and Aya Mkokheli going over, while Connor McIntyre, Daniel Eager and Jayden Johnson scored for Kearsney.

It was a sixth loss on the trot for Kearsney, but they showed that their offense has improved since the start of the season. They have a sharper edge to their attack with Cameron Veenstra now at fullback. Meanwhile, Dan Eager, who has moved from 15 to 11, has found himself among the tries out on the wing.

It’s the Hilton/Michaelhouse on the coming weekend, so ‘House will be happy to have finished the game with an apparently clean bill of health. Captain Carlyle Hawkins, whose arm was in a sling, said he hoped to be fit to play on Gilfillan Field on Saturday.

Hilton Collegemeanwhile, posted a sixth win in succession when they handed Glenwood a 26-7 loss in the last game of the day. It was a composed and well-executed showing from Hilton, although the slippery evening conditions led to a few handling errors.

Their skipper Hannah Pieterse caught the eye, bull rushing his way over for a first half try and adding another off the back of a five-metre scrum in the second half.

Ivan Yukko and Josh Grant also dotted down, while Liyema Nelwho controlled the contest from flyhalf, nailed three conversions.

Glenwood were kept at bay for almost an hour, but they enjoyed the last say in the game when Sisiphiwo Dwayi ran in for a try, which was converted by Juan Viljoen.

“I was very happy with the performance,” Hilton’s Director of Rugby, Brad Mcleod-Henderson declared.” They are a tough side, and playing at King’s Park was a good experience.

“Luckily, it was quite late in the day. The last couple of weekends of 30-plus degrees’ rugby has been tough.

“I’m very happy with the boys. Obviously, next weekend is a big one, the Hilton/Michaelhouse, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Scores

Northwood 61 (19) – Ethan Macey, Bongane Khumalo (2), Kwezi Kunene, Ramutuku Sikhakana (2), Reuben Vos, unknown (2). Conversions: Siyanda Nkosi (8). Clifton 6 (6) – Penalties: Adam Selikow (2).

DHS 54 (14) – Tries: Duncan Basson, Allston Cedras, Zenkosi Mthiyana, unknown, Adriano Jackson (2), Tshabalala (2), Conversions: Aka Bocqwana (4), Allston Cedras (2). St Charles 12 (0) – Tries: Matthew Fick, Ukhanyo Ntsangani. Conversion: Ukhanyo Ntsangani.

Maritzburg College 41 (22) – Tries: Luyanda Kunene, Swelithle Mbatha (2), Nkululeko Sithole, James Slevin, Naz Isaacs. Conversions: James Slevin (4). Penalty: James Slevin. Westville 10 (5) – Tries: Jadrian Afrikaner (2).

Michaelhouse 34 (19) – Tries: Luke Davidson, Stefan Moolman, Aya Mkokheli, William Riddle, Jack Hughes. Conversions: Luke Davidson (3). Penalty: Luke Davidson. Kearsney 15 (7) – Tries: Connor McIntyre, Daniel Eager, Jaden Johnson. Conversions: Cameron Veenstra (2).

Hilton 26 (14) – Tries: Hanu Pieterse (2), Ivan Jjuuko, Josh Grant. Conversions: Liyema Nela (3). Glenwood 7 (0) – Try: Sisiphiwo Dwayi. Conversion: Juan Viljoen.