Author: captainmorgan

There was extra motivation for Northwood when they ran onto Reece-Edwards Field on Saturday. The last time Jeppe had visited Durban, the Johannesburg side handed the Knights a bruising 32-point defeat. Added to that, it was the final home game for Northwood’s matric class.

The response from Jacques Deen‘s charges was emphatic. Led superbly by Jamie Wimble, the Knights produced one of their most complete performances of the season to outplay Jeppe 30-6.

Their pack owned the set scrums, and their defence rejected everything Jeppe threw at them.

Looking slightly different in dark shorts instead of their usual strip, Northwood exploded out of the blocks. From the opening scrum, they sent Jeppe backwards, immediately laying down a marker up front.

Moments later, fullback Trevor van Volenstee carved through the defence for the game’s first major line break, surging to within metres of the tryline. The Knights thought they had scored when the ball was shifted left, but the assistant referee’s flag was raised, and Jeppe escaped.

The second scrum only reinforced Northwood’s dominance, although Jeppe briefly relieved the pressure through scrumhalf Luxon Zwane, who broke from near his own line and hacked ahead into the hosts’ half. It was a rare moment of respite for the visitors in an opening quarter largely controlled by the Knights.

Jeppe earned a penalty and kicked to the corner after almost nine minutes without meaningful possession in attacking territory. Yet, when they attempted to build pressure, they were smashed backwards in another scrum and conceded a penalty. For coach Deen, a former forward himself, seeing that would have been deeply satisfying.

Northwood’s territorial superiority finally yielded points in the 13th minute when flyhalf Sondelani Sheleni slotted a penalty from just outside the Jeppe 22.

The visitors hit back through the boot of Luthando Marangxa after Northwood were penalised close to their line. Jeppe initially looked intent on driving over from a lineout maul, but after receiving another penalty, opted for the safer three points to level matters at 3-3.

Sheleni restored the home side’s lead six minutes later with a magnificent long-range penalty struck from just shy of halfway.

Jeppe threatened again when left wing Lethabo Mashao burst into the Northwood 22, but the Knights’ scrambling defence, one of their trademarks this season, rescued them. Scrumhalf Ludi van der Walt contested fiercely at the breakdown and won a relieving penalty.

Northwood continued to probe. Anesu Kuzonyei, dangerous under the high ball all afternoon, linked with Tristan Parkinson down the right touchline in another threatening movement. Jeppe survived only because Dalitso Milanzi‘s desperate tackle forced Kuzonyei into touch just as the attack opened up.

The home side spent much of the remainder of the half camped inside Jeppe territory, and Sheleni added a third penalty to stretch the advantage to 9-3. Jeppe threw everything at the Knights late in the half, but Northwood’s defence refused to crack.

Early in the second stanza, Marangxa reduced the deficit with an excellent long-range penalty, but those three points proved to be Jeppe’s final points of the afternoon.

There was an interesting parallel with the teams’ 2023 meeting on the same field. On that occasion, Jeppe led only 8-3 at halftime before running away to a 40-8 victory. This time, Northwood’s one-point larger halftime advantage became the platform for a dominant finish that yielded 21 unanswered points.

Another powerful scrum laid the foundation for the game’s opening try. From quality possession outside the Jeppe 22, Van Volenstee stepped into the flyhalf channel and combined cleverly with Sheleni and Jadon Smith. Smith’s direct running fixed defenders in place, allowing Van Volenstee to loop around, show the ball brilliantly, and slice through a gap before stepping inside to score.

Sheleni converted to push Northwood 16-6 ahead.

The Knights remained patient and continued to squeeze the visitors. Midway through the half, sustained pressure from a scrum attack created the second try. The ball swept left before being brought back right, where Phinda Nkosi burst through the extended defensive line and dived over in the corner.

Sheleni nailed another excellent conversion from the touchline to extend the lead to 23-6 with under 10 minutes remaining.

Jeppe spent much of the closing stages inside the Northwood 22, but anyone familiar with Deen’s side knows their goal-line defence borders on ferocious. Time and again, the Knights repelled wave after wave of attack.

Then, with the clock winding down, Northwood delivered the knockout blow.

From a scrum inside their own half, they shifted play wide left before swinging it back right into open space. Lock Nala Shabangu showed outstanding pace down the touchline before drawing the final defender and sending Nkosi away on the inside. The winger finished with an extravagant dive beneath the posts to seal the Knights’ third try.

Sheleni added the simple conversion to complete a polished 30-6 victory and finish with a personal tally of 15 points, equalling the combined contribution of Northwood’s three try scorers.

Scorers

Northwood 30 (9) – Tries: Phinda Nkosi (2), Trevor van Volenstee. Conversions: Sondelani Sheleni (3). Penalties: Sondelani Sheleni (3).
Jeppe 6 (3) – Penalties: Luthando Marangxa (2).

Other results

u19

II: Northwood 27 Jeppe 24
III: Northwood 12 Jeppe 3
IV: Northwood 24 Jeppe 12
V: Northwood 10 Jeppe 7
VI: Northwood 24 Jeppe 19
VII: Jeppe 49 Northwood 7

u16

A: Northwood 25 Jeppe 14
B: Jeppe 33 Northwood 24
C: Northwood 52 Jeppe 0
D: Jeppe 49 Northwood 5

u15

A: Jeppe 41 Northwood 0
B: Jeppe 59 Northwood 5
C: Jeppe 12 Northwood 10
D: Jeppe 35 Northwood 7

u14

A: Jeppe 14 Northwood 12
B: Northwood 35 Jeppe 22
C: Northwood 29 Jeppe 7
D: Northwood 12 Jeppe 5

Healthy again, with almost all of the first-choice players in their run-on XV, Westville Boys’ High turned on the style to power their way to an emphatic 50-3 victory at Glenwood High on Saturday. It was Westville’s first win on Dixon’s Field since 2015.

It took Westville a while to wear down the young Green Machine, but once they found their rhythm, they ran away with the game.

When players are out injured, their replacements might offer similar skills. However, combinations and understanding take a hit. Having their senior players return, and with that their experience of playing together, was the medicine that Westville needed to show how dangerous they could be.

At scrumhalf, Sandiswa Mbokazi‘s high tempo and sound decision-making enabled the Griffins to build momentum. Right-wing Bukho Sotaka, who crossed the whitewash twice, also made a big impact.

To score tries, a foundation has to be laid, and Westville coach Zander Erasmus credited his pack for putting in a massive shift. Their rewards included a first try for the 1st XV from flank, Omphiwe Dladla, who was put in the clear by loosehead prop, Sibusiso Hlongwa.

“It was relentless pressure, high-tempo attack, and double hits on defence, suffocating them, and making them work hard on D with snap plays,” Erasmus said.

“[Fullback] Lux Sonkononkono and [flyhalf] Jade-Will Koopman pulled the strings and Jadrian Afrikaner came alive in the second half with some great touches, runs and a good try.”

“At one stage, it looked like we were playing Sevens with the way we kept the ball alive and played our offload game,” he added. Given that Westville Boys’ High is the reigning national champion in the format, that speaks volumes about their creativity and running.

One of the stars of their Sevens team, flank Ezra Karolisin, was a standout. Erasmus explained: “He was immense with his linking play and touches to create for the backs on the outside.”

Apart from Bukho Sotaka’s two tries, his opposite wing, Avumile Lisa, also dotted down. Karosilin, Dladla, 8th-man Lwandle Makhanya, and the midfielders, Curtis Fenton and Jadrian Afrikaner, also went over for five-pointers.

Five conversions from Jade-Will Koopman boosted Westville’s tally to a half-century.

Scorers

Westville Boys’ High 50 (24) – Bukho Sotaka (2), Avumile Lisa, Ezra Karosilin, Omphiwe Dladla, Lwandle Makhanya, Curtis Fenton, Jadrian Afrikaner. Conversions: Jade-Will Koopman (5). Glenwood High 3 (0) – Penalty: Vincenzo Loutz.

Other Results

u19

II: Glenwood 19 Westville 14
III: Glenwood 12 Westville 5
IV: Westville 22 Glenwood 7
V: Westville 33 Glenwood 19
VI: Glenwood 24 Westville 17
VII: Glenwood 19 Westville 12

u16

A: Westville 45 Glenwood 8
B: Westville 27 Glenwood 7
C: Westville 50 Glenwood 0
D: Westville 50 Glenwood 0

u15

A: Westville 21 Glenwood 19
B: Westville 19 Glenwood 5
C: Westville 40 Glenwood 0
D: Westville 41 Glenwood 0
E: Westville 36 Glenwood 5

u14

A: Westville 33 Glenwood 0
B: Westville 22 Glenwood 5
C: Westville 32 Glenwood 19
D: Westville 50 Glenwood 0
E: Westville 50 Glenwood 0
F: Westville 50 Glenwood 0

Clifton College fell to a 17-23 loss to St David’s Marist Inanda at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday on Clifton’s Old Boys’ Weekend. While the Durban boys tasted defeat, they delivered a fiery performance that earned the approval of their alumni.

“I so wanted this for the boys today,” coach Jose Dos Santos admitted. Still, he said, there was a silver lining to the cloud: “They made the Old Boys proud, and that’s what we wanted.”

There was next to nothing in the game, and Clifton had an opportunity to win it when, inside the last two minutes, they won a penalty inside the St David’s 22 and kicked to touch. Unfortunately for the home side, though, they were without Trent Bam, their lineout thrower, who exited the game with an injury, and St David’s stole the ball to deny Clifton.

They were able to keep St David’s under pressure, however, and win back the ball, but one last attack from the hosts ended with a knock-on, and St David’s claimed a hard-fought victory after they trailed 12-14 at the break.

Arguably, the decisive moment in the contest occurred in the first three minutes. Clifton had begun well, controlling possession and territory while stringing phases together. They were struck with a sucker punch, though, when wing Tadiwanashe Javangwe intercepted a pass and ran through to score beneath the uprights from 55 metres out.

Giorgio Ferreira kicked the simple conversion to make it 7-0.

Clifton picked up from where they had left off before the interception, surging onto the attack again, with flyhalf Izah Roux putting the visitors under pressure with a series of well-judged kicks onto the St David’s wings. These allowed his players an opportunity to challenge for the ball, and they did a good job of contesting and winning back possession.

St David’s remained stuck in their territory, and that, at last, paid off for Clifton when second-rower Cole Nienhuser broke free and sprinted through to score in the right corner. Roux tacked on the extras from a tough angle to level the scores.

Territory belonged mostly to Clifton, but when the visitors at last broke the shackles, they made it count, working their way into Clifton’s 22 from where they closed in on the try line, eventually punching their way over from close range through lock Chris Theorides after stealing a Clifton lineout throw.

After 20 minutes, the visitors led 12-7, but their lead didn’t last long. Four minutes later, Clifton’s big tighthead, Trent Bam, crashed over for a try, which was converted by Roux, to put the hosts 14-12 clear at the break.

Early in the second half, St David’s edged ahead again with a penalty from Ferreira. Clifton, then, spent almost 10 minutes camped inside the visitors’ 22. St David’s defended manfully, and when Clifton eventually settled for a penalty and a 17-15 lead, it was a victory of sorts for the Johannesburg school. In retrospect, Clifton might have regretted not continuing to press for a try.

From the kick off, St David’s emulated Clifton, forcing play into the hosts’ half. They, however, turned that pressure into a try, scored by no. 8 Matthew Scott, who surprised Clifton when he peeled clear of a rolling maul and saw clear space in front of him.

A late penalty by Dylan Gander extended St David’s lead to six points, meaning Clifton needed a converted try to win. They gave it their all hard and put themselves in position to snatch a late victory, but the visitors kept them at bay.

Credit to the St David’s boys. Clifton disrupted them, and they, at times, committed unforced errors, but they gritted it out to come away with a hard-fought win.

Despite the defeat, Clifton finished the match with their heads held high. “There were a lot of positives. It’s disappointing to lose, though,” coach Dos Santos said.

“The commitment levels were through the roof. This game, and our game against St John’s College (Harare), had the best levels of performance and commitment.”

He finished by identifying what Clifton needs to work on: “Our execution cost us. We’ve got to get better at closing out games like this.”

Scorers

Clifton College 17 (14) – Tries: Cole Nienhuser, Trent Bam. Conversions: Izah Roux (2). Penalty: Izah Roux. St David’s Marist Inanda 23 (12) – Tries: Tadiwanashe Javagwe, Chris Theorides, Matthew Scott. Conversions: Giorgio Ferreira. Penalty: Dylan Gander.

Other results

u19

II: St David 50 Clifton 7
III: St David’s 31 Clifton 7

u16

A: St David’s 34 Clifton 12

u15

A: St David’s 17 Clifton 10
B: Clifton 28 St David’s 10

u14

A: St David’s 50 Clifton 0
B: St David’s 51 Clifton 0

Northwood‘s rugby is defined by its defence. Coach Jacques Deen said as much after the Knights beat Westville Boys’ High at the Sharks Schools Rugby Day. “Defence comes first, and from that comes attack. It’s a straight transition.”

Visitors to Northwood’s Reece-Edwards Field know they’re in for a demanding challenge. It’s going to be physical, and the Knights will enjoy outstanding support from the sidelines. They’ll face the defence-to-offence transition that Deen spoke about. Only once in recent years has a team been able to use that philosophy to crippling effect against Northwood at Northwood

That happened in 2024, when Jeppe turned a seven-point halftime lead into a 40-8 romp. They struck numerous times from turnover ball, running in tries from long range, especially down the touchlines.

That team, famously, beat Grey College 22-19 at the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid Tournament. Their win against the Knights was a third in a run of eight straight victories that ended in their last match of the season on Van Heerden’s Field, where Durban High School beat them 24-20. That was the only game that season in which DHS conceded 20 points.

Two years on, the Knights will be aching to turn the tables on Jeppe in Durban, especially since the Kensington boys won 30-24 in Johannesburg last year, too. Both head into the clash with 50 percent win/loss records: Northwood is five and five, and Jeppe is six and six.

The Knights’ record thus far, though, stacks up well. It includes a win over DHS and a reversal of an early-season loss to Westville Boys’ High. In the loss column, they went down by three to Paarl Boys’ High, who recently won comfortably against high-flying Stellenberg, and by five to Garsfontein.

The loss to Garsies was, arguably, a big disappointment. The Knights had the Pretoria school down and almost out, but allowed them to come back from a 7-28 deficit to win. Interestingly, the manner in which Northwood built that 21-point lead reminded one of the way Jeppe played against them in that 40-8 win in 2024: turning over possession and counterattacking with venom.

Jeppe started their season with a win over Garsfontein. Ever since then, Garsfontein has been a different animal, adding wins over Paarl Boys’ High and Affies to their win over Stellenberg. More recently, Jeppe has lost three in a row against top-notch opposition, going down to Grey College, Affies, and Monument. They were competitive against Monnas in their last outing, but they’ll be smarting.

Still, there is a quality that one can guarantee from a Jeppe boy: a fight-to-the-last-whistle mentality. Northwood possesses that same kind of attitude. They’re a hard-nosed, abrasive bunch. Those ingredients should make for a hard-hitting battle, interspersed with some flash from the backs; both sides possess pace and skill behind their packs.

Clifton College vs St David’s Marist Inanda

Clifton College celebrates its Old Boys’ Weekend with a derby against St David’s Marist Inanda, featuring chess, debating, golf, hockey, tennis, and, of course, rugby.

Last weekend, Clifton was in Pretoria to take on St Alban’s College. In a hard-fought clash, the home side prevailed 24-8. St David’s faced St Alban’s, also in Pretoria, at the end of March, and came away with a nail-biting 25-24 win. That suggests that the visitors should be favoured in Durban.

Two factors might work against them: the travel and the Old Boys’ Weekend. If Clifton can feed off the energy of their supporters, and St David’s doesn’t travel well, coach Jose Dos Santos‘s boys could give their Old Boys a much-desired gift and the Durban side’s 1st XV a big boost.

Their biggest challenge in 2026 has been an extraordinary list of injuries, which has affected cohesion. As more players return to action, the better they combine. The question Clifton faces is whether they’ll have enough cohesion on Saturday.

St David’s supporters, for their part, would surely like to see an emphatic performance from their team. Their largest margin of victory in 2026 has been three points.

Northwood vs Jeppe, Reece-Edwards Field, in Durban, at 13:00

Northwood: 15 Trevor van Volentee, 13 Anesu Kuzonyei, 13 Phinda Nkosi, 12 Sifiso Meyiwa, 11 Jadon Smith, 10 Sondelani Sheleni, 9 Ludi van der Walt, 8 Jamie Wimble, 7 Tristan Parkinson, 6 Kevin van Volenstee, 5 Nala Shabangu, 4 Ruddy Makoni, 3 Janco Visagie, 1 Omila Marambana.

Jeppe: 15 Dalitso Milanzi, 14 Matthew Robbertse, 13 Phano Letsie, 12 Ndimphiwe Mjuji, 11 Lethabo Mashao, 10 Luthando Marangxa, 9 Luxon Zwane, 8 Mihle Dyakala, 7 Ross Schuurman, 6 Hayden Venter, 5 Glodi Tshipamba, 4 Blake Esbend, 3 Kwazi Nyoka, 2 Mehlatse Memeza, 1 Mervedi Nomba.

Clifton College vs St David’s Marist Inanda, Riverside Sports Club, in Durban, at 12:30

Clifton College: 15 Thusi Mduduzi, 14 Thomas De Charmoy, 13 Tor McLean, 12 Dhilan Bhoola, 11 Troy Young, 10 Izah Roux, 9 Jack Snaith, 8 Liam Stocks, 7 Athembile Mkhize, 6 Josh van Dongen, 5 Daniel Nothard, 4 Cole Nienhuser, 3 Trent Bam, 2 Jonathan Masumbuko, 1 Azriel Yanelowitz.

St David’s Marist Inanda: 15 Dylan Gander, 14 Tadiwanashe Javangwe, 13 Nathan Hwindingwi, 12 Takunda Chademanah, 11 Lelentle Ntlhokwa, 10 Giorgio Ferreira, 9 Danilo Giuricich, 8 Matthew Scott, 7 Ryan Ware, 6 Ronin Hallowes, 5 Lizwi Ngwenya, 4 Chris Theorides, 3 Alessio Joannides, 2 Robert Mariano, 1 Remo Ferrari.

Westville Boys’ High visits Dixon’s Field on Saturday for a showdown with Glenwood High. The Griffins will be favoured to bag a win, but they’ll know a proud, hard Green Machine awaits them.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

Last year, Westville’s unbeaten 1st XV faced Glenwood in the friendly confines of Bowden’s Field, and it was a difficult outing. Although Westville won 42-25, they were only 25-21 ahead early in the second half. An intercept try from Moustapher Gcina broke open a tight contest, helping the home side to pull away to a 17-point victory.

In 2024, it was 35-32 in favour of Westville on Bowden’s. When Westville last visited Dixon’s Field in 2023, the Green Machine triumphed 25-24. All of which goes to say that recent matches between the schools have been tightly contested.

While the visitors will run onto Dixon’s as the favourite, they will take to Glenwood’s field knowing, too, that a tough, unforgiving physical examination awaits them. The Green Machine’s approach is blue-collar. Glenwood boys get stuck in and seem to relish the dirty work, the foundation that enables them to express themselves.

Last weekend, in an entertaining 26-26 draw with St Charles College, though, their backs conjured up some fantastic counterattacking tries. Rosco Williams dissected the Saints‘ defence when they hesitated for only a moment, and Jakub Bednar, on the left wing, produced a wonderful try-scoring run, combining power and pace, to get the better of four defenders.

Elgenio Oerson, who was selected for the Sharks Academy Week side, along with Rosco Williams, pulls the strings in the backline. He reads the game well and provides good direction from inside centre.

On Saturday, at Old Orchards, not to be outdone by the Glenwood backline players, hooker Tyler Leon, better known for running through tacklers, sold a lovely dummy to score from range.

Descriptions of sharp counterattacking are often associated with Westville Boys’ High. They’ve had their challenges this season with injuries, but their starting XV for Saturday’s showdown looks awfully familiar, with some of the senior players who were out of action returning. They’re playing good rugby now.

When they’re fit and firing, Westville is a runaway, abnormal load. Glenwood will need to close down space and force the visitors into a tighter, more forward-based contest than they would like to play. It’s not that Westville doesn’t have the firepower up front. They do. It’s that Glenwood will not want the Westville backs to have space to play in.

The visitors are blessed with pace and playmakers behind their pack, and it all starts with flyhalf, Jade-Will Koopman, who possesses the boot to dominate the game, both from a tactical and a goal-kicking perspective. One cannot simply sell out to stop that, however, as Koopman is a dangerous runner, too, and adept at getting his backline moving.

Outside centre, Jadrian Afrikaner, feeds off the more direct approach of his midfield partner, Curtis Fenton, and there are few finishers able to match Afrikaner. If he spots a gap, he has the speed, the power, and the feet to fly through it in a split second.

Outside of last year’s SA Schools’ left-wing, Westville has flyers in Avumile Lisa and Bukho Sotaka, and a superb counterattacking fullback in Lux Sonkonoknono.

Up front, and now fit, they look formidable.

Westville’s season hasn’t panned out as successfully as might have been expected. But a closer look at their tough schedule reveals five losses and four of those – against Hilton College, Jeppe, Waterkloof, and Northwood – were by five points or less. With slim margins, there were one or two moments in those contests that, had Westville won them, they would have also won those matches. They remain a top team.

Glenwood’s season hasn’t gone smoothly. They’re a young outfit, and that comes with growing pains. But they play with pride and a never-back-down attitude, so, as the legendary New York Yankees‘ catcher, Yogi Berra, was quoted as saying: “It ain’t over till it’s over”.

Glenwood High vs Westville Boys’ High, Dixon’s Field, in Durban, at 15:30

Glenwood High: 15 ⁠Rosco Williams, 14 Siya Kheswa, 13 Cade Isaacs, 12 Elgenio Oerson, 11 Jakub Bednar, 10 Jonah Chaita, 9 Vincenzo Loutz, 8 Inganathi Pepu, 7 Josh Edwards, 6 Andile Mbokazi, 5 James Swift, 4 Cody Soll, 3 Zazi Msimango, 2 Tyler Leon, 1 Bonga Cibane.

Westville Boys’ High: 15 Lux Sonkononkono, 14 Bukho Sotaka, 13 Jadrian Afrikaner, 12 Curtis Fenton, 11 Avumile Lisa, 10 Jade-Will Koopman, 9 Sandiswa Mbokazi, 8 Lwandle Makhanya, 7 Omphiwe Dladla, 6 Ezra Karosilin, 5 Lwandile Mlaba, 4 Warren Murray, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Lwandle Bulose, 1 Sibusiso Hlongwa.

Northwood vs Maritzburg College

After both teams delivered impressively hard-fought and physical victories at the Sharks Schools Rugby Day, the showdown between Maritzburg College and Northwood on the Durban school’s Old Boys’ Day was eagerly awaited.

It met expectations, although College spoiled the party, claiming a tight 27-24 victory on Saturday.

The Knights enjoyed the early territorial advantage and put the Red, Black, and White under heavy pressure. Committed tackling is a calling card of this College side, however, and they withstood the pressure before exiting their half and striking through their Sharks Craven Week hooker, Theo Boshoff, who provided the finish after a composed build-up.

Dom du Toit, as usual, provided two more points with a successful conversion kick.

Northwood’s first points came from a penalty by Sondelani Sheleni, but College struck again soon after. Their captain, Rory Stanton, read the play well to intercept a Northwood pass before putting his vice-captain, Olwethu Kosani, in the clear, and he finished under the posts, leaving Du Toit with an easy conversion kick.

Two Du Toit penalties from inside the Northwood 22 made it 20-3 after 27 minutes, but the Knights replied just before halftime, going over from close range after a sustained siege of College’s try line. Sheleni banged over the conversion kick, leaving the visitors with a 20-10 halftime lead.

Ten minutes into the second half, the impressive Theo Boshoff powered over from a lineout maul, and Du Toit converted to reestablish College’s 17-point lead.

Northwood kept plugging away, though, and forced the visitors onto the defensive. Two converted tries later, a convincing College lead had slimmed to only three points.

The Knights pressed for a winning score, but lock Sean Jansen forced a crucial turnover, and flyhalf Luthando Dladla cleared to touch to preserve a 27-24 victory for Maritzburg College.

Kearsney College vs Durban High School

At Stott Field, in Botha’s Hill, the visitors, Durban High School (DHS), got back onto the winning track, scoring a 36-24 win over Kearsney College on Saturday.

Two tries just before halftime gave DHS the edge, hoisting them into a 24-10 lead at the break.

They were on the board as early as the second minute, turning a loose pass from Kearsney into a try from 45 metres out, with Sterling Padi running a good support line to take the final pass and go over near the uprights. Tanwill Onkers slotted the first of his four conversions to make it 7-0.

Kearsney spent some time down in the DHS half, and when they won a penalty on the 10-metre line, flyhalf Daniel Miskey landed a sweetly struck kick to get the One-Stripe on the board.

The home side then hit the front with a fantastic long-range try. Miskey started it with a chip over the top from just outside the Kearsney 22. Centre Tom Aylward, a South African SA Schools’ water polo player, leapt high and showed off his good hands to gather possession near the halfway line. His midfield partner, Keanu Williamson, took a short pass and flung it out wide to the left.

With a stutter step, wing Lwandile Mkhize froze the DHS defence for a moment. That was all he needed. He was up to full speed in an instant and sliced his way past four defenders to go over just right of the poles after covering more than half the length of the field. Onkers responded with a penalty to level the scores.

The game was broken open just before halftime when a yellow card reduced Kearsney to 14 players, and the visitors responded by running in two converted tries, by Okuhle Mbanjwa and Damien Swart, to take a 14-point lead into the second half.

After the break, School added to their advantage through a Cilermo Carolus five-pointer, and moved well clear midway through the second stanza when Amo Matoboge went over out wide.

To their credit, Kearsney continued fighting. They were rewarded with a try by Clement Makalele, converted by Miskey, and a penalty try, which completed the scoring.

Scorers

Maritzburg College 27 (20) – Tries: Theo Boshoff (2), Olwethu Kosani. Conversions: Dom du Toit (2). Penalties: Dom du Toit (2).
Northwood 24 (10) – Tries: N/A. Conversions: Sondelani Sheleni (2). Penalty: Sondelani Sheleni.

Durban High School 36 (24) – Tries. Sterling Padi, Oihle Mbanjwa, Damien Swart, Cilermo Carolus, Amo Mataboge. Conversions: Tanwill Onkers (4). Penalty: Tanwill Onkers.
Kearsney College 24 (10) – Tries: Lwandile Mkhize, Clement Makalele, penalty try. Conversions: Daniel Miskey (2). Penalty: Daniel Miskey.

Other results

u19

II: Northwood 17 Maritzburg College 15; DHS 65 Kearsney 5
III: Northwood 14 Maritzburg College 14; DHS 74 Kearsney 17
IV: Northwood 12 Maritzburg College 7; DHS 50 Kearsney 5
V: Northwood 22 Maritzburg College 19; Kearsney 19 DHS 19
VI: Maritzburg College 15 Northwood 5; Kearsney 34 DHS 31
VII: Maritzburg College 34 Northwood 5

u16

A: Maritzburg College 16 Northwood 10: DHS 17 Kearsney 15
B: Maritzburg College 12 Northwood 10; DHS 19 Kearsney 10
C: Northwood 10 Maritzburg College 8; DHS 58 Kearsney 0
D: Northwood 0 Maritzburg College 50

u15

A: Maritzburg College 29 Northwood 0; DHS 64 Kearsney 17
B: Maritzburg College 38 Northwood 7; DHS 51 Kearsney 5
C: Maritzburg College 36 Northwood 3; DHS 51 Kearsney 0
D: Maritzburg College 12 Northwood 0: DHS 50 Kearsney 0

u14

A: Northwood 24 Maritzburg College 7; DHS 41 Kearsney 0
B: Northwood 15 Maritzburg College 12; DHS 85 Kearsney 0
C: Maritzburg College 52 Northwood 5; DHS 59 Kearsney 0
D: Maritzburg College 53 Northwood 0; DHS 59 Kearsney 0
E: Maritzburg College 27 Glenwood D 14

 

Michaelhouse faced St John’s College for the first time since 2021 when the teams met on Burger Field in Johannesburg on Saturday. It proved to be a rewarding visit for ‘House, who recorded a 34-14 victory.

The difference in the contest was the ability of coach Marco Engelbrecht‘s boys to turn turnovers into points with good handling and decision-making in the backline. The home team mustered a couple of tries from turnovers, too, but those were of the breakaway variety as opposed to the swift ball movement that brought success to Michaelhouse.

The Balgowan boys made it onto the scoreboard early through their Sharks Craven Week centre, Alex Jankowitz, who powered over to the left of the uprights after good build-up play, which saw the visitors taking chunks out of the home side’s defence.

St John’s was on the board next, courtesy of some feisty defence, which resulted in an intercept for right wing, Mihlali Tabane, and he showed Michaelhouse a clean pair of heels to go over beneath the uprights. Flyhalf Alec Psillos knocked over the simple conversion kick to put the hosts ahead. That turned out to be their only lead of the game.

The red and white hoops struck back with a try from close range, with Trezeguet Hawkins stretching across the try line just before the St John’s players could react. Jankowitz’s successful conversion made it 12-7.

Fabiano Fierro set up ‘House’s next try, making a small break before sending a low kick off his left boot out wide to Barend de Bruyn, who fielded the kick with open field ahead of him down the touchline. He accelerated away from the covering defence, rounded them, and dotted down behind the posts. Jankowitz’s easy conversion kick made it 19-7 in the 17th minute.

The momentum belonged to Michaelhouse, but when they spilt a ball in a tackle, St John’s again benefitted from a turnover, with lock Allan Njanfang Patu having just enough in the tank to beat the defenders to the try line from just outside their 22. Another easy conversion from Psillos pulled the hosts within five at halftime. In the second half, though, they were kept scoreless.

Seven minutes into the second stanza, a powerful bust by the impressive Jankowitz opened up space for Fabiano Fierro, on his outside, to score, and Jankowitz slotted the conversion.

A turnover forced by tighthead prop Sphelo Mfwazwe just inside the ‘House half then paid dividends, with the visitors sending the ball down the backline to left wing De Bruyn, who jetted clear of the closing defenders to dive over in the corner.

Just before the final, it was the visitors’ turn to benefit from a turnover. Fed the all, flank Kumkani Dwenga sold a super dummy to unlock the defensive line. He then drew the last defender before popping a pass to Jack Carmody, on his outside, and the no. 10 made the dive for five.

Scorers

Michaelhouse 34 (19) – Tries: Barend de Bruyn (2), Alex Jankowitz, Trezeguet Hawkins, Jack Carmody. Conversions: Alex Jankowitz. Penalty: Alex Jankowitz.
St John’s College 14 (14) – Tries: Mihlali Tabane, Allan Njanfang Patu. Conversions: Alec Psillos (2).

Other results

u19

II: Michaelhouse 76 St John’s 5
III: Michaelhouse 31 Springs Boys’ High I 10
IV: Michaelhouse 52 St John’s III 19
V: Michaelhouse 70 St John’s IV 0
VI: Michaelhouse 42 Springs Boys’ High II 21
VII: Michaelhouse 40 St John’s V 21
VIII: Michaelhouse 29 St John’s VI 11

u16

A: Michaelhouse 58 St John’s 21
B: Michaelhouse 47 Springs Boys’ High A 3
C: Michaelhouse 24 St John’s B 19
D: Michaelhouse 52 St John’s C 12

u15

A: Michaelhouse 48 St John’s 7
B: Michaelhouse 40 Springs Boys’ High A 7

u14

A: Michaelhouse 36 St John’s 7
B: Michaelhouse 60-0 St John’s
C: Michaelhouse 14 Springs Boys’ High A 0
D: Michaelhouse 12-12 St John’s C

Hilton College convincingly racked up a ninth consecutive win of the season when they rolled to a comfortable 44-7 win over Pretoria Boys High on Brooks Field on Saturday after leading 23-0 at halftime.

They impressed with their sound execution of the basics and overall cohesion, with the backs and forwards combining fluently. Fullback James Peattie enjoyed a fantastic outing. His counterattacking was penetrative and contributed greatly to Hilton’s success.

Nico Davel, meanwhile, who was called on to replace flyhalf, John Grubb, in Hilton’s tight derby win over Michaelhouse, in which he slotted the winning penalty, continued to make the step up to 1st XV level look simple and, crucially, he continued his fine kicking form.

Before the second minute was up, Hilton had crossed the Boys High whitewash, scoring a splendid try after getting the ball out to both touchlines before Ruan Mulder put Tom Gurupira in for a five-pointer in the right corner. Davel converted from the touchline to make it 7-0.

A rolling maul, which ate up many metres, followed by a break from Callan Kenmuir, set up the visitors’ next try. James Peattie was brought down just short of the try line, but the Candies stopped the ball from being released, and Hilton received a penalty, which 8th-man Zander Muller turned into a try from a quick tap. It was 14-0 after five minutes.

PBHS, having conceded twice, at last began to play the game in Hilton’s half, but the KZN boys stood strong in defence. That’s been one of their strengths, with the opposition scoring 17 or less in seven of their nine matches.

Boys High had a chance to get onto the scoreboard in the 18th minute, but a penalty kick was wide of the mark. Hilton flyhalf Nico Davel showed how it should be done three minutes later, extending Hilton’s lead to 17-0.

James Peattie took a long-range kick shortly after that, from just inside the Hilton half, and drew loud cheers from the crowd after nailing the challenging kick. Then, Davel knocked over an easy kick from inside the Candies’ 22 to make it 23-0 at the interval.

Just like they had at the start of the game, Hilton enjoyed the territorial advantage early in the second stanza, and they turned that into points, with the impressive Peattie going over in the left corner after receiving a kind pop-up pass from Gurupira. Davel added a second touchline conversion to make it 30-0.

Credit to Pretoria Boys High, they sucked up the setback and took the game to Hilton, who lost their no. 8, Zander Muller, to a yellow card after a tip tackle. Hilton, though, struck next, with Peattie leading a counterattack, which resulted in a try for Guy Fender after a well-judged grubber behind the Boys High backs from the fullback. Dead-eye Davel casually converted.

At last, though, the home side found a way through Hilton’s stout defence. It took an intercept for the Candies to find the space to score, but it was five points in the book, and the subsequent conversion from Reinier Kruger turned that into a seven-point play.

Coach Brad Macleod-Henderson’s charges raised the tempo in the last five minutes to have the final say. A robust run from big Ross Steyn took the visitors deep into the Boys High 22, and slick passing put them in for the last try of the game, converted by Davel, to make it 44-7.

Scorers

Hilton College 44 (23) – Tries: Tom Gurupira, Zander Muller, James Peattie, Guy Fender, AN Other. Conversions: Nico Davel (5). Penalties: Nico Davel (2), James Peattie.
Pretoria Boys High 7 (0) – Try: AN Other. Conversion: Reinier Kruger.

Other results

II: Hilton 37 PBHS 13
III: Hilton 23 PBHS 17
IV: Hilton 38 PBHS 5
V: PBHS 21 Hilton 12
VI: PBHS 22 Hilton 13
VII: PBHS 60 Hilton 14

u16

A: PBHS 34 Hilton 20
B: PBHS 24 Hilton 7
C: PBHS 30 Hilton 3
D: PBHS 47 Hilton 3

u15

A: Hilton 18 PBHS 17
B: PBHS 27 Hilton 14
C: PBHS 43 Hilton 10
D: PBHS 81 Hilton 0

u14

A: Hilton 43 PBHS 12
B: Hilton 34 PBHS 15
C: Hilton 19 PBHS 7

Two years ago, Westville Boys’ High and King Edward VII (KES) produced a riveting clash, one of the best matches of the season, on Bowden’s Field, drawing 36-36.

That match included Vusi Moyo (KES), who made his Sharks‘ debut on Saturday, and Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville), who also debuted for the Sharks this season. Esethu Mnebelele, who scored a hat-trick of tries for KES that day, is now also with the Sharks.

Unfortunately, Saturday’s showdown was not nearly as close. The home team ruled the contest, blanking the Red Army as they rolled to a 35-0 victory after powering to a 28-0 halftime lead.

They turned a lineout on the KES 22 into a rolling maul and a try in the seventh minute, scored by Lwandile Bulose, usually a prop, who wore the no. 2 jersey on this occasion. Unsurprisingly, despite the tough angle, Jade-Will Koopman converted from near the right-hand touchline.

If the opening score was about a compact, controlled drive, the second try was evidence of Westville’s quick-strike ability. It began just outside the home side’s 22, on the right touchline, where Lisa Sijadu received the ball. He turned on the afterburners to torch the KES defence out wide before cutting inside and leaving the defenders grasping at air before diving over in the left corner.

“Koopies” added the extras to make it 12-0 in the 13th minute.

Westville made the ball do the work again for their third try, stretching KES thin with swift hands before fullback Lux Sonkononkono spotted an opportunity and ran himself into a gap, taking a pop pass off Curtis Fenton‘s left shoulder to score. Once again, Koopman made the kick.

With Westville keeping KES pinned inside their 22, Avumile Lisa was over for their fourth from close range in the 30th minute, and Koopman made it 28-0 with a successful conversion, again from the right touchline.

KES tightened up their defence in the second half, playing the game in better areas. However, Westville, playing in the electrifying atmosphere of Bowden’s, is a tough opponent, and they withstood that pressure before going the direct route to score their fifth try. Loosehead prop Ngcali-Ka-Reve Nonxuba tapped from five metres out, putting his head down, and ploughed his way over to the right of the uprights.

Koopman made it 35-0.

Credit to KES, most of the rest of the game was played inside Westville’s half. But the visitors were almost struck with a sucker punch just before the final whistle, when Westville, so dangerous on the counterattack, went racing 90 metres up the field, only for Koopman to be tackled into touch right on the corner flag.

Scorers

Westville Boys’ High 35 (28) – Tries: Lwandile Bulose, Lisa Sijadu, Lux Sonkononkono, Avumile Lisa, Ngcali-Ka-Reve Nonxuba. Conversions: Jade-Will Koopman (5).
King Edward VII 0 (0).

Other results

u19

II: Westville 18 KES 8
III: Westville 19 KES 29
IV: Westville 14 KES 17
V: Westville 5 KES 31
VI: Westville 0 KES 41
VII: Westville 17 KES 5

u16

A: Westville 17 KES 15
B: Westville 10 KES 5
C: Westville 14 KES 21
D: Westville 21 KES 39

u15

A: Westville 15 KES 12
B: Westville 6 KES 6
C: Westville 0 KES 10
D: Westville 33 KES 29
E: Westville 12 KES 21
F: Westville 22 KES 33

u14

A: Westville 6 KES 13
B: Westville 7 KES 31
C: Westville 15 KES 10
D: Westville 15 KES 5
E: Westville 21 KES 40
F: Westville 36 KES 5

St Charles College and Glenwood High played to a thrilling 26-26 draw in a King Price Derby Series clash on Old Orchards, in Pietermaritzburg, on Saturday, with Saints‘ flyhalf Caleb Sharp converting a try on the final whistle to earn the home side a share of the spoils.

“It was crazy! We had a lot of opportunities down there [at the end]. We didn’t quite finish, but it was crazy, beyond words,” St Charles’ coach Craig Dwyer told SuperSport Schools News after the game.

“It was important to get a result like this on our Old Boys’ Weekend. Both sides have been struggling this year for victories. But it was a helluva battle. We knew they were going to come hard. They’re a very proud side.

“They [the St Charles players] were amazing, absolutely amazing.”

“It feels like a victory. We’ll take it,” he smiled.

Glenwood’s Elgenio Oerson was named the King Price King of the Match, but St Charles’ lock, Joshua Harris, was right up there. He was imperious in the lineouts, a sure thing, providing his side with consistent quality possession, and he was committed around the field, putting in a huge shift by fronting up to the visitors’ physical challenge.

Glenwood’s coach Justin Hollis, whose side featured 11 Grade 11 boys and only four matrics in the starting line-up, was satisfied with his charges’ efforts: “It was a good game. Credit to both sides,” he said.

“St Charles played really well. We also played well. I’m proud of my boys. We have a young team, but you wouldn’t have said that from watching them today.”

The Green Machine came out of the gates strongly, controlling territory and possession. Saints sucked up the pressure and then showed how dangerous they could be by scoring from their first foray into Glenwood’s territory, with outside centre Nala Njabulo taking an outside gap to cross for a try in the 15th minute. Sharp missed the conversion attempt, but that was to be his only miss of the contest.

Having conceded, Glenwood struck back with venom. Within six phases of receiving a clearing kick after the restart, they replied with a try of their own, with scrumhalf Vincenzo Loutz diving over. That was the start of a purple patch for the visitors.

They soon struck again when Rosco Williams spilt a pass behind him. The other players paused, but he hadn’t knocked on. The referee waved play on, and the Glenwood fullback took full advantage of the reprieve, knifing into a gap with a vicious step off his left foot. He hit the gas, the field opened up before him, and he used Loutz on his inside to keep a defender occupied before diving over for Glenwood’s second five-pointer. Loutz nailed the easy conversion.

Shortly after, Loutz missed a penalty kick, but it worked out well for the Green Machine. Czech left-wing, Jakub Bednar, fielded the ball near the touchline, 40 metres out, after a St Charles drop kick from the 22, then beat four players on his way to scoring a fantastic solo try in the corner. Loutz made it even better by adding the extras.

Up 19-5 at the break, Glenwood was in the ascendancy, but Saints, roared on by an enthusiastic crowd on Old Boys’ Weekend, had plenty of fight left in them, and they took it to the Durban side early in the second half. For most of the second stanza, the game was played in Glenwood’s half.

“I was trying to get the message onto the field to go and play down their end and get a bit more into the kicking game,” the Green Machine’s coach, Justin Hollis, commented. That wasn’t easy in front of a loud crowd.

Within five minutes, St Charles had reduced the deficit by seven points, with hooker Dresden Coetzee driven over from five metres out, courtesy of a Harris lineout take, with Sharp converting.

St Charles enjoyed territorial dominance and made it over the Glenwood try line again, only to be held up in the 45th minute. Three minutes later, Glenwood hit back when hooker Tyler Leon sold a cunning dummy and raced through to score. Another Loutz conversion made it 26-12 to the visitors.

Still, Saints kept coming, and they quickly regained territorial dominance. It didn’t take long for coach Craig Dwyer‘s boys to reply.

Again, the driving maul brought a reward, with Coetzee crashing over for his second try of the match. Sharp added the extras to the elation of the crowd, and seven points separated the sides, with 18 minutes to play.

It took St Charles until the last minute to score again, though, in the face of Glenwood’s stubborn defence. With time almost up, the home side won a penalty and kicked for the right corner. Dresden Coetzee was stopped centimetres shy of scoring his third try, but with Saints pressuring the try line, Glenwood was pinged for a high tackle.

St Charles took the tap quickly and, within three passes, substitute Blake Da Costa was over wide on the left. The home crowd celebrated, but their celebrations soon changed to a hush as Caleb Sharp lined up a challenging conversion kick. He bisected the uprights, and the home supporters stormed the field, buoyed by their side’s never-say-die fightback to snatch a deserved draw.

Reflecting on the contest, St Charles’s coach, Craig Dwyer, commented: “In the first half, we were getting bullied in the collisions. For us, the plan was to use the ball more, get it out to the back and use that tail ball more, to stretch the Glenwood defence.

“Our message was simple, going into the game, if we could stay in touching distance, we backed ourselves to finish.

“The message at halftime was to get the ball to the edges and stretch their defence and tire them out, and I think it worked.”

Scorers

St Charles College  26 (5) – Tries: Dresden Coetzee (2), Nala Njabulo, Blake Da Costa. Conversions: Caleb Sharp (3). 
Glenwood High 26 (19) – Vincenzo Loutz, Rosco Williams, Jakub Bednar, Tyler Leon. Conversions: Vincenzo Loutz (3).

Other teams

u19

II: St Charles 19 Glenwood 36
III: St Charles 17 Glenwood 29
IV: St Charles 7 Glenwood 17
V: St Charles 12 Glenwood 10
VI: St Charles 0 Glenwood 24

u16

A: St Charles 29 Glenwood 26
B: St Charles 7 Glenwood 30

u15

A: St Charles 17 Glenwood 14
B: St Charles 15 Glenwood 32
C: St Charles 14 Glenwood 25

u14

A: St Charles 10 Glenwood 10
B: St Charles 22 Glenwood 10