Author: captainmorgan

Three weeks after convincingly beating Clifton College at home, St Charles College travelled to Durban to face Clifton at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday. Saints took the win again, but Clifton came away from the contest with their honour intact after a doggedly determined effort.

In Pietermaritzburg, St Charles won by 35 points. In Durban, Clifton reduced that deficit to 24 points, and they finished strongly, forcing a penalty try right on the final whistle after camping in the Saints’ 22 at the end of the game.

The visitors made an ideal start to the game. From a well-judged hanging kick-off, they forced Clifton over the touchline to set up a lineout just inside the hosts’ 22.

Good clean ball and some nice running lines, with the receivers hitting the ball at pace, brought Saints up to the Clifton try line. They were almost out of play on the touchline but brought the ball back and kept it among the forwards. Lock Raphael Ajibade, a regular on the score sheet, dived over the top of the ruck to get the scoreboard moving with a little over a minute played.

Saints were swiftly back onto the attack, with scrumhalf Matthew Fick providing a crisp service to help his teammates gain ground every time they attacked the Clifton defensive line. But it was Fick who was next across the whitewash after a quick tap ‘n go, with only five minutes played.

A simple conversion from Salmaan Mohammed took the visitors’ tally up to 12 points.

It was certainly not the kind of start that Clifton envisioned on their Old Boys’ Weekend, but they soon settled down.

Saints, though, picked up a third try, with their 8^th-man and captain Stefan Veldsman diving over with two tacklers attempting to hold him back after he drove off the back of a five-metre scrum.

After the break, just as they had done in the first half, St Charles struck quickly. This time, though, it was a cracking long-range effort from centre Athenkosi Qumo, who grabbed a scissor pass from flyhalf Ukhanyo Ntsangani, sliced between a couple of defenders, and then beat the fullback with a step off the right foot to put himself in the clear wide on the left. He rounded the defence and dotted down close to the posts.

The conversion was slotted, and Saints were 24-0 to the good. From there, however, over the remaining 32 minutes, the points were shared 12-12.

The visitors scored again through Fick, who sent a pass to the blindside, where hooker Dean Chiwese made good ground before finding the scrumhalf running a good support line on his inside for another five.

One thing coaches always want to see is effort and Clifton’s was undiminished despite the large deficit. The fire still burned within, and they forced their way up to the Saints’ try line. From there, it was in the hands of the forwards. The ball wasn’t about to go to the backline with the whitewash within touching distance and the black jerseys’ forwards soon powered their way over.

With the light fading in the late Durban afternoon, momentum swung one way, then the other. But then came a moment of magic from Saints’ fullback Salmaan Mohammed. When the ball went to ground on the halfway line, it looked an attack by the visitors had lost its momentum. Then, Mohammed scooped up the ball.

He carried back infield. A wiggle of the hips tore a hole in the Clifton line, and he was off. A tackler slid off the back of the fullback’s legs as he accelerated into the clear. Mohammed headed towards the posts, then beat the cover defence with a step off the right foot and he was away for a spectacular solo effort.

The last five minutes of the match belonged to Clifton. A fantastic flowing move almost had the home team in, but they were undone by an unforced error on the final pass. Still, they kept Saints pinned back in their 22.

When the visitors broke away down the left touchline, it looked as if they might be in for another try. The cover defence, though, caught up to the ball carrier. In the din and the dim light, however, the referee, back in the 22, had already blown his whistle. Instead, Clifton had been awarded a penalty try.

That was the final act of the contest and St Charles had won it 36-12.

It was a really good performance, Saints’ Director of Rugby Craig Dwyer commented afterwards: “We knew they were going to come at us really hard, but I think we did really well.

“They’re a really good team. They played with a lot of mongrel. At times, discipline let us down, so they worked their way back into the game. It was proper.”

There were a couple of keys to the St Charles’ victory, as Dwyer explained: “Our plan was always to target their lineouts. We wanted to play in the right areas of the field. In our last game against them, we exited poorly. We put a big emphasis on exiting well and on attacking their lineouts.”

That worked out well for Saints. Their domination of the lineouts went a long way towards securing them the win.

Kearsney College vs Westville Boys’ High School

In Botha’s Hill, the Westville Boys’ High 1st XV was swiftly into its stride against Kearsney College, crossing for three early tries.

In a carbon copy of their match against Northwood the previous weekend, the One-Stripe fell 0-19 behind before a penalty from Cameron Veenstra made it 19-3 at the break.

Kearsney surged onto the attack in the second half but, when they were only five metres from the Griffin‘s try line, scrumhalf Ryan Pistor intercepted an inside pass. He pinned his ears back and showed off an impressive turn of pace to race in from 95 metres out, under the uprights.

Westville added a penalty, and a fantastic counterattack was then finished off by Jeshua Ferreira in the left-hand corner. The visitors were cruising at 34-3, with just over six minutes to play. Again, as was the case against Northwood, Kearsney finished with a try-scoring burst, going over three times in quick succession.

Connor McIntyre forced his way over from a five-metre penalty after some enterprising play from the home side had pulled the Westville defence one way and then the other.

It was McIntyre to the fore again, shortly after that, when he spotted a gap and charged away from a lineout. He was upended right on the whitewash. There, Kearsney won a penalty. A quick pass to the right, a well-weighted cross kick from Roydan Madatt, and Jamie van Wyk was on the end of the ball, catching it cleanly to score on the right.

Almost immediately from the restart, Daniel Eager outflanked the Westville defence and sprinted into the visitors’ 22. He was stopped five metres from the try line. However, another penalty for offsides cost Westville as Kearsney took a quick tap and Veenstra was on hand to take a short pass and dive over for another five.

He added the extras, and the game was done, with Westville victorious by 34 points to 22. It had ended 34-24 to Northwood the previous weekend.

The Westville try scorers were Jadrian Afrikaner, Michael Satade, captain Chris Cloete and Ryan Pistor. Jade-Will Koopman added a penalty and two conversions.

Scores

u19 – Clifton I 12 St Charles I 36; Kearsney I 22 Westville I 34; Clifton II 19 St Charles II 5; Kearsney II 17 Westville II 17; Clifton III 7 St Charles 40; Kearsney III 8 Westville III 7; Kearsney IV 36 Westville IV 24; Kearsney V 34 Westville V 14; Kearsney VI 26 Westville VI 0

u16 – Clifton A 10 St Charles A 20; Kearsney A 18 Westville A 20; Clifton B 7 St Charles B 54; Kearsney B 14 Westville B 29; Kearsney C 17 Westville C 17; Kearsney D 12 Westville D 41

u15 – Clifton A 5 St Charles A 17; Kearsney A 12 Westville A 5; Clifton B 19 St Charles B 21; Kearsney B 12 Westville B 12; Kearsney C 12 Westville C 22; Kearsney D 7 Westville D 57

u14 – Clifton A 20 St Charles A 10; Kearsney A 10 Westville A 12; Clifton B 32 St Charles B 5; Kearsney B 7 Westville B 21; Kearsney C 0-32 Westville C

Goldstone’s was a seething cauldron on Saturday afternoon, with the Maritzburg College faithful out in force to support the College 1^st XV against Michaelhouse on the Pietermaritzburg school’s Reunion Weekend.

Michaelhouse, also, were very well supported, which added to the festive and adrenaline-pumping atmosphere.

College, off the back of two disappointing performances at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival, desperately wanted to exorcise those demons. Michaelhouse, after a cherished 24-23 win over Hilton College on Gilfillan Field, were keen to add another big scalp to their season’s achievements.

There might have been some trepidation in the Red, Black and White‘s coaching ranks, but from the first whistle it became clear they need not worry about the commitment of their players. They were up for the game and took it to the visitors.

It took College seven minutes to break the deadlock and it was fullback Luyanda Kunene who had the supporters on their feet when he rounded off a superb spell by diving over in the left-hand corner. He was put in the clear by Aiden Botha after the tighthead exploited an overlap and took a gap before drawing the last defender and putting the flyer in the clear.

The cool as a cucumber Michaelhouse flyhalf Luke Davidson reduced the deficit to only two points shortly afterwards with a nicely judged penalty, bringing it in from the right to pass between the uprights.

College continued their frontal assault and their captain Rambo Kubheka was almost over from close range. ‘House, though, tackled manfully and kept the hosts at bay. However, Kubheka and company kept the pressure dialled up to 10, and were awarded a penalty when Michaelhouse strayed offsides.

It would have been an easy kick at goal for College no. 10 Jordan Thackeray, but they showed their intent by taking a tap. This time it took only three phases and lock Jake Jansen dived over for five points to the right of the posts.

Thackeray made the easy kick and the home side was 12-3 ahead.

From the kick-off, Michaelhouse regained possession and probed both flanks, spreading the field but, when Davidson attempted a long skip pass, College centre Nkululeko Sithole had read the play perfectly. He raced up out of the defensive line to snare an interception and raced in, under the poles, from 50 metres out, to extend the hosts’ lead.

It was 19-3 at the break.

Michaelhouse needed to make early inroads in the second half, and they did just that. From a lineout close to the Maritzburg College try line, they worked their way towards the middle of the field and, from there, their captain Carlyle Hawkins burst over the top of the ruck and stretched out over the whitewash to bring his team back into the game.

Davidson’s trusty boot had no problem with the easy kick and ‘House was within 10 of College.

Kubheka and company found a reply, however, and it began with a fantastic effort play from wing Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, who turned a harmless-looking kick into a five-metre scrum to College after a superb chase.

College attacked off the back of the scrum, keeping the passes short as their forwards ran onto the ball. When they switched the direction of attack back to the left, big Naz Isaacs was in space, and he crashed over to join his lock partner Jake Jansen on the scoresheet.

As the clock wound down, much to the delight of the loyal College supporters, it became clear that it was going to be their day, but Michaelhouse had the last say on the field.

They attacked from a lineout in the hosts’ 22, took the ball inside and spread it down the backline to the left flank, where they were almost over in the right-hand corner. They recycled the ball and sent it in the opposite direction. This time, they found space out wide on the right and Aya Mkokheli was over for a try.

Another successful conversion from Luke Davidson ended the game, with Maritzburg College the winners by 24-17.

Scores

Maritzburg College 24 (19) – Tries: Luyanda Kunene, Jake Jansen, Nkululeko Sithole, Naz Isaacs. Conversions: Jordan Tackeray (2). Michaelhouse 17 (3) – Tries: Carlyle Hawkins, Aya Mkokheli. Conversions: Luke Davidson (2). Penalty: Luke Davidson.

u19 – Maritzburg College II 10 Michaelhouse II 17; Maritzburg College III 13 Michaelhouse III 3; Maritzburg College IV 10; Michaelhouse IV 29; Maritzburg College V 10 Michaelhouse V 14; Maritzburg College VI 22 Michaelhouse VI 21; Maritzburg College VII 32 Michaelhouse VII 19; Maritzburg College VIII 46 St Charles College IV 5; Maritzburg College IX 27 Michaelhouse VIII 5; Maritzburg College X 50 Michaelhouse IX 7

u16 – Maritzburg College A 19 Michaelhouse A 17; Maritzburg College B 24 Michaelhouse B 22; Maritzburg College C 57 Michaelhouse C 14; Maritzburg College D 38 Michaelhouse D 14; Maritzburg College E 33 Michaelhouse E 5; Maritzburg College F 0 Mpophomeni 36

u15 – Maritzburg College A 22 Michaelhouse A 18; Maritzburg College B 27 Michaelhouse B 7; Maritzburg College C 45 Michaelhouse C 5; Maritzburg College D 21 Development 7; Maritzburg College E 0 Michaelhouse D 12: Maritzburg College A 19 Michaelhouse A 17; Maritzburg College F 5 Michaelhouse E 0

u14 – Maritzburg College A 12 Michaelhouse A 7; Maritzburg College B 33 Michaelhouse B 14; Maritzburg College C 50 Michaelhouse C 0; Maritzburg College D 34 Michaelhouse D 21; Maritzburg College E 19 Westville 12

Saturday is a big day for Maritzburg College. It’s Reunion Weekend and a celebration of College’s 161^st birthday. It’s also an opportunity for the College 1^st XV to right the ship on Goldstone’s.

The Red, Black and White is coming off two big losses at the Absa Wildeklawer in Kimberley, where they faced as tough a schedule as possible, taking on Grey College and number-one-ranked Paul Roos Gimnasium. It didn’t go well.

However, there is surely no better motivation to reverse those setbacks than running out on Goldstone’s in front of thousands of the College faithful for an FNB Classic Clash against Michaelhouse.

Catch all the action live on DStv Channel 216 from 15:55.

The biggest selection call Maritzburg College has made for Saturday’s game is to play Jordan Thackeray at flyhalf. He started their season-opener against Kearsney, which College lost by two points. The difference between a team playing its first game and another playing its third was evident in that contest.

Thackeray will play opposite Luke Davidson, who was outstanding for Michaelhouse in their 24-23 victory at Hilton College last Saturday. Davidson is a complete no. 10. His tactical kicking is astute and his goal kicking is also solid. He made all of his conversion kicks at Hilton, which was pivotal to ‘House’s one-point victory.

Add into that, a drop goal and Rourke O’Sullivan‘s try, which was set up by a dummy and a surgical break, followed by a beautifully floated pass from Davidson, which opened up the outside centre’s path to the try line.

The match will feature two of the most exciting looseheads in the game, Maritzburg College captain Rambo Kubheka and Michaelhouse’s Aphiwe Shelembe. Both are solid scrummagers, but it’s their impact around the field that has garnered them fans. Kubheka took it all the way to South African Schools’ representation last year, while the younger Shelembe ran out for the Sharks at the Academy Week. He was a key ball carrier in Michaelhouse’s outstanding 2023 side.

College, of course, boasts the dangerous Luyanda Kunene at fullback. If given space, he is a potential game-breaker. What has maybe not been given enough attention is the form of Michaelhouse’s fullback Stefan Moolman, who has developed the very useful habit of getting onto the score sheet with regular visits across the opposition’s try line. His timing and instincts about when to join the backline are good.

Two questions need to be asked ahead of Saturday’s showdown. Will Michaelhouse be able to lift themselves again after their big clash against Hilton? And will Goldstone’s and their Old Boys’ Weekend enable Maritzburg College to overcome any hangover from their Absa Wildeklawer setbacks?

While College hosts its Old Boys’ Weekend, so, too, does Clifton College, who face St Charles for a second time this season. On 20 April, Saints were clear-cut winners on their Old Boys’ Weekend, racing to a 50-15 victory. Clifton will hope to draw similar inspiration from their Old Boys when the teams run out at the Riverside Sports Club.

Follow the action live on SuperSport Schools

It has been a challenging season for Clifton, in the school’s Centenary, and they’ve struggled to settle on their best lineup in the backline. That means a few tweaks again ahead of Saturday’s big game.

Athabe Mathabela cracks the nod at fullback, with Adam Selikow moving to the bench, while Enzo Marcon takes over on the right wing from Lwandile Myeni. There’s also a change in the front row, where Bandile Nhlabathi starts at tighthead.

Clifton has a lot to overcome if they are to reverse their 35-point defeat, but one of the wonderful things about rugby is that such turnarounds are not as rare as one might think they would be.

Saints, with Craig Dwyer directing their rugby programme, plays an exciting game, and they’re dangerous with the ball in hand. That is, arguably, where the difference between the teams has been most noticeable this season. The St Charles’ backline is set and, thus, a confident unit.

They possess some exciting playmakers in key positions. If Clifton is not accurate in their kicking or sound in their tackling, it could be a long day for the home team. Fullback Salmaan Mohammed is a thrilling counterattacking force, able to spark the Saints’ attack with his quick feet and skilful hands.

Clifton will, no doubt, also be wary of Saints’ big lock Raphael Ajibade. He’s a powerful and extremely athletic runner and, when the teams met in Pietermaritzburg, he crossed for three tries, including a magnificent 95-metre effort.

St Charles will deservedly be favoured to win Saturday’s game, but the home ground advantage and the stature of the occasion, Clifton’s Centenary celebrations, could have a massive impact on the performance of the home team.

After a promising start to the season, matters have gone a little pear-shaped for Kearsney College. They won three in a row to kickstart their season in exciting fashion. Since then, though, they’ve lost seven in a row. Their last victory was a famous 16-14 defeat of Maritzburg College on 9 March.

It’s not as if Kearsney has been outclassed, but they haven’t come particularly close to victory either. Last weekend, there were only 10 points in it at the end, with Northwood winning 34-24 on Stott Field, but the Knights had taken charge of the contest in the first half. They led by 19 points at the break.

Facing their local rivals, Westville Boys’ High on Saturday, Kearsney will need a strong start. That’s exactly what the Griffin produced in their two matches at the Standard Bank Grey Rugby Festival and, from there, they delivered attractive, winning rugby.

They outplayed Hoërskool Durbanville 41-17 in their opener and then ran roughshod over Dale College, sprinting to a 52-12 victory.

What would have excited the Westville coaching staff were the performances of their fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya. He was sidelined by an injury early in the season but was a dynamic presence in Westville’s wins in Gqeberha. He must be firmly in the running for a place in the Sharks Craven Week team.

His opposite number, Cameron Veenstra has played in a number of backline positions this season. However, fullback, where he now finds himself, feels like his best position. It opens up opportunities for him to attack, and he is not short of gas, and it also gives the One-Stripe a sure tackler in the last line of defence.

Veenstra has kicked well at goal for Kearsney, but Westville also has a very good marksman in Unathi Mlotshwa. He, however, won’t be in the run-on team on Saturday. He’s out through injury, as is the Griffin’s big lock, Rhys Mitchell. Jade-Will Koopman will wear the no. 10 jersey.

Rugby is all about having ball possession and making good use of it. Turning over possession is hugely valuable and when it comes to that, look no further than Westville captain Chris Cloete as a difference-maker. He’s excellent over the ball. In Gqeberha, he was rewarded for his industry with a hattrick of tries against Dale.

One more game worth mentioning takes place at Northwood, where the Knights face Jeppe High School for Boys. It should be a cracker.

TEAMS

Maritzburg College vs Michaelhouse at 15:55

Maritzburg College: 15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Reinhardt Jacobsz, 13 Swelithle Mbatha, 12 Nkululeko Sithole, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 Jordan Thackeray, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemke, 7 Wasi Vyambwera 6 Struan Oosthuizen 5 Jake Jansen, 4 Naz Isaacs, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siya Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka

Michaelhouse: 15 Stefan Moolman, 14 Aya Mkokheli, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 Tom Baguley, 11 William Ridl, 10 Luke Davidson, 9 Jack Hughes, 8 Caryle Hawkins (c), 7 Alexander Ardé, 6 Riley Gehren, 5 Robert Combrinck, 4 Dominic Sesink Clee 3 Ayandiswa Buthelezi, 2 Oliver Davis, 1 Aphiwe Shelembe

Clifton College vs St Charles College at 15:00

Clifton College: 15 Athabe Mathabela, 14 Enzo Marcon, 13 Handré de Bruin, 12 Devan Schwartz, 11 Wandile Ngubane, 10 Nkanyiso Ntshangase (vc), 9 Kyle Akal, 8 Bryce Beeslaar, 7 Matt Hammond, 6 Jamie Brown (vc), 5 Lukhanyiso Nala, 4 Lwazi Madikizela, 3 Bandile Nhlabathi, 2 Richard Castle, 1 Simphiwe Ngcobo (c)

St Charles College: 15 Salmaan Mohammed, 14 Likhuti Mbalana, 13 Athenkosi Qumo, 12 Okuhle Peti, 11 Matthew Ludick, 10 Ukhanyo Ntsangani, 9 Matthew Fick, 8 Stefan Veldsman, 7 Marlon Mbewe, 6 Lazola Makaula, 5 Sam Odell, 4 Raphael Ajibade, 3 Christian Allardice, 2 Dean Chiwese, 1 Lutho Mrwata

Kearsney College vs Westville Boys’ High at 14:45

Kearsney College – unavailable

Westville Boys’ High:  15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Jadrian Afrikaner, 13 Michael Satade, 12 Blake Allbon, 11 Evan Moolman, 10 Jade-Will Koopman, 9 Ryan Pistor, 8 David Humphreys, 7 Brandon Eke, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Wandile Simelane, 4 Oliver Gcina, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Jeshua Ferreira, 1 Akhona Maseko

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know something good is brewing in the rugby programme at St Charles College. Most recently, at the Standard Bank Grey High Rugby Festival, the school’s strong results through the age groups reflected this.

The 1^st XV comfortably beat Ithembelihle 52-10 and Hudson Park 26-5. The u16A side narrowly lost 8-13 to Queen’s College but then beat Hudson Park 24-0. The u15A team went down 10-17 to Framesby, then won 14-7 against St Andrew’s College. The u14A side drew 7-7 with Queen’s College and overran St Andrew’s College 56-0.

Clearly, Saints are seriously competitive against established rugby-playing schools. But the focus at the Pietermaritzburg school is about more than the results, it’s about the rugby culture that has been growing there, about a process to develop a love for the game, and to promote the skills to enjoy it to its fullest.

To imbue that culture into the school, St Charles has turned to Glenwood old boy Craig Dwyer, who took over as the Director of Rugby this season, after having spent over a decade coaching the game in New Zealand and Chile.

Naturally, the very first question, when SuperSport Schools Plus sat down with Dwyer, was how does the schoolboy rugby scene in the Land of the Long White Cloud differs from the scene in South Africa?

“There, it’s running rugby that they pride themselves on and playing an attractive brand. So, it’s really just the micro details in and around how they coach it,” he said.

So, what exactly, after his experiences abroad, which also included coaching a multi-cultural team of many different nationalities and languages at Ponsonby, in Auckland, is Dwyer bringing to St Charles College?

“Just trying to bring a bit of my flavour in,” he said. “Obviously not take away from the South African way of playing, but also share what I’ve learned from the last 12 years in terms of trying to play running rugby and how to coach that.

“So, the question for me was always what is running rugby? We want to use the ball, we want to play to the edges, we want to play attractive rugby. But then, it becomes the how? Are we preparing our boys adequately to play that style of rugby?”

The focus, Dwyer said, is on the micro details. “How we coach it, so our run, catch, pass, for example.”

He explained: “One clear example is where we catch the ball. Here in South Africa, we tend to catch the ball to our chest. So, we’re not really focused on the detail. Let’s get the ball out here,” he said, extending his hands out in front, “so we can utilise it and play.”

It’s about creating options, Dwyer said, and having the ball in the right position opens up more possibilities and many bodies in motion confuse and open up defences.

“The second part of it is our fitness and conditioning,” Dwyer added. “We want to play running rugby and to play effective running rugby we need to be the fittest team on the field. Credit to our strength and conditioning coach, Jason Greeff. He’s done an incredible job with the boys this year in the preseason and getting them to that level.”

The goal, Dwyer said, is for the players to be able to play a 100-minute game. They need to be fit enough not just for a 70-minute contest, but they need to have enough in reserve to handle it comfortably.

“For us, it’s sort of that Sharks’ team of the ’90s. We come alive in the last quarter of the game, last 20 minutes or so.”

The third thing Dwyer mentioned, was certainly a step away from the South African norm. “We don’t over-coach structure and systems.” At schoolboy level, he opined, there is too much focus on them, but not enough on the details.

“It’s really just working a lot on their decision-making, support play, making sure that we have two, three, or four options, off of every carry. It’s not just one, we’re tucking and we’re going. To effectively play running rugby, we need those three elements, week in and week out.”

The Saints’ boys were surprised early on that they weren’t investing as much time as they were used to on shape and systems. Rather, the focus was on fundamentals and earning the right to play in a good system. It’s a layer-by- layer approach, Dwyer explained.

In a nutshell, he said: “It’s not so much about systems and structure. It’s what they do within them that makes them effective.”

That approach, he argued, imposes fewer limits on forwards and ensures more of a 15-man game, with the forwards also featuring as ball players.

Dwyer has an affinity for the NFL and said he has shared a quote from the New England Patriots’ six-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick with his players. It’s simple – four words – but it compasses what is needed: “Just do your job“.

He is not trying to reinvent the wheel, Dwyer clarified. St Charles will still try to dominate the collisions, but they also want to play with soft touches, which is the flavour of New Zealand rugby that he wants to share with his charges.

Last season, St Charles was one of the best teams to be seen during the KZN Sevens season, with their swift ball movement, the way they used the width of the field, and the confidence their players showed with the ball in hand impressing. Now, under Dwyer, those qualities are being seen to a greater extent in the 15-man game.

They brought Saints a win over Milnerton in their season-opener, down in the Cape. That win has looked better week by week. Milnerton has since beaten, among others, Rondebosch Boys’ High, Bishops, Hugenote and Bellville. Interestingly, if there is another team that reflects a ball-in-hand, running approach, it is Milnerton.

Thus far this season, St Charles has won six and lost three games. There was a heavy defeat against an excellent DHS team at the Sharks High Schools Rugby Day, a four-point defeat against Bishops – a game that they would have loved to play again – but the other was literally a last-second loss against Secunda.

But, as was said earlier, it’s more about the process and how the players play the game. It’s not only about the results while they’re in school, but also about equipping them to succeed on the rugby field after their school days are done.

Having heard Dwyer’s philosophy about the game, check out a Saints’ match, see how they create multiple options, how they let the ball do the work. They’re a fun watch. So often, attractive rugby is winning rugby, and the Pietermaritzburg school continues to develop an attractive and effective game. And the wins’ column is growing.

Saints is blessed with exciting ball players in the 1^st XV, including, among others, fullback Salmaan Mohammed, flyhalf Ukhanyo Ntsangani, scrumhalf Matthew Fick, 8th-man Stefan Veldsman, and their big lock Raphael Ajibade, who is a highlight reel waiting to happen. He’s a serious problem for the opposition in the Sevens’ game, which also speaks volumes about his athleticism, fitness and skills.

Fick is the player around whom the team is built. A Sharks’ Craven Week selection in 2023, he delivers a crisp service from the base of the scrum, has an eye for a gap, and is a force on defence. One of the highlights of the KZN High Schools Rugby Day was a try-saving tackle he pulled off against DHS. In the same match, he also scored from 60 metres out, utilising a goose step and a dummy.

But, as should be clear from Craig Dwyer’s thoughts about how to play the game, Saints are about more than talented individuals. They’re all about the team, which, in a smaller school, is critically important. It’s what enables them to compete with bigger schools, and it fosters a spirit that permeates through the ranks and grows the game and the brotherhood.

Dwyer is a not just the St Charles College Director of Rugby, he is also a fan of the game and, when discussing the great Gary Teichmann-led Sharks’ teams of the 1990s, his face lights up. Highlights of games past are shared, and the skills of the players are relived.

If you didn’t quite get what Dwyer had to say about how he wants to see Saints play the game, maybe an easier way to look at it might be to remember those great Sharks teams: the flair, the flowing, confident game, the entertainment, the micro-details.

There, you have the blueprint for success for St Charles College rugby. The question is whether or not you can stop it.

Michaelhouse had expected to be without their captain Carlyle Hawkins for their visit to Hilton College on Saturday for the first of their two derbies against their old foe. Hawkins, though, recovered in time for the big clash and led his side to a hard-fought 24-23 victory.

In front of a jam-packed crowd surrounding Gilfillan Field, it took a while for the combatants to find their feet, with most of the play taking place between the 22m lines. When Hilton finally put the Michaelhouse try line under pressure, fullback Xola Makongolo got them onto the scoreboard when he coolly slotted a drop goal in the 20th minute.

Michaelhouse struck back in the 24th minute. From a set scrum on the 15-metre line, on the left of the field, about 30 metres out, flyhalf Luke Davidson froze the Hilton defence with a nice show and go before slicing between two defenders. Met by Makongolo, at the back, he floated out a pass with precise touch for Rourke O’Sullivan, who was over just to the right of the posts.

Davidson made the easy conversion, and the visitors enjoyed a 7-3 lead.

It didn’t take long for Hilton to create their first try. From a scrum inside the Michaelhouse 22, Ivan Jjuuko accelerated onto a pass from scrumhalf Daniel Sweeney and crashed the ball up. He was stopped just short of the try line, next to the right-hand upright. The cleanout was good, however, and captain Hanu Pieterse picked up and charged wide to the left to crash over.

Liyema Nela knocked over the simple conversion to add the extras and Hilton was back in the lead once more.

Unfortunately for the flyhalf, he knocked on from the kick off, which gave Michaelhouse a put-in, well within the Hilton 22, on the right.

From the resulting scrum, ‘House’s fireplug inside centre Tom Baguley bashed the ball up, drawing the attention of a number of defenders. Once he went down, Baguley made the ball available and scrumhalf Jack Hughes swiftly cleared it to the left once more.

Hilton scrambled to stop Michaelhouse, with a two-man overlap, from surging over the line, but the visitors made it count, with Stefan Moolman providing the finish. Davidson’s kick, from a wide angle, on the left, was sweetly struck and Michaelhouse were 14-10 ahead.

James Fleming‘s charges charged back onto the attack from the kick off and put Hilton under heavy pressure, but the hosts stood firm and the teams turned with the boys in red and white four points in the clear.

Early in the second half, Nela made it a one-point game by converting a penalty.

Michaelhouse, though, quickly took the ball into the Hilton 22 and exerted pressure. The home side escaped, however, when Hawkins, driving, coughed up the ball in a hard tackle and Hilton hacked it away down field. A good pursuit forced ‘House to play from their 22, and when they took too long to clear the ruck, Hilton had an offensive put in.

A chip over the top from Nela had players from both sides diving to force it down behind the try line. When Hilton missed it, the referee, who had been playing advantage, blew his whistle for Michaelhouse having strayed offsides.

Once again, Nela opted for a shot at goal. His kick was true and it edged Brad Mcleod-Henderson‘s charges in front again.

The momentum then shifted Michaelhouse’s way, and when Hilton fed a scrum five metres from their own line, a big ‘House shove led to a wayward, high pass to Nela, which he couldn’t hold, leading to the visitors earning the feed at a five-metre scrum.

Emulating what Hilton did to open the scoring in the first half, Michaelhouse drove the ball up to the try line. Then, Davidson, with a nice dollop of time, stroked the ball between the posts to secure another change of the lead.

Michaelhouse had inched ahead, but they soon extended that advantage. It began with a scrum on the Hilton 10m line, on the left of the field.

Hughes sent William Ridl flying down the blindside on the left. He took three or four players out of the defence with a strong run. 8th-man Hawkins was swiftly on the scene, and he picked up and drove inside. The ball came out of the ruck quickly, and Michaelhouse exploited an advantage of numbers in the backline to stretch Hilton out. Loosehead Aphiwe Shelembe received the ball, sold a dummy, and raced into a gap. Fighting off a would-be tackler, he crashed over for five points.

Davidson continued his sure form with the boot, making the conversion, to increase the visitors’ advantage to 24-16. There were still 15 minutes to play.

Michaelhouse was ahead, but the pattern of play, which had seen the momentum shift immediately after a team had scored, occurred again, with Hilton taking the game to Michaelhouse and camping in the ‘House half.

Hawkins and company claimed a heel against the head, but they immediately allowed Hilton back into their 22 by kicking directly into touch.

The home side was, then, awarded a penalty, but Nela’s kick, from about 32 metres out, was to the left of the posts.

With timing slipping away, the Hilton pack battered the Michaelhouse defensive line with a series of charges. Eventually, the ball was released to the backline. Outside centre Khazimla Makali broke inside a defender, kept his legs churning and powered over for a try.

Time was up, however.

Nela kicked the conversion, but Michaelhouse had recorded back-to-back wins on Gilfillan Field, this time by 24 points to 23.

The victory was Michaelhouse’s second on the trot after they had gone winless from 2016 until the second meeting of the rivals last year.

Both coaches, for different reasons, will remind their sides that Hilton won at Michaelhouse in 2023, and Michaelhouse won at Hilton, ahead of their return fixture on 15 June.

Scorers

Hilton College 23 (10) – Tries: Hanu Pieterse, Khazimla Makali. Conversions: Liyema Nela (2). Penalties: Liyema Nela (2). Drop goal: Xola Makongolo. Michaelhouse 24 (14) – Tries: Rourke O’Sullivan, Stefan Moolman, Aphiwe Shelembe. Conversions: Luke Davidson (3). Drop goal: Luke Davidson.

Results

u19 – Hilton College II 11 Michaelhouse II 31; Hilton College III 13 Michaelhouse III 26; Hilton College IV 7 Michaelhouse IV 47; Hilton College V 7 Michaelhouse V 31; Hilton College VI 17 Michaelhouse VI 60; Hilton College VII 7 Michaelhouse VII 40; Hilton College VII 0 Michaelhouse VIII 43

u16 – Hilton College A 29 Michaelhouse A 27; Hilton College B 8 Michaelhouse B 62; Hilton College C 17 Michaelhouse C 33; Hilton College D 7 Michaelhouse D 50

u15 – Hilton College A 19 Michaelhouse A 21; Hilton College B 0 Michaelhouse B 40; Hilton College C 7 Michaelhouse C 22; Hilton College D 0 Michaelhouse D 52

u14 – Hilton College A 55 Michaelhouse A 10; Hilton College B 12 Michaelhouse B 12; Hilton College C 21 Michaelhouse C 12; Hilton College D 0 Michaelhouse D 50.

 

The Northwood School 1st XV dominated the opening half of their clash with Kearsney College on Stott Field to set themselves up for a 34-24 victory on Saturday.

In ideal rugby-playing weather, the Knights, who have been beaten only once all season, got onto the board seven minutes into the game when Siya Nkosi, with quick-thinking and sharp vision, launched a long pass to Nokutenda Gunda, who had space out on the left flank. The task, from there, was simple. The speedster pinned his ears back and raced over the try line from about 35 metres out. The extras were added, and Northwood led 7-0.

Six minutes later, the visitors were in for a try again. This time, it was Aphiwe Buthelezi who went over. He spotted a gap, went clean through it, then cut back inside to wrong foot the cover defence and score to the left of the uprights. The conversion, surprisingly, was missed.

Kearsney came close to replying, but the ball was lost forward over the try line.

Northwood responded by working their way up the field, and in the 21st minute they had their third five-pointer. It was the left-wing Gunda who crossed for his second, running himself into a gap before receiving a flat pass to score wide on the right.

The Knights were in charge, and they had their fourth try five minutes later when Kwenzo Dlamini showed his off his wheels after being afforded a little space next to the touchline on the right.

A penalty, landed by Cameron Veenstra, just before the half-time whistle, made it 22-3 to Northwood at the break.

There was more of the same early in the second stanza, with Kwenzo Dlamini dotting down for a second time in the right-hand corner.

Connor McIntyre almost bagged a try in response for the One-Stripe, but he was stripped of the ball as he dived over the line.

Then, a line break by Jude Greig brought Kearsney a ruck almost in the shadow of the Northwood posts, and captain Anele Cele was on hand to take a short pass and blast his way over the whitewash for a try. Veenstra added the conversion to make it 10-27.

Soon, they added another five-pointer, through Bukho Hlwatika, and Veenstra’s reliable boot pulled the One-Stripe to within 10 points of the Knights.

Jacques Deen‘s charges found a response. From a lineout inside the Kearsney 22, they made good ground through their forwards. Then, when stopped just short of the try line, they went blind, where Siya Nkosi picked out Bongani Khumalo with a beautiful pass through an attempted tackle. With the conversion made, and around seven minutes to play, Northwood appeared home and dry.

Kearsney, though, had the final say. The industrious Connor McIntyre, who had narrowly missed out on a five-pointer earlier in the contest, was rewarded for his hard work when he forced his way over in the 66th minute.

Another Veenstra conversion made it 34-24 to Northwood.

Results

u19: Kearsney I 24 Northwood I 34; Kearsney II 17 Northwood II 21; Kearsney III 24 Northwood III 40; Kearsney IV 27 Northwood IV 7; Kearsney V 47 Northwood V 5; Kearsney VI 25 Northwood VI 5; Kearsney VII 17-7 Northwood

u16: Kearsney A Northwood 34; Kearsney B 10 Northwood B 50; Kearsney C 0 Northwood C 25; Kearsney D 33 Northwood D 26

u15: Kearsney A 12 Northwood A 17; Kearsney B 24 Northwood B 29; Kearsney C 5 Northwood C 55; Kearsney D 5 Northwood D 37

u14: Kearsney A 40 Northwood A 10; Kearsney B 26 Northwood B 31; Kearsney C 14-34 Northwood C.

It was a very good weekend for Paul Roos Gymnasium (PRG), with their 1^st rugby team remaining unbeaten, after adding two more wins at the Absa Wildeklawer tournament, and their hockey team successfully defending the Hibbert Shield. However, Westville Boys’ High had PRG’s number in the final of the Kearsney Tennis Tournament.

The Griffin had won the event for a first time in 2023, when they beat the 14-time champion, Paul Roos, in the final, and the teams, once again, met for the title on Sunday.

With Connor Doig, one of the leading talents in South Africa, having left Westville at the end of 2023 to take up home schooling and pursue a career in tennis, coach Charles Tsangamwe‘s team was not quite as formidable as it was in 2023, but it remained, nonetheless, formidable, especially with Guy Vorwerk, the best u18 player in South Africa, still manning the no. 1 position.

The Paul Roos players, however, were up for the fight and they gave Westville a tremendous battle, but the KZN team came through with flying colours, demonstrating a gritty character, to capture the title when they clinched the first of the doubles’ matches.

With that victory achieved, the final was ended there. Victory was Westville’s by a 14-6 margin.

Vorwerk was given a good workout by PRG’s number one, Willem de Waal, but Vorwerk’s game has improved markedly in the past year, and he took a hard-fought straight sets victory. He’s lost only three times in 2024, and all three times on the ITF circuit. Ironically, one of those losses was to Connor Doig, but they’re one-all this year against one another.

On Sunday, though, it was Westville’s depth that told, with Johannes Adam, Rhys Vorwerk and Lindo Gcwensa also winning their singles.

At the conclusion of the event, the top players in each position were recognised. That recognition corresponds to the success they enjoyed during the tournament. With Westville players in four of those six positions, the reasons why they won the event were clear.

The top players were No. 1, Guy Vorwerk (Westville); No. 2, Liam du Toit (Grey College); No. 3, Xander Pienaar (Paul Roos Gymnasium); No. 4, Johannes Adam (Westville); No. 5, Rhys Vorwerk (Westville); No. 6, Lindo Gwensa (Westville).

While Westville received the winners’ trophy, Pretoria Boys High, was the first recipient of the Willows Trophy, which is awarded to a team or player for demonstrating exceptional tenacity.

It was introduced to honour the massive contribution Ant Willows, Kearsney’s Deputy Headmaster, has made to the event since he introduced it in 1996. He retires at the end of this year having overseen it every year since its inception.

Commenting after his charges claimed the winner’s silverware, Westville coach Charles Tsangamwe said: “It was quite tense, but we were expecting that. They’re a very good side, so the boys had to dig deep today. It was really good tennis.”

Teamwork played a big role in Westville’s victory, Tsangamwe said: “They play for each other, and that came through in the end. They had some tough moments in there, but they came together, and that’s what I think made the difference today.”

Of course, having an exceptional talent leading the team was also a luxury, he admitted: “To have a top player like that, number one in the country, is always a plus, especially after losing someone like Connor, who was of the same standard, so we’re really grateful to have Guy. He’s going to be tough to replace, very big shoes to fill.”

With back-to-back titles for Westville, it feels as if a big rivalry is building with Paul Roos, who were, for so long, the standard-setters.

Grey College finished third after a 15-3 win over Affies. They remain a force but, very clearly, there is a little distance between Westville and Paul Roos and the rest.

The hosts, Kearsney, should feel excited and encouraged by their showing. With a young team, brimming with talent, they took fifth place, scorching Rondebosch Boys’ High 18-0 in their Sunday showdown.

Pretoria Boys High, the Willows Trophy winner, finished seventh after an 18-0 win over St David’s Marist Inanda.

Final Standings

Westville Boys’ High School
Paul Roos Gymnasium
Grey College
Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool
Kearsney College
Rondebosch Boys’ High School
Pretoria Boys High School
St David’s Marist Inanda

After overwhelming Pretoria Boys High in their Kearsney Tennis Tournament opener, Westville Boys’ High comfortably defeated Grey College in what was likely to be their toughest tie in Group Alcaraz on Friday afternoon, to set themselves up for a tilt at the final on Saturday.

The tournament, founded in 1996 by Kearsney College Deputy Headmaster Ant Willows, brings together the cream of South Africa’s boys’ schools’ tennis teams. Willows has overseen every one of its 28 editions. It would have been 29 this year, but Covid-19 accounted for a one-year break.

On Saturday morning, Westville had too much firepower for Rondebosch Boys’ High, cruising to a 24-0 victory. They were far from alone, however, with Affies repeating that scoreline against St David’s, Paul Roos doing the same against Kearsney, and Grey College replicating it in a win over Pretoria Boys High.

A third win on the trot secured top spot in Group Alcaraz for Westville, which meant they would face Group Sinner runners-up, Affies, for a place in the title-decider. Paul Roos, as the Group Sinner winners, took on Grey College.

The Griffin won emphatically again, brushing aside Affies 18-0. Paul Roos, meanwhile, rolled to a 16-6 victory over Grey College to ensure that the 2024 final would be a repeat of last year’s, which Westville won to lay claim to the title for a first time.

Paul Roos will go into Sunday morning’s tie seeking a 15th Kearsney Tennis Tournament crown.

In other Saturday afternoon clashes, Kearsney had Pretoria Boys High’s number, recording a convincing 16-3 win, while Rondebosch saw off St David’s 13-6 in a tightly contested tie.

The final takes place at Kearsney on Sunday morning, as does the fifth-place playoff between the hosts and Rondebosch.

Affies and Grey will duke it out at Highbury for third, while it’s St David’s vs Pretoria Boys High at St Mary’s for seventh.

FIXTURES

1st/2nd – Paul Roos vs Westville at Kearsney
3rd/4th – Affies vs Grey at Highbury
5th/6th – Kearsney vs Rondebosch at Kearsney
7th/8th – St David’s vs Pretoria Boys at St Mary’s

 

The hosts, Kearsney College, made some noise in Friday morning’s opening round of the Kearsney Tennis Tournament, which has brought eight of South Africa’s leading boys’ tennis teams to Botha’s Hill.

Up against St David’s Marist Inanda, Kearsney made full use of their home court advantage to defeat the Johannesburg side 20-5.

Paul Roos, the 14-time champions and last year’s runners-up, were on cruise control against Affies, easing their way to a 23-3 victory.

That wasn’t quite as convincing as Westville Boys’ High, the defending champions, and four-time winners, Grey College. Westville ran out 24-0 winners over Pretoria Boys High, while Grey matched that margin in their victory over Rondebosch Boys’ High.

That was, however, a prelude to a crucial Group Alcaraz tie between Westville and Grey at St Mary’s DSG in the afternoon. In 2023, Westville beat Grey 14-12 in group play before going on to claim the title for a first time. This time, there was a bigger gap between the teams, with Westville winning a hard-fought clash 17-10.

Guy Vorwerk, who has been in outstanding form on the ITF circuit, defeated Grey no. 1 Nic Reis 6-1, 6-4, while his younger brother, Rhys, playing at no.5, was an equally convincing 6-3, 6-2 winner over Bogdan Mandic.

Jovan Mandic faced Lindo Gcwensa at no.6. Gcwensa would normally play at three for Westville, but he’s carrying a quad niggle and he found, in Mandic, a never-say-die opponent. It took a super tiebreak to separate the pair, with Gcwensa winning it 10-5.

In the battle of the no. 4 players, Johannes Adam enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win over Matthew Goodchild, but Lian du Toit, at no. 2, took down the usually rock-solid Matthew Wilson 6-5, 6-3 to score Grey’s only singles’ win.

The match of the day, though, belonged to George Denysschen and Ben Scholtz, with Westville’s Denysschen edging it 5-6, 6-5, 10-4.

Pretoria Boys High and Rondebosch Boys’ High, the other teams in the group, did battle at Kearsney, and it could have gone either way, with ‘Bosch claiming a 13-12 win.

Paul Roos rolled in Group Sinner, outplaying St David’s 24-0, but there was nothing in it between Kearsney and Affies, who shared a 13-13 draw.

There remains much to play for on Saturday, with the final group placings to be decided in the morning.

FIXTURES

Saturday AM

Group Sinner
St David’s vs Affies, Kearsney 3,4
Paul Roos vs Kearsney, Kearsney 1, 2

Group Alcaraz
Grey College vs Pretoria Boys, Kearsney 5, 6
Westville vs Rondebosch, Highbury

Saturday PM – Playoffs
Winner Sinner vs 2nd Alcaraz (A), TBC
2nd Sinner vs Winner Alcaraz (B), TBC
3rd Sinner vs 4th Alcaraz (C), TBC
4th Sinner vs 3rd Alcaraz (D), TBC

Sunday AM – Finals and Playoffs
Final: Winner A vs Winner B, Kearsney 1, 2, 6
3rd/4th: Loser A vs Loser B, TBC
5th/6th: Winner C vs Winner D, TBC
7th/8th: Loser C vs Loser D

When Michaelhouse won 18-15 at Hilton College on 17 June 2023, they brought to an end a winless drought against their great rivals, which had stood since 2016. It was also a milestone 100th win for the boys from Balgowan. On Saturday, they’ll attempt to repeat their win on Gilfillan Field.

Michaelhouse’s desperation to win was shown in the first meeting of 2023, on Meadows, when, with time up, they spurned a simple kick at goal from directly in front, only five metres out, which would have levelled the scores, and went for the win. Magnificent defence from Hilton kept the hosts out and Hilton secured a 20-17 victory.

In their second meeting on Gilfillan Field, Michaelhouse led by three points, but this time it was Hilton who spurned a kick at goal to draw level. The game ended 18-15 in favour of ‘House, which brought the cumulative points’ total for the season between the schools to 35-35.

After 206 matches, the average score favours Michaelhouse 12-11. On Saturday, another tightly contested battle is likely.

Hilton will enter the match high in confidence. They made a stuttering start to the season, losing to Northwood and Kingswood College in their first two games, by three points and one point respectively, but since then they’ve hit their straps and racked up six wins in succession.

Only once during that run have Brad Mcleod-Henderson‘s charges been closely challenged and that was in a very impressive 17-14 win over Boland Landbou at the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival. In their other five victories, the closest a team has come to Hilton was 15 points, in a 32-17 win over Hoërskool Nelspruit, also at St John’s.

Michaelhouse has lost one game more than Hilton, but, like their rivals, no defeat has been by more than three points. More importantly, ‘House has also built up some momentum, winning three on the trot, which included handing Northwood a first loss of 2024.

They go into the game without their regular captain, 8^th-man Carlyle Hawkins, who hasn’t been able to overcome a shoulder injury in time for the big derby. That’s a tough loss. Hawkins is a force to be reckoned with on attack and defence, and the fact that he is also the Head Boy of Michaelhouse speaks volumes about his leadership.

Robert Combrinck, usually a flank, has taken over for Hawkins at 8^th-man, and also as captain.

In their most recent outings, at the Sharks High School Rugby Day, both schools impressed with their cohesive performances, with Hilton comfortably beating Glenwood under lights, and Michaelhouse getting their backs moving in a solid victory over Kearsney College.

‘House flyhalf Luke Davidson is an experienced campaigner, who played in last year’s derbies. He brings a well-balanced all-round game to the contest and experience of the big occasion. His opposite number, Liyema Nela, has made huge strides this season and also exhibited the ability to dictate matters either with his hands or the boot and, being a left footer, he also presents a different challenge to the usual.

Hilton is usually a very solid team on defence, tough to break down, but Kearsney managed to put 37 points on them on Gilfillan Field. The problem for the One-Stripe was that Hilton embraced the more open approach and scored 55 of their own. It was not a typical Hilton College performance, but it demonstrated the ability of their backline to take it to the opposition.

Each of the backlines features players with an eclectic mix of varied skills, which makes for an interesting matchup. Michaelhouse coach James Fleming refers to inside centre Tom Baguley as a Scott Gibbs type. He goes head-to-head with an experienced campaigner in Ivan Jjuuko, and that inside channel should be a very busy area of contestation on Saturday.

Michaelhouse features Aya Mkokheli on the right wing. He’s blessed with serious pace and is a tricky runner, a dangerman if afforded any space. However, all four of the wings who will be in action on Saturday have been among the tries in recent weeks.

Hilton captain Hanu Pieterse, who ran out at lock in 2023, made the move to 8^th-man this year and has been a standard-setter from the back of the scrum. Against Glenwood, at Hollywoodbets King’s Park, he powered his way over for two tries.

The contest at ruck time will be pivotal and its one that pits two loose trios that have performed impressively as units this season against one another.

Another of the battles that will be worth keeping an eye on will be that between Michaelhouse loosehead Aphiwe Shelembe and Hilton tighthead Ben le Roux. Both players are not only powerful in the set pieces but also valuable contributors as ball carriers.

Kick-off is at 14:00.

TEAMS

Hilton College

15 Xola Makongolo, 14 Sebastien Gaboreau, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Ivan Jjuuko, 11 Ricky Adonis, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Daniel Sweeney, 8 Hanu Pieterse (c), 7 Stewart Falconer, 6 Ross Brown, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Trent Chubb, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Oliver Proudfoot

Michaelhouse

15 Stefan Moolman, 14 Aya Mkokheli, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 Tom Baguley, 11 William Ridl, 10 Luke Davidson, 9 Jack Hughes, 8 Robert Combrinck (c), 7 Alex Arde, 6 Riley Gehren, 5 Dom Sesink Clee, 4 Dan Carr, 3 Luthando Buthelezi, 2 Oliver Davis, 1 Aphiwe Shelembe

SEASON’S RESULTS

Hilton College

Hilton College 7-10 Northwood
Kingswood College 26-25 Hilton College
Grey High School 17-34 Hilton College
Hilton College 57-0 St Benedict’s College
Hilton College 17-14 Boland Landbou
Hilton College 32-17 Hoërskool Nelspruit
Hilton College 55-37 Kearsney College
Glenwood High 7-26 Hilton College

Michaelhouse

Michaelhouse 7-10 Helpmekaar
Westville Boys’ High 17-25 Michaelhouse
Bishops 17-37 Michaelhouse
SACS 27-24 Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse 23-25 St John’s (Harare)
Michaelhouse 34-15 St Andrew’s College
Michaelhouse 24-22 Northwood
Michaelhouse 34-19 Kearsney College