Author: captainmorgan

The first full winter sports programme of the season pitted Westville Boys’ High against Michaelhouse in Westville on Saturday, with most of the hockey results going in the hosts’ favour.

In the clash of the 1st teams, Westville controlled the first half of their game comfortably. After some half-time adjustments, however, ‘House became progressively stronger, but Westville’s stubborn defence stood firm as the home side posted a 2-0 victory.

From the first whistle, Westville settled into a nice rhythm, with their centre-backs, captain Owen Slack and Nicholas Ackerman, controlling the tempo from the back and setting up a nice platform for the home side.

Both teams attempted to spread the field, but Westville enjoyed greater success at breaking through the press.

That brought them a number of penalty corners, but they threw away their first three opportunities, with their first two, astonishingly, being lost because the injection had happened just before the whistle had been blown by the umpire.

Nonetheless, Westville remained on top in the first half and their reward eventually came from a penalty corner, with Thabo Dlamini finding the backboard to the goalkeeper’s right.

After the break, Michaelhouse came out with a more aggressive press and put the Westville centre-backs under real pressure for the first time in the contest. That changed the complexion of the game.

“In the first half, we were pretty dominant. I think it was pretty easy for us in the beginning,” Westville coach Cam Mackay commented afterwards. “The second half was a completely different story. I think we struggled to outlet, every outlet, almost.

“Our basics were not good enough. I think they had their tails up from the beginning of the half.

“They pressed really well. They, obviously, decided to go harder and that worked quite nicely for them.”

Still, Westville found a second goal, with Caleb van Loenen doubling the hosts’ advantage five minutes into the second stanza.

“We were lucky that we scored from two PCs, which weren’t executed that well,” Mackay said.

Michaelhouse, meanwhile, forced a number of penalty corners of their own but, like Westville, they weren’t sharp.

“We’ve put a lot of work into our short corners, and that was disappointing, that we didn’t capitalise on the five or six PCs that we got,” Michaelhouse coach Nick Bérichon said. A Maritzburg College old boy, Bérichon returns to KwaZulu-Natal after a very successful spell in charge of Garsfontein.

“It feels good to be back home and back to my roots and a part of KZN hockey. KZN hockey is in really good shape at the moment. We’re hoping we can add some quality to it,” he said.

The fourth quarter belonged to Michaelhouse as they pinned Westville deep inside their half for long periods of play. “I think in that second half, kudos to them, they were better than us,” Cam Mackay reckoned.

Summing up, Nick Bérichon said: “We started really slowly. We were well off the pace in the beginning. Technically, I thought it wasn’t our best for three quarters, but we showed in the fourth quarter that, if we do string a few passes together and we get the ball inside the circle, and threaten, we can put teams under pressure.

“I’m pleased with the way we ended off.”

Coach Cam Mackay noted the improvement he saw in Michaelhouse from his counterpart, Nick Bérichon’s short time in charge of the programme. “I said to him at the end of the game there’s already a huge difference from how they played against us last year. Today was bigger and better than what they had before,” Mackay said.

Both teams face interesting games next time out, with Michaelhouse hosting Jeppe on Tuesday and Westville taking on Clifton College. Both should be good tests of the lessons they learned on Saturday.

Scores

1st: Westville 2 (Thabo Dlamini, Caleb van Loenen) Michaelhouse 0

u16A: Westville 1 Michaelhouse 1

u14A: Westville 3 Michaelhouse 1 

Maritzburg College welcomed Clifton College to Pape’s Astro at the start of the weekend for a Friday NITE Lights showdown and supporters were out in their numbers to take in the action under College’s recently unveiled floodlights.

Kyle Emerson, coach of the Maritzburg 1^st XI, commented: “To have almost 500 boarders coming and watching the boys is lekker. It’s exciting when they’re down here and we can enjoy the spirit on a Friday and watch some hockey.

“It’s nice to get the families out. Staff are here, people are having picnics. The rugby staff are able to get to watch us, so I think that’s special.”

And while the supporters were predominantly backing the home side, Clifton brought a fair number of their backers along with them, too.

Out on the field, a very young Clifton 1^st XI showed no signs of fear of tackling the Red Army on the famous Astro in front of their very vocal supporters. In fact, they appeared to relish the challenge.

While Maritzburg enjoyed a slight edge in possession in the first half, Clifton was more adept at moving the ball through the midfield at pace. The visitors did well to crowd the College midfielders when they received the ball, while they were better able to receive and pass.

Twice the visitors created good chances after forays down the right flank, bringing the ball in along the baseline before dropping it off around the penalty spot. But they couldn’t find a stick to finish the moves and College scrambled the ball away.

In the second half, the game opened up and Clifton hit the front after only three minutes when Maritzburg conceded a penalty stroke. Zach Williamson buried the opportunity confidently to the left of keeper Nick Holmes and the visitors celebrated.

That goal, however, seemed to sting College into action. They began to dominate possession and play most of the game in and around the Clifton 23m.

Within 10 minutes, they were rewarded. After coming ever so close to equalising after outflanking Clifton on the left, College picked up a penalty corner. Clifton netminder Georg Wolhuter pulled off a sharp stick save to his right of the drag flick, but the Durban side was unable to clear the ball from the circle.

College made one or two passes, the ball broke kindly for them, and Rory Schirge pounced from close range to equalise, raising a huge roar from the crowd.

The Red, Black and White kept the heat on and then claimed the lead for the first time in the contest after a scorching reverse stick shot from the left by Uyanda Dlamini found Wolhuter’s far left corner, possibly with a slight touch from Julian Konigkramer.

Clifton had brough a lot to the contest and they were not about to go away, despite College having adapted their game well in the second half of the match. With time running short, they struck back.

After turning over possession on the halfway line, the boys in black quickly counterattacked down the right. Dan Hompes picked up a pass inside, briefly lost possession, but just as quickly robbed the last defender and delivered a delightful reverse stick finish to the left of goalkeeper Nick Holmes, in a similar fashion to College’s second goal, to level the scores.

A short while later a game that had started quietly but had produced four goals in the second half was over.

Reflecting on the contest, College coach Kyle Emerson said: “There is much to get right. There were too many little errors that broke down our fluidity – missed traps, silly passes. That will improve.

“We spent far too much time on the ball, not zipping it around.”

He also said Clifton had executed their game plan well. “Good tactics from Calvin [Price]. His wide centre-back pairing worked in the first half, and we struggled, but in the second half we nullified it and turned over a lot of ball.”

Summing up an early season issue for most teams, he concluded: “You’ve got to take your chances.”

Calvin Price, who took over as Director of Hockey at Clifton this year, was pleased by the manner in which his team had taken on the challenge. “We stepped up. We’re on Pape’s, so you have to make sure you step up,” he said.

While lamenting some good chances that were missed, he said, with a smile: “Overall, we’re happy with that result – 2-2. We’re a young side with four matrics. We’re growing, and it’s new for me, starting off at Clifton.”

Despite their youth, the visitors looked very comfortable on the ball and, said Price, that was something they had been working on in the two months preceding their opening game, which included gym sessions and training twice a week.

“That’s something we try to work on. We want the ball. We want to play with the ball. We call it Barcelona. We want the ball, and we want to keep it. If we lose it, that’s frustrating. We’re very happy to keep the ball and be comfortable on it.”

For Maritzburg College’s Director of Hockey, Mark Sanders, the floodlights on Pape’s Astro are a game-changer. He explained: “It allows us to train for longer in winter. We have only two hours of sunlight after school closes, so we previously had to squeeze in as much as possible. Now we can train until later. The boys are starting sessions later and ending at 19:00. We manage to get more guys on turf.”

He also expressed his excitement about Friday NITE lights hockey. “The atmosphere and the vibe are second to none. We get the whole of the boarding house to come and support the guys in the evening. It’s phenomenal.”

It’s year two for Sanders in charge of Maritzburg College hockey. The first year, he was hands-off, watching and taking notes. Now, there’s going to be more of his influence visible in College’s hockey.

Sanders said: “Maritzburg College is a school with a rich hockey history, and in my opinion, it has probably been the benchmark for most schools around the country. Obviously, there has been a little dip in recent years, but we plan to change that.

“We’ve introduced a new style. There are some technical things that we are working on, and the boys are responding, so let’s see how it goes.”

Hilton College faced Northwood School in their first KZN derby day of 2023, and that will be their first KZN clash of 2024, when they welcome the Knights to Gilfillan Field on Saturday.

Last season, Hilton were comfortable 29-10 winners on Reece-Edwards Field, at Northwood, but there has been a lot of turn-over in their ranks, with only five players – Hanu Pieterse, Ivan Jjuuko, Rukudzo Madinga, Ben le Roux and Ross Brown – returning to the 1^st XV fold.

However, they have six players – Josh Grant, Liyema Nela, Zander Vorster, Khazimla Makali, Trent Chubb and Emmanuel Dankwa – who ran out at the Grant Khomo Week in 2023, ready to take up their positions in the first side.

The 2024 team would do well to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. The 2023 side won seven of their eight KZN matches, with their only loss coming in their last game to Michaelhouse.

Their two games against their arch-rivals last year were thrilling affairs, with Hilton winning the first 20-17 and Michaelhouse taking the second 18-15, leaving the schools with a cumulative score of 35-35 for the season.

Coaches Brad McLeod-Henderson and Cam Fraser have proven adept at producing strong teams year after year. In fact, in Hilton’s 150^th anniversary season, 2022, they were unbeaten in KZN, so the bar has been set high.

Matching the preceding two seasons’ results will be a stiff challenge for the class of 2024 because Hilton has established itself at, or just one step off of the pinnacle of KZN schoolboy rugby, for pretty much the last five years.

Northwood had a middling set of results last season. But one thing that could always be counted on from coach Jeremy McLaren‘s charges was that the Knights would battle hard from the first whistle to the last.

At their best, they scored some brilliant tries, with their game against Hudson Park, at the KES Easter Rugby Festival, which they won 31-13, producing some remarkable five-pointers. They also recorded a historic first win over Glenwood at Glenwood, coming from behind to claim a 29-22 victory.

They’ll be led in 2024 by Head Prefect, Vuyo Gwiji. Originally selected to represent the Sharks’ u17 team at the Academy Week last year, he was a late addition to the Sharks’ Craven Week team, but then took full advantage of his opportunity to earn selection to the SA Schools A team.

He and flying winger Kwenzo Dlamini, who was a part of the Academy team, also won silver with the Sharks at the SA u17 Sevens Rugby Tournament, and Dlamini will be back to challenge opposition defenders again.

Sphe Ntshangase, who packed down in the front row for the Sharks at the Grant Khomo Week, will start at loosehead for the Knights.

Teams

Northwood

15 Aphiwe Buthelezi, 14 Kwenzo Dlamini, 13 Ramatuku Sikhakhane, 12 Bongane Khumalo, 11 Nokutenda Gunda, 10 Siyanda Nkosi, 10 Graeham de Swardt, 8 Dewald Mostert, 7 Vuyo Gwiji (c), 6 Ethan Macey, 5 Khwezi Kunene, 4 Titus Cesonis, 3 Reuben Vos, 2 Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, 1 Sphe Ntshangase.

Hilton College

15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Rukudzo Madinga, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Daniel Sweeney, 11 Requilme Adonis, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Mitchel Wilson, 8 Hanu Pieterse, 7 Stewart Falconer, 6 Ross Brown, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Emmanuel Dankwah, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Dylan Neill, 1 Oliver Proudfoot,

In 2023, the Durban High School (DHS) 1^st XV was one of the most entertaining teams in South Africa. A very good pack provided quality ball, and they had an outstanding playmaker at flyhalf, in Deano Boesak.

Outside of the pivot, DHS displayed imagination and excellent ball skills and they produced numerous highlight reel tries.

One of their most entertaining performances came against Kearsney College, whom they outplayed 47-24 on their Founders Day in late May. Kearsney made a strong start before the quality of DHS took over the game.

That win was on Van Heerden Field, where DHS kept a clean record for the season. On Saturday, they have to make the short drive up to Botha’s Hill, where the challenge this year is likely to be a lot tougher. For one, it will be School‘s first match of the season.

Kearsney has three matches under the belt already, all wins, including a heart-stopping 16-14 defeat of Maritzburg College in their most recent outing. There is a sense of optimism in the Kearsney ranks, a feeling that this year they will make great strides. After a couple of tough seasons, they savoured that win over College on Stott Field.

DHS, though, will take some stopping. Their ranks include a number of regulars from 2023, among them Sibusiso Mahlangu, Khanyisa Stamper, Hlumelo Madikane, Zenkosi Mthiyane, Mahle Sithole, Aka Boqwana, Zingce Simka, and Ntando Mavuso. Meanwhile, Joseph Udo-idung, who represented the Sharks at the Grant Khomo Week, should also become a contributor.

DHS is led by a settled coaching team, with Head Coach Peter Engeldow calling the shots and former Sharks, Cheetahs and Griffons prop, Ronnie Uys, overseeing the forwards.

They play an entertaining 15-man game, which will challenge Kearsney’s committed defence. That was one of the areas in which the One-Stripe excelled against College and they’ll need to be equally effective in closing down space and making their first-time tackles against DHS. If they give the Durban side room in which to operate, it could be a difficult afternoon for the home team.

Last season, the DHS pack was rock solid behind the outstanding SA Schools’ tighthead Simphiwe Ngobese. Interestingly, this time around, it’s Kearsney College who will look to their tighthead to lead the way.

Anele Cele, their captain, performed superbly opposite Maritzburg College’s SA Schools’ loosehead Phiwayinkosi Kubheka on Saturday, and they’ll look for more of the same from him against DHS.

Teams

Durban High School

15 Allston Cedras, 14 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 13 Duncan Basson, 12 Zingce Simka, 11 Adriano Jackson, 10 Aka Boqwana, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Khanyisa Stamper, 7 Bradley le Grange, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Thando Luthuli, 4 Sibusiso Mahlangu, 3 Bongani Dlamini, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Unaye Mndau

Kearsney College

15 Daniel Eager, 14 Valentino Lenge, 13 Lindokuhle Mpungose, 12 Jarred van Staaden, 11 Bukho Hlwatika, 10 Cameron Veenstra (vc), 9 Roydan Madatt, 8 Qhamani Mlalandle, 7 Connor McIntyre, 6 Seth Brown, 5 Ryan Sim, 4 Simo Mnqokoyi, 3 Anele Cele (c), 2 Blake Kruger, 1 Kudak Kachambwa

 

Westville Boys’ High welcomes Michaelhouse to Bowden’s on Saturday. The Griffin, under the leadership of coach Njabulo “Jabz” Zulu, are one of the more intriguing teams in KZN heading into the 2024 rugby season.

Last year, Westville scored some of the prettiest tries seen anywhere, with wonderful flowing moves, but they also went through a bit of a mid-season dip. They were almost always in games, but they lost one or two they would feel they should have won.

This year, they return 10 members of the 2023 side and those players will be bolstered by a strong infusion of talent from the u16 ranks.

Last season, the Westville u16 team was unbeaten in KZN. Outside of the province, their results at the Tony Munnik Festival at Jeppe included a 22-22 draw with Monument and a 17-17 draw with Grey High.

Six Westville boys ran out for the Sharks at the Grant Khomo Week. Questioned whether they might be knocking on the 1^st XV door, coach Zulu replied emphatically: “Definitely.” He highlighted them: “Liam Simpkins at 9; Zekhethelo Siyaya, at 15; David Humphries, at 8; Lwandile Simelane, at lock; Jadrian Afrikaner, at wing; and Jadewill Koopman at 10.”

Sure, they are unproven at 1^st XV level, but those u16 players proved themselves to be among the best in KZN last season and that makes Westville a dark horse to make some noise in 2024.

Coach Zulu, though, is not all about the results, although he would, obviously like to win as many games as possible. “I’d love for our brand of rugby to win the hearts of people who come to watch us,” he said, when discussing his goals for the season.

Westville have played one practice match against Glenwood, but Saturday’s match will be their first game proper. Michaelhouse, meanwhile, opened their season against Helpmekaar this past weekend and they will pose a stiff challenge.

In a very tight contest, ‘House went down 7-10 to a bigger Helpmekaar team, but they had their chances to win. They have experienced players who were part of 2023’s outstanding 1^st XV, and they carry with them the winning mentality that means so much when a game is on the line.

Their lineup includes a solid core of players who represented the Sharks u17 team at the Academy Week in 2023, including captain and head boy, Caryle Hawkins, who runs out at number eight, Tom Baguley (centre), Luke Davidson (flyhalf), Aya Mkhokeli (wing) and Aphiwe Shelembe (prop), who is a powerhouse in the scrums and a powerful ball carrier away from them.

In their game against Helpmekaar, Michaelhouse showed off a tenacious defence and they will need more of that against Westville. Michaelhouse Director of Rugby, James Fleming, was in no doubt that a “tough” contest awaits the visitors.

After their three-point loss against Helpmekaar, he said there were some uncharacteristic handling errors in the Michaelhouse backline, but a first outing against a very physical side would have surely helped prepare ‘House to perform better under pressure this Saturday.

Looking back on the Helpmekaar game, Fleming said some work was needed in the scrums and lineouts. It may be only a week later when they face Westville but expect a noticeable improvement from Michaelhouse.

They’re a well-coached team, usually very solid at the basics. The challenge awaiting them away from home on Saturday makes an 0-2 start to the season a very real possibility, but it’s a challenge they’ll be eager to accept.

Teams

Michaelhouse 

15 Stefan Moolman, 14 Aya Mkokheli, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 Tom Baguley, 11 Rourke Murray, 10 Luke Davidson, 9 Jack Hughes, 8 Carlyle Hawkins (c), 7 Riley Gehren 6 Anesu Nduru 5 Dominic Sesink-Clee 4 Robert Combrinck 3 Thomas Peach 2 Jordan Rootman 1 Aphiwe Shelembe

Westville Boys’ High

15 Zekethelo Siyaya 14 Unathi Mlotshwa 13 Michael Satade 12 Blake Albon 11 Jadrian Afrikaner 10 Jadewill Koopman, 9 Ryan Pistor, 8 David Humphreys 7 Brandon Eke 6 Chris Cloete 5 Lwandile Simelane 4 Oliver Gcina 3 Athi Dengane 2 Ross Calvert 1 Akhona Maseko

After opening their season with a 49-0 thrashing of Durban Development this past weekend, Clifton College faces a serious challenge on Saturday when they make the trip up to Pietermaritzburg to take on Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s.

It would, under any circumstances, be a tough challenge – and College were unbeaten on their home ground in 2023 – but it was made that much more challenging by the past Saturday’s game between Kearsney and Maritzburg in Botha’s Hill, where College, unexpectedly, were beaten 16-14.

It was their first match of the season, and it was Kearsney’s third, and the benefit of those extra games told. College was inaccurate in their execution of the basics, although there was an improvement from the first half to the second.

Something that would have frustrated the coaches was the large number of penalties that were conceded. In the end, that was what cost the Red, Black and White as Daniel Eager slotted a last second penalty to win the match for Kearsney.

College, with another week of training under their belts, armed with the knowledge of what exactly needs to be worked on, playing at home, and upset with a loss in their first outing, will be a tough, motivated opponent for Clifton.

The College part of Clifton School – which celebrates its Centenary this year – was founded only 22 years ago. In that time, Clifton has made huge strides on the rugby field and earned the right to take on the other all-boys’ schools in KZN at all A team levels. On Saturday, they’ll debut their Centenary 1st XV rugby jerseys.

Clifton’s highly regarded Director of Rugby, Grant Bell, told SuperSport Schools: We are a very young school, and we are still in the process of establishing ourselves as a rugby school. We are proud of the massive strides we have made in a such a short period of time, but we are almost mindful that growing a rugby culture is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and one has to lay solid foundations first.”

A feature of KZN schools rugby the past couple of seasons has been the exceptional strength to be found in teams’ front rows, and Clifton is no exception, with their front-rankers – Bandile Nhlabathi, Khanya Mgabi and Lungani Ngcobo – also boasting the experience of having run out for the 1^st XV in 2023.

They’ll be tested by a College front row that includes SA Schools’ loosehead Phiwayinkosi Kubheka and Sharks’ Craven Week tighthead Aiden Botha, but Kearsney College showed last week that they were up for the challenge. Why not Clifton?

The Durban side also has some good size at lock, with Lukhanyiso Nala and Lwazi Madikizela doing duty in the second row.

If one thinks back to last season, Clifton’s pack was well drilled and very adept at mauling. They’ll need an appetite for that kind of an arm wrestle on Saturday.

At the back, the spaces that were available against Durban Development will be closed down. How Clifton handles that additional pressure will be a key factor in the game. And how, on the defensive side of things, they handle College’s flying fullback Luyanda Kunene, will be crucial, too.

Kearsney did a good job of closing him down, but Kunene was still able to open his 2024 try scoring account this past Saturday. There will be many more to come.

Maritzburg College vs Clifton College at 14:40, Goldstones, Pietermaritzburg:

The teams:

Clifton College: 15 Handré de Bruin, 14 Enzo Marcon, 13 Nkanyiso Ntshangase, 12 Bradley Beeslaar, 11 Wandile Ngubane, 10 Adam Selikow, 9 Kyle Akal, 8 Asabonga Jiyane, 7 Richard Castle, 6 Jamie Brown, 5 Lwazi Madikizela, 4 Lukhanyiso Nala, 3 Lungani Nala, 2 Kanya Mgabi, 1 Bandile Nhlabathi.

Maritzburg College: 15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Langelihle Makhathini, 13 Swelihle Mbatha, 12 Nkululeko Sithole, 11 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 10 James Slevin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemka, 7 Naz Isaacs, 6 Struan Oosthuizen, 5 Jake Jansen, 4 Wasi Vyambwera, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siyabonga Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka.

There weren’t many points scored at Michaelhouse, where Helpmekaar scored a narrow 10-7 win on Saturday, in a season-opening match for both schools, which was dominated by the defences.

It took until the 20^th minute for the deadlock to be broken and even that came from long range, with flyhalf Wian Storm giving the visitors a 3-0 lead with a very well-taken drop goal.

Michaelhouse had to wait until the fourth minute of the second half to get themselves onto the scoreboard. When they scored, though, it came from a lovely try.

Inside the visitors’ 22, flyhalf Luke Davidson fed wing Aya Mkhokeli, to his left. After receiving the ball, with a stutter step, Mkhokeli froze the nearest defender. Then, with a dummy, he opened up a gap in front of him. Pinning his ears back, he raced through and dived over in the left-hand corner for five points.

The kick was very tough, but Davidson bisected the uprights to put the home side 7-3 in front.

Only six minutes later, Helpmekaar found a reply. From a lineout just inside the ‘House 22, Helpies formed a maul. Captain JP Lombard made a slicing break off the side of it and carried it to within 10 metres of the try line before he was brought down.

Gustav Grotius, on his captain’s right shoulder, took a short pop pass and drove up to the five-metre line. Two more phases took Helpmekaar right up to the try line and then 8th-man Molatsi Moloi dotted down, reaching over a low tackle to score just to the left of the posts.

Storm converted to give Helpmekaar a three-point advantage. Twenty more minutes remained, but both defences stood firm and no more points were added to the totals.

“It was a very tight game. The defences were amazing. Those guys tackled each other into the ground today. There were few spaces to run in,” commented Helpmekaar Director of Rugby, Eugene Marais, afterwards.

“Obviously, for both, it was a first game, and the backlines were a bit rusty, but the forwards really got stuck into each other.”

Marais said both teams had chances to convert into points but, in typical early season fashion, they failed to capitalise on those. “To be honest, that game could have gone either way. It was that close,” he reckoned.

Michaelhouse Head of Rugby James Fleming said it was disappointing to lose – everyone wants to win their opening game – but the match was a big physical challenge and both teams fronted up well.

“Honestly, overall, losing 10-7 and barring not getting over the line and ‘sinking the putt’, I was actually pretty happy,” he said.

“Helpmekaar are big strong boys, and they get stuck in, which was a good hit-out for us. Although it was disappointing that we lost, I think we actually did some really nice stuff. We worked some good field positions. We had a couple of opportunities to maul, but we didn’t get over the line.

“We had some nice opportunities on attack, but maybe went a bit too narrow a few times, instead of moving it off to another phase.

“We, unfortunately, missed a couple of opportunities at goal.

“They didn’t have too many chances to get into our try zone, but when they did, they scored.

Helpmekaar showed that Michaelhouse still needs to do some work on their scrums and lineouts, Fleming said, but with only one week of training together – and ‘House still has a 100-ball cricket match to play on Wednesday – it was a solid effort.

“We made some uncharacteristic handling errors when we were on attack. You can call it early-season rust, but you can also say well done to them for putting the heat on us. They got straight up in our faces, and that creates errors. They were good like that,” Fleming added.

“We’re not chuffed with defeat but, all things considered, it wasn’t terrible, and not the end of the world, but a good hit-out. We enjoy playing them. They’re a good physical challenge for us and our guys did really well.”

Eugene Marais said the second team match, won 33-7 by Michaelhouse, had caused him some concerns ahead of the main game.

“They’ve got a very good second team. I’ll give those guys credit. That’s a very good team, well-coached. I was next to the field for the whole game. I think they’ve maybe missed one or two guys in the second team, who need to move up to the first team.”

He also highlighted the contributions of a couple of Helpmekaar’s players, saying: “Our captain, JP Lombard, was very good at lock. He carried the ball well. He tackled guys backwards, and he was good in the lineouts. He had a very good match.

“In the backline, I think Ty Ax‘s defence was brilliant. He tackled his heart out. It was very impressive.” Certainly, a fitting name for a strong midfield defender!

In Welkom, the home team, Welkom Gimnasium confidently handled a Glenwood side that was missing a number of players who had gone down with injuries in some earlier pre-season action.

Gim dominated up front to lay a foundation for a 26-21 victory, which was more comfortable than the final scoreline might suggest.

They led 26-7 with about 10 minutes to go, but two ill-considered grubbers were turned into two converted tries for the Green Machine, to make the final score look a lot better. But it was Welkom Gimnasium’s day.

“This is the best I have seen us scrum against Glenwood in the three years that we have played them. We, at times, demolished them,” Gim coach Roaun Bezuidenhout said.

He also reserved special praise for 8^th-man Ethan Jones and flank Rovaun van Niekerk for ensuring the home team gained the upper hand at forward. Good ball control and quality possession allowed the backs to cross for a number of tries.

Reflecting on his side’s backline, Bezuidenhout said: “We don’t have as much flair as last year, but there is enough there that the guys can kick on and become a unit and we can play the same type of rugby that we want to play.”

At the Riverside Sports Club, Clifton College began their centenary rugby season with a convincing 48-0 victory over a Durban Development team.

It took a while for Clifton to get going against the opposition, who were made up of the best players from hubs in and around Durban.

With some size up front, Clifton established dominance in the set scrums and then, once they had put some of the first game-handling errors to bed, they moved the ball nicely out wide, where they created space and ran in a number of good-looking tries.

Scores

Helpmekaar 10 (3) –Try: Malotsi Moloi. Drop goal: Wian Storm. Conversion: Wian Storm. Michaelhouse 7 (0) – Try: Aya Mkhokeli. Conversion: Luke Davidson.

Welkom Gimnasium 26 – Tries: Bokang Lesenyeho, Dyllan Kemp, Zander Olivier, Hloni Mokotjo. Conversions: Renaldo Kiewiet (3). Glenwood 21.

Other Results: 

u19: Clifton College 48, Durban Development 0.

u16: Helpmekaar 36, Michaelhouse 14; Welkom Gimnasium 25, Glenwood 14; Clifton College 44, Durban Development 0.

u15: Michaelhouse 17, Helpmekaar 5; Glenwood 48, Welkom Gimnasium 7; Clifton College 55, Durban Development 0.

u14: Helpmekaar 40, Michaelhouse 0; Glenwood 42, Welkom Gimnasium 10; Clifton College 60, Durban Development 0.

A very good Maritzburg College team was beaten on the first day of the 2023 rugby season at Michaelhouse, and College again tasted defeat in their season-opener on Saturday when they went down 14-16 at Kearsney College.

At this time of year, Stott Field paints a pretty picture, but the first half, especially, was far from pretty for the visitors. Sure, they exhibited some rust, but Kearsney College also had a lot to do with their struggles.

Maritzburg College, with SA Schools’ prop Phiwayinkosi Kubheka on the loosehead and Sharks’ Craven Week tighthead Aiden Botha on the other side of the front row, were expected to be a handful in the set pieces, but the home team handled the big challenge they faced well, and on one or two occasions had College in reverse.

Kearsney coach Neil van Heerden credited the team’s tighthead for leading the way up front: “Our captain Anele Cele was phenomenal,” Van Heerden said. “He’s very underrated. He’s signed with the Bulls for next year. They rate him very highly.

“He was going up against Kubheka, who is highly rated. It was not a surprise to us. It was a surprise to everyone else, but we know what Anele is capable of.”

Kearsney, too, had to shake off some rust. They had played matches against Witteberg and Hentie Cilliers previously, but they welcomed five players into the side who had previously been kept busy by cricket and water polo commitments. Still, the home team’s play did not feature as many balls spilled in the tackle and misdirected passes, so typical of first games, as College’s did.

Cele and company took the game to Maritzburg College from the start, and they were rewarded for their industry when Daniel Eager put them 3-0 in front in the 14^th minute from a penalty, just outside of the 22, and almost directly in front.

On that point, there were far too many penalties conceded by both sides, which would not have pleased the coaches. Both teams will know they need to improve their discipline in a major way.

College worked their way back onto the attack, but a missed lineout on Kearsney’s 22 led to a sweeping counterattack, with the ball being bobbled about by a number of players after it was grubbered deep into the visitors’ quarter.

Kearsney regained possession and with the pack working well together they forced their way over the tryline for the first five-pointer of the contest. Eager’s conversion attempt was wide, but Kearsney enjoyed an 8-0 advantage.

Right before the break, College had Kearsney under the pump, inside their 22. The Red, Black and White very nearly scored under the uprights, but Jake Jansen had the ball ripped away mere centimetres above the ground as he dived over.

Still, captain Kubheka and his men kept pressing, but Kearsney doggedly resisted and managed to keep College at bay until the halftime whistle sounded.

It didn’t take long for College to get on the board in the second half, however. They missed an early penalty, but after only three minutes, a series of surges by the forwards had them in under the posts. The easy conversion left them only one point adrift at 7-8.

Kearsney responded in the best possible manner only two minutes later. From a lineout midway inside the Maritzburg 22, Kearsney swiftly moved the ball inside for a well-timed crash ball. Then, with the College pack scrambling to get back and getting drawn into the ruck, loosehead Kudak Kachambwa broke off the side and powered his way over the line.

Maritzburg College then turned up the heat and won a series of penalties inside the Kearsney half. They took a lineout and drive option on a number of occasions, but the home team defended those thrusts well.

However, the pressure told eventually and, with 15 minutes to play, the visitors created a big overlap on the left and they were in for their second try to the left of the posts. A successful conversion gave College their first lead of the day, at 14-13. It was a lead, but it was a tenuous one.

In the 65^th minute, a breakout by Maritzburg nearly lead to a further try, but a wayward forward pass, forced by a desperate covering tackle, stopped the Red, Black and White from adding to their total with the try line mere metres away.

Desperately, still a point behind, Kearsney took a long range shot at goal with less than a minute remaining, but Eager’s kick came up short. Still, they forced a lineout with a good chase of the kick and from there they won a short arm penalty.

Kearsney’s forwards drove hard at College, and the visitors were caught offsides. Eager had another chance to win it for the home team. This time, from the 22, and about 18 metres in from the left-hand touchline, his aim was true and a massive roar from the home supporters filled the ground.

The final whistle sounded, and the Kearsney 1^st XV players were swamped by their school schoolmates.

Putting the win into perspective, Kearsney coach Neil van Heerden said: “It is no secret that Kearsney has had a few tough years. But we’ve really got some direction in our programme, and these things have been brewing for the last three years, and no one else has been able to see them, because they’re obviously going to look at the 1st XV results. Finally, we feel we can show the province that we are a force to be reckoned with, that Kearsney College is back on the rugby map.”

He also paid tribute to the never-say-die attitude of his charges, saying: “I’ve learned with this group of boys – I’ve been with them since u16 – we had so many games like this in u16, where they never gave up and they always find a way to win.

“I thought we were the better team the whole game long, but when it really mattered in the second half, we let ourselves down. But these guys always find a way. I’m sure College will look at the footage and wonder how they lost the game.”

Maritzburg College coach Tim Orchard looked very disappointed, maybe more by his team’s performance than by the result. “Very frustrating. We were cold. They had a couple of games under their belt, and it showed,” he said.

“We have to be better than this.”

Result

Kearsney College 16 (8) – Maritzburg College 14 (0)

Kearsney College plays their first home game of the 2024 rugby season, on Stott Field, at 15:30 on Saturday, and they open against a school that is expected to be in the conversation as being the best in KZN in 2024, Maritzburg College.

The One-Stripe not only have home ground advantage, but they also have two games under their belt already, having beaten Hoërskool Witteberg 17-5 and Hentie Cilliers 41-14. Rugby fitness has its own specific requirements and game time helps the body adjust to it, so that’s a big plus for the boys from Botha’s Hill.

Kearsney won’t be short of experience either, with nine players who turned out for the 1^st XV in 2023 running out for the side again, among them Roydan Madatt, Anele Cele and Cameron Veenstra (son of former Dolphins’ left-arm fast bowler, Ross), who were all selected for the Sharks u17 team that contested the Academy Week last year.

A number of returning College boys joined the Kearsney trio at the Academy Week, including Langelihle Makhathini, Nkuluko Sithole and Swelihle Mbatha, while Jake Jansen, who was originally selected for the Academy side, was later promoted to the Craven Week team.

When it comes to goalkicking, Daniel Eager has a big left boot and it’s an accurate boot, too. He’s been excellent from all over the field in Kearsney’s first two games and his goalkicking is an asset that can keep the scoreboard ticking over, if the opposition is not disciplined and gives away penalties.

One of the biggest challenges Kearsney will face on Saturday will be up front, with most of the returning players for Maritzburg College being forwards, headlined by their SA Schools’ loosehead, Phiwayinkosi Kubheka.

The College Deputy Head Boy, nicknamed Rambo, is not only a powerful scrummager, but he is also a dynamic ball carrier. Kearsney will know Kubheka is going to be fed the ball around the rucks and mauls. The question is whether or not they can stop him from impacting the game significantly in the visitors’ favour.

Kubheka is joined in the front row by tighthead Aiden Botha, who was also selected for the Sharks’ Craven Week team in 2023. The saying goes that it all starts up front and College will certainly be a big challenge for every opponent they face in the set pieces. They didn’t take a step back for anyone last season and it appears as if the pack will be formidable once again.

While Kearsney brings back nine players with 1^st XV experience, Maritzburg College has a team’s worth – 15 – who pulled on the famous Red, Black and White jersey, with the white badge, last season.

That number, of course, includes another SA Schools’ player in the dynamic fullback, Luyanda Kunene. A sharp weapon whether on the attack or counterattack, Kearsney will need to be aware of him at all times, and they cannot afford to kick onto him and give him time to size up his options. He has the ability to rip any defence to shreds.

For most of 2023, Kearsney beat who they were expected to beat and were beaten by teams that most people thought would beat them. Their best win, arguably, was at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, where they defeated Dr EG Jansen 17-12, and they narrowly lost 26-28 to the English powerhouse, Hartpury College.

They also came close against a very good Michaelhouse team, which was beaten only once, going down 20-23 at home.

They would certainly like to make people’s forecasts tougher to call this season.

Now, with former Springbok and Sharks’ captain Keegan Daniel installed as the Director of Rugby one would imagine their playing philosophy would mirror his creative approach to the game, which made him such a superb and entertaining player. The coaching reins belong to Neil van Heerden and Tera Mtembu, who, like Daniel, captained the Sharks.

Casting an eye over the season, Daniel said Kearsney’s first two KZN games – against College and Durban High School (DHS) – will be very tough, and he also picked out the showdown with Michaelhouse on Kearsney’s Founders Day as a big game. “It will, no doubt, be a highlight for the players, old boys and supporters of Kearsney College,” he said.

For the most part, Kearsney was tough on defence last season, but they’ll be looking to do more on offence. It was only in the Independent Schools Rugby Festival, where a number of the teams featured stayers’ lineups, that they eclipsed the 30-point mark once.

Maritzburg College had no such problems. They managed the feat 11 times, including putting 50 on Affies in Pretoria, in a 50-31 win.

They did, however, start the season with seven-point losses to two very good sides, Michaelhouse and DHS, and they will be eager to avoid a similar start to 2024.

College claimed some excellent scalps in 2023, including KES, Jeppe, the aforementioned Affies, and Noordheuwel. They also had one or two games when they were some way off their best, including against Hilton College and Stellenberg. They’ll want to iron out those inconsistencies this year.

Kearsney represents a dangerous first opponent. The Kearsney boys would know that most would regard them as underdogs, which is always a solid source of motivation, plus playing on Stott Field for the first time this season will have their players ready to run through walls.

College not only brings many players back from last year, but they also return a fine coaching team of Director of Rugby Hendré Marnitz (backs), Tim Orchard (forwards) and Kelvin Elder (defence). They’re an outstanding trio. But some huge challenges await their team, and they’ll be desperate to get away to a winning start.

Apart from the traditional and very competitive KZN derbies, Maritzburg College also faces heavyweights Grey College and Paul Roos at the Wildeklawer Festival. That’s testament to the high regard in which College is held, and it speaks to the high expectations others have for the team in 2024.

Commenting on his hopes for the season, Marnitz said: “We hope to one of the best teams in KZN and we want to go to the tournaments and surprise a couple of teams.”

Maritzburg College‘s exciting counterattacking fullback Luyanda Kunene revealed something surprising when SuperSport Schools sat down for a chat with him ahead of the 2024 rugby season. Asked who had been the greatest influence on his rugby, he didn’t hesitate, replying: “Mr Marnitz”, as in Hendré Marnitz, College’s Director of Rugby.

It wasn’t his answer that was surprising. The reason behind it was.

After what he considered to be a disappointing 2022, the SA Schools flyer was demotivated and considered stopping playing the sport. Marnitz, though, persuaded him to keep going. “He told me that days aren’t the same, and I must just keep on playing and I’ll make it far. Yeah, I guess that helped me.”

It did more than help Kunene. He proved himself to be one of the most dynamic players with the ball in hand in South Africa.

If you have seen him play, then you would not be surprised to learn that his favourite player is Cheslin Kolbe. When he is counterattacking, you see flashes of the Springbok dynamo in Kunene, and anything is possible.

Rugby fans throughout South Africa learnt that during the North-South Tournament, when Maritzburg College ran out against Grey College. The Bloemfontein powerhouse hadn’t been tested until that evening, but they had to battle to record a 37-24 victory.

That margin did not do justice to Maritzburg’s efforts. A loose five minutes before and after halftime cost them. In the rest of the game, they had Grey College scrambling and one of the biggest causes of that was Kunene, who crossed for a hattrick of tries.

He had showcased his abilities against South Africa’s top team of 2023, and he didn’t slow down for the rest of the season. He shone in a 47-15 pounding of Pretoria Boys High in Pretoria and was again to the fore in the South African capital when College outplayed Affies 50-31 in a hugely impressive performance.

That game included one of his favourite tries of the year. It wasn’t his most spectacular effort, but its timing was crucial, and it gave College confidence. They had fallen 6-14 behind, with Affies scoring two converted tries to the KZN boys’ two penalties.

Then, in the 13^th minute, from a scrum on the Affies’ 22, College moved the ball right, down the backline. Kunene, having summed up the situation well, told Swelithle Mbatha to grubber in behind the home side’s backs.

Makhatini stabbed the kick through. Like a flash, Kunene outstripped the turning defenders and, when the ball sat up nicely, he gathered and dived over in the right-hand corner. A successful conversion kick from Luc du Toit made it College 13-14 Affies and the visitors’ belief had been given a massive boost.

Kunene said he watches the opposition’s games before College plays them, but he doesn’t get too technical in his analysis.

He shared a simple secret. It’s one thing knowing it. It’s another thing stopping it. It is this: when he counterattacks, he tries to identify forwards and take them on. His success rate is exceptional.

Maritzburg College has brought out the best in him, he said, and the tradition of the school, which has produced more South African internationals across all sports than any other, has motivated him.

“College is a different school. The traditions [are important], like back then, when I was in second form, I used to be keen to play on Goldstone’s because we weren’t allowed onto Goldstone’s, so it gave me the hunger to make the first team.

Candidly, he admitted, he wasn’t at his best when representing South African Schools at the end of 2023, in the Under-18 International Series, which also featured France, England and the SA Schools A team. But that’s in the past.

This year, he won’t be up for SA Schools selection, because he falls outside the age limit, but that means all of his focus will be on helping Maritzburg College follow up on a strong 2023 season.

Kunene said one of his favourite games of last year was College’s clash with Westville Boys’ High on Reunion Weekend, and it was his brothers, the 1^st XV, who helped him through a personal situation at home that had been plaguing him during the week in the lead-up to the game.

“I was struggling. I didn’t talk to the coaches, but my teammates knew that I was struggling. As the game went on, I don’t know, I just turned. I forgot everything at home, so that game is one of the games that sits in my heart.”

Now, in 2024, Luyanda Kunene wants to do right by his Maritzburg College brothers. His goal, simply stated, is “to leave the jersey in a better place”.

If that’s to be the case, he’ll have had plenty to do with it.