{"id":41187,"date":"2024-04-12T13:20:05","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T11:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=41187"},"modified":"2024-04-12T13:20:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T11:20:05","slug":"all-eyes-on-northwood-vs-dhs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=41187","title":{"rendered":"All eyes on Northwood vs DHS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"After
After a dominant run at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, DHS defeated Westville in the rain last weekend. They face a stiff challenge at Northwood on Saturday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A very interesting clash on Reece-Edwards Field<\/strong> awaits on Saturday, with Northwood<\/strong> playing for the first time at home this season and facing a massive challenge from Durban High School (DHS)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Knights<\/strong> have made an excellent start to 2024, winning 10-7 at Hilton College<\/strong> in their first match of the season, before cruising to comfortable wins over Die Brandwag<\/strong> (50-0) and Hudson Park<\/strong> (40-8) at the KES Easter Festival<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Giving up only 15 points in three games is an outstanding defensive record in anyone’s book, but DHS has been equally elite on defence this season. They’ve recorded three shutouts, giving up just 28 points in their six games, which included only seven in their three outings at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What makes the Horseflies<\/strong> a scary challenge is the fact that it was only during KERF<\/strong> that they truly started to find their offensive rhythm. They possess a well-drilled pack that functions extremely well as a unit. If they’re able to provide their backs with quality ball, it could be a tough day on defence for the Knights<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But the Northwood pack, too, is a more than useful unit. Head coach Jacques Deen<\/strong> has a proven track record as an excellent forwards’ coach. His charges facing up to DHS forward coach Ronnie Uys<\/strong>‘s pack is going to be a fascinating and potentially decisive aspect of Saturday’s showdown.<\/p>\n

Both sides also possess plenty of pace and skilful backline players. Given space, they have the ability to cut most opposition to shreds, but… The aforementioned top defences of the teams might have something to say about that.<\/p>\n

Both also have good playmakers at flyhalf, with Aka Boqwana<\/strong> pulling the strings for DHS and Siya Nkosi<\/strong> doing the same for Northwood. If it comes down to a goal kicking contest, however, the edge might lie with the visitors. Boqwana has been deadly in almost every match School<\/strong> has contested this season.<\/p>\n

It is a clash of two teams with designs on being KZN’s number one this season. They’ve definitely made early cases for that status. Saturday’s outcome will further enhance the claims of one of them.<\/p>\n

When Clifton College<\/strong> hosts Glenwood High<\/strong> at the Riverside Sports Club<\/strong> on Saturday, it will be a battle of two teams trying to find their offensive rhythm.<\/p>\n

A young Glenwood High team has established itself as a strong defensive outfit but has found it difficult to consistently break through their opposition’s defences.<\/p>\n

For Clifton, still establishing themselves among KZN’s elite, it’s been an up-and-down start to the season, which hasn’t been helped by injuries to some of their senior players. Most recently, though, at the Saints Sports Festival<\/strong> in Johannesburg, they turned in two encouraging performances, beating Northcliff<\/strong> 21-15, before going down 7-12 to St Stithians<\/strong>, who had beaten St Andrew’s College<\/strong> 27-14 in their previous game.<\/p>\n

Clifton’s Director of Rugby Grant Bell<\/strong> feels his side made good strides on defence in Johannesburg and giving up only 27 points in two games is a good return. However, Clifton is still working on finding its optimum backline combination.<\/p>\n

Glenwood’s 1st XV coach Derek Heiberg<\/strong> will be pleased with his team’s grit and defensive fight, but he’ll want to see more clean ball put to better use.<\/p>\n

The Green Machine<\/strong> has shown signs of good running rugby in their backline, but it has come in fits and starts. A more coherent performance would be another step in the right direction.<\/p>\n

DHS: <\/strong>15 Allston Cedras, 14 Jordan van Wyk, 13 Hlumelo Madikane, 12 Duncan Basson, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 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 (c), 1 Unaye Mndau.<\/p>\n

Northwood:<\/strong>15 Aphiwe Buthelezi, 14 Kwenzokuhlu Dlamini, 13 Ramutuku Sikhakane, 12 Bongane Khumalo, 11 Thomas Lindsay, 10 Siyanda Nkosi, 9 Graeham de Swardt, 8 Vuyo Gwiji, 7 Titus Cesonis, 6 Ethan Macey, 5 Lian Terblanche, 4 Kwezi Kunene, 3 Reuben Vos, 2 Werner van Niewenhuizen, 1 Sphepelo Ntshangase.<\/p>\n

Clifton College:\u00a0<\/strong>15 Adam Selikow, 14 Lwandile Myeni, 13 Handr\u00e8 de Bruin, 12 Bradley Beeslaar, 11 Wandile Ngubane, 10 Nkanyiso Ntshangase, 9 Kyle Akal 8 Aasbonga Jiyane, 7 Matt Hammond, 6 Jamie Brown 5 Lukhanyiso Nala 4 Lwazi Madikazela 3 Simphiwe Ngcobo 2 Richard Castle 1 Njabulo Dlomo (c).<\/p>\n

Glenwood High School <\/strong>15 Lesedi Khumalo, 14 Sthabiso Dube, 13 Lizwe Mtetwa, 12 Sisipho Dwayi, 11 Mvelo Ndwalane, 10 Kungawo Ncamazane, 9 Ronan Rankin, 8 Jordan Hargreaves, 7 Yannick Mwamba, 6 Mkhululi Mholongo, 5 Tylo Madaat, 4 Tyler Conyngham, 3 Uzukhanye Xaba, 2 Martin van Wyngaardt, 1 Lonwabo Nkalitshana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A very interesting clash on Reece-Edwards Field awaits on Saturday, with Northwood playing for the first time at home this season and facing a massive challenge from Durban High School (DHS). The Knights have made an excellent start to 2024, winning 10-7 at Hilton College in their first match of the season, before cruising to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":41264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41187"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41187\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}