{"id":43760,"date":"2024-05-02T13:27:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T11:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=43760"},"modified":"2024-05-02T13:27:47","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T11:27:47","slug":"michaelhouse-chases-back-to-back-wins-at-in-form-hilton-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=43760","title":{"rendered":"Michaelhouse chases back-to-back wins at in-form Hilton College"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Luke
Luke Davidson will pull the strings for Michaelhouse at flyhalf.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Michaelhouse<\/strong> won 18-15 at Hilton College<\/strong> 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Michaelhouse’s desperation to win was shown in the first meeting of 2023, on Meadows<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After 206 matches, the average score favours Michaelhouse 12-11. On Saturday, another tightly contested battle is likely.<\/p>\n

Hilton will enter the match high in confidence. They made a stuttering start to the season, losing to Northwood<\/strong> and Kingswood College <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Only once during that run have Brad Mcleod-Henderson<\/strong>‘s charges been closely challenged and that was in a very impressive 17-14 win over Boland Landbou<\/strong> at the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival<\/strong>. In their other five victories, the closest a team has come to Hilton was 15 points, in a 32-17 win over Ho\u00ebrskool Nelspruit<\/strong>, also at St John’s.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Left-wing
Left-wing Leo Muziva starred for Michaelhouse in their 18-15 win on Gilfillan Field in 2023, going over for a brace of tries.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They go into the game without their regular captain, 8th<\/sup>-man Carlyle Hawkins<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n

Robert Combrinck<\/strong>, usually a flank, has taken over for Hawkins at 8th<\/sup>-man, and also as captain.<\/p>\n

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

‘House flyhalf Luke Davidson<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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

Michaelhouse features Aya Mkokheli<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

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

Kick-off is at 14:00.<\/p>\n

TEAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hilton College<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Michaelhouse<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

SEASON’S RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hilton College<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hilton College 7-10 Northwood
\nKingswood College 26-25 Hilton College
\nGrey High School 17-34 Hilton College
\nHilton College 57-0 St Benedict’s College
\nHilton College 17-14 Boland Landbou
\nHilton College 32-17 Ho\u00ebrskool Nelspruit
\nHilton College 55-37 Kearsney College
\nGlenwood High 7-26 Hilton College<\/p>\n

Michaelhouse<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michaelhouse 7-10 Helpmekaar
\nWestville Boys’ High 17-25 Michaelhouse
\nBishops 17-37 Michaelhouse
\nSACS 27-24 Michaelhouse
\nMichaelhouse 23-25 St John’s (Harare)
\nMichaelhouse 34-15 St Andrew’s College
\nMichaelhouse 24-22 Northwood
\nMichaelhouse 34-19 Kearsney College<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":38147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43760","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\/43760","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=43760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43760\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}