13 March 2023
Durban High School, Clifton and Michaelhouse played their first rugby matches of the 2023 season on Saturday. There were no defeats for the 1st XVs, but that record wasn’t quite spotless as Michaelhouse had to settle for a draw in a testing opener.
In Durban, DHS hosted Voortrekker Bethlehem in hot and humid conditions. In a pleasing start to their season, School made a clean sweep of the five matches, including a solid victory for their 1st XV, which trailed at half-time, on Van Heerden’s.
Voortrekker led 17-8 at the break, but DHS was having none of that and put up 31 points without reply in the second half to win going away by 22 points, 39-17.
Avenging a 2022 loss
The 2022 season was a very good one for the DHS 1st XV, but in that team’s second outing, which was against Voortrekker Bethlehem, the Free State school scored a 36-22 win, so Saturday’s victory was, surely, hugely enjoyed by DHS.
Meanwhile, the DHS 2nd XV ran up over half-a-century without reply, and the age group A teams all scored clear-cut wins.
Down but not out
On Meadows, Michaelhouse and Helpmekaar Kollege played to a 24-24 draw. ‘House appeared a little off the pace against their larger opponents in the early going, and twice during the course of the contest found themselves trailing by 14 points.
They stuck to their guns, however, playing running rugby to counter the size of Helpmekaar’s forwards. In the end, Luke Davison slotted a touchline conversion to secure the red and white hoops a share of the spoils, which seemed a fair result.
Michaelhouse’s 1st XV of 2022 was, maybe, a tad underrated. That team won nine and lost five matches. Those defeats included two to an exceptionally good Hilton College 1st XV, a two-point loss to Saint Andrew’s College, and further defeats to Glenwood and DHS.
A dark horse team?
Now, with some boys from that side having completed their schooling, but with an infusion from the talented under-16 A side of 2022, Michaelhouse could be a dark horse side to put together an impressive season.
The aforementioned u16A team won eight, drew one and lost two matches. They were well beaten by DHS, fell by four points to Jeppe, and drew 26-26 with a very good Northwood team. They also handed Kearsney its only loss of the season, scoring a convincing 36-19 win. Optimism in Balgowan should be high.
Further evidence of Michaelhouse’s strength in depth in the open age group was a big 40-15 win for the 2nd XV, who played some fine running rugby, and a 27-12 win for the 3rd XV.
In the other age groups, it was Helpmekaar which came away with the wins.
One-sided win
Clifton, meanwhile, found the going against Richards Bay High School pretty easy, with the Clifton 1st XV romping to a 73-0 win, which was the largest victory recorded by any side on the day.
Far tougher games lie ahead, and it’s an important season for the Clifton first side as it looks to build upon the fine foundation laid by the 1st XV of 2022.
That team recorded a historic first ever victory over Kearsney, winning 24-17 at the Riverside Sports Club at the end of May. There were other good wins over Saint David’s Marist Inanda and Saint Charles. Incidentally, that team defeated Richards Bay High 22-7, also in an early season fixture.
Down the fixture list, Clifton ran away to decisive victories, excepting the under-15 B team, which went down to Richards Bay by just four points after a tight battle.
RESULTS
DHS vs Voortrekker Bethlehem
1st: DHS 39-17 Voortrekker Bethlehem
2nd: DHS 54-0 Voortrekker Bethlehem
16A: DHS 34-0 Voortrekker Bethlehem
15A: DHS 39-14 Voortrekker Bethlehem
14A: DHS 57-3 Voortrekker Bethlehem
Michaelhouse vs Helpmekaar
1st: Michaelhouse 24-24 Helpmekaar
2nd: Michaelhouse 40-15 Helpmekaar
3rd: Michaelhouse 27-12 Helpmekaar
16A: Michaelhouse 7-33 Helpmekaar
16B: Michaelhouse 5-31 Helpmekaar
15A: Michaelhouse 0-59 Helpmekaar
15B: Michaelhouse 5-26 Helpmekaar
14A: Michaelhouse 17-22 Helpmekaar
14B: Michaelhouse 5-43 Helpmekaar
Clifton vs Richards Bay High
1st: Clifton 73-0 Richards Bay High
2nd: Clifton 48-0 Richards Bay High
16A: Clifton 52-0 Richards Bay High
15A: Clifton 38-7 Richards Bay High
15B: Clifton 26-30 Richards Bay High
14A: Clifton 48-0 Richards Bay High
14B: Clifton 41-10 Richards Bay High
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