25 April 2023
Saturday, 29 April, marks the 205th occasion that the 1st XVs of Hilton College and Michaelhouse will meet in one of South Africa’s most watched and best schoolboy derby rugby matches. The rivalry began in 1904 when Hilton claimed a 6-0 victory.
Overall record
Since then, neither school has managed to establish a clear dominance over the other. In fact, the current record stands at 99 wins for Michaelhouse, 95 for Hilton College, and there have been 10 draws.
It has been quite some time since the schools shared the spoils, however. One has to go back to 1987 for that, and then it happened twice in the same season, with the two matches finishing 7-7 and 9-9. The 1917 game has the unfortunate record of having produced not a single point.
Broken down into averages, the scores favour Michaelhouse by a 12-11 margin, with ‘House having tallied 2 439 points to Hilton’s 2 322. Given that the rivalry is now into its 124th year, that’s a record of remarkable equality.
Through the decades, that parity has remained on show. After Hilton secured the first win, they had to wait until 1932 to sneak ahead of Michaelhouse by 20 victories to 19. During that time, though, ‘House posted the two biggest wins ever achieved by the school over the boys in black and white, winning 51-0 in 1910 and 48-0 in 1921.
The lead changed hands six or seven times before 1966, when Hilton slipped behind Michaelhouse, following a 0-24 defeat. Ten years later, the schools were all tied up at 58 wins each. Michaelhouse then went on a run of success, which brought them 10 wins and two draws in the next 12 years, to stay ahead of Hilton.
Hilton’s biggest victory over ‘House was achieved in 2013, when they won by 30 points in a 42-12 victory.
Michaelhouse’s long wait
It has, however, been some time since Michaelhouse have got the better of their revered rivals. They won on Gilfillan in 2016, but they have been winless since. The wait for a 100th victory has dragged on.
It was thought that the red and white hoops might have the goods to turn the tables on Hilton in 2021, but that year, together with 1920 and 2020, was the only year that the two schools did not meet, with Covid-19 being responsible for the lack of matches in the recent past.
This season, ahead of their showdown on Meadows on Saturday, the home team is unbeaten in six matches, including, most recently, an impressive 36-10 home victory over Glenwood.
The 2023 season
Early in the season, Michaelhouse drew 24-24 with Helpmekaar in their first match and then topped Maritzburg College 27-20, scoring the winning points in the dying minutes. That win is looking ever better as College have played some outstanding rugby since.
Michaelhouse lift international Sevens title at Rugby School
https://www.pinnacle-schools.com/2023/03/27/rugby-michaelhouse-sevens/
Hilton opened their season with a surprising 19-27 loss to Hoërskool Secunda. They have since scored some very good wins, including a convincing 29-10 victory over Northwood and a 32-30 defeat of Noordheuwel.
Jeppe claimed a narrow 24-20 victory over Hilton in Johannesburg, but last weekend Hilton ran out 39-10 winners against Saint Charles College.
There is unlikely to be much in it on Saturday on Meadows. But Michaelhouse will be itching for win number 100 over their rivals. It has been a long time since they won the derby clash, but they look as if they have the quality to claim the honours this year. What happens on Saturday in Balgowan from 15:15 will provide the answer.
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