9 March 2024
(Feature photo: Martin Ashworth Sports Photography)
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 20th 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 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!
Results
1st: Michaelhouse 7-10 Helpmekaar
2nd: Michaelhouse 33-7 Helpmekaar
3rd: Michaelhouse 17-10 Helpmekaar
4th: Michaelhouse 37-0 Helpmekaar
16A: Michaelhouse 19-36 Helpmekaar
16B: Michaelhouse 5-19 Helpmekaar
15A: Michaelhouse 17-5 Helpmekaar
15B: Michaelhouse 17-5 Helpmekaar
14A: Michaelhouse 0-31 Helpmekaar
14B: Michaelhouse 0-40 Helpmekaar
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