19 March 2023
The Hilton College 1st XV put together a season for the ages in 2022, the year in which the school turned 150 years of age, and were, very clearly, the top team in KwaZulu-Natal. Their results included a 54-5 dismantling of Northwood.
After a 19-27 setback against Hoërskool Secunda in their first run out of 2023, Hilton travelled to Durban on Saturday, 18 March, to once again face the Knights, who were taking to the field for the first time in 2023. They would also run out onto Reece-Edwards Field after being summoned by The Bashford Bell for the first time.
Throughout the day there were tremendous battles, with Hilton getting the better of the open and under-16 age group matches, while Northwood dominated at under-15 and under-14 level. Hilton, though, edged the under-14 A clash 10-7, but the rest of the fixtures in that age group went firmly in favour of the coastal school.
However, in the showpiece match, the 1st team honours went the way of the visitors by a 29-10 margin.
RESULTS
Rugby
1st: Northwood 10-29 Hilton College
2nd: Northwood 8-11 Hilton College
3rd: Northwood 14-19 Hilton College
4th: Northwood 5-6 Hilton College
5th: Northwood 0-40 Hilton College
6th: Northwood 15-0 Hilton College
16A: Northwood 0-23 Hilton College
16B: Northwood 0-3 Hilton College
16C: Northwood 14-20 Hilton College
15A: Northwood 21-5 Hilton College
15B: Northwood 24-5 Hilton College
15C: Northwood 46-0 Hilton College
15D: Northwood 50-0 Hilton College
14A: Northwood 7-10 Hilton College
14B: Northwood 24-0 Hilton College
14C: Northwood 50-0 Hilton College
14D: Northwood 28-0 Hilton College
14E: Northwood 25-5 Hilton College
Hockey
Hockey matters were very evenly contested, excepting in the under-14 age group, where, it appears, from the results and from early reports, Northwood is the class of KZN. The season, though, still needs to be played, but the Squires coming through in the youngest age group are an exciting bunch.
Watching Hilton and Northwood in pre-season non-cap games at DHS a week earlier, the boys from the Midlands appeared the more polished side, but Northwood, as a school, are a gritty unit and development and form are not static. On Saturday, the Knights gave the boys in black and white a tough fight.
Early goal
Northwood, in fact, rocked Hilton with the first goal of the game in the first chukka. Interviewed afterwards, Knights’ skipper, Reece van der Linde, said: “I feel our first tackle was phenomenal. I thought we had heat and energy. We had a proper warm-up. That’s why we got that early goal.”
To their credit, Hilton responded with vigour and forced the home team into conceding a number of penalty corners in quick succession. That brought them the equaliser.
Keeping their foot on the pedal, Hilton continued to pressure Northwood and were rewarded with another goal to put them in the lead.
The Knights, after having fallen behind, upped their game in the last chukka, seeking at least a share of the spoils. Hilton defended dourly, however, and came away with a 2-1 win.
Encouraged
Northwood captain Van der Linde, far from being disappointed with the result, took positives out of the performance of his team: “This is just a building block for the legacy that we’re trying to build here at Northwood,” he explained.
“This next week is crucial. We’re here right now,” he said, indicating a level just above waist height. “We’re aiming to get high,” he continued, raising his hand above his head. “Each game is a building block, until we hit a tour in three weeks’ time. Then, from there, we are just going to fly.”
Results
Hockey
1st: Northwood 1-2 Hilton College
2nd: Northwood 2-2 Hilton College
3rd: Northwood 2-1 Hilton College
4th: Northwood 1-1 Hilton College
5th: Northwood 1-3 Hilton College
6th: Northwood 1-3 Hilton College
16A: Northwood 2-3 Hilton College
16B: Northwood 0-1 Hilton College
16C: Northwood 0-0 Hilton College
16D: Northwood 3-1 Hilton College
16E: Northwood 2-1 Hilton College
16F: Northwood 2-1 Hilton College
14A: Northwood 5-1 Hilton College
14B: Northwood 5-1 Hilton College
14C: Northwood 6-0 Hilton College
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