1 May 2023
Durban High School faced off against HTS Drostdy in an early afternoon game on Monday in the Absa Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley. After going down early, the Blue Typhoon blew the team from Worcester off the park with a feast of irresistible running rugby that brought them a memorable 64-17 victory.
Following the game, DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engledow, told Pinnacle Schools: “We haven’t clicked yet this year. My boss sent me a message saying ‘I think today the click may have started’. Maybe it has. It’s nice to see them playing and expressing themselves, and also enjoying it.”
From the start, though, Drostdy pressed DHS into their own half. HTS were composed on the attack, and they began to creep towards the DHS line, probing for gaps in the DHS defensive line. Eventually, they manipulated some space out wide on the left wing and Benedict George was over in the corner. A good conversion gave the team in red a 7-0 lead.
The DHS defence was put to the test again, when Drostdy, once more, worked their way up to the Horseflies’ try-line. Then it was a matter of sending it wide to the left. George, again, with a shake of the shoulders, was over in the corner.
This time, the kick was wide, but DHS found themselves 12 points down after 12 minutes.
“I was concerned to be honest,” Engledow admitted. “They came out firing. We weren’t aligned in our defence, so they scored two good tries. Luckily, we stayed calm, and the boys stuck to the programme well. I am very happy for them to come back and dominate like they did. It was good.”
Luckily for DHS, they are well led by Christian Everitt, who exudes a calm and in-control demeanour. “He sets a good example. He understands the situation and the dynamics of the team,” Engledow said.
“He has grown up with his father [Sean] coaching. He understands the game very well. I think leadership has been good for his game, as well. He is much more focussed, and he’s improved his defensive work and his work rate.
“We have a group of seven guys in my leadership team. Most of them are prefects. It is still a long process, but they are also starting to own and take control [of their responsibilities].”
Quick response
DHS needed to answer, and they did, quickly. Powerhouse tighthead, Simphiwe Ngobese, all 119 kilograms of him, went over behind the uprights with such ease that when he took the final pass he turned to looked around, surprised, it seemed, that there weren’t any defenders near him. Deano Boesak had no trouble with the simple conversion and DHS were back in the game.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
From the restart, the impressive Ngobese broke through and into the HTS Drostdy half, sending three tacklers stumbling away with heavy hand-offs. DHS moved it wide to the left, then hit back to the right and within minutes of their first try Ntando Mavuso, with some fancy footwork was over to the right of the uprights. This was DHS at their best, running hard and putting the ball through the hands.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
Asked about Ngobese’s big performance, Engledow said: “Delighted. There are certain guys you want to step up on the big stages. I was very happy for him. He has been working hard, and we converted him from loosehead to tighthead, and he had a good game today. He was carrying nicely, and his work rate was good.”
Boesak knocked over the kick and School enjoyed a 14-12 lead. They hadn’t looked in the game for the first 12 minutes, but now it was all about the boys in the dark blue.
Then came yet another brilliant solo try from Deano Boesak, who has a knack for the spectacular. Receiving the ball, he saw a gap in front of him and took it. Next, he side-stepped a man. The next would-be tackler was flummoxed by a goose-step, and then he ploughed over the last man to go over for a sensational score in the left-hand corner with another tackler on his back. He tried the conversion, but was well off the mark. DHS, though, had found their way.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
Engledow, who can count being Head Coach of the Griquas Vodacom Cup team among his many coaching achievements, commented: “I think every union is going to be after him now. He deserves it. He has the ability to play very good rugby. I was happy for him.”
Like a bowling ball
More magical ball handling brought DHS from deep in their half to within five metres of the HTS line. A dummy from captain Everitt almost put him over, but then Zingce Simka, like a bowling ball, ran onto the pass and bulled his way over for a try that was converted by Boesak.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
Not done yet, DHS attacked from deep inside their half again. It went wide to the left before a pass inside found scrumhalf Florenson Ockhuis and he burst through to dot down next to the posts. No problem for Boesak, he added two more points, and it was DHS 33-12 HTS Drostdy. It was spectacular stuff.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
Just before the half-time whistle, Drostdy won a penalty close to the DHS try-line. The hooter blew and HTS chose a scrum, trying to chase a try as they now trailed by 21 points. The Blue Typhoon, though, destroyed the Drostdy scrum. When they ran off after the whistle went, it was with a spring in their step.
Second half
Would DHS lose momentum after the break? No! Within the second minute, they were back on the board. Boesak created an overlap with a run around his inside centre. Then, good hands took the ball wide to the left where Ntando Mavuso found Akhluhlwa Boqwana and he was over for another five-pointer. He took the conversion attempt and put DHS up to 40 points.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
Drostdy, who, remember, had led 12-0, at last scored again with a neat move down the left putting Cayden Malgas, the flyhalf, in under the posts. An easy conversion lifted the Worcester boys’ tally to 17.
DHS were not about to allow their opponents to gain any momentum, however, and a good option to take on Drostdy down the blindside put Khanyiso Stamper over for another try. Boesak returned to the kicking duties, but his kick drifted left of the posts.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
The DHS recycling and passing was impressive. Their running in the open field incisive.
With 15 minutes to play, Siseko Mani, who had just come onto the field as a substitute, took DHS up to 50 points. A well-executed lineout – a clean take from Dale Hendrikse and an accurate feed to the flanker – saw the big man charge through a gap in the Drostdy defence and go in for a try. Yet another conversion and it was DHS 52-17 Drostdy.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
It was incredible to think that the Blue Typhoon had trailed by 12 points after 12 minutes. They had appeared to be out of the game. Sometimes, though, looks can be very deceiving.
With the win all but guaranteed, DHS rang the changes, sending on many of their substitutes.
Drostdy found some relief from the relentless DHS offensive when the Durban boys gave away a penalty, which enabled HTS to kick their way into the DHS 22. The Horseflies, though, stopped a Drostdy maul and then broke out with a powerful run from Simka.
Not done
Play was back inside the red team’s half. And they weren’t done. Amahle Mazibuko and Singce Zimka combined well in the centre to open up Drostdy again, and Simka was in for his second five-pointer.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
DHS were in irrepressible form and in just over a minute they were back to scoring again, with Siphiwosetho Zungu dotting down after the Blue Typhoon had ripped Drostdy apart down the left flank.
(Video clip from SuperSport Schools)
It was a great performance from Christian Everitt and his team, with Sibusiso Mahlangu being named the man of the match. Honestly, though, it could have, and maybe should have, been shared by the entire side. Their performance was that complete.
Reasons for an excellent performance
Why were they so good? DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engledow, explained: “I think it’s because of things that we have been working on. Against Paul Roos, we didn’t get it quite right… I said to the guys just go and play. You know what you have to do. Stay within that framework and play. Use the ball.
“At one stage we were trying to be too physical. I kept reminding the guys to let the ball move.”
Move it did, and so, too, did the scoreboard…
Leave a Reply