27 May 2024
RUGBY
Clifton College welcomed Durban High School (DHS) to the Riverside Sports Club on Friday for a first ever meeting between the schools’ 1st XVs.
DHS has made a strong claim to being the best team in KwaZulu-Natal in 2024, so they were heavily favoured to win against a team that has had its fair share of struggles.
Something Clifton has not been short of, however, is spirit and determination and, as they had done so many times throughout the season, they finished the game stronger than they started it.
DHS, who have had nine players selected for the Sharks’ Craven Week squad, powered their way to a 31-0 lead at halftime. After the break, though, they found Clifton a far tougher nut to crack.
They tacked on another two converted tries to take a 45-0 lead, but it was with the very last move of the game that they brought up their fifty, eventually winning 50-0, which, maybe, didn’t do justice to the effort that Clifton put forth.
Mahle Sithole powered his way over for two tries, while Aka Boqwana, Neo Shakwane, Hlumelo Madikane, Zingce Simka and Okuhle Mbanjwa also dotted down.
Boqwana added five conversions and a penalty, while Jordan van Wyk landed one conversion.
Still, the Horseflies boast one of the best defences in the country. The most points they have conceded this season was 18 in a three-point win over Maritzburg College on Goldstone’s. Clifton, though, became the fourth team they have shut out in 2024, joining Kearsney College, Nico Malan and Hoërskool Rustenburg.
DHS dominated in most of the other matches, but they were subjected to an immense battle in the u15A game, which they narrowly won 7-0.
School also showed they have excellent talent in their youngest age group as they became the first side to comprehensively outplay the Clifton u14A team this season.
RESULTS
1st: Clifton 0-50 DHS 1st/2nd
16A: Clifton 0-80 DHS
16B: Clifton 0-53 DHS u16D
15A: Clifton 0-7 DHS
15B: Clifton 0-43 DHS u15C
14A: Clifton 0-50 DHS
14B: Clifton 0-50 DHS C
Leave a Reply