Fireworks expected at Northwood vs Hilton, Michaelhouse hosts College
Hilton College faces a massive challenge on Saturday, taking on a rugged Northwood 1st XV on Reece-Edwards Field in a tasty King Price Derby Series clash on the Durban school’s Old Boys’ Day.
That’s a tough task, but it’s made even tougher because it comes after Hilton faced Durban High School (DHS) on Van Heerden’s Field on the Horseflies’ Founders Day a week ago. That was a huge battle, which DHS led only 19-18 before a last-minute try took them to a hard-fought 26-18 win.
Like DHS, Northwood features a very physical pack. The Knights have four Craven Week players in 2025 and all four – Sphe Ntshangase, Chad Howe, Lian Terblanche, and Jamie Wimble – can be found up front. Hilton, though, is made of stern stuff and it is sure to be trench warfare as the sides trade blows for forward supremacy.
The battle between Howe and Terblanche and their Hilton opposite numbers, Andrew Schnell and André Boshoff, should make for fascinating viewing. All four are sound all-round players – good in the lineouts, the tight scrums, and around the park, all while bringing a physical edge to the game.
It will be interesting, too, to compare the approaches of the number eights, Jamie Wimble, for Northwood, and Zander Muller, for Hilton. They’re both in the Sharks’ Craven Week lineup.
Both backlines have their key playmakers, with flyhalf Liyema Nela pulling the strings for Hilton and centre Bongane Khumalo doing the same for Northwood. Last time out, though, the Knights went with Trevor van Volenstee at flyhalf against Glenwood and he impressed, kicking as well as ever, while also scoring a magical solo try.
It’s going to be a game all about exerting pressure and playing the game in the right areas. Much, too, will depend on how the teams manage the pressure they will, no doubt, be put under.
Michaelhouse vs Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse hosts Maritzburg College on Saturday and, happily, they’ll be in action on Meadows, which was out of service for a while after suffering some damage after heavy rains.
They’re teams that have not performed quite as well as they would have expected in 2025, but both have played far better rugby in recent times.
College, very nearly, ended Westville’s unbeaten season at the Sharks Schools’ Rugby Day and, last weekend, they scored a comfortable 35-20 victory over Kearsney College on Goldstone’s. They’ll be tested away from home, however.
While ‘House‘s record doesn’t sparkle, what does stand out when looking through their results in 2025 is the fact that they have been competitive in every match and, in their more recent outings, they’ve had few problems scoring points.
College, though, in that aforementioned one-point loss to Westville, after giving up points early on, shut down their opposition’s potent attack and made it an attritional battle, played mostly between the forwards. They would be happy to turn to that formula again.
Going on the Craven Week selections, Michaelhouse’s greatest danger will be posed by their centre pair, captain William Ridl and Rourke O’Sullivan, both of whom will represent the Sharks in Middelburg.
College is led by Craven Week number eight, Wasi Vyambwera, while loosehead prop Indiphile Mlotshwa also cracked the senior provincial nod. His battle with Michaelhouse’s mobile tighthead Nicolas Salamousas, who is in the Sharks u17 AFGRI Week squad, should be interesting.
Last week, Maritzburg College did a good job of moving the ball from one side of the field to the other after sucking in Kearsney’s forwards with their driving off of mauls, which brought them a couple of tries. ‘House will need good defensive line speed to prevent that happening.
Both sides are blessed with outstanding kickers – Stefan Moolman, for Michaelhouse, and Dom du Toit, for College – so discipline will be crucial. Giving away penalties within kicking range of the uprights would be asking for trouble.
TEAMS
Northwood vs Hilton College, Reece-Edwards Field, Durban, 15:30
Northwood: TBA
Hilton College: 15 James Peattie, 14 Guy Fender, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Tristan Uys, 11 John Grubb, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Zander Muller, 7 Emmanuel Dankwah, 6 Jacques Oliver, 5 Andrew Schnell, 4 André Boshoff, 3 Mholi Khuzwayo, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Khanya Jekwa.
Michaelhouse vs Maritzburg College, Meadows, Balgowan, 14:45
Michaelhouse: 15 Alex Jankowitz, 14 Lwandle Nzama, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 William Ridl, 11 Jack Carmody, 10 Stefan Moolman, 9 Dan Aissing, 8 Dom Sesink-Clee, 7 Alex Ardé, 6 Oliver Davis, 5 Daniel Carr, 4 Thomas Peach, 3 Nicolas Salamousas, 2 Max Oliva, 1 Koketso Bopape.
Maritzburg College: 15 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 14 Caleb Scheepers, 13 Olwethu Kosani, 12 Jordan Thackwray, 11 Adam Cahill, 10 Liyema Tsoko, 9 Dom du Toit, 8 Wasi Wyambwera, 7 Cyril Cherayi, 6 David Colenbrander, 5 Rory Stanton, 4 Elethu Mabanga, 3 Alande Ngubane, 2 Theo Boshoff, 1 Indiphile Moltshwa.
