After being down by double digits, DHS wins at Michaelhouse
After a convincing win over Maritzburg College at home, Durban High School (DHS) travelled up to Balgowan on Saturday to tackle Michaelhouse, who had suffered successive a narrow 13-15 defeat to Northwood in their last match, played in Durban.
DHS enjoyed a superb season in 2024, but they’ve lost most of the members of that outstanding side. Still, they look like they’ll be in the mix to be KwaZulu-Natal’s best in 2025.
It has been a frustrating start to the season for Michaelhouse, meanwhile, who also came out on the wrong end of a tight opener against Helpmekaar Kollege, and the frustration didn’t end on Saturday as, after a strong start, which brought them an 11-0 lead, they succumbed to a 22-28 loss to the Horseflies.
Playing on Meadows, the visitors were far from their best in the early going. They lacked intensity and their handling was iffy. That lack of intensity cost them a penalty when a good kick chase from ‘House forced School to hang onto the ball at a ruck, and Stefan Moolman made good use of the chance, knocking a penalty between the upright from 32 metres out, just right of the posts, to give his side an early lead.
A good scrum, superb hands down the backline and dummy running, then, sucked in the DHS defence, which created space for Laird Hamilton-Brown, on the left wing, to go over for a fantastic try in the corner. It was an extraordinarily well-executed move.
Moolman missed the touchline kick, but he soon had another kick at goal after DHS knocked on just inside the Michaelhouse half and the home side launched an effective counterattack, which was stopped inside the visitors’ 22. DHS had, though, strayed offsides earlier, giving Moolman a shot from 26 metres out, which he nailed with ease. After only 13 minutes, Michaelhouse led 11-0.
DHS is a hard-nosed, abrasive and hard-working outfit, however, and they began to claw their way back into the contest.
Flyhalf Jordan van Wyk pulled three points back, with a sound penalty kick from 42 metres out, which sailed over the crossbar with plenty to spare.
Michaelhouse number 10, Stefan Moolman, returned the favour a couple of minutes later, comfortably banging over a penalty from halfway to restore the home team’s 11-point lead.
Stung at falling behind, DHS had begun to find their feet and they began to play the game in ‘House’s half while also exerting great pressure with their physical tackling.
An overthrow at a lineout worked out well for School, with Daniel Ikotela reacting quickly to claim the loose ball. He made some ground and made the ball available quickly. DHS moved it to the right and swiftly manufactured an overlap, but they were, once again, let down by their hands when the ball was dropped with the try line only five metres away. Still, it was a warning to the home side.
From the resulting scrum, Michaelhouse tried to bash the ball up to create some space before clearing their lines. DHS, though, forced a turnover, which left the hosts scrambling. They weren’t back quickly enough, however, and DHS powered their way over next to the right upright through Zingce Simka. Van Wyk added the extras and it was suddenly a close game with only four points separating the sides.
DHS had been on the back foot for much of the opening stanza, but as it drew to a close they forced their way down towards the Michaelhouse try line again. They thought they had crossed for a second try when a huge gap opened up, but the final pass to put them in for a try had been slightly forward.
The referee, however, pinged ‘House for going offside and School continued to attack. Soon, Damian Swart dived over for five, and Van Wyk kicked the conversion to put the Durban school in front for the first time.
Right before the half-time whistle, the visitors were blown up for a ruck infringement and Moolman, for the second time on the day, drilled a kick from the halfway line between the uprights to level the scores at 17-17.
Within three minutes of the restart, DHS seized the lead again. After setting up a lineout five metres from the Michaelhouse try line, they executed the rolling maul perfectly, which enabled Daniel Ikotela to crash over for another try and a five-point advantage.
Michaelhouse handed DHS similar treatment after forcing their way into the DHS 22. A rolling maul from a lineout gained 10 metres and took them close to the posts. When the Horseflies conceded a penalty, right in front of the uprights, William Ridl and company could have opted for an easy three points, but scrumhalf Dan Aissing read the situation perfectly and took a quick tap. As quickly as possible, he flung the ball out to Oliver Guy, who was between two defenders and he dived over for a try.
With 25 minutes to play, it was 22-22.
From the kickoff, Laird Hamilton-Brown, from wide on the left, cut inside to create some space. His positive play created an overlap on the right for Lwandle Nzama, who received a pass just inside the ‘House 22. With a marvellous turn of pace, he gassed it and flew down the right-hand touchline.
At the DHS 10-metre line, when confronted by cover defenders, he cut inside, attempting to round them in the left-hand corner after a lung-busting sprint. Just six metres shy of the try line, he was, at last, corralled. 8th-man Dom Sesink-Clee was on his shoulder to take a short pass. The DHS defence had got back just in time, though, and the ‘House vice-captain was dragged over the touchline within touching distance of the whitewash.
On the hour-mark, the boys in dark blue received a penalty about 32 metres out for a no-arms tackle, and Van Wyk landed the kick at goal to edge coach Peter Engeldow‘s team in front once more.
With less than 10 minutes to play, the weather turned, with rain starting to fall. DHS drove their way into the Michaelhouse 22 and kept it tight, turning to the pick-and-go to inch their way towards the try line. When the home team was trapped offsides, Van Wyk was called upon again and he had no problem with the simple kick to extend the visitors’ advantage to six points.
The game was almost done, but it came to a slightly premature end when the lightning alarm sounded and the players and supporters were forced to clear the field. The result, nonetheless, stood, with DHS claiming a battling 28-22 win.
POINTS SCORERS
Michaelhouse 22 (17) – Tries: Laird Hamilton-Brown, Oliver Guy. Penalties: Stefan Moolman (4). Durban High School 28 (17) – Tries: Zingce Simka, Damian Swart, Daniel Ikotela. Conversions: Jordan van Wyk (2). Penalties: Jordan van Wyk (3).
RESULTS
u19 – Michaelhouse I 22 DHS I 28; Michaelhouse II 20 DHS II 35; Michaelhouse III 24 DHS III 26; Michaelhouse IV 26 DHS IV 28; Michaelhouse V 43 DHS V 3; Michaelhouse VI 48 DHS VI 19
u16 – Michaelhouse A 21 DHS A 21; Michaelhouse B 12 DHS B 33; Michaelhouse C 29 DHS C 0; Michaelhouse D 14 DHS D 12; Michaelhouse E 50 DHS E 0
u15 – Michaelhouse A 21 DHS A 32; Michaelhouse B 13 DHS B 12; Michaelhouse C 33 DHS C 8; Michaelhouse D 53 DHS D 0; Michaelhouse E 53 DHS E 5
u14 – Michaelhouse A 0 DHS A 14; Michaelhouse B 7 DHS B 54; Michaelhouse C 0 DHS C 60; Michaelhouse D 5 DHS D 29
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