Captain Nela steers Hilton to win over Michaelhouse
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands painted a pretty picture on Saturday afternoon as Hilton College completed a season’s sweep of their great rivals, Michaelhouse, scoring a 29-20 win in the bowl of Gilfillan Field after leading 16-10 at the break.
Hilton never trailed, but twice, when it appeared as if the home side was about to firmly seize control of the contest, Michaelhouse came firing back to make a good game of it.
In the end, though, Hilton won thanks to a sound foundation laid by their pack, a crisp service from scrumhalf Benoit Rey, and a superb all-round performance from their captain and flyhalf Liyema Nela, who read the game beautifully and made excellent choices throughout. His personal contribution was 19 points.
The home side got off to a strong start when Nela, who had his kicking boots on, landing a penalty from wide on the left after only two minutes. That was followed by the contest’s opening try, 11 minutes in, with big André Boshoff finishing next to the uprights after being put into a gap from a tap-and-go five metres out.
Seizing the initiative early on was crucial to his side’s success, Hilton coach Brad Macleod-Henderson told SuperSport Schools Plus afterwards: “It was a tough game as the Hilton/Michaelhouse always is. We got off to a good start and, luckily, those first 10 points were enough to get us over the line in the end,” he reckoned.
Ten minutes after Boshoff’s try, Michaelhouse made it onto the scoreboard, with Stefan Moolman slotting an easy penalty. But it wasn’t what they had wanted. ‘House had hammered away at Hilton’s try line, but the home team had an answer to every surge they made. Instead of a try, they settled for a penalty.
The impressive Nela, then, struck a dagger blow for the home side when he landed a drop goal from 25 metres out, which took his side 13-3 clear after 26 minutes. “I don’t want to hype myself up, but I think that drop kick put us on the front foot,” he said.
With the momentum on Hilton’s side, they threatened to overrun Michaelhouse when a Nela penalty extended their lead to 13 points after the visitors went offsides.
William Ridl and his men showed character, though, to work their way down the field again, where they kept hammering away at the Hilton try line, with the home side stubbornly rejecting ever crack that their rivals took. Eventually, though, Michaelhouse’s patience was rewarded when Rourke O’Sullivan crashed over in the left corner.
A pinpoint conversion from Moolman took the halftime score to 16-10. It was game on again.
Early in the second half, Nela kept the scoreboard pressure building with a third successful penalty from 32 metres out.
For a second time in the match, it looked as if Hilton might break open the contest and surge clear when they went over for another try, scored by number eight Zander Muller off an inviting inside pass from Nela. Muller was in under the uprights and Nela’s easy conversion kick put Hilton 26-10 ahead after 48 minutes.
Michaelhouse clawed their way back, however. A Moolman penalty a couple of minutes later reduced the deficit before a sizzling length of the field counterattack, started in the left-hand corner of the ‘House 22 by Lwandle Nzama, was finished out on the right and over Hilton’s try line by fullback Alex Jankowitz.
Moolman’s steady boot and successful conversion pulled the red and white hoops to within a converted try with 10 minutes to play. Once again, the visitors were back in with a shot of victory.
Hilton responded well by playing the next five minutes deep inside the visitors’ half.
Eventually, Michaelhouse worked their way into Hilton’s 22 as time expired. But, when a lineout throw-in didn’t go to hand Hilton’s Zander Muller gratefully claimed possession, made a run, set up a ruck, and flyhalf Nela kicked high and handsome over the sideline to secure victory.
“Hats off to Michaelhouse. They kept on coming. They never back down. All in all, I think it was a good day. The weather was beautiful, too. Luckily, we came out on the right side of the result,” a grinning Brad Macleod-Henderson said while being congratulated by happy Hilton supporters.
“Nela had a great game. His kicking for poles was fantastic, his kicking out of hand, too, and he showed what he could do with his feet. I’m sure in his last game for Hilton, he is very happy to get the win.”
“It was nice,” the Hilton College skipper smiled when discussing his perfect goal kicking record on the day. “I haven’t had the greatest time off the tee, but today, luckily, I brought it.”
Describing the feeling of victory in the derby, Macleod-Henderson said: “A little bit of relief and a lot of joy. Especially for the matrics, it means a lot. It almost gives them bragging rights for life.”
Hilton’s captain, Liyema Nela broke into a big smile when he spoke about being able to deliver a victory for the Hilton community. “It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s 600 of us. We even have a war cry, ‘There’s 600 of us and we’re back in the white’.
“It’s not only 15 people on the field. There are 600 on the field against 15. It’s a surreal feeling.”
Scorers
Hilton College 29 (16) – Tries: André Boshoff, Zander Muller. Conversions: Liyema Nela (2). Penalties: Liyema Nela (4). Drop goal: Liyema Nela; Michaelhouse 20 (10) – Tries: Rourke O’Sullivan, Alex Jankowitz. Conversions: Stefan Moolman (2), Penalties: Stefan Moolman (2)
Results
u19 – Hilton I 29 Michaelhouse I 20; Hilton II 24 Michaelhouse II 24; Hilton III 15 Michaelhouse III 33; Hilton IV 12 Michaelhouse IV 7. Hilton V 0 Michaelhouse V 32; Hilton VI 0 Michaelhouse VI 71; Hilton VII 0 Michaelhouse VII 20.
u16 – Hilton A 8 Michaelhouse A 28; Hilton B 17 Michaelhouse B 49; Hilton C 5 Michaelhouse C 22; Hilton D 10 Michaelhouse D 48.
u15 – Hilton A 28 Michaelhouse A 22; Hilton B 14 Michaelhouse B 21; Hilton C 0 Michaelhouse C 26; Hilton D 5 Michaelhouse D 14.
u14 – Hilton A 24 Michaelhouse A 5; Hilton B 14 Michaelhouse B 19; Hilton C 12 Michaelhouse C 45; Hilton D 36 Michaelhouse D 45.
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