SuperSport Schools Plus

DHS are KZN’s best in 2024, Northwood a close second

By Brad Morgan , in Rugby | Featured Rugby | News , at 2024-07-22 Tags: , ,

In a gruelling, physical battle, DHS fought their way to a seven-point win over Northwood in a showdown between the best teams in KZN in 2024.
In a gruelling, physical battle, DHS fought their way to a seven-point win over Northwood in a showdown between the best teams in KZN in 2024.

Durban High School (DHS) withstood a stern challenge from Northwood on Saturday on Van Heerden Field, claiming a hard-fought 18-11 victory to confirm their status as KwaZulu-Natal’s top 1st XV of 2024, but they were pushed all the way.

When they met on Reece-Edwards Field on 13 April, the teams played to a 7-7 draw. The Horseflies had been favoured in that game, but the Knights, in front of their home supporters, fought fire with fire and surprised DHS.

Commenting after Saturday’s bruising clash, DHS Director of Rugby, Peter Engeldow, told SuperSport Schools Plus: “They had a really good game at home, and they caught us off guard. I don’t think we were mentally switched on. Today, the boys were up for the challenge. They knew what was coming. Northwood is a fantastic side this year. We knew it would be tough, especially up front.”

Northwood’s coach Jacques Deen, despite seeing his side come out on the wrong side of the result, took pride in his team’s performance. They knew what there was to play for, and we couldn’t have asked for a greater effort,” he said. “They had a good mindset. At the same time, small, crucial mistakes cost us.”

Mistakes almost cost DHS, too, as they butchered a couple of good scoring chances in the early going. Twice, they managed to get the ball out wide and create overlaps, including a three-on-one, but Northwood’s committed cover defence stopped School.

Left-wing Zenkosi Mthiyane was put in the clear on the left flank just three minutes into the contest. He pinned his ears back and appeared on course to score in the corner, but four Knights were in full pursuit and a superb tackle took him out of play just a metre or two from the try line.

A brilliant covering tackle prevented Zenkosi Mthiyane from scoring an early try for DHS.
A brilliant covering tackle prevented Zenkosi Mthiyane from scoring an early try for DHS.

When DHS created the three-on-one, again down the left-hand touchline, a decision by the last Northwood defender to be proactive and not reactive, zeroing in on a tackle like a missile, caused the home side’s attacking trio to fluff their lines.

From there, the game became a lot tighter. “The plan, mostly, was to try and suffocate them, to put as much pressure as possible on them, cause them to make a mistake, and then try to play from there,” Northwood’s Jacques Deen said. It worked.

The rucks and mauls were areas of robust contestation, and Northwood did a fantastic job of challenging DHS at lineout time. While that approach worked for the Knights, it also worked for DHS. As Deen admitted: “We’ve both got a similar game plan.”

DHS, though, were first on the board, and it came from another wide attack, this time down the right flank. It began with a fantastic pass from flyhalf Allston Cedras, which put DHS captain Duncan Basson on the outside of his man. He then fed right wing Adriano Jackson, who spun his way across the try line in a tackle to give his side the edge.

DHS enjoyed an advantage in the set scrums, led by their loosehead prop and Head Boy Unaye Mndau. He’s not the biggest number one, but when former Springbok front-ranker and DHS old boy, BJ Botha, recently helped out with some coaching at the school, he was in no doubt that Mndau was the best scrummager at DHS and the best he had worked with in some time.

DHS enjoyed the better of the scrums, exerting heavy pressure on Northwood throughout the game.
DHS enjoyed the better of the scrums, exerting heavy pressure on Northwood throughout the game.

The hosts, though, spurned an excellent opportunity to capitalise on their edge up front when they monstered the Knights in a set piece near the halfway line. A penalty was shown for the Horseflies, but some ill-discipline – a bit of pushing and shoving – led to a reversal of the call, and Northwood flyhalf Siya Nkosi kicked to the corner, putting School onto the defensive.

Northwood forced their way over the try line but were held up. Two five-metre scrums were awarded in succession to the visitors and from the second they beautifully executed a training ground move to open up space for Carlos Lovell to go over in the left-hand corner.

With half-time approaching fast, DHS won another scrum penalty. They made good use of it.

A kick to the corner set up a driving maul. Northwood’s tenacious defence stopped the home side, but the referee ruled they had dragged the maul to ground. Another lineout and drive and Daniel Ikotela was over for five. Allston Cedras converted, and the whistle sounded with DHS 12-5 ahead at the break.

In the second half, Northwood gained a stronger foothold in the contest, which forced the outstanding DHS defence to dig deep.

Behind the pack, flyhalf Siya Nkosi masterfully controlled the game. His decision making and tactical kicking was on point, and he seemed to always be in the right place to receive the kick when DHS tried to pressure the Knights with the boot.

“He is a very talented player,” Northwood coach Deen said. “His understanding of the game and his rugby IQ is phenomenal. He is such a good player.”

At half-time, Deen said he had focussed on getting his players to understand what needed to be done and what needed to be fixed. They reacted to that, and it bore dividends.

Saturday's showdown was a fiercely physical contest between two teams which have excelled on defence.
Saturday’s showdown was a fiercely physical contest between two teams which have excelled on defence.

DHS, though, was able to extend their lead to 10 points after a quarter-of-an-hour of the second stanza, with Cedras slotting a penalty kick from the 22, almost directly in front.

Northwood responded almost immediately when the Horseflies were pinged for obstruction from the kick-off. The penalty, wide on the left, just outside the DHS 22, was struck sweetly by Ramatuku Sikhakane and the gap was, once more, just seven points.

A powerful driving maul, covering 20 metres, which took the Knights midway into the DHS 22, resulted in another penalty to the visitors when it was brought to ground. A kick at goal, unfortunately for Northwood, was wide of the mark.

Then, a good bounce of the ball for DHS and a strong line chase put the visitors under pressure inside their own half and they conceded a penalty. Cedras sent the 33-metre kick between the uprights.

Northwood made it a one-score game six minutes from time, with Savio Stevens knocking over an easy penalty from deep inside the DHS 22.

At the final whistle, the DHS players celebrated, with a hint of relief, while a number of Northwood players stood with hands on hips, spent, having given it their all. It had been some contest.

Respect earned, respect shown.
Respect earned; respect shown.

It ended with the sides showing mutual respect and with both sets of supporters having good reason to be proud of the efforts of their teams.

All credit to the teams’ strength and conditioning specialists. Both sets of players went at it hammer and tongs for the full duration of the match, which underlined one of the primary reasons they are the best in KZN in 2024.

If school pride was being graded, both schools scored an A-plus.

POINTS SCORERS

DHS 18 (12) – Tries: Adriano Jackson, Daniel Ikotela. Conversion: Allston Cedras. Penalties; Allston Cedras (2); Northwood 11 (5) – Try: Carlos Lovell. Penalties: Ramatuku Sikhakane, Savio Stevens.

RESULTS

u19 – DHS I 18 Northwood I 11; DHS II 36 Northwood II 19; DHS III 25 Northwood III 0; DHS IV 11 Northwood IV 19

u16 – DHS A 48 Northwood A 0; DHS B 26 Northwood B 19; DHS C 17 Northwood C 12

u15 – DHS A 3 Northwood A 10; DHS B 6 Northwood B 5; DHS C 0 Northwood C 29; DHS D 7 Northwood C 25

u14 – DHS A 47 Northwood A 7; DHS B 50 Northwood B 0; DHS C 31 Northwood C 10

Brad Morgan
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.