DHS edges out Northwood to maintain unbeaten run
Josh van Biljon scored a brace, Bonga Maphanga added another, and Bonga Dlomo performed heroics between the sticks to help Durban High School (DHS) claim a 3-2 win over Northwood School in an Edgars Friday Nite Lights clash at Northwood.
While all other leading teams have dropped at least one game, DHS remains unbeaten. Thus far, the Horseflies have been indomitable.
“I am proud of our boys’ defensive discipline, which has become much better this year,” Keegan Hezlett, the DHS coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.
The visitors’ defensive ability was tested by Northwood, who came out swinging in the first chukka, and DHS would have fallen behind had it not been for Bonga Dlomo’s heroics in goal. Thanks to his outstanding saves, School was on level terms, at 0-0, after the first chukka.
In the second chukka, DHS lifted their game. They gave as much as they received in attack and defence and were rewarded with the opening goal, scored by Bonga Maphanga, who guided a Josh van Biljon strike to the far post into the back of the net, after a scrappy short corner.
Northwood replied almost immediately from a well-worked penalty corner.
The arm wrestle continued until halftime, with the teams heading into the break tied at 1-1.
In the second stanza, DHS struck twice to Northwood’s once, but it was an intense back-and-forth up until the final whistle. “We created a few more chances in the third and fourth quarters, and that consistent pressure is what got us over the line. Our boys moved the ball really well as a team and have done that throughout the season, which has proved the difference this year,” Hezlett said.
Van Biljon, who enjoyed a brilliant outing for the Horseflies, gave them the lead again with a drag flick in the third chukka, sending the ball just wide of the goalkeeper on the netminder’s stick side. As had happened early in the game, DHS held the lead for only a short while, with Northwood equalising almost immediately.
It was DHS’s day, however, and Van Biljon sealed their win in the fourth chukka with a pacy, low drag flick, beating the ‘keeper to his right again. This time, the home side was unable to come up with a reply, and the Horseflies stood firm to take a tough victory over a classy side.
Reflecting on the game, Hezlett said: “We were a bit wasteful with our opportunities and probably could’ve scored a few more field goals, but in saying that, so could have Northwood, with the chances they created early on.”
Result
Northwood 2-3 DHS
