Hilton aims for five in a row with Kearsney visiting on Saturday
At the Bishops 175 Festival, Hilton College let slip a 25-7 lead and went down 25-26 to Kingswood College. Since then, however, they’ve been on a roll and recorded four wins in succession, including a fine 34-17 victory over Grey High and a 17-14 defeat of Boland Landbou.
After the farmers comfortably beat Maritzburg College, they were favoured to handle Hilton, too. Brad McLeod-Henderson‘s charges were 3-7 down to Boland at half-time, in their clash at the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival, but Rukudzo Madinga breeched their try line twice in the second half of a morale-boosting victory.
Hilton, as always, is well drilled and well versed in their game plan. They’re a tough out. Their two defeats have come by four points in total.
With success has come stable selection, or it could be stated that with stable selection has come success, and the Hilton lineup is settled.
The same cannot be said for Kearsney College, with some changes and positional switches made for Saturday’s game.
Cameron Veenstra does duty at fullback, which should give the One-Stripe an extra attacking edge, while Doan Nel starts at flyhalf. Daniel Eager, their kicker, takes up position on the left wing.
Nqoba Simo Mnqokoyi and Heinrich Fourie team up in the second row, with Ryan Sim dropping to the bench.
Kearsney went down by one point to Framesby in their opening match at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, but were then comfortably beaten by Rondebosch and EG Jansen, who both went unbeaten. Nonetheless, that makes it four defeats on the trot for the One-Stripe – they were beaten 23-0 by DHS before the festival – and they will be desperate to reverse that trend. It will be a massive challenge on Gilfillan Field.
Westville welcomes Glenwood to Bowden’s. Although it’s the Griffin who enter the match having lost last time out, while the Green Machine won, the home side will take some confidence out of their 24-31 defeat to Jeppe in Johannesburg.
They ran in some spectacular tries and the potential that exists in their backline is now showing itself more consistently.
Flyhalf Unathi Mlotshwa‘s goal-kicking at Jeppe was exceptional and his cross-kick to pick out Evan Moolman and free him for a try late in the game demonstrated excellent vision and decision-making.
Captain Chris Cloete starts at hooker. He’s a dynamic force at ruck time, one of the best over the loose ball, and has already handled lineout throw-ins, so that change is likely to be a good boost for Westville. Will he match Jeshua Ferreira‘s impact in the set scrums? That’s a question that will need to be answered on Saturday.
Glenwood also received an encouraging outing from their flyhalf Kungawo Ncamazane against Clifton, but it’s Juan Viljoen who starts at 10 on Saturday.
The Green Machine did a good job of controlling possession and working their way down the field at the Riverside Sports Club, which allowed their backs time and space to do their thing, and they responded by scoring five of Glenwood’s six tries.
It’s going to be a tougher challenge on Bowden’s, but both teams will feel they made some progress last weekend.
TEAMS
Hilton College
15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Rukudzo Madinga 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Dan Sweeney, 11 Ricky Adonis, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Hanu Pieterse (c), 7 Jaque Olivier, 6 Ross Brown, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Stewart Falconer, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Oli Proudfoot.
Kearsney College
15 Cameron Veenstra, 14 Valentino Lenge, 13 Lindokuhle Mpungose, 12 Jarred van Staaden, 11 Daniel Eager, 10 Doan Nel, 9 Murray Weyer, 8 Qhamani Mlalandle, 7 Connor McIntyre, 6 Callum Steer, 5 Nqoba Simo Mnqokoyi, 4 Heinrich Fourie, 3 Anele Cele (c), 2 Blake Kruger, 1 Kudakwashe Kachambwa.
Westville Boys’ High School
15 Jade-Will Koopman, 14 Evan Moolman, 13 Michael Satade, 12 Blake Allbon, 11 Jadrian Afrikaner, 10 Unathi Mlotshwa, 9 Ryan Pistor, 8 David Humphreys, 7 Seth Gwynn, 6 Brandon Eke, 5 Rhys Mitchell, 4 Oliver Gcina, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Chris Cloete, 1 Likhona Maseko
Glenwood High School
15 Lesedi Khumalo, 14 Sthabiso Dube, 13 Lize Mtetwa, 12 Sisipho Dwayi, 11 Mvelo Ndwalane, 10 Juan Viljoen, 9 Lian Lochner, 8 Jordan Hargreaves, 7 Tyler Conyngham, 6 Mkhululi Mhlongo, 5 Tylo Madaat, 4 Michael Ize-Iyamu, 3 Uzukhanye Xaba, 2 Martin van Wyngaardt, 1 Lonwabo Nkalitshana
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