SuperSport Schools Plus

In-form Westville takes down Hilton, wins for Northwood and Kearsney

By Brad Morgan , in Rugby | Featured Rugby | News , at 2024-05-28 Tags: , , , , ,

Westville fullback Zekhethelo Siyiya crossed for two superb tries in his side's 14-point win over Hilton College.
Westville fullback Zekhethelo Siyiya crossed for two superb tries in his side’s 14-point win over Hilton College.

Bowden’s delivered another delicious serving of running rugby on Saturday as Westville Boys’ High staged a huge fightback to overcome a 15-point deficit and, eventually, win by 14 against Hilton College.

The visitors enjoyed success with their hit-it-up approach in the first half, with their forwards denting and driving the Westville defence backwards.

It brought them a 23-8 advantage, with Josh Grant and Xander Vorster going over for tries, while Xola Bakana punished the Griffin for their missteps, kicking confidently off the tee.

However, a long-range strike from Westville fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya in the 19th minute sounded a warning to the visitors.

Right on halftime, Siyaya, again, was over for five, dotting down beneath the uprights to bring Westville to within eight at the break, trailing 15-23.

A smoothly executed lineout variation saw captain Chris Cloete hare his way down the left touchline to score in the corner five minutes into the second stanza, and the comeback was on.

In the 46th minute, the teams were all square at 23-23. Soon after that, when a maul splintered, Jeshua Ferreira broke away and crashed over to give the home side their first lead of the game, and a conversion from the trusty boot of Unathi Mlotshwa took Westville seven points clear.

Hilton flyhalf Xola Bakana pulled three points back with drop goal, but Jabz Zulu‘s charges finished strongly to secure an impressive victory.

Jade-Will Koopman, out on the right wing, set up another try for the Griffin with some stunningly inventive play. It appeared as if he was boxed in on the right flank, but some sharp stepping and a 360-degree spin opened up space on the inside. With a long pass out to the left, he created a four-on-one overlap. One more pass and centre Michael Satade was over for a fantastic five.

A late penalty by Mlotshwa brought the scoring to an end as Westville’s strong momentum and exhilarating play delivered another win.

At Northwood, the hosts gave their old boys a much-enjoyed gift for their Old Boys’ Weekend with a tightly contested victory over Maritzburg College.

College got onto the scoreboard first, when James Slevin landed a penalty in the 22nd minute. Northwood responded with a penalty of their own right on the half-time whistle to level matters at 3-3.

The Knights took the lead early in the second half, bolstering their total by seven, but a penalty try to Maritzburg College brought the score to 10-10 with 20 minutes to play.

Late in the half, Northwood edged in front with another penalty. Then, a try right at the end sealed a 20-10 triumph for the hosts.

Kearsney College won on Dixon’s for the first time since 2013, when they held off Glenwood for a 25-22 victory.

Despite wet conditions, both teams showed a willingness to run the ball, but it was the visitors who settled down first, building up a 17-0 lead through a penalty from Cameron Veenstra and converted tries from Valentino Lenge and Connor McIntyre.

Lenge’s effort, when he cut back with perfect timing against the cover defence, was memorable as acres of space opened up and he sprinted clear to score.

Glenwood found a response just before half-time, with the forwards forcing their way over after camping on the Kearsney try line.

A penalty by Juan Viljoen took Glenwood to within seven points, but another Veenstra penalty took Kearsney up to 20 points.

A well-executed move from a five-metre penalty then put Glenwood in for another five points, and Viljoen’s conversion made it 20-17 in favour of the One-Stripe. But the gap was soon up to eight points as Kearsney created an overlap on the right and Qhamani Mlalandle burst over for five.

The Green Machine, with a sharp blindside move, made it a three-point game once more, but Kearsney held on for the victory.

It hasn’t been a vintage season for the boys from Botha’s Hill, but the record books will show that in 2024 they beat both Maritzburg College and Glenwood, and that is something worth celebrating.

SCORES

Westville Boys’ High 40 (15) – Tries: Zekhethelo Siyaya (2), Chris Cloete, Jeshua Ferreira, Michael Satade; Conversions: Unathi Mlotshwa (3); Penalties: Unathi Mlotshwa (3); Hilton College 26 (23) – Tries: Josh Grant, Xander Vorster; Conversions: Xola Bakana (2); Penalties: Xola Bakana (4).

Northwood 20 (3); Maritzburg College 10 (3)

Glenwood 22 (7); Kearsney College 25 (17)

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