Maritzburg College snatches last-second victory over DHS
Hilton College‘s Gillfillan Field hosted some outstanding clashes on Saturday, Sharks Rugby Day, with the last of the lot, a traditional showdown between Maritzburg College and Durban High School (DHS), producing a test match-like intensity and a last-second 18-17 victory for the Red, Black, and White.
They had last beaten DHS in 2021, before the arrival of Director of Rugby, Hendré Marnitz, so it was his first time coming out on the right side of that result.
“We’ve had a bit of a drought against DHS, so this means a lot,” Marnitz told SuperSport Schools News. “We’ve been on the wrong side of a couple of tight results, so it was nice to get this one across the line. It was a good day out for us.”
DHS, coming off losses to Northwood, Monument, and Paarl Gim – all outstanding teams – brought a lot to the clash. They demonstrated the pride and physicality that has become a hallmark of their rugby programme, but they ran into an extremely motivated College side, who rabidly defended every centimetre of the Gilfillan Field turf.
“The boys really showed up today. There was a lot of heart. We had one soft moment where they got a breakaway try. I thought we were fairly well in control, except for the scoreboard. We just couldn’t get the scoreboard rolling,” Marnitz commented.
DHS tested College, but the defence of Rory Stanton and company was exceptional. “We want to hunt like a pack of wolves, and the boys care about their badge, and they care about their brotherhood. Those are the fundamentals that we try to get into them, week in and week out. I’m very pleased for them,” he added
Stanton, the 8th-man, gave the selectors every reason to consider selecting four players who occupy that position for their schools for a second year in succession, perhaps even more.
Northwood’s Jamie Wimble and Hilton College’s Zander Muller cracked the nod in 2025, while Kearsney‘s Nhlanhla Ndlovu, although a touch undersized, has been dynamic this season. He exhibits a fantastic rugby IQ, which often leads to him either setting up or scoring tries.
Despite Maritzburg College’s massive effort, DHS hung tough. They scored a fantastic try in the first half on the counterattack. Their scrumhalf, Richaad Kriel, showed his greatest asset, serious wheels, before feeding Ama Mataboge, who was into space, but needed to drag a defender across the line with him to score.
Tanwil Onkers, who started the counter, knocked over the conversion to put DHS 7-3 ahead at halftime.
In the second half, College captain Rory Stanton twice breached the DHS defence, both times going over wide on the left. Dom du Toit converted the first, but not the second, which was from the touchline.
An Onkers penalty in the 45th minute had levelled the scores before Stanton’s second. Then, with only two minutes remaining, DHS forced their way over from a five-metre lineout, with Okhule Mbanjwa crashing over to the left of the uprights.
The simple conversion put the Horseflies two points up, with only two minutes to play. But Maritzburg College found a way to snatch victory.
“We had a plan to kick a good restart and try to get the ball back,” Marnitz explained. “Then, we had a plan about what we wanted to do from the scrum.
“The boys stuck to that plan, we stayed in the fight, and we got the opportunity [to win it]. If there is one guy I would back to make the kick, it’s Dom du Toit. He’s a super kicker. I’m really happy for him. He’s special.”
The kick, from 32 metres out, on the 15-metre line, on the right, was true. Du Toit pumped his fists before it bisected the uprights, and the final whistle blew.
Indeed, in the midst of a bruising encounter, Du Toit stood out, not only for his kicking but also for his calm and consistent service from behind the industrious College pack.
“If you look at the last bit – the guts of the boys, the composure, and how they fight – it’s a special group of boys who have worked very hard for the last six to eight months. I’m just happy for them,” Marnitz said.
Maritzburg College 18 (3) – Tries: Rory Stanton (2). Conversions: Dom du Toit (1). Penalties: Dom du Toit (2).
DHS 17 (7) – Tries: Ama Mataboge, Okuhle Mbanjwa. Conversions: Tanwil Onkers (2). Penalty: Tanwil Onkers.
