Michaelhouse in for a test at tough as teak DHS
Michaelhouse has been stacking up one tough test after the other, facing Hilton College, Maritzburg College and Pretoria Boys High in their past three outings, and it gets even tougher on Saturday when they take on Durban High School (DHS) on Van Heerden’s Field.
DHS has made a strong case for being the best in KZN in 2024. Any game against them is going to be a very physical challenge.
Their defence ranks among the best in the country this season. They’ve given up only 84 points in 12 matches. If you know your times tables, that’s a miserly seven per game, and their record includes four shutouts.
But James Fleming‘s charges are tough themselves. Sure, they’ve lost four times this season, but the biggest margin of defeat has been only seven points, and they did, at least, manage a two-point win over Northwood, with whom DHS drew, although the Horseflies were not at their best on the day.
Unfortunately for Michaelhouse, they’ll be without their inspirational skipper, Carlyle Hawkins. The Sharks’ 8th-man is injured and with the Craven Week approaching quickly it was decided not to risk further injury ahead of the big event.
Robert Combrinck moves to number eight and takes over the captaincy in the absence of Hawkins, with Alex Arde slotting in on the flank, where Combrinck usually does duty.
The performance of the pack against DHS is going to be crucial. The Michaelhouse forwards will concede some weight to School, but their scrum is anchored by the impressive Aphiwe Shelembe, who will be packing down against Bongani Dlamini in a battle of Craven Week team-mates.
‘House also has a number of players with something to prove, and one thinks especially of their second row, Dom Sesink Clee and Dan Carr, both u17, who’ve been strong performers all season long without gaining recognition from the provincial selectors.
If there’s one word to describe DHS, it is relentless. Any team hoping to take down the Horseflies had better prepare themselves for a battle from the first whistle to the last. It’s pedal to the metal. If not, DHS has talented ball carriers and runners with the ability to run wild.
Aka Boqwana, at fullback, is a fine goal kicker, while Michaelhouse counters with flyhalf Luke Davidson. His opposite number, Allston Cedras, and DHS scrumhalf Marcwin Nero, are playing excellent rugby and the visitors’ defences will have to be watertight around the edges of the scrums and rucks.
It should be a fantastic game between two well drilled teams.
Goldstone’s hosts Maritzburg College versus Hilton College. At home, the Red, Black and White are extremely difficult to beat but, for the second game in succession, they’ll be without their Craven Week lock Jake Jansen, an important source of lineout ball and a primary ball carrier.
College will be eager to take to Goldstone’s, too, after a 10-20 loss at Northwood last week. There’s no place like home, as the saying goes.
Hilton also went down, losing 26-40 at Westville. They were very good in the first half, well-structured and disciplined, which led to them building up a 23-15 lead at half-time. Unfortunately for coach Brad Mcleod-Henderson’s boys, they were twice undone in the opening stanza by the Griffin‘s superb counterattacking fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya, who has been simply superb in recent outings.
They’ll need to ensure they don’t allow Maritzburg College space because College fullback Luyanda Kunene is cut from the same cloth as Siyaya. He’s a threat to open even the best defences.
Hilton has, however, played College tough in recent years, even on Goldstone’s, and they’ve managed to nullify the Pietermaritzburg school’s weapons to a large degree. Last year on Gilfillan Field, Hilton won 29-14 and they were full value for that win, keeping College off balance the entire contest.
The visitors are also able to run out the same starting XV for a second week in succession, after having had to deal with some injuries. Continuity is always a good thing and that should ensure that College is given a stern examination.
Clifton College hosts Kearsney College at the Riverside Sports Club, with the Greyhounds buoyed by a win at Glenwood last week, which was their first on Dixon’s Field since 2013.
The visitors’ lineup looks familiar, although they have played with the makeup of their backline on a regular basis this season.
Their vice-captain, Cameron Veenstra, the sole player from Kearsney to make the Sharks’ Craven Week side this year, turns out at outside centre. He’s also played flyhalf and fullback this season. It may be that his versatility and his excellence in multiple positions helped him gain selection for the provincial team.
Kearsney played some good running rugby against Glenwood and Clifton’s tackling will have to be sure to stop them.
In their previous match, against DHS, Clifton did well after halftime to stunt the visitors’ attacking ambitions. They’ll need to bring that attitude and execution to Saturday’s game.
Up front, someone who has been consistently impressive for Kearsney is flank Connor McIntyre. He’s an industrious worker with a non-stop engine, who often pops up in potential try-scoring positions.
Clifton, meanwhile, will look to their vice-captain and flyhalf Nkanyiso Ntshangase to give their attack direction.
TEAMS
DHS vs Michaelhouse at 15:00
Durban High School: 15 Aka Boqwana, 14 Adriano Jackson, 13 Hlumelo Madikane, 12 Zingce Simka, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 10 Allston Cedras, 9 Marcwin Nero, 8 Khanyisa Stamper, 7 Bradley le Grange, 6 Daniel Ikotela, 5 Thando Luthuli, 4 Sibusiso Mahlangu, 3 Bongani Dlamini, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Unaye Mndau
Michaelhouse: 15 Stefan Moolman, 14 Aya Mkokheli, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 Tom Baguley, 11 Connor McAlpine, 10 Luke Davidson (vc), 9 Jack Hughes, 8 Robert Combrinck (c), 7 Alex Arde, 6 Riley Gehren, 5 Dom Sesink Clee, 4 Dan Carr, 3 Luthando Buthlezi, 2 Oliver Davis, 1 Aphiwe Shelembe
Maritzburg College vs Hilton College at 14:30
Maritzburg College: 15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 N. Mkhize, 13 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 12 James Thackeray, 11 Reinhardt Jacobsz, 10 James Slevin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemka, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Struan Oosthuizen, 5 Bohlale Maphisa, 4 Naz Isaacs, 3 Aiden Botha, 2 Siya Nkosi, 1 Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka
Hilton College: 15 Ivan Jjuuko, 14 Rukudzo Madinga, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Daniel Sweeney, 11 Ricky Adonis, 10 Xola Bakana, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Emmanuel Dankwah, 7 Meyer Malherbe, 6 Stewart Falconer, 5 Kieran Hunter, 4 Trent Chubb, 3 Ben le Roux, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Oliver Proudfoot
Clifton College vs Kearsney College at 13:45
Clifton College: 15 Adam Selikow, 14 Enzo Marcon, 13 Handré de Bruin, 12 Devan Schwartz, 11 Wandile Ngubane, 10 Nkanyiso Ntshangase (vc), 9 Kyle Akal, 8 Andisa Mthembu, 7 Joshua Howells, 6 Matthew Ropertz, 5 Lukhanyiso Nala, 4 Lwazi Maikizela, 3 Njabulo Dlomo (c), 2 Richard Castle, 1 Simphiwe Ngcobo
Kearsney College: 15 Daniel Eager, 14 Valentino Lenge, 13 Cameron Veenstra (vc), 12 Doan Nel, 11 Bukho Hlwatika, 10 Roydan Madatt, 9 Murray Weyer, 8 Qhamani Mlalandle, 7 Connor McIntyre, 6 Callum Steer, 5 Ryan Sim, 4 Joseph Roylance, 3 Anele Cele (c), 2 Blake Kruger, 1 Kuda Kachambwa
- Bowlers set up DHS for Switch Schools SA 20 win over Kearsney - 2025-10-30
- Clifton wins two KZN Top 10 titles, overall honours to Kearsney - 2025-10-28
- Hockly hauls Hilton to win against DHS - 2025-10-26
