Michaelhouse overruns St John’s, Crafford hat-trick seals win for St Charles
Michaelhouse issued a clear warning to the hosts of the Standard Bank St Stithians College Easter Festival by walloping St John’s College (Harare) 65-14 in their opening clash on the Baytopp Field, in Johannesburg, on Thursday.
Exciting running rugby by the team from Balgowan saw them overpower the visitors from Zimbabwe. They led by 34-7 at the break.
Their inside centre, captain William Ridl, was on fire, with the wings, Laird Hamilton-Brown and Noah Bates, enjoying the space that he and outside centre, Rourke O’Sullivan, created.
Michaelhouse scored 10 tries in their victory. They take on St Stithians College on Saturday. Saints won their opening clash 32-0 against Clifton College.
Backlines don’t dominate in the manner that ‘House did without their pack of forwards laying a tidy foundation. Hooker, Oliver Davis, in conjunction with the locks, Dan Carr and Oliver Vickery, did the hard yards up front.
Michaelhouse’s flyhalf, Alex Jankowitz, also deserves a mention. He converted six of his side’s tries and slotted a penalty for a personal contribution of 15 points with the boot.
Flanker Eben Crafford was the main difference between St Charles College and Hoërskool Windhoek. He scored a second-half hat-trick to steer his side to a 38-22 victory over the visitors from Namibia.
His first try, in the 39th minute of the match, levelled the scores at 17-17. Five minutes later, he scored his second from a rolling maul to give his side the lead for the first time at 22-17.
Replacement flanker, Ajibade Raphael, also completed a brace of tries in the second half thanks to his strong carries.
Windhoek’s backs looked dangerous in the first half when they found themselves in space. Especially Eathen Sinden (inside centre), William Beukes (fullback), and McRein van Wyk (flyhalf) showcased that they have the ability to break opposition defences down.
SCORERS
St Charles College 38 (7) – Tries: Eben Crafford (3), Ajibade Raphael (2), Likuthi Mbalana. Conversions: AJ Bosman (3), PJ Dlamini. Hoërskool Windhoek 22 (12) – Tries: Eathen Sinden (2), Lorenzo Awaseb, Steven van Wyk. Conversion: William Beukes.
Michaelhouse 65 (34) – Tries: William Ridl (2), Oliver Guy, Dan Carr, Laird Hamilton-Brown, Noah Bates, Oliver Davis, Khethelo Mazibuko, Stefan Moolman, Lwandle Nzama. Conversions: Alex Jankowitz (6). Penalty: Jankowitz. St John’s College (Harare) 14 (7) – Tries: Joshua Green, Sean Takaindisa. Conversions: Sebastiaan du Toit (2).
