Muddied on Gilfillan Field, Hilton’s record still clean after win over Bishops
Hilton College was made to work hard on Gilfillan Field on Saturday, but they had enough in the tank to withstand the challenge of Bishops and score a 26-17 win, their fifth in succession to open the season.
The Capetonians made a strong start, spending most of the first 15 minutes in Hilton’s half, but the home side stood firm and gradually worked their way into Bishops’ territory, making good use of well-directed tactical kicks.
The visitors conceded a five-metre scrum when they carried a chip kick over their own try line, but Hilton lost the ball forward from the set piece, just as it appeared they would open the scoring.
Bishops, though, bungled their exit strategy and a loose pass was gratefully snaffled by Hilton flyhalf, John Grubb, who went over to the right of the posts. He also knocked over the conversion kick, and Hilton led 7-0 after 18 minutes.
Hilton continued to spend most of the first half in the Bishops’ half, while coach Sam Mofokeng‘s charges bravely tried to play their way into Hilton’s territory.
Eventually, after 30 minutes, Hilton’s territorial dominance paid off. From a lineout on the left touchline inside the Bishops’ 22, they flung the ball wide to the opposite flank, where right wing, Tomupeishe Gurupira, scored in the corner after good work from inside centre, Ruan Mulder. An accurate conversion kick from John Grubb put Hilton 14-0 ahead.
Just before the break, though, the contest received a boost when Bishops replied through outside centre Eljaron Geduld, who latched onto a loose Hilton pass and showed the defence a clean pair of heels, running in a try in the left-hand corner from 60 metres out.
A fantastic conversion kick by Caleb Clark from the touchline made it 14-7 at halftime.
Bishops pulled within four points in the second half when, with the breeze behind him, Clark landed a long-range penalty kick, from midway between the Hilton 10-metre and halfway line from dead in front.
Hilton surged onto the attack from the kickoff and used a penalty to set up a lineout in the visitors’ 22. From there, they forced their way over the try line, but were held up. From the subsequent scrum, Hilton was again over the try line. Bishops, though, ripped the ball away before it could be dotted down. Fortunately, for Hilton, it fell kindly for flank, Callan Kenmuir, who snatched it out of the air and fell to the ground next to the uprights.
Grubb had an easy conversion kick, but he missed it. Still, Hilton had breathing space again, up 19-10.
The home side continued to play the game in the right areas of the field, but they next added points from a move that began from inside their 22 after Bishops missed a penalty kick at touch. Grubb led the counter, linking up nicely with his backline, who shifted the ball quickly to Gurupira, wide on the right.
When he saw his way blocked, he grubbered between two defenders and regathered possession. Six phases later, all drives at the try line from the Hilton pack, the hosts were over under the uprights through their powerful no. 8, Zander Muller. Grubb’s simple conversion kick put Hilton 16 points clear.
With almost an hour played, Clark missed a penalty kick. However, the Bishops’ flyhalf immediately made amends from the drop-out, carving open a gap in the Hilton defence with a dummy before popping up a short pass, which took the Capetonians up to the Hilton try line. Through seven phases, Andrew Schell and company kept Bishops at bay, but the referee was playing advantage for a high tackle.
From the penalty, it took the dark blue-clad boys only two phases to break through next to the posts, with a neat inside pass from scrumhalf Jack Fleck sending Joe Lanning over for the visitors’ second try.
Clark added the extras to make it 26-17. That’s where the score stayed, with Hilton spilling a pass on the Bishops’ try line just before the final whistle.
Scorers
Hilton College 26 (14) – Tries: John Grubb, Tomupeishe Gurupira, Callan Kenmuir, Zander Muller Conversions: John Grubb (3)
Bishops 17 (7) – Tries: Eljaron Geduld, Joe Lanning. Conversions: Caleb Clark (2). Penalty: Caleb Clark.
