Northwood snatches last-second win from Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse, after a hard-fought seven-point loss against Helpmekaar Kollege in their season-opening game last week, visited Northwood School on Saturday for a showdown with the Knights.
Coach Jacques Deen‘s Northwood team has a lot to live up to after the 1st XV put together an outstanding season in 2024, losing only two games in the province. They faced a stiff challenge from ‘House.
The visitors dominated territory and possession in the early going and that pressure produced points after they turned over possession through a charge-down inside the Northwood 22. When the home side was pinged, conceding a penalty five metres out, just to the left of the uprights, they were caught napping by scrumhalf Dan Aissing, who took a quick tap and scythed through to score a try.
Maybe they were expecting Michaelhouse to kick at the posts, but it was the kind of error that would have frustrated the Northwood coaching staff.
Stefan Moolman added the easy extras from pretty much where he would have taken a penalty kick to give ‘House a 7-0 lead after seven minutes.
The visitors were full of running, moving the ball from side to side and quickly through the hands. Under pressure, Northwood was caught offsides and Moolman put Michaelhouse 10-0 ahead with a kick from 27 metres out in the 12th minute.
Still, the Balgowan boys continued to play most of the game in Northwood’s half. Northwood couldn’t escape the shackles, but they defended doggedly.
Michaelhouse had a chance to extend their lead in the 24th minute, but Moolman, from just left of the posts and 27 metres out, pushed a penalty kick to the right of the uprights.
It was only right at the end of the half that Northwood was able to exit their half and, when they, at last, made it into the ‘House 22, they made it count with a grubber taking a favourable bounce, which evaded a couple of defenders but not fullback Trevor van Vollenstee, who gratefully snatched it out of the air and fell to the ground over the try line.
Ludi van der Walt converted to make it 10-7 to Michaelhouse at the break. Coach James Fleming‘s men had dominated the opening stanza, but all they had to show for it was a three-point lead.
Early in the second half, the boys in red and white were once more camped in Northwood’s half. They turned that pressure into three points, with Stefan Moolman knocking over a penalty from just outside the 22 to make it Michaelhouse 13-7 Northwood.
After the restart, Northwood began to play more of the game in the visitors’ half and, for the first time in the match, they spent considerable time in the Michaelhouse 22.
They almost went over from a five-metre scrum with only a desperate tackle preventing the Knights from scoring next to the poles. Northwood, though, recycled the ball quickly and a long pass out to the left enabled Jaydon Smith to dive over out wide for five.
The tough conversion missed the mark, which left Michaelhouse with a narrow 13-12 lead.
‘House, again, played the game down in Northwood’s territory, forcing their way up to the Durban side’s try line, but the Knights, with typical grit, defended it ferociously.
Then, with only a couple of minutes remaining, the home team was awarded a penalty on Michaelhouse’s 22, about six metres in from the left touchline. It was in a similar position to where they had scored their second try. They opted not to take a crack at the posts and instead set up a lineout just five metres from the ‘House try line.
That decision didn’t bring them a try, but Michaelhouse was blown up for going offsides while defending Northwood’s rolling maul, which left the Knights with a penalty only five metres out and on the 15-metre line. This time, they took the kick at goal. It looked like a gimme, but it was wide right, much to the delight of the Michaelhouse supporters.
William Ridl and his men were unable to exit their half from the 22 drop out and, when ‘House went offsides again, the Knights had an opportunity to snatch a late victory. This time, Trevor van Volenstee was handed the ball. The kick was from 38 metres out, just to the right of the posts. A hush descended over the field.
That hush became a roar as Van Volenstee’s kick was straight and true. The final whistle sounded. Northwood supporters stormed onto the field to celebrate while the Michaelhouse 1st XV stood motionless for a moment, stunned to have a win snatched away from them in the very last seconds of the match.
Northwood coach Jacques Deen’s halftime talk had helped to turn around a game in which they were outplayed in the first half and it showed the character of his side. However, they have lots of work to do, he said.
For Michaelhouse coach, James Fleming, it was a frustrating day. His side had enjoyed the better of territory and possession and had trailed for only the last second of the contest. Unfortunately for the visitors, that meant they were beaten.
POINTS SCORERS
Northwood 15 (7) – Tries: Trevor van Volenstee, Jaydon Smith. Conversion: Ludi van der Walt. Penalty: Trevor van Volenstee. Michaelhouse 13 (10) – Try: Dan Aissing. Conversion: Stefan Moolman. Penalties: Stefan Moolman (2).
RESULTS
u19 – Northwood I 15 Michaelhouse I 13; Northwood II 27 Michaelhouse II 26; Northwood III 20 Michaelhouse III 13; Northwood IV 0 Michaelhouse IV 33; Northwood V 7 Michaelhouse V 12; Northwood VI 0 Michaelhouse VI 44
u16 – Northwood A 31 Michaelhouse A 19; Northwood B 17 Michaelhouse B 5; Northwood C 26 Michaelhouse C 7; Northwood D 8 Michaelhouse D 0; Northwood E 19 Michaelhouse E 5
u15 – Northwood A 12 Michaelhouse A 22; Northwood B 10 Michaelhouse B 26; Northwood C 0 Michaelhouse C 5; Northwood D 0 Michaelhouse D 22; Northwood E 7 Michaelhouse E 0
u14 – Northwood A 22-0 Michaelhouse A; Northwood B 19 Michaelhouse B 9; Northwood C 12 Michaelhouse C 5; Northwood D 24 Michaelhouse D 10.
- 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
