Westville chasing rare win at ‘House, Hilton favoured against College
Westville Boys’ High will put their unbeaten season on the line when they visit Michaelhouse on Saturday. Last year, it was ‘House who won away from home, claiming a 25-17 win on Bowden’s Field in a March match-up.
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It has been a good while since Westville came out on the right side of the result against Michaelhouse. One has to go back to 2021, when Covid-19 was around, and Westville scored a tight 17-10 victory in May of that year.
Trying to track down when Westville last won in Balgowan is a difficult task. Suffice to say it has been a very long time. The 2025 team has an opportunity to make history, not only by maintaining their unbeaten record, but also by winning on Meadows.
Interestingly, Michaelhouse has produced two unbeaten teams in the school’s history. Their 2015 side, led by Bader Pretorius, was undefeated, but they didn’t play Westville that season. Now the shoe is on the other foot, Michaelhouse has a chance to stop the visitor’s winning run.
While Michaelhouse has endured a disappointing season, with only four wins, two draws, and eight losses, they’re not a team that anyone is going to underestimate. They’ve underperformed in 2025, but they have quality in their ranks, and no team has simply had their way with ‘House.
Given an opportunity to take down unbeaten Westville a week before they face Hilton College in the second Hilton/Michaelhouse of the season, coach James Fleming and his players will not be short of motivation. A win would be a significant boost.
Westville, with eight Craven Week players in their ranks, will be favoured to win, but keeping hold of that sparkling record does come with pressure.
Obviously, much will depend on the quality of ball that the packs provide, but the match-up in the midfield will be something to watch. Michaelhouse has the Craven Week pair of captain William Ridl and Rourke O’Sullivan. Westville also has a Craven Week pair of centres in Sean McGough and Jadrian Afrikaner.
It’s no secret that Westville has an outstanding attacking weapon at fullback, where Zekhethelo Siyaya is a massive threat, but his tactical kicking should not be disregarded. He has a massive boot and can hurt opposing teams both with his counterattacking runs and his kicking.
Last week, Michaelhouse’s fullback Alex Jankowitz excelled on the counter against Maritzburg College, so the warnings that apply to kicking on Siyaya should be the same for Westville.
The sides are settled, but Westville has had to omit their outstanding lock Moustapher Gcina due to concerns about a concussion. His place is taken by Ompiwe Dladla. At eighthman, Sange Nkonki continues to man the position in place of Craven Week number eight, Lwandile Simelane.
Hilton College vs Maritzburg College
Hilton College hosts Maritzburg College on Saturday on Gilfillan Field. It’s a venue that has proved challenging for College in recent years, and they’ll head into the clash as the underdogs.
Hilton has been firing in recent weeks and last weekend they scored a very impressive 35-22 win over Northwood in Durban. The Knights are a tough, physical team, but Liyema Nela and company defused the home side’s challenge on Northwood’s Old Boys’ Day and never trailed.
College will be focused on contesting the rucks especially because the Hilton side is at its best when driving around the fringes, knocking players back and sucking in defenders before setting their dangerous backs free. Once they have built up momentum, it’s a hugely difficult task to reverse it.
Maritzburg College showed, though, playing at Hilton, that they can play that game well when they harried and hassled Westville Boys’ High all game long at the Sharks Schools’ Rugby Day before going down 20-21.
Westville won 23-15 against Hilton on Gilfillan at the start of the season, but Brad Macleod-Henderson‘s charges are on a roll now and they’ll head into the clash high in confidence.
Interestingly, College will start with their Craven Week loosehead Indiphile Mlotshwa on the bench. Is this an indication of the visitors aiming for a Bomb Squad-like tactical switch later in the match?
They will be without flank David Colenbrander, who has been a strong performer for the Red, Black, and White. That’s led to Rory Stanton moving from the second row to flank, with Phila Mkonyana tabbed to partner Mian Pretorius at lock.
Hilton also shows a change at flank, where Stewart Falconer takes over from Jacques Oliver.
Both backlines are unchanged.
Teams
Michaelhouse: 15 Alex Jankowitz, 14 Lwandle Nzama, 13 Rourke O’Sullivan, 12 William Ridl, 11 Jack Carmody, 10 Stefan Moolman, 9 Dan Aissing, 8 Dom Sesink-Clee, 7 Luke Mitchell, 6 Oliver Davis, 5 Daniel Carr, 4 Reese Hill, 3 Nicolas Salamousas, 2 Max Oliva, 1 Koketso Bopape.
Westville Boys’ High: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Ntobeko Sithole, 13 Jadrian Afrikaner, 12 Sean McGough, 11 Avumile Lisa, 10 Jade-Will Koopman, 9 Liam Simpkins, 8 Sange Nkonki, 7 Lwandle Makhanya, 6 Brandon Eke, 5 Lwandile Mlaba, 4 Ompiwe Dladla, 3 Bandile Mncwango, 2 Ross Calvert, 1 Sbu Hlongwa
Hilton College: 15 James Peattie, 14 Guy Fender, 13 Khazimla Makali, 12 Tristan Uys, 11 John Grubb, 10 Liyema Nela, 9 Zander Vorster, 8 Zander Muller, 7 Emmanuel Dankwah, 6 Stewart Falconer, 5 Andrew Schnell, 4 André Boshoff, 3 Mholi Khuzwayo, 2 Josh Grant, 1 Khanya Jekwa.
Maritzburg College: 15 Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, 14 Caleb Scheepers, 13 Olwethu Kosani, 12 Jordan Thackwray, 11 Adam Cahill, 10 Liyema Tsoko, 9 Dom du Toit, 8 Wasi Wyambwera, 7 Cyril Cherayi, 6 Rory Stanton, 5 Phila Mkonyana, 4 Mian Pretorius, 3 Alande Ngubane, 2 Theo Boshoff, 1 Linamandla Mabanga.
