College recover against School

Maritzburg College went down to Durban and beat DHS 13-9.

This was the 180th meeting between College and DHS, and a very important one for College after the debacle against Grey College the previous week.

Playing with a reasonably strong breeze at their back in the first half, College held the upper hand but struggled to convert their advantages in possession and territory into points in the face of a determined DHS defence.

After an exchange of penalties, College scored the only try of the match after persistent pressure created a small opening from a ruck.

A further exchange of penalties made the half-time score 13-6 to College – hardly enough when they had to turn to face the wind.

After some early College pressure, DHS turned the tide and a penalty reduced their deficit to four points. They camped in College territory and laid siege to the College line for long periods. In marked contrast to the previous week, however, College’s defence was heroic and they cut down one attacker after another with telling tackles. Astonishingly, DHS declined to attempt several very kickable penalties in the last fifteen minutes and paid a heavy price when they could not breach College’s defence. College were elated with their 13-9 victory after a courageous defensive display.

Ashton scored all College’s points – a try, a conversion and two penalty goals.

By Tony Wiblin