Hilton Go Up to Balgowan

Michaelhouse vs Hilton, the Midlands Derby is the most elegant rugby occasion in South Africa, and it happens twice a year.

This week its Hilton’s turn to meander up the R103 to Balgowan, a comfortable half-an-hour’s journey, from one splendid school to another.

It is a great social occasion with much bonhomie to disguise the tension of the day’s contests.

There will be more than just rugby but really the 1st XV match will be the climax.

Season So Far

Hilton has had the better season so far. In fact they beat Michaelhouse 20-10 on 23 March this year.

Michaelhouse have played 12 matches, winning five and losing seven.
Hilton have played 15 matches, winning 13, drawing one and losing one.

Results against Common Opponents

DHS: Michaelhouse won 34-19; Hilton won 20-3
Kearsney: Michaelhouse lost 23-20; Hilton drew 14-14
Maritzburg College: Michaelhouse lost 42-17; Hilton won 21-17
Northwood: Michaelhouse lost 20-13; Hilton won 31-15
St Andrew’s: Michaelhouse lost 40-19; Hilton lost 43-27
Westville: Michaelhouse won 31-20; Hilton won 25-22

Achievers

The players of both schools are eligible to play for KwaZulu-Natal Schools also known as the Sharks.

Flyhalf Ruan Wilmans of Hilton is the only player from the two schools going to Craven Week.

Academy Week

Michaelhouse: Luc Pousson, Kwanele Khumalo, Brandon Jewell

Hilton: Latica Nela, Mark Armstrong, Eleftherios Zigiriadis and hooker Brendan Beukes

Teams

Michaelhouse: 15 Luc Pousson, 14 Kwanele Khumalo, 13 Toby Versfeld, 12 Andrew Daly, 11 James Gush, 10 Michael Moodie, 9 Brett Oellermann, 8 Roeland van den Berg, 7 Nicholas Crampton, 6 James Moodie (captain), 5 Jan-Cloete Oelofse, 4 Gavin Veenstra, 3 Brandon Jewell, 2 Jamie Deeble, 1 Reinhardt Pienaar

Hilton: 15 Thabiso Dlamini, 14 Prince Matsa, 13 Latica Nela, 12 Kyle Steenberg, 11 Joshua Cox, 10 Ruan Wilmans, 9 Michael Teichmann, 8 Mark Armstrong (captain), 7 Thomas Hamlin, 6 James Harvey, 5 Christian Claassen, 4 Murray Schnell, 3 Christopher d’Oliveira, 2 Connor Holdsworth, 1 Eleftherios Zigiriadis

Referee: Vusi Msibi (KwaZulu-Natal Referees’ Society)

Date: Saturday, 15 June 2019
1st XV kick-off: 14.45
Venue: Meadows Field at Michaelhouse
Expected weather conditions: Sunny with a high of 20°C and a low of 7°C

Rugby Programme – 15 June 2019

Meadows
09.00: 4th XV
10.00: 3rd XV
12.15: Under-16A
13.25: 2nd XV
14.45: 1st XV

Far Meadows
08.00: 7th XV
09.00: 6th XV
10.00: 5th XV

Baileys
08.00: Under-14C
09.00: Under-16C
10.00: Under-16B

Tarpeys
08.00: Under-14A
09.00: Under-14B
10.00: Under-15A

Holleys
08.00: Under-15C
09.00: Under-15B
10.00: Under-15D

Results Since 2000

The first match between the two great schools was played in 1904, when Hilton won 6-0.

This Saturday’s match will be the 202nd between the two schools. So far Michaelhouse have won 99 times, Hilton 92 times. There have been 10 draws.

2000: Michaelhouse won 16-12 & Hilton won 7-3
2001: Michaelhouse won 19-15 & 15-7
2002: Michaelhouse won 12-10 & Hilton won 30-12
2003: Hilton won 23 15 & 19-17
2004: Michaelhouse won 20-8 & 10-9
2005: Hilton won 12-5 & 30-6
2006: Hilton won 19-16 & 23-19
2007: Michaelhouse won 40-0 & 44-17
2008: Michaelhouse won 31-16 & 21-18
2009: Michaelhouse won 40-20 & 13-8
2010: Michaelhouse won 23-20
2011: Hilton won 18-14 & Michaelhouse won 30-29
2012: Michaelhouse won 12-11 & Hilton won 26-22
2013: Hilton won 42-12 & 43-34
2014: Michaelhouse won 20-13
2015: Michaelhouse won 24-18 & 38-24
2016: Hilton won 10-8 & Michaelhouse won 21-17
2017: Hilton won 38-21 & 41-12
2018: Hilton won 22-5 & 26-11
2019: Hilton won 20-10