Hilton win Midlands derby

A large crowd of close to 10,000 was treated to some top class schoolboy rugby as Hilton turned the tables on Michaelhouse and won 26-22.

The game was on a knife-edge throughout and just as it seemed one side was going to run away with it, the other side came back.

In the chill of the afternoon the excitement kept spectators warm.

Hilton showed why the second match each year is difficult to predict. With the talent they have, six in the KwaZulu-Natal Craven Week side, the Balgowan lads should have won comfortably. But Hilton turned the formbook upside down as they were the more hungry for the win.

The game had most things one could wish for in the 70 minutes. There were some huge tackles, handling was in the main good, moves were executed at pace and slick passing, good scrumming, lineout jumping and forward drives, made for an enjoyable afternoon. Perhaps the difference between the winners and the losers was the defence. Hilton was superb. Their rushed defence put Michaelhouse under continual pressure with the ball in their possession and with the pressure came mistakes.

Michaelhouse, being the top-ranked KZN team, were expected to do well and they did have the better of possession and possibly territory. Turnovers were frequent after the bone-crunching tackles and only three tries were scored, two by Hilton and one by Michaelhouse, due to good defence.

Robbie Anderson put the visitors into an early lead with a penalty five minutes into the game. Hilton forwards then kept Michaelhouse in their own half and after some good phases, right wing Mark Gunn scored in the corner. Cameron Wright had his kicking boots on and he converted from close to the touchline. Anderson added another three points for Michaelhouse to trail 6-7 after the first quarter.

Two further penalties were traded by Wright and Anderson making the score 10-9 to the home side. Gunn was quick to react to a mistake by Michaelhouse behind their goalline and he was first to the ball, to score his second try and with an easy conversion by Wright, Hilton had stretched their lead to 17-9.  

Michaelhouse ended the half in a resolute way, exerting pressure on the Hilton line. They went over, but the ball was held up and from the subsequent five metre scrum, Joshua Moon drove over in the 32nd minute. Anderson made sure with a relatively easy conversion and on the stroke of half time, he added another three points with a drop-goal from over 40 metres out. This took the visitors into half-time, 19-17 in front.

The second half produced only three penalties but the play went from touchline to touchline as attempts were made to break the defensive lines. Hilton were playing above themselves, keeping their esteemed opposition under immense pressure. The home side played the more enterprising rugby and when they took the lead with another Wright penalty just three minutes after kick off they did not again relinquish it. Hilton was more hungry for the win and some intelligent line kicking kept Michaelhouse largely in their own half.  

When the match finished after 5pm it was getting very gloomy but Hilton had surprised all with a 26-22 win. Wright, who finished with a 100% success-rate, added two further penalties in the second half to one by Anderson who did not kick as well as he usually does.

It was a great game played in a good spirit worthy of a finale to the season for the two teams of traditional rivals, but with many who are mates off the rugby pitch.

By Mike Hill

All the Hilton-Michaelouse results:

First: Hilton won 26-22

Second: Hilton won 20-12

Third: Michaelhouse won 22-10

Fourth: Hilton won 27-0

Fifth: Hilton won 38-10

Sixth: Hilton won 41-7

Seventh: Hilton won 50-0

Under-16A: Michaelhouse won 39-0

Under-16B: Hilton won 12-5

Under-15A: Michaelhouse won 7-5

Under-15B: Michaelhouse won 12-7

Under-15C: Drew 10-10

Under-15D: Hilton won 19-12

Under-14A: Michaelhouse won 24-7

Under-14B: Michaelhouse won 35-0

Under-14C: Michaelhouse won 38-14

Under-14D: Michaelhouse won 22-12