Homeground challenge for House
Michaelhouse will be hoping to erase the past memories when they host their oldest foe, Hilton College, in the return fixture on Meadows on Saturday.
Hilton managed to trounce Michaelhouse 42-12 in the first game at Hilton and hope to become the first side since 2006 to do the double over the boys from Balgowan.
Michaelhouse have had an horrendous season by their own standards and have managed wins over Northwood, St Joh'ns, St Charles and DHS but have been on the receiving end of a number of poor results against the stronger rugby schools in the province.
Hilton have had some great results including a memorable 38-22 win over Maritzburg College and a solid performance against Kearsney means that they must go into the game as favourites.
The dominance of the Michaelhouse first XV over their oldest rivals seems to be waining and if they are unable to turn the last result around there could be a shift in the balance of power.
THe Hilton side is incredibly strong all around the park but it lead influntially by scrumhalf Cameron Wright who was the difference between the two sides in the first encounter as he managed to score the majority of the points for his side on the day.
The Michaelhouse side has seen a massive shuffle in personel since that defeat with only three players in the starting XV baclkine surviving to tackle Hilton this weekend. Tom Walker is still at scrumhalf but Rob Lee is at fullback and Michael Bouwer is on the wing. There are four changes in the Michaelhouse forward pack as Egberink, Kelland, Porter and Mudariki are in the side for the second fixture.
This is completely contrasted by the Hilton side that has not changed at all going into this fixture.
History is with the Balgowan men but this Hilton team is going to be incredibly hard to beat with the continuity they have created throughout the season.
The first fixture between the two sides was played in 1904 and Hilton won 6-0.
Hilton v Michaelhouse statistics:
Games Played: 189
Michaelhouse won: 94
Hilton College won: 85
Drawn: 10
Michaelhouse longest winning streak: 7
Hilton longest winning streak: 7
Michaelhouse biggest win: 51-0 (1910)
Hilton biggest win: 28-0 (1973)
Teams:
Michaelhouse:15 R Lee, 14 J Schwegmann, 13 C Furniss, 12 B Tattam, 11 M Bouwer, 10 J Swarts, 9 T Walker, 8 N Egberink, 7 D Kramer, 6 C Kelland, 5 G Porter, 4 C Schoeman (Captain), 3 C Whiting, 2 J Epson, 1 F Mudariki.
Hilton: 15 M Gunn, 14 M Dickerson, 13 T Blewett, 12 A Rayner, 11 J Richmond,10 S Purdon, 9 C Wright (Captain), 8 N Maseko, 7 B Dickerson, 6 R Baldwin, 5 C Wiessing, 4 J Gouws, 3 P Lee, 2 D Russell, 1 A Lee.
