Michaelhouse looking strong
It's the Midlands Derby this weekend – Michaelhouse against Hilton at Balgowan, one of the oldest and most interesting schools derbies in South Africa.
They have been playing each other since 1904 when they first met on the town square in Pietermaritzburg, a match which Hilton won. Since then they have met 190 times. Michaelhouse won 94 times, Hilton 86 times, and 10 matches have been drawn. In 1910 Michaelhouse won 51-0, their biggest win over their Midland friends. Hilton's biggest win was 42-12 in 2013.
They are friends and the day is elegant, with rounded vowels, posh cars and gentle picnics but that tends to belie the tension which from time to time has become excessive and led to a temporary cessation of matches. But then friends do not always see eye to eye.
Results this Century
2001: Michaelhouse won 19-15 and 15-7
2002: Michaelhouse won 12-10 and Hilton won 30-12
2003: Hilton won 23-5 and 19-17
2004: Michaelhouse won 20-8 and 10-9
2005: Hilton won 12-5 and 30-6
2006: Hilton won 19-16 and 23-19
2007: Michaelhouse won 40-0 and 44-17
2008: Michaelhouse won 31-16 and 21-18
2009: Michaelhouse won 40-20 and 13-8
2010: Michaelhouse won 23-20. A thunderstorm stopped the second match.
2011: Hilton won 18-14 and Michaelhouse won 30-29
2012: Michaelhouse won 12-11 and Hilton won 26-22
2013: Hilton won 42-12 and 43-34
Michaelhouse's seven-match winning streak in 2007-10 is the best but Hilton have won the last three matches.
Results this Year
They have no opponents in common.
Michaelhouse have had stronger opposition. They were close to beating Glenwood, just lost to Grey PE and beat Westville. Their surprise defeat was against Graeme College of Grahamstown.
Kearsney are the strongest side Hilton have played and they suffered a heavy defeat.
Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse vs Voortrekker, 36-3
Glenwood vs Michaelhouse, 17-14
Michaelhouse vs Queen's College, 18-3
Graeme vs Michaelhouse, 12-10
Grey PE vs Michaelhouse, 10-7
Michaelhouse vs Westville, 34-32
Hilton
Hilton vs St Charles, 22-21
Hilton vs SACS, 24-23
Hilton vs St Stithians’’s, 34-10
St Andrew’s vs Hilton, 37-18
Kearsney vs Hilton, 31-17
On the evidence of this year's matches it is reasonable to expect a Michaelhouse victory, but then rugby is not always reasonable. In particular as far as this derby is concerned, the wise punter should always keep his money in his pocket. It's very seldom that a form book is as completely and totally meaningless as it is on Hilton- Michaelhouse day.
Teams
From last year's match Hilton have Tristan Blewett, Brad Dickerson and Jayson Gouws back while Michaelhouse have Rob Lee, who was a centre last year, Andy Vogel and scrumhalf Thomas Walker
Michaelhouse: 15 Rob Lee, 14 Liam Furniss, 13 David Broadley, 12 Jacques Swarts, 11 Jason Schwegmann, 10: Bader Pretorius, 9 Thomas Walker (captain), 8 Matthew Potgieter, 7 Jack Walters, 6 Jonty Barrie, 5 Andy Vogel, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Brad Roberts (vice-captain), 1 Greg Jackson
Coach: Mike Schwartz
Hilton: 15 Thomas Webber, 14 Terry Matsa, 13 Tristan Blewett (vice-captain), 12 Daniel Loftus, 11 Darren McGhee, 10: Kieran Hayne, 9 Matt Dahl, 8 Sébastien Desvaux de Marigny, 7 Brad Dickerson, 6 Etienne Marx, 5 Jayson Gouws (captain), 4 Peter Frost, 3 Andrew Svenningsen, 2 Bafana Motloi, 1 Andrew Peverelle,
Coach: AC Blume, who took over when Brad MacLeod-Henderson, an Old Hiltonian, joined the Sharks as a coach
Date: Saturday, 3 May 2014
Kick-off: 15.20
Venue: Meadows at Michaelhouse
Expected weather conditions: Clear, warm with a high of 27°C, dropping to 11°C
Rugby Programme
Meadows
08.00: 5th XV
09.10: 4th XV
10.20: Under-16A
12.45 3rd XV
13.55 2nd XV
15.20: 1st XV
Holleys
08.00: 8th XV
09.10: 7th XV
10.20: 6th XV
Far Meadows
08.00: Under-16C
09.10: Under-16B
10.20: Under-16D
Willows
08.00: Under-14B
09.00: Under-14A
10.00: Under-14C
Tarpeys
08.00: Under-14D
09.00: Under-15D
Baileys
08.00: Under-15C
09.00: Under-15B
10.00: Under-15A
