Michaelhouse out for revenge in Midlands derby

PREVIEW: Michaelhouse host provincial leaders Hilton this Saturday, while Dale College travel to St Andrews as favourites.

With the second term winding down, relatively few of the country’s leading school teams will be in action over the coming weeks.

Some of the players are already preparing for the U18 Craven Week tournament, which will be staged at Grey High School in Gqeberha between 6 and 11 July.

Meanwhile, learners based at KwaZulu-Natal institutions such as Hilton, Michaelhouse and Kearsney will play their final schools fixture of the season this coming weekend.

Rugby365 looks ahead to some of the big match-ups scheduled for Saturday.

MICHAELHOUSE V HILTON

Both of these teams have had reason to celebrate over the past three months.

Michaelhouse have only won seven of their 12 matches – but it’s worth noting who they’ve beaten during that run.

Michaelhouse’s victims include Northwood, Jeppe and most notably Affies.

Last week, they fought back to beat Martizburg College 24-17.

Hilton have been far more dominant over the course of the season, and are set to finish 2026 as the best team in KwaZulu-Natal.

Brad Macleod-Henderson’s charges have won 11 of their 12 matches – claiming notable wins against Northwood, Westville, DHS and Nudgee College from Australia.

They lost 9-14 at Maritzburg College three weeks ago – but are yet to lose a match at home.

More recently, Hilton beat Kearsney 31-27 to bolster their record against local opposition.

They beat Michaelhouse 23-21 at home earlier this season, and will head into the second and decisive match of the annual Midlands series as favourites.

Hilton won the series 2-0 last year – both matches were closely contested, and they claimed a 29-20 victory at Michaelhouse.

House haven’t beaten Hilton since May 2024, and haven’t won this particular derby at home since 2015.

ST ANDREWS V DALE

Dale College should boost their chances of a top-place finish in the Eastern Cape with a win against St Andrews this weekend.

Dale have won 12 of their 15 matches, and have only lost to two regional opponents, namely Grey High and Hudson Park.

They’ve had two weeks to reflect on the 26-27 loss at Hudson Park, and will want to set the record straight when they travel to St Andrews.

The Makhanda-based side has struggled this season in terms of results, losing 11 of their 13 fixtures.

A closer look at their record, however, suggests they have been reasonably competitive.

St Andrews lost to Framesby, Pearson, Bishops, Queens College and Selborne by margins of seven points or fewer.

They will have nothing to lose this Saturday, in what is their final game of the season.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

Kearsney won their first five games of the season before losing six of their next eight.

They will face an equally desperate side in St Albans this Saturday, who are coming off a heavy 20-68 loss to Pretoria Boys.

Selborne are on a four-game winning run and will expect to win against Stirling.

Graeme have won 11, drawn one and lost one in 2026.

They’ve been one of the most consistent teams in the Eastern Cape over the past few seasons – winning 14 of their 18 fixtures in 2025.

It’s worth noting, however, that Union were one of the few teams to beat Graeme last year. The teams will meet at Graeme this weekend.

SELECTED FIXTURES JUNE 20:

NOORDVAAL
St Albans v Kearsney
St Johns v St Stithians

EASTERN CAPE
St Andrews v Dale
Selborne v Stirling
Woodridge v Kingswood
Hudson Park v Port Rex
Graeme v Union

KWAZULU-NATAL
Michaelhouse v Hilton