Michaelhouse win Midlands Derby
For the second time this year Hilton and Michaelhouse met in their famous derby, this time at Hilton. Again Michaelhouse won, this time 39-12. This report is from Michaelhouse.
Although the early fixtures of the return Hilton vs Michaelhouse fixture of 2014 were played in chilly, misty conditions, the weather could not have been more spectacular by the time the 2nd and 1st XVs charged on to Gilfillan.
Earlier in the day, the Hilton 5th XV turned their previous 0-12 result against the boys from Balgowan into a 19-0 win, upsetting Michaelhouse’s open age group clean sweep against all independent schools in the province in 2014. The balance of the day’s fixtures went according to form with no other reversals.
Craven Week, injuries and a stomach bug kept a few regular starters from both teams off the pitch; but the scene was set for a tense, physical final match to the 2014 domestic season. The visitors soon took control of the game, with great interplay between backs and forwards. This was no different to their style adopted throughout the season. Michaelhouse were all out attack and Hilton were defending with all the determination and courage the boys in red and white had come to expect from their first encounter. Three converted tries and a long penalty stroked through by flyhalf Bader Pretorius put the visitors into a commanding 24-0 half time lead although solid cover defence by Hilton denied two more very real scoring opportunities.
Coming out from the break, Hilton were far more competitive and were the first to trouble the scoreboard in the second half through quick hands and blistering pace down the left-hand touchline. Defensively, the home side maintained their composure, again preventing two more certain tries through gritty, resolute tackling. Michaelhouse responded though by scoring another converted try and a penalty to extend their lead to 34-5 when a lapse in concentration by the Michaelhouse midfield allowed Hilton to score a converted try. In the final movement of the game captain and scrumhalf, Thomas Walker, scored the last try of the match for Michaelhouse to run off 39-12 victors.
Scorers
For Michaelhouse:
Tries by Brandon Tattam, Michael Tatham, Thomas Walker, Bader Pretorius 2
Cons: Bader Pretorius 4
Pen: Bader Pretorius 2
Teams
Hilton. 15 Thomas Webber, 14 Terry Matsa, 13 Darren McGhee, 12 Murray van Tonder, 11 Leo Van Wymeersch, 10 Kieran Hayne, 9 Peter Symons, 8 Sebastian Desvaux de Marigny, 7 Brad Dickerson (captain), 6 Etienne Marx, 5 Jono Smithers/Jayson Gouws, 4 Peter Frost, 3 Andrew Svenningsen, 2 Bafana Motloi, 1 Andrew Peverelle
Michaelhouse. 15 Victor Foster, 14 Liam Furniss, 13 Michael Tatham, 12 Brandon Tattam, 11 Jason Schwegmann, 10 Bader Pretorius, 9 Thomas Walker (captain), 8 Nick Egberink, 7 Jack Walters, 6 Zander Prinsloo, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Andy Vogel, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Matthew Wiseman, 1 Greg Jackson
By Murray Witherspoon
All Results
1st XV: Michaelhouse won 39-12
2nd XV: Michaelhouse won 23-6
3rd XV: Michaelhouse won 13-3
4th XV: Michaelhouse won 22-12
5th XV: Hilton won 19-0
6th XV: Michaelhouse won 17-5
Under-16A: Michaelhouse won 27-22
Under-16B: Michaelhouse won 26-20
Under-16C: Michaelhouse won 50-0
Under-15A: Hilton won 47-5
Under-15B: Hilton won 55-0
Under-15C: Hilton won 49-0
Under-14A: Hilton won 24-12
Under-14B: Draw 12-12
Under-14C: Michaelhouse won 37-5
