St Charles tougher this time
For the second time this year Michaelhouse's played St Charles, this time in Pietermaritzburg. Michaelhouse won 29-17.
The second showdown between Michaelhouse and St Charles of 2014 presented a set of challenges for the Michaelhouse coaching staff. Overconfidence is always a major obstacle for coaches of teams that are just starting to hit their straps and on the back of an emphatic 45-7 victory last weekend against Kearsney College and having put 50 points past St Charles earlier in the year, Michaelhouse coach, Mr Mike Schwartz, would have had his work cut out for him keeping his team’s feet on the ground. A long injury list would have been his primary concern; but the knowledge that pride could come before the fall against opposition bent on impressing their Old Boys at home would have played a significant role in his planning.
The first half of the clash produced some attractive, running rugby, with Michaelhouse going into half-time with a comfortable 19-0 lead as they ran in three tries, two of them converted.
Tough playing conditions on a surface far less forgiving than the lush lawns of Meadows and a partisan crowd obviously began to take their toll as the second half saw a resurgent St Charles keen on maintaining honour.
A hallmark of Michaelhouse rugby in 2014 has been the team’s ability to raise the tempo in the second session of play, but it was the home side who did all the playing on Saturday.
Another trademark of Balgowan rugby during the year has been the team’s ability to maintain discipline, but the team notched up four yellow cards during the second half. Their misery was compounded when fullback Robbie Lee, who had been instrumental with the boot in the first half, had to leave the field of play because of injury. St Charles capitalised, scoring three tries with the visitors managing to build on their first half effort with only two unconverted tries.
St Charles ended their season well, despite the 17-29 loss and Michaelhouse will have to pick themselves up for their remaining fixture against Hilton on Saturday.
By Mike Witherspoon
