5 May 2023
There is a very interesting slate of inter-school fixtures taking place over the weekend, but the visit of DHS to Hilton College is, arguably, the most intriguing. It’s a match-up between the school that has been most dominant in both hockey and rugby at A team level this season, DHS, and the school that laid claim to that title in 2022, Hilton.
DHS has enjoyed a fantastic winter season thus far. They’ve built up great quality within their ranks. So, no better challenge, then, than a trip to Hilton College to test themselves.
On the rugby front, the DHS 1st XV is coming off of a breath-taking performance against HTS Drostdy at the ABSA Wildeklawer Festival on Monday. They ran in 10 beautifully constructed tries in a 64-17 victory, which was as good a performance as any school has produced this season, and it could well be number one.
DHS sensational in brilliant win over Drostdy | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
Hilton, meanwhile, claimed a 20-17 win over Michaelhouse on Meadows on Saturday. They delivered a controlled performance for the first hour of the contest, when they went ahead 20-3. Then, they had to withstand a furious Michaelhouse finish.
‘House could have accepted a draw, winning a penalty right in front of the posts, only five metres out, right at the end, but they went for the win and came up short, thanks to some ferocious defence from Hilton and a call of held up over the line going against the home team.
The influence of the two flyhalves on the game should make for fascinating viewing. Hilton’s Chris Horak is a field general type, able to control a game with his educated boot, and he was pivotal to Hilton’s win in Balgowan. Deano Boesak of DHS, while also good with the boot, prefers a running game, at which he is an exceptional talent. They both have the ability to dictate how a game is played.
Up front, based on the performance of the packs in their most recent matches, the visitors might have the edge at scrum time. Coached by former Sharks’ front-ranker Ronnie Uys, the Horseflies are formidable in the set piece. At the Wildeklawer Festival, they clearly got the better of Paul Roos and HTS Drostdy.
Their age group teams also performed well in Kimberley, with the under-14A side stealing the spotlight in a 26-24 win over Paul Roos. Hilton is in for a tough challenge.
On the hockey front, DHS has emerged as a leading power in KZN. The Blue Typhoon’s first team, led by SA under-21 star, Lerou Dithlakanyane, is unscathed against other schools from the province this year, having put together a clean record of wins, including over Saint Charles, Northwood and Clifton.
Michael Baker’s magical DHS hockey makeover | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
Their age group teams, too, have been in fantastic form, and the under-16 side finished runners-up to a very gifted SACS outfit at the Hibbert Shield this past weekend.
DHS outplay Clifton in Hibbert Shield playoff | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
The Hilton 1st XI, most recently, recorded a 4-2 win over Michaelhouse, which was preceded by a 3-0 victory over Saint Charles.
Both Hilton and DHS have, however, struggled at times to finish off their good approach play, but the Durban boys netted five times in their last outing against Clifton at the Hibbert Shield, where DHS coach Michael Baker made a number of changes in pursuit of goals, including playing the very skilful Tumi Matwele up front. Will he stick with the same recipe against Hilton?
Hilton, under the wily coaching of Devon van der Merwe, are well-drilled and hard work to break down. It might, thus, come down to which team can force penalty corners and then convert.
If DHS welcome back striker, Josh Mungarera, who missed their trip to the Hibbert Shield through injury, that would be a nice boost to the chances of the visitors to score a sweet victory over the boys in black and white.
Results, Nomads 1st teams at Grey High School | Pinnacle Schools (pinnacle-schools.com)
Again, the age group action will be as fascinating as the showdown between the two 1st teams, with DHS yet to taste defeat against KZN opposition, and that record includes a 2-0 win for the Horseflies’ under-16A team over a Maritzburg College team which has proven itself to be one of the better sides in the country. Consider that College, at the Nomads Festival, scored wins over Saint John’s College (1-0), Wynberg (2-1), Jeppe (3-2) and King Edward VII (3-0), while sharing a draw with Grey High School (1-1).
It’s going to be entertaining and it’s, beyond a doubt, going to be hard-fought from top to bottom in both sports.
Rugby Fixtures
1st: 15:00, Gilfillan Field
2nd: 13:40, Gilfillan Field
3rd: 11:20, Gilfillan Field
4th: 10:10, Gilfillan Field
5th: 09:00, Gilfillan Field
6th: 11:00, Weightman-Smith
16A: 12:30, Gilfillan Field
16B: 10:00, No. 2 Field
16C: 09:00, No. 2 Field
16D: 11:00, No. 2 Field
15A: 11:00, Etheridge Field
15B: 09:00, Etheridge Field
15C: 10:00, Etheridge Field
14A: 09:00, Lombard Field
14B: 11:00, Lombard Field
14C: 10:00, Lombard Field
14D: 09:00, Falcon Field
Hockey Fixtures
1st: 11:20, Mansergh
2nd: 10:05, Mansergh
3rd: 11:20, Beckingham
16A: 09:00, Mansergh
16B: 12:30, Mansergh
16C: 10:00, Beckingham
16D: 11:00, Beckingham
16E: 13:30, Saint Anne’s 1
14A: 08:00, Mansergh
14B: 13:30, Mansergh
14C: 13:30, Saint Anne’s 2
14D: 12:30, Saint Anne’s 2
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