Helpmekaar edges out Michaelhouse, all the results

11 March 2025

Helpmekaar drew first blood in the 20th minute. From a lineout, 30 metres from the Michaelhouse try-line, they attacked and their 13, Ty Ax – who looked dangerous throughout the contest – made a clean break through the midfield.

He was brought down 10 metres from the try-line, right in front of the uprights. Taking a leaf out of the French approach, the Helpies’ forwards went with the pick and go, forcing ‘House to defend desperately.

Then, picking up the ball from the back of a ruck, Helpmekaar scrumhalf, Kean Butler, ran sideways, drew a couple of defenders who hadn’t been sucked into the ruck, and then floated a long, beautiful pass out wide, a la Antoine Dupont for right wing, François Tonkin, who finished in the corner.

The conversion was from an acute angle and flyhalf Wian Storm was unable to bisect the posts.

In the 24th minute, ‘ House received a penalty 25 metres out and in front of the poles, after a Helpmekaar forward attempted to steal the ball before the Michaelhouse player had an opportunity to release it from a ruck. Flyhalf Stefan Moolman collected three points for the hosts.

Shortly after that, Michaelhouse caught Helpmekaar off guard with a quick tap in the 28^th minute. The ‘House attack began from about 30 metres out with both forwards and backs combining to challenge the visitors’ defences.

Eventually, an offload in the tackle by inside centre, William Ridl, put fullback, Alex Jankowitz, in the clear and he went over in the left-hand corner to give the home team the lead.

Moolman, who turned out for the Sharks’ Grant Khomo team last year, slotted an excellent conversion to give Michaelhouse a 10-5 advantage at halftime.

After the break, both teams grew into the game as they continued to shake off the rust that inevitably shows itself in a season-opener. Knock-ons decreased and the execution of lineouts became smoother.

In the 48^th minute, Helpmekaar levelled the scores with a try. After making ground by punching the ball up through a number of phases, they earned a couple of quick taps on House’s five-metre line.

The pressure and speed of play were too much for the home defence to stop, with flank Zaiden Krige forcing his way over in the left-hand corner. Storm converted with sniper-like accuracy to edge his team into a 12-10 lead

Michaelhouse were competitive in all areas of the match, but they were unable to create the breaks they needed to get over the try-line in the second half. Credit must be given to Helpmekaar, for their valiant second half defence.

With time almost up, Helpmekaar sealed the win. A series of line breaks and offloads by their centres, Clinton Cloete and Ty Ax, and a good run by fullback Ethan Lourens stretched Michaelhouse’s defence.

Then, from a ruck only five metres out, Ax ran onto an inviting flat ball from Butler at speed and rammed his way over for the five-pointer. The conversion was wide, but the Helpies’ lead had been extended to seven points.

That’s how it stayed, with the Johannesburg school securing a hard-fought 17-10 victory.

In an intense and entertaining game of rugby, both sets of loose forwards forced their opposition to play with speed, which led to some excellent attacking plays from both sides.

In the end, Helpmekaar ran in three tries to one, and they’ll be satisfied with a winning start to their season against a tough opponent.

Michaelhouse will want to produce more. They showed off a robust defence and were entertaining to watch. They look likely to be a threat to their traditional KZN opponents this season.

RESULTS

1st: Michaelhouse 10-17 Helpmekaar
2nd: Michaelhouse 5-22 Helpmekaar
3rd: Michaelhouse 15-14 Helpmekaar
4th: Michaelhouse 13-0 Helpmekaar

16A: Michaelhouse 29-22 Helpmekaar
16B: Michaelhouse 19-20 Helpmekaar

15A: Michaelhouse 19-27 Helpmekaar
15B: Michaelhouse 14-25 Helpmekaar

14A: Michaelhouse 7-31 Helpmekaar
14B: Michaelhouse 19-16 Helpmekaar