Northwood vs Westville, rugby report, results, 12 April 2025

When the final whistle blew at Reece-Edwards Field on Saturday, Westville’s players turned towards coach Zander Erasmus with arms raised and faces filled with delight, having just edged out Northwood 16-14 in a contest built more on grit than gloss.

In a clash heavy with physicality and tactical discipline, it was a single flash of brilliance that separated the two sides. And it came early in the second half from Westville’s fullback and SA Schools’ star, Zekhethelo Siyaya.

The scoreboard read 7-6 in favour of the hosts when Northwood sent a speculative clearance Siyaya’s way. It was a mistake they made only once, but once was all he needed.

Collecting the ball near the left touchline inside his own half, Siyaya hit the jets, stepped, swerved, charging around and, also, over a fragmented defence, to finish a spectacular score wide on the right. It was a 70-metre masterpiece – the kind of game-breaking intervention that top players are made for.

Flyhalf Lux Sonkononkono added the extras to give Westville a 13–7 lead. Minutes later, he added a second penalty to stretch the advantage to nine.

But Northwood wasn’t going down quietly. With time ticking away, they launched one last charge, battering into the Westville 22. Eventually, centre Bongani Khumalo found a sliver of space and finished with a flamboyant dive. Savio Stevens made no mistake with the conversion, bringing the hosts within two.

It set up a thrilling finish, but Westville’s defence held firm. Even when Northwood turned down a shot at goal and backed their maul to deliver in the dying minutes, the visitors stood tall.

“I told the boys afterwards that we didn’t take our opportunities,” Northwood coach Jacques Deen reflected. “There was one key instruction: don’t kick on Siyaya. We did it once and he made us pay.”

Westville, meanwhile, walked away with a crucial win, their first at Northwood in years, and one born out of steel as much as skill.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Erasmus admitted. “But we had a plan, and the boys stuck to it.”

While Siyaya’s try grabbed the spotlight, the true battleground was up front. Northwood, whose lineout is usually a source of dominance, struggled to impose themselves, with Westville applying pressure in that area and nullifying a key strength of their opponents.

“Our lineout didn’t function like it usually does,” Deen conceded. “And that’s normally a big weapon for us.”

Westville’s opening points came via the boot of Siyaya, who slotted a penalty from 40 metres out, and Sonkononkono, who added another to make it 6–0. Northwood answered through a try by centre Tristan Parkinson after their forwards pounded the line, with Stevens’ conversion putting them 7–6 ahead at the break.

But after the restart, it was Siyaya’s moment that turned the tide – a try that not only swung the scoreboard but also shifted the momentum Westville’s way.

“They’re a very similar side to us,” Erasmus said. “We knew it would be tough. You can’t coach that kind of fight. The boys brought it.”

With DHS also looking strong this season, it’s Westville, Northwood, and the Horseflies leading the charge in KZN rugby in 2025 thus far.

Up and down the age groups, there was little to separate Northwood and Westville, with nine of the 21 games finishing within one score.

Westville won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd matches, but Northwood took the 4th, 5th and 6th team games. The edge belonged to Northwood at u16 level, but Westville scored a couple of dominant wins to come out ahead in the u15 matches. They, also, had the better of the u14 games.

RESULTS

1st: Northwood 14-16 Westville
2nd: Northwood 12-14 Westville
3rd: Northwood 20-32 Westville
4th: Northwood 12-5 Westville
5th: Northwood 21-14 Westville
6th: Northwood 15-10 Westville

16A: Northwood 17-14 Westville
16B: Northwood 12-22 Westville
16C: Northwood 26-0 Westville
16D: Northwood 15-5 Westville
16E: Northwood 7-0 Westville

15A: Northwood 17-17 Westville
15B: Northwood 0-45 Westville
15C: Northwood 0-36 Westville
15D: Northwood 7-24 Westville
15E: Northwood 21-12 Westville

14A: Northwood 7-21 Westville
14B: Northwood 5-5 Westville
14C: Northwood 0-24 Westville
14D: Northwood 0-33 Westville
14E: Northwood 10-21 Westville

HOCKEY

In a Hyundai Friday Nite Lights clash, Northwood handed Westville Boys’ High a 3-0 defeat in Durban.

Fresh off a Founders Festival campaign that brought them three wins and two draws, the Knights were in confident form, while Westville produced mixed results at the Belgotex Sport Coastal Cup and are still trying to find their way.

Goals from Luc Boyall, Luke Allen, and Kyle White secured an emphatic victory for the home side, who controlled the contest.

Northwood swept the open age group, but they split the six u16 matches as Westville’s lower teams each scored narrow one goal wins. Westville had a slight edge in the u14 age group.

RESULTS