3 March 2026
On a sun-splashed Saturday in KwaZulu-Natal, there was symmetry in the scorelines and steel in the performances.
In Botha’s Hill, Kearsney College beat Clifton College by 68 runs. In Balgowan, Michaelhouse matched that margin, defeating their arch-rivals, Hilton College, by the same convincing distance.
At Michaelhouse, Ben Heuer delivered a true all-round performance to anchor the victory. His 61 was the highest score of a low-scoring contest, and his return of 4/25 from 10 overs was central to Hilton’s undoing. Only Liam O’Dwyer, with a superb 4/17 from his 10 overs, bettered Heuer’s figures in a relentless bowling display.
Batting first after winning the toss, Michaelhouse ground their way to 194/9 from 50 overs. It was not an innings built on flamboyance, but rather on contributions threaded through the order.
Heuer’s 61 formed the backbone of the total. Around him, Rex Wardlaw (27), Riley Muir (26), Victor North (21), and Graydon Leslie (20) all made starts and ensured the scoreboard ticked over.
Muir and North laid the early foundation, sharing 38 for the first wicket inside 10 overs to blunt the new ball. Later, when wickets threatened to derail the innings, Heuer and Wardlaw combined for a crucial 54-run stand for the sixth wicket. Their partnership, compiled from 90 deliveries, restored order and nudged the hosts towards a defendable total.
Hilton’s attack had its moments. Sechaba Gude led the charge with the new ball, claiming 3/34 in seven overs and asking probing questions of the top order. Off-spinner Benoit Rey delivered a tidy 2/31 in 10 overs, maintaining control through the middle phase. Obakeng Motsepa endured a slightly expensive spell – 2/53 from 10 – but his wickets included the prized scalp of Heuer. Sange Qangule, meanwhile, was impressively economical, conceding just nine runs in five overs while picking up a wicket.
Chasing 195, Hilton began briskly. Barack Munawa and Ben Wilson added 21 inside five overs before Heuer made his first incision, having Munawa caught by Jack Campbell for 14. James Peattie‘s stay was brief, but Wilson and captain Rob Burman steadied the innings and stalled Michaelhouse’s momentum for a time.
Heuer had already struck twice when O’Dwyer entered the fray in telling fashion. Burman, who had compiled 23, fell in the 23rd over – caught by Heuer off O’Dwyer – which left Hilton on 82/3. From there, the squeeze tightened.
By the time Hilton reached 100, they were five down. O’Dwyer removed Ryan Jellis and Cameron Hargroves, his accuracy extracting errors. The required rate crept upward, and with it, the pressure.
Wardlaw then delivered a decisive blow, trapping the dangerous Qangule in front for five to leave Hilton tottering on 103/6. From that point, their challenge ebbed away.
Wilson stood firm, compiling a patient 52 from 109 balls – his lone boundary was a six – but he found little sustained support. The run rate drifted beyond reach, and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Hilton was eventually dismissed for 126 off the first ball of the 49th over.
O’Dwyer’s 4/17 was masterful. Heuer’s 4/25 underlined his outsized influence on the contest. Wardlaw complemented them superbly, returning 2/14 from nine overs, which was the most economical spell of the match.
For Michaelhouse, it was a comprehensive display: enough runs on the board, relentless discipline with the ball, and sharp execution in the field.
For Hilton, it was a sobering afternoon and, perhaps, a timely reminder that when they travel to Pretoria for the Switch Schools SA20 Final Showdown to represent KwaZulu-Natal, they will need to summon their very best.
Scores
Michaelhouse 194/10 (Ben Heuer 61, Rex Wardlaw 27, Riley Muir 26, Victor North 21, Graydon Leslie 20; Sechaba Gude 3/34, Benoit Rey 2/31, Obakeng Motsepa 2/53); Hilton College 126/10 (Ben Wilson 52, Robert Burman 23; Liam O’Dwyer 4/17, Ben Heuer 4/25, Rex Wardlaw 2/14). Michaelhouse won by 68 runs.
Results
2nd XI
Hilton 99/10; Michaelhouse 100/6
Michaelhouse won by four wickets
3rd XI
Michaelhouse 146/3; Hilton 94/8
Michaelhouse won by 52 runs
4th XI
Hilton 77/9; Michaelhouse 78/2
Michaelhouse won by eight wickets
u16A
Hilton 122/10; Michaelhouse 124/6
Michaelhouse won by four wickets
u16B
Michaelhouse 165/10; Hilton 51/10
Michaelhouse won by 114 runs
u15A
Michaelhouse 241/7; Hilton 150/10
Michaelhouse won by 91 runs
u15B
Michaelhouse 125/10; Hilton 126/2
Hilton won by eight wickets
u15C
Michaelhouse 117/9; Hilton 120/6
Hilton won by four wickets
u14A
Michaelhouse 171/10; St John’s College 170/10
Michaelhouse won by one run
u14B
Michaelhouse 236/10; Hilton 105/10
Michaelhouse won by 131 runs
u14C
Hilton 108/6; Michaelhouse 109/5
Michaelhouse won by five wickets
BASKETBALL
Both Hilton and Michaelhouse showed up well at the KZN Top 10 Basketball Competition. Michaelhouse enjoyed the better finish at 1st team level, beating Hilton comfortably to finish fifth, but Hilton reached three finals. That included the u16 final against Michaelhouse (in feature photo vs DHS), which Hilton won.
Overall, Maritzburg College finished first, Hilton second, and Michaelhouse third.
There was little to separate the schools in the 18 matches played in the other age groups over the weekend, with Michaelhouse claiming 10 wins to Hilton’s eight.
1st Team KZN Top
Michaelhouse 41-44 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 79-38 Glenwood
Michaelhouse 39-45 DHS
Michaelhouse 60-39 Northwood
Michaelhouse 48-22 Hilton (5th/6th)
Hilton 56-61 St Charles
Hilton 53-64 Westville
Hilton 35-52 Northwood
Hilton 54-33 Clifton
Hilton 52-50 DHS
Hilton 22-48 Michaelhouse (5th/6th)
u16 KZN Top 10
Michaelhouse 37-34
Michaelhouse 31-21 Kearsney
Michaelhouse 30-29 DHS
Michaelhouse 40-27 Northwood
Michaelhouse 19-31 Hilton (Final)
Hilton 34-16 Clifton
Hilton 44-27 Westville
Hilton 26-21 Northwood
Hilton 40-23 St Charles
Hilton 31-19 Michaelhouse (Final)
u 15 KZN Top 10
Michaelhouse 29-54 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 33-23 Glenwood
Michaelhouse 40-23 DHS
Michaelhouse 35-29 Kearsney
Michaelhouse 38-39 Hilton
Michaelhouse 25-52 St Charles (3rd/4th)
Hilton 35-32 St Charles
Hilton 35-33 Westville
Hilton 49-31 Northwood
Hilton 44-31 Clifton
Hilton 44-52 Maritzburg College
u14 KZN Top 10
Michaelhouse 16-32 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 27-24 DHS
Michaelhouse 28-30 Kearsney
Michaelhouse 27-24 Glenwood
Michaelhouse 47-27 Clifton
Michaelhouse 37-26 Kearsney (5th/6th)
Hilton 34-12 St Charles
Hilton 34-20 Westville
Hilton 40-17 Clifton
Hilton 44-24 Northwood
Hilton 21-34 Maritzburg College (Final)
2nd: Michaelhouse 28-34 Hilton
3rd: Michaelhouse 33-26 Hilton
4th: Michaelhouse 28-11 Hilton
5th: Michaelhouse 26-15 Hilton
6th: Michaelhouse 30-32 Hilton
7th: Michaelhouse 12-21 Hilton
8th: Michaelhouse 25-21 Maritzburg College
16B: Michaelhouse 19-16 Hilton
16C: Michaelhouse 12-14 Hilton
16D: Michaelhouse 19-17 Hilton
16E: Michaelhouse 44-11 Maritzburg College
15B: Michaelhouse 15-17 Hilton
15C: Michaelhouse 24-21 Hilton
15D: Michaelhouse 3-14 Hilton
15E: Michaelhouse 2-40 Hilton
14B: Michaelhouse 10-38 Hilton
14C: Michaelhouse 34-21 Hilton
14D: Michaelhouse 16-2 Hilton
WATER POLO
The primary water polo matches were played during the week because many of the sides would be playing in tournaments on the weekend.
Hilton won the 1st team and u14A clashes, but Michaelhouse claimed the u15A honours.
At the KES Water Polo Tournament, against the toughest opposition in the country, Hilton placed sixth. Michaelhouse was in action at the Reef Cup, at St Stithians, where they reached the final before losing to Affies.
Michaelhouse was a losing semi-finalist at the u15 Indigo Cup, going down to Kearsney in the semi-finals. Kearsney then beat Hilton in the final.
1st: Michaelhouse 9-15 Hilton
2nd: Michaelhouse 5-9 Hilton
3rd: Michaelhouse 5-7 Hilton
4th: Michaelhouse 10-4 Hilton
5th: Michaelhouse 10-2 Hilton
15A: Michaelhouse 6-5 Hilton
15B: Michaelhouse 10-2 Hilton
14A: Michaelhouse 5-12 Hilton
14B: Michaelhouse 1-10 Hilton
1st at KES Water Polo Tournament
Hilton 6-5 St John’s College
Hilton 6-11 Rondebosch
Hilton 3-9 Bishops
Hilton 10-5 Pretoria Boys High
Hilton 4-3 St Stithians
Hilton 4-7 Rondebosch
1st at Reef Cup
Michaelhouse 15-3 Thomas More College
Michaelhouse 14-5 St Peter’s College
Michaelhouse 14-2 Hellenic Academy (Zim)
Michaelhouse 17-1 Parktown Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 7-4 St Benedict’s (Quarterfinal)
Michaelhouse 4-3 Northwood (Semi-final)
Michaelhouse 3-8 Affies (Final)
2nd and 3rd at St Charles 2nd Team Tournament
2nd: Michaelhouse 15-2 St Charles
2nd: Michaelhouse 9-4 Curro Hillcrest 1st
2nd: Michaelhouse 11-2 Maritzburg College
2nd: Michaelhouse 8-7 Northwood
2nd: Michaelhouse (2) 3-3 (1) Kearsney College
2nd: Michaelhouse 5-4 Woodridge u16
3rd: Michaelhouse 3-5 St Charles 1st
3rd: Michaelhouse 15-1 Invitational Team
3rd: Michaelhouse 38 Curro Hillcrest 1st
3rd: Michaelhouse 3-4 Westville Boys’ High 2nd
3rd: Michaelhouse 8-3 St Charles
3rd: Michaelhouse 16-2 St Charles Invitational
3rd: Michaelhouse 1-11 Maritzburg College 2nd
3rd: Michaelhouse 3-13 Hilton College Youth
Hilton Youth at St Charles 2nd Team Tournament
Hilton 6-1 Westville
Hilton 13-3 Michaelhouse 3rd
Hilton 13-1 St Charles 2nd
Hilton 6-2 Maritzburg College
Hilton 10-3 St Charles
Hilton 1103 Woodridge u16
Hilton 3-5 Kearsney
Hilton 9-3 St Charles 2nd
u15 Indigo Cup
Michaelhouse 6-4 Westville Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 6-3 SACS
Michaelhouse 13-1 St Alban’s
Michaelhouse 5-3 Affies
Michaelhouse 4-3 St Stithians (quarterfinal)
Michaelhouse 5-11 Kearsney (semi-final)
Hilton 6-2 St John’s College
Hilton 8-1 KES
Hilton 7-4 Pretoria Boys High
Hilton 11-1 Grey College
Hilton 6-2 Rondebosch
Hilton 6-4 Clifton
Hilton 7-9 Kearsney (Final)
u14 Ken Short Festival at Jeppe
Michaelhouse 2-4 St David’s Marist Inanda
Michaelhouse 7-4 Pretoria Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 14-0 Parktown Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 5-7 Affies
Michaelhouse 3-5 St John’s College
Michaelhouse 7-3 Jeppe
Michaelhouse 5-3 KES
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