15 June 2026
Off the back of a big 19-52 defeat against Westville Boys’ High, who scored the last 33 points without answer in their showdown on Bowden’s Field, Michaelhouse needed to dig deep and find an appropriate response. Up against an in-form Maritzburg College team, which had chalked up five wins on the trot, ‘House, back home on Meadows, produced a character-filled performance to upset the visitors on Saturday.
It was 14-14 at halftime, and 17-14 to College midway through the second half, but after Dom du Toit landed the penalty that gave College the lead, it was as if a switch had been turned on, and Michaelhouse launched an unrelenting assault on the Red, Black, and White, scoring two late tries to secure a morale-boosting 24-17 victory.
The timing and the opponent could hardly have been better. A big win, one week before the second Hilton/Michaelhouse clash of the season, was exactly what the doctor ordered for captain Nicolas Salamousas and company. That the win was over the only team to have beaten Hilton College in 2026 was another boost for ‘House, and good for an injection of belief ahead of the big game.
Considering, too, that it took a last-second penalty kick for Hilton College to win on Gilfillan Field in the first meeting of the sides, Michaelhouse will feel they have at least a 50/50 chance of winning the return match.
It took an immense performance for coach Marco Engelbrecht‘s boys to win. They fell behind within the first three minutes, with College’s outstanding Sharks’ Craven Week hooker, Theo Boshoff, breaking free from a rolling maul and diving over for the first points of the contest.
Scrumhalf Dom du Toit, as sure a thing as any kicker in the country, made the conversion kick to extend the College lead to 7-0.
Michaelhouse, however, refused to be rattled. They responded by camping on the College try line and working patiently through multiple phases. Despite some fierce defence from the visitors, Alex Jankowitz and Jack Carmody carried Michaelhouse to within striking distance before scrumhalf Ben Hughes delivered a perfectly timed inside ball to Jed Reilly, who powered over in the 12th minute.
Jankowitz added the extras to level the scores.
Moments later, one of the defining moments of the match occurred.
From the restart, fullback Reece Cole launched a high clearing kick. When College spilt possession, the home side reacted instantly, grabbing possession and putting the ball in the hands of Laird Hamilton-Brown. The right wing hit the afterburners, and he raced over from 55 metres out to dot down behind the poles.
Jankowitz’s straightforward conversion pushed Michaelhouse into a 14-7 lead and warmed up the home faithful, who lined the field.
College’s recent successes had been built on discipline and composure, but that error proved costly. To their credit, though, the visitors regrouped quickly and returned to the attack.
They earned three lineouts in rapid succession deep inside the home team’s 22 and turned to the driving maul. On the third attempt, captain Rory Stanton peeled away and was over in the left corner for a try.
Du Toit then produced an outstanding touchline conversion to draw Maritzburg College level at 14-14 after 26 minutes. Neither side could add further points before halftime, leaving the contest finely balanced.
The opening stages of the second half developed into an arm wrestle. Strong defence from both teams restricted attacking opportunities, and much of the play unfolded around midfield.
Eventually, Du Toit nudged College back in front with a penalty from just inside the Michaelhouse half. The home side responded furiously.
Oliver Guy sparked the fightback with a forceful carry before Reese Hill came agonisingly close to scoring, only to lose possession in a heavy tackle just metres from the line. Michaelhouse kept hammering away. Loosehead prop Aphele Chamane crossed the whitewash, but his effort was ruled out for obstruction.
Rather than settling for a shot at goal when another penalty arrived, captain Nicolas Salamousas opted to keep the pressure on. It was a decision that reflected the home side’s determination.
College’s defence, which had been outstanding throughout their winning run, repeatedly repelled wave after wave of attack. Yet Michaelhouse’s Craven Week front-row pairing of Chamane and Salamousas rose to the occasion and imposed themselves.
A huge scrum earned a penalty. Then, after several phases on the try line, College held the ball up over the line. A knock-on gave the visitors possession, but Michaelhouse forced another scrum penalty almost immediately.
Finally, their persistence paid off.
From a quick tap penalty, the ball was moved through the hands, and Carmody’s fast hands sent Banathi Sabelo over in the left-hand corner. Jankowitz’s conversion drifted wide, but Michaelhouse had regained the lead at 19-17 with only four minutes remaining.
The decisive blow followed shortly afterwards.
Sabelo safely gathered a towering up-and-under on the left wing, stepped past the first defender and released Cole. The fullback surged forward before finding Carmody on his outside. The flyhalf drew the final defender and returned the ball inside to Sabelo, with the wing diving over in the left corner again for a vital try.
Jankowitz was unable to convert, leaving the score at 24-17.
Michaelhouse then rode out one last desperate counterattack from College to secure one of their best wins of the season.
With the victory, the stage has been set for a classic showdown at Meadows on Saturday.
The rich rivalry between Hilton and Michaelhouse is remarkably close. With their victory in early May, Hilton College scored its 100th rivalry win. Michaelhouse has 101 victories in the big game, and 10 matches have been drawn.
In the open age group matches, Michaelhouse won four matches and College won five. ‘House took the u16A win and won three of four at that level.
The results at u15 level tilted College’s way, with the visitors taking the u15A victory and winning three out of four contests.
Maritzburg College won all four u14 games.
Overall, Michaelhouse recorded eight victories, and Maritzburg College won 13 games.
Results
1st: Michaelhouse 24-17 Maritzburg College
2nd: Michaelhouse 13-17 Maritzburg College
3rd: Michaelhouse 31-29 Maritzburg College
4th: Michaelhouse 7-17 Maritzburg College
5th: Michaelhouse 17-7 Maritzburg College
6th: Michaelhouse 5-14 Maritzburg College
7th: Michaelhouse 28-11 Maritzburg College
8th: Michaelhouse 5-41 Maritzburg College
9th: Michaelhouse 15-35 Maritzburg College
16A: Michaelhouse 34-26 Maritzburg College
16B: Michaelhouse 42-13 Maritzburg College
16C: Michaelhouse 19-15 Maritzburg College
16D: Michaelhouse 7-57 Maritzburg College
15A: Michaelhouse 7-20 Maritzburg College
15B: Michaelhouse 17-15 Maritzburg College
15C: Michaelhouse 12-17 Maritzburg College
15D: Michaelhouse 0-50 Maritzburg College
14A: Michaelhouse 15-24 Maritzburg College
14B: Michaelhouse 0-21 Maritzburg College
14C: Michaelhouse 7-45 Maritzburg College
14D: Michaelhouse 12-54 Maritzburg College
HOCKEY
On the Astro, Michaelhouse’s strong campaign continued with a convincing 4-1 victory over Maritzburg College. Much like the 1st XV’s win over College, the contest served as a timely boost before the showdown with Hilton College next weekend.
Hilton has been in good form recently and scored an impressive 3-0 win over Kearsney on the Mansergh Astro on Saturday, so both teams will surely head into the clash full of confidence.
Michaelhouse won the first meeting 4-2 at Hilton, but both teams have developed as the season has progressed. One of the primary differences when they meet on Saturday will be that Ben Wilson will be in action for Hilton. A KZN Inland u18A selection, he’s also a regular goal scorer for Hilton from set pieces. That could make a difference.
Competition in the open age group was exceptionally tight, with the other three matches finishing in draws.
College comfortably won the u16A match, but Michaelhouse recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win in the u14A game.
Overall, Michaelhouse won three matches, Maritzburg College won six, and four matches ended in draws.
Results
1st: Michaelhouse 4-1 Maritzburg College
2nd: Michaelhouse 1-1 Maritzburg College
3rd: Michaelhouse 2-2 Maritzburg College
4th: Michaelhouse 0-0 Maritzburg College
16A: Michaelhouse 2-5 Maritzburg College
16B: Michaelhouse 0-4 Maritzburg College
16C: Michaelhouse 2-2 Maritzburg College
16D: Michaelhouse 1-0 Maritzburg College
16E: Michaelhouse 1-3 Maritzburg College
16F: Michaelhouse 1-4 Maritzburg College
14A: Michaelhouse 1-0 Maritzburg College
14B: Michaelhouse 0-7 Maritzburg College
14C: Michaelhouse 0-5 Maritzburg College