26 October 2026
CRICKET
Graydon Leslie produced a captain’s innings of the highest order on Saturday, smashing an unbeaten century to lead Michaelhouse to a commanding eight-wicket victory over an in-form Northwood side on the Roy Gathorne Oval.
Chasing a modest target of 148, House needed only 25.2 overs to seal the win, reaching 149/2 with Leslie unbeaten on 103 from just 82 deliveries. His superb knock included 12 fours and two sixes, and it took the game away from the visitors.
Leslie found an able partner in Rex Wardlaw, who finished on 24 not out. The pair combined for an unbroken 101-run stand for the third wicket to complete a comfortable chase. Ryan van Zyl was the only Northwood bowler to make significant inroads, claiming 2/23 in six overs, but the Knights had no answer to Leslie’s assault.
Earlier, Northwood had struggled to build momentum after being sent in to bat. They lost three wickets inside the first four overs, with Josh Nicholson removing Ross McGlashan and David de Bruyn, while Ben Heuer accounted for Nick Slater. At 13/3, the Knights were already under pressure.
Ryan Willis and Luc Boyall steadied the innings with a 59-run partnership for the fourth wicket, offering Northwood a route back into the contest. Willis contributed 27 before Boyall continued to hold the innings together.
He top-scored with 32, but his dismissal in the 24th over, with the total on 92, triggered another collapse. Preston Greene struck with the very next delivery, claiming two wickets in successive balls to leave Northwood reeling at 92/6.
Greene went on to finish with an excellent 3/31 from nine overs, while Nicholson, having struck twice early, returned to dismiss Hamza Amla and complete figures of 3/23 from six overs.
Josh Mills provided some resistance towards the end, scoring 38 from 53 balls and striking four fours. However, with wickets continuing to fall around him, his efforts were not enough to lift Northwood to a competitive total.
He was the second-last batsman dismissed, and five deliveries later, the Knights were all out for 147.
Michaelhouse’s bowlers had done their job, but it was Leslie’s magnificent innings that ultimately defined the match, giving House a decisive victory and underlining the danger they pose when their captain finds his rhythm.
Northwood 147/10 (Josh Mills 38, Luc Boyall 32, Ryan Willis 27; Josh Nicholson 3/23, Preston Greene 3/31, Ben Heuer 2/27); Michaelhouse 149/2 (Graydon Leslie 103*, Rex Wardlaw 24*; Ryan van Zyl 2/23). Michaelhouse won by eight wickets.
Michaelhouse recorded seven wins, with that total boosted their three U14 sides, who all won, while Northwood was victorious in three matches.
Cameron Tolken delivered a standout performance with the ball, capturing 5/7, to see Northwood to a big win in the 6th XI game, while James Buys starred with both bat and ball in Michaelhouse’s nine-wicket win in the U15A match. He made 62 not out and took 5/30. Daniel Rees also shone, scoring 75.
Zack Green top-scored with 71 for Northwood, and James Witherspoon matched that total for Michaelhouse, in a keenly contested U15B clash that went Northwood’s way.
Michaelhouse charged to victory in the U14A game, with Robert Walker making 93, Mzila Mzila scoring an unbeaten 49, and Joseph Bates claiming 4/25.
Results
2nd XI
Michaelhouse 112/10; Northwood 113/7
Northwood won by three wickets
3rd XI
Northwood 145/10 (Cooper Jones 50; Hayden Ravenscroft 4/32)
Michaelhouse 146/5 (Gareth D’Oyley 55*)
Michaelhouse won by five wickets
4th XI
Northwood 71/10; Michaelhouse 75/2
Michaelhouse won by eight wickets
6th XI
Northwood 202/8 (Kevin van Volenstee 77)
Michaelhouse 36/9 (Cameron Tolken 5/7)
Northwood won by 166 runs
u15A
Northwood 146/10 (James Buys 5/30)
Michaelhouse 147/1 (Daniel Rees 75, James Buys 62*)
Michaelhouse won by nine wickets
U15B
Northwood 280/8 (Zack Green 71)
Michaelhouse 247/10 (James Witherspoon 71)
Northwood won by 33 runs
U14A
Michaelhouse 291/9 (Robert Walker 93, Mzila Mzila 49*)
Northwood 117/10 (Joseph Bates 4/25)
Michaelhouse won by 174 runs
U14B
Northwood 98/10; Michaelhouse 99/4 (Fynn McKenna 53*)
Michaelhouse won by six wickets
U14C
Northwood 80/10 (Cameron Kent 5/22); Michaelhouse 81/6
Michaelhouse won by four wickets
WATER POLO
Michaelhouse was one of four KZN schools in action at the Saints Invitational in Johannesburg, where 20 top stayers’ teams from around the country competed for the title.
Drawn in Group B, House was handed a daunting start, taking on Bishops, the pre-tournament favourite, in their opening outing. Bishops won that match 11-6, and their fellow Capetonians, Reddam House Constantia, beat Michaelhouse 13-8 in their second game, setting the Balgowan boys on the back foot.
They rebounded with a convincing 15-6 win over Pretoria Boys High, followed by an 8-4 defeat of St Benedict’s College, to finish third in the group. That earned Michaelhouse the opportunity to qualify for the quarterfinals if they beat the team that finished in second place in Group A. That turned out to be a familiar foe, Kearsney College.
Michaelhouse put up a good fight, but Kearsney triumphed 12-9, sending House into a playoff game against Grey High. When the Gqeberha boys won 12-8, Michaelhouse was left to face Reddam House Constantia again, this time for 11th place.
The result was almost identical to their previous meeting, but Michaelhouse finished one goal closer to Reddam, who won 13-9.
In matches between Michaelhouse and Northwood, Michaelhouse won nine, and Northwood won four.
The open age-group results were evenly split, two wins apiece, while Michaelhouse won two of the three U15 games, although the U15A victory went Northwood’s way, and House won two of three U14 matches, including the U14A clash.
Results
2nd: Michaelhouse 6-11 Northwood
3rd: Michaelhouse 7-5 Northwood
4th: Michaelhouse 6-5 Northwood
5th: Michaelhouse 5-11 Northwood
15A: Michaelhouse 6-9 Northwood
15B: Michaelhouse 14-1 Northwood
15C: Michaelhouse 6-3 Northwood
14A: Michaelhouse 8-4 Northwood
14B: Michaelhouse 8-4 Northwood
14C: Michaelhouse 2-6 Northwood
BASKETBALL
Michaelhouse joined Hilton College, Maritzburg College, and Kearsney College at the Inanda Hoops Challenge Cup, hosted by St David’s Marist Inanda, from Thursday to Sunday.
Contesting Pool C, Michaelhouse won two and lost one to finish in second place behind St John’s College. House beat Pretoria Boys High 47-34, lost 22-38 to St John’s, and beat the Inanda Invitational side 54-26.
In the last 16, they were comprehensively outplayed by St Stithians, who went on to finish third, losing 31-61.
Ultimately, Michaelhouse finished 15th after beating Parktown Boys’ High in their last playoff match.
In the absence of the Michaelhouse 1st team, House and Northwood faced off in 19 matches, with Michaelhouse winning seven and Northwood 12.
Michaelhouse swept the four open age-group games, but Northwood won four of five U16 matches, including the U16A match by four points.
Northwood’s U15A team powered to a 21-point victory, and the Durban school won all five U15 games. Northwood also won three of the five U14 matches, but Michaelhouse’s U14A side scored the biggest victory of the day, winning by 42 points.
Results
2nd: Michaelhouse 41-10 Northwood
3rd: Michaelhouse 18-13 Northwood
4th: Michaelhouse 19-18 Northwood
5th: Michaelhouse 36-32 Northwood
16A: Michaelhouse 28-32 Northwood
16B: Michaelhouse 16-22 Northwood
16C: Michaelhouse 29-25 Northwood
16D: Michaelhouse 14-18 Northwood
16E: Michaelhouse 13-29 Northwood
15A: Michaelhouse 37-58 Northwood
15B: Michaelhouse 23-25 Northwood
15C: Michaelhouse 24-44 Northwood
15D: Michaelhouse 12-18 Northwood
15E: Michaelhouse 4-22 Northwood
14A: Michaelhouse 58-16 Northwood
14B: Michaelhouse 15-23 Northwood
14C: Michaelhouse 24-13 Northwood
14D: Michaelhouse 9-23 Northwood
14E: Michaelhouse 2-32 Northwood