20 May 2025
For the first time since 2021, Michaelhouse and St John’s College renewed acquaintances on Burger Field on Saturday, and it was the visitors from Balgowan who made the trip home happy after claiming an accomplished 34-14 victory.
The scoreboard told only part of the story. What separated the sides was Michaelhouse’s ability to punish turnovers with accuracy and ambition. Time and again, Marco Engelbrecht’s charges turned loose ball into attacking opportunities through sharp handling and intelligent decision-making, while St John’s relied more on individual breakaways for their success.
Michaelhouse settled quickly and opened the scoring through Sharks Craven Week centre Alex Jankowitz, who produced a powerful finish to the left of the uprights after sustained pressure had punched holes in the home side’s defensive line.
St John’s responded immediately, though, and in dramatic fashion. Aggressive defence forced an intercept opportunity for right wing Mihlali Tabane, and once he gathered the ball, there was no catching him as he raced away to score beneath the posts. Flyhalf Alec Psillos converted to edge the hosts into a 7-5 lead, but it would prove to be their only advantage of the afternoon.
The visitors regained control through their patient close-quarter work. Trezeguet Hawkins reacted quickest near the try line, stretching over before the St John’s defenders could prevent him from grounding the ball, and Jankowitz added the extras for a 12-7 lead.
From there, Michaelhouse began to play with increasing confidence. Fabiano Fierro sparked the next score with a clever piece of attacking vision, making a half break before driving a low kick wide towards Barend de Bruyn. The winger gathered cleanly with space ahead of him, accelerated down the touchline, rounded the cover defence, and dotted down behind the uprights. Jankowitz converted comfortably to extend the lead to 19-7.
Yet St John’s remained in the contest. A ball spilt ball in contact handed the hosts another turnover opportunity, and lock Allan Njanfang Patu showed impressive determination to race clear from just outside the 22 before finishing strongly. Psillos again converted to trim the deficit to five points at halftime.
The second half, however, belonged to Michaelhouse.
Seven minutes after the restart, the influential Jankowitz produced a powerful line break that created space for Fierro on his outside, and his midfield partner finished well. Soon after, tighthead prop Sphelo Mfwazwe forced a turnover inside the Michaelhouse half, which was shifted swiftly wide to De Bruyn. The speedster needed no second invitation and flew over in the corner.
Michaelhouse fittingly had the final say. After another turnover, flank Kumkani Dwenga sliced through the defensive line with a sharp dummy before drawing the final defender and sending Jack Carmody over to complete an impressive 34-14 victory.
Down the age groups, Michaelhouse’s enviable depth stood out as they racked up win after win.
Results
1st: St John’s 14-34 Michaelhouse
2nd: St John’s 5-76 Michaelhouse
3rd: Michaelhouse 31 Springs Boys’ High I
4th: St John’s 3rd 19-52 Michaelhouse
5th: St John’s 4th 0-70 Michaelhouse
6th: Michaelhouse 42-21 Springs Boys’ High 2nd
7th: St John’s 5th 21-40 Michaelhouse
8th: St John’s 6th 11-29 Michaelhouse
16A: St John’s 21-58 Michaelhouse
16B: Michaelhouse 47-3 Springs Boys’ High u16A
16C: St John’s u16B 19-24 Michaelhouse
16D: St John’s u16C 12-52 Michaelhouse
15A: St John’s 7-48 Michaelhouse
15B: Michaelhouse 40-7 Springs Boys’ High u15A
14A: St John’s 7-36 Michaelhouse
14B: St John’s 0-60 Michaelhouse
u14C: Michaelhouse 14-0 Springs Boys’ High u14A
u14D: St John’s u14C 12-12 Michaelhouse
HOCKEY
The St John’s 1st XI was in action in the Aitken Cup, Johannesburg premier schools’ 1st XI tournament, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout against Jeppe, who went on to lift the title with a 2-1 win over St Stithians.
‘House performed well against St John’s in the meetings of the other teams, recording seven wins. Five matches ended in draws as St John’s was prevented from picking up a victory.
Results
2nd: St John’s 1-1 Michaelhouse
3rd: St John’s 1-5 Michaelhouse
4th: St John’s 0-0 Michaelhouse
16A: St John’s 1-3 Michaelhouse
16B: St John’s 0-2 Michaelhouse
16C: St John’s 0-5 Michaelhouse
16D: St John’s 1-1 Michaelhouse
16E: St John’s 0-2 Michaelhouse
16F: St John’s 0-0 Michaelhouse
14A: St John’s 0-5 Michaelhouse
14B: St John’s 0-0 Michaelhouse
u14C: St John’s 1-6 Michaelhouse
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