15 June 2026
“It’s bittersweet.”
Those were the words of Hilton College 1st XV coach Brad Macleod-Henderson after his side secured a hard-fought 31-27 victory over Kearsney College on Gilfillan Field on Saturday in his final home game in charge.
Since he took charge of the Hilton College 1st XV for a second time in 2016, Macleod-Henderson had turned his alma mater’s top team into one of the most consistent, well-coached, and successful sides in KwaZulu-Natal. Now, after guiding Hilton to 10 wins from 11 matches this season, only one fixture remains on his journey: next weekend’s showdown with Michaelhouse on Meadows.
Should Hilton win in Balgowan, that would even the record between the arch-rivals at 101 wins apiece, and 10 draws.
Following Saturday’s victory, the entire school serenaded their departing coach, creating a fittingly emotional scene on a grey, cold afternoon in the Midlands.
Before that tribute, however, Hilton and Kearsney had delivered a thrilling contest worthy of the occasion.
The visitors struck first through flyhalf Dan Miskey, who slotted a long-range penalty to edge Kearsney into an early lead.
Hilton’s response was immediate and revealing. Presented with a straightforward opportunity to level the scores through a penalty kick, they instead opted for ambition. Taking a quick tap, they launched an attack that ultimately produced the opening try of the game.
Ross Steyn, filling the number eight jersey usually occupied by Sharks’ Craven Week star Zander Muller, generated the momentum with a powerful carry. Moments later, tighthead prop Mholi Khuzwayo blasted through two tackles and crashed over close to the uprights.
John Grubb converted to hand Hilton a 7-3 lead after seven minutes.
Steyn’s contribution came as no surprise to his coach. “Ross carries like a beast,” Macleod-Henderson said afterwards. “He put us on the front foot quite a few times. It meant we ended up getting the result we were looking for.”
The Hilton mentor also reserved praise for the rest of his loose trio. “Callen Kenmuir is also an absolute dog. Rob Jervis is a workhorse, so we are very blessed.”
Kearsney captain Nhlanhla Ndlovu, one of the most dangerous loose forwards in schoolboy rugby and a prolific try-scorer, was a major threat heading into the contest. Hilton, however, did an excellent job of limiting his influence. That wasn’t because they focused exclusively on the One-Stripe skipper.
“It’s not just him,” Macleod-Henderson explained. “Fifteen [Lwazi Mbebe] is a pretty dangerous player, 12 [Keanu Williamson] carries hard, 11 [Lwandile Mkhize] is a blitz, and 10 [Dan Miskey] is another good player. We had quite a few talented players to contend with. We did just enough to get over the line.”
Hilton’s territorial game has been a hallmark of their success this season, and they again excelled in that department during the opening half, repeatedly forcing Kearsney to defend deep inside their own territory.
Their second try stemmed from another quick-thinking decision. Steyn again took a quick tap and charged into the defensive line, drawing defenders before scrumhalf Benoit Rey produced a flat, accurate pass that sent hooker Kyle-Reese Clements over for five points.
Grubb maintained his perfect record from the tee, and Hilton suddenly enjoyed an 11-point cushion.
Kearsney, though, responded with a moment of individual brilliance. Vice-captain Keanu Williamson, whose consistency and leadership have been central to the One-Stripe’s campaign, ran onto a flat pass from Luke Fauré and sliced through the Hilton defence. He squeezed between three defenders, shrugged off another attempted tackle, then stepped the final defender to score beneath the uprights.
Miskey added the simple conversion to reduce the deficit to four points.
The momentum briefly swung Kearsney’s way, but Hilton regained control before halftime. After working themselves into an attacking position, they earned a penalty and this time elected to take the points. Grubb calmly slotted the kick to extend Hilton’s advantage to seven points at the break.
The hosts made the perfect start to the second half. Only minutes after the restart, Ruan Mulder identified space, burst through a gap, and shrugged off a defender before releasing right wing Tom Gurupira. The winger has developed a reputation as a clinical finisher and once again showed why, sprinting away to score.
Grubb’s conversion stretched Hilton’s lead to 24-10 and appeared to place them firmly in control. Kearsney, however, refused to go away.
Ten minutes into the half, Miskey landed a penalty goal to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Then came a crucial momentum shift.
Luke Grobbelaar charged down a grubber kick near the halfway line, gathered the loose ball cleanly, and raced down the right touchline to score. Miskey converted, and suddenly the margin had shrunk to only four points at 24-20 with almost 20 minutes remaining.
The contest was very much alive.
When Hilton needed inspiration, Steyn delivered it. The powerful eighthman carried relentlessly throughout the afternoon and was rewarded when he bulldozed his way over the try line despite the attention of multiple defenders. Grubb converted to restore an 11-point advantage at 31-20.
Yet, even then, Kearsney still had one final challenge to offer.
Left wing Lwandile Mkhize remained dangerous whenever he touched the ball, while Miskey continued to probe for opportunities. Their persistence was rewarded in the second-last minute when Miskey exploded through Hilton’s blindside defence with a sharp sidestep before arcing past the cover defence to score under the posts.
Displaying impressive presence of mind, he immediately drop-kicked the conversion to cut the deficit to four points and give Kearsney a faint hope of snatching victory.
Hilton, however, managed the closing stages expertly.
A crucial turnover penalty relieved the pressure and effectively ended the contest. Although their final shot at goal drifted wide, the clock had expired.
When the final whistle sounded, Hilton celebrated a deserved 31-27 victory, while Macleod-Henderson reflected on another gritty performance from a side that has built its season on resilience, physicality, and defensive commitment.
“They’ve got some electric backs,” he said of Kearsney. “We had to be on our guard defensively. Luckily, for most of the day we defended well enough to sneak in there at the end.”
On a day filled with emotion, that was enough to ensure a memorable farewell on Gilfillan Field.
On a cold and grey day, Hilton recorded 11 wins to Kearsney’s four, with Hilton winning the u16A and u15A clashes, while Kearsney won the u14A game.
Results
1st: Hilton 31-27 Kearsney
2nd: Hilton 11-10 Kearsney
3rd: Hilton 14-7 Kearsney
4th: Hilton 29-17 Kearsney
5th: Hilton 15-17 Kearsney
6th: Hilton 32-19 Kearsney
16A: Hilton 22-14 Kearsney
16B: Hilton 10-31 Kearsney
16C: Hilton 12-19 Kearsney
15A: Hilton 54-26 Kearsney
15B: Hilton 19-14 Kearsney
15C: Hilton 14-10 Kearsney
14A: Hilton 26-45 Kearsney
14B: Hilton 61-5 Kearsney
14C: Hilton 45-24 Kearsney
HOCKEY
On the Mansergh Astro, the Hilton and Kearsney 1st XIs produced an entertaining match, with Hilton recording a 3-0 win over the visitors.
Playing without their ill captain, Keegan de Jager, a dominant figure when on the field, Kearsney competed manfully, and the result was, perhaps, a touch unkind to their efforts. They came close to scoring, but Ben Wilson pulled off a goalline save to keep Hilton’s score sheet clean.
Tadi Hove, meanwhile, enjoyed a fantastic outing. He scored an early goal, which he celebrated with a somersault, and he got to repeat that celebration in the fourth quarter with the contest’s third goal.
Between those two strikes, Santiago Matroos finished well to put Hilton two goals ahead.
The win over a team that beat them 4-3 at the Michaelhouse Hockey Tournament was a timely boost ahead of their return meeting with Michaelhouse on Saturday in Balgowan.
‘House won 4-2 at Hilton in early May, but Hilton will take their good form into the forthcoming clash, and the addition of Ben Wilson to their line-up. He missed the loss in the sides’ first meeting. Not only is he a key defender, but he is also one of Hilton’s leading goal scorers and a big threat from penalty corners.
While Hilton won the 1st XI and 2nd XI matches, it was, overall, a good day for Kearsney, who won seven matches to Hilton’s three, with two games ending in draws. Kearsney won the u16A game, while Hilton was triumphant in the u14A match.
Results
1st: Hilton 3-0 Kearsney
2nd: Hilton 3-1 Kearsney
3rd: Hilton 1-2 Kearsney
4th: Hilton 0-2 Kearsney
5th: Hilton 3-4 Kearsney
16A: Hilton 1-2 Kearsney
16B: Hilton 0-2 Kearsney
16C: Hilton 2-2 Kearsney
16D: Hilton 0-3 Kearsney
14A: Hilton 2-0 Kearsney
14B: Hilton 0-0 Kearsney
14C: Hilton 0-1 Kearsney