Van Heerden’s Field was rocking on Saturday for the big Durban clash between Durban High School (DHS) and Northwood. There was plenty on the line, pride especially.
In April, Northwood staged a magnificent try-line stand to keep DHS out as time wound down and secured a hard-fought 17-14 victory on Reece-Edwards Field, beating the Horseflies for the first time since 2019. On Saturday, they chased an elusive and tougher challenge: achieving back-to-back wins over DHS and winning on Van Heerden’s Field.
The previous weekend, DHS was held to a 21-21 draw by Jeppe on Van Heerden’s, with Dewaldo Bok landing a late penalty to keep School‘s unbeaten record at home intact, which had begun in 2022. That outcome would have done the Knights no favours, though.
That proved to be the case as DHS continued their remarkable run on Van Heerden’s, winning 26-19, thanks to a try line stand, which was how Northwood secured their win at home.
DHS led 14-7 at halftime and held onto their seven-point lead as the sides shared the second half spoils 12-12.
The foundation for the DHS victory was laid early in the game, with the home side, who dominated the early battle for territory, going 14-0 up in the first 14 minutes from two converted tries, both scored by SA u18A centre Nathan Aneke, running good lines onto flat passes.
Northwood ground their way back into the game by playing the game in the right areas of the field, and that paid dividends when they opened their account in the 28th minute, with a dominant rolling maul resulting in a penalty try.
The Knights, after repelling pressure from DHS late in the first half, struck early in the second stanza, driving Nala Shabangu, SA u18A flank, over the DHS try line. Josh Mills levelled the scores at 14-14 with a successful conversion.
The Horseflies responded quickly, retaining possession through numerous phases and punching holes into the Knights’ defensive line before sending the ball wide to the right, where Amo Matoboge, another SA u18A player, scored on the overlap.
It felt as if the match was in the balance. If Northwood scored next, it was game on. If DHS scored next, they would have struck a vital blow. That blow belonged to DHS, who went over in front of the Northwood supporters in the left corner. The home side knew it was a big moment in the contest, and they celebrated it with enthusiasm.
A successful touchline conversion from Dewaldo Bok rubbed some salt into the visitors’ wounds, extending the score to 26-14.
DHS played the game in Northwood’s half until the last 10 minutes, when the Knights, at last, played their way up the field and began to put the squeeze on the Horseflies.
With just over five minutes to go, Anesu Kuzonyei used his pace to open up some space and stretch over for a try in the left corner, which reduced the gap to seven points. Northwood was unable to close it in the remaining time.
In Pretoria, Maritzburg College, 61-5 winners over Pretoria Boys High in Pietermaritzburg earlier in the season, were made to fight far harder for a 33-13 victory over the Candies. The visitors led 14-3 at halftime.
Captain Rory Stanton gave College the lead in the ninth minute when he broke blind from a maul and found open ground ahead of him. Dom du Toit added the extras.
Boys High soon struck back with a penalty, but College went over for their second try of the half, thanks to flank David Colenbrander, who ran an excellent line against the grain to slice through the home side’s defences. Du Toit, as usual, converted.
Lock Sean Jansen and SA Schools‘ hooker, Boshoff, added further tries in the second half, while Du Toit converted one and missed one.
Boys High crossed for a converted try and added a conversion to complete their scoring.
In Johannesburg, Glenwood, well beaten by Northwood a week earlier, came out on the right end of the result, scoring a hard-fought 43-36 victory over Parktown Boys’ High.
Scorers:
DHS 26 (14) – Tries: Nathan Aneke (2), Amo Mataboge, maul try. Conversions: Cilermo Carolus (2), Dewaldo Bok. Northwood 19 (7) – Tries: penalty try, Nala Shabangu, Anesu Kuzonyei. Conversions: Josh Mills (2).
Maritzburg College 33 (14) – Tries: Theo Boshoff (2), Rory Stanton, David Colenbrander, Sean Jansen. Conversions: Dom du Toit (4). Pretoria Boys High 13 (3) – N/A.
