In the 212 matches between Hilton College and Michaelhouse, played before Saturday’s showdown on Meadows, in Balgowan, only one point separated the sides across every five matches they played against each other.
On Saturday, Michaelhouse won by four, 20-16, but the margin between victory and defeat was mere centimetres as the home side held up Hilton over the try line, and the referee blew the final whistle.
Hilton had won the first meeting between the sides with a last-second penalty kick. Again, there was next to nothing between the sides. But the thin margin delivered very different reactions.
Michaelhouse supporters charged onto the field to celebrate the hard-fought victory while Hilton’s players, after a splendid effort, appeared hollow-eyed. They had given it their all, but it wasn’t their day.
With the win, Michaelhouse recorded victory number 102 in the great rivalry. Hilton scored their 100th win earlier in the season, while 10 matches have been drawn, including both contests in 1987.
Michaelhouse trailed 10-13 at halftime, but a fiery effort from the second half kickoff brought them 10 points in the contest’s pivotal passage. That brought a strong response out of Hilton, who reduced the deficit to four points with a penalty from John Grubb with only five minutes to play.
The visitors continued to dictate play as time ticked down. Memories of the 2023 and 2024 matches flashed through his mind, Michaelhouse’s Director of Rugby, James Fleming, admitted. In 2023, ‘House could have played for a draw, when they won a penalty in front of the posts, only five metres out, but they went for the win and were stopped. The following year, Hilton scored a stunning winner through right wing Seb Gaboreau, giving Hilton a 26-25 win.
This time, though, fortune favoured Michaelhouse, and they gritted out a battling win.
One of the match’s pivotal moments occurred early after Michaelhouse had set up a lineout inside the visitors’ 22. They tried a variation, but Mholi Khuzwayo was alert to the danger and snatched the ball before driving forward. Then, when Hilton fed the ball back for a kick, the attempted clearance was charged down. Oliver Vickery pounced on the ball for the first points of the contest.
Grubb got Hilton onto the scoreboard with a penalty after 10 minutes. It was an arm-wrestle, and the Hilton no.10 had an opportunity to give Hilton the lead after 18 minutes, but his long penalty kick struck the left upright and stayed out.
Andrew Schnell and company kept exerting pressure and played the game in Michaelhouse’s half. Eventually, that brought them a reward.
Ruan Mulder, who has made massive strides this season – being employed in interesting ways, including off the back of the set scrum and as the kicker at the base of rucks – made the breakthrough. Spotting a half-gap, he fended off a tackler and followed with a spectacular dive for five.
Grubb’s cleanly struck conversion put Hilton 10-5 ahead in the 29th minute.
Then, a superb clearance kick from Grubb, from midway into his 22, found touch midway into Michaelhouse’s 22 to put Hilton on the front foot again, with a lineout throw-in. They forced a penalty from there. Grubb knocked it over to extend his side’s lead.
Less than three minutes were left in the half, but Michaelhouse answered after the impressive loosehead prop Aphelele Chamane snaffled a Hilton pass and powered his way into the Hilton 22. After taking the ball through numerous phases, ‘House was over through outside centre Fabiano Fierro, wide on the left. Jankowitz was wide with the conversion, but only three points separated the sides at the break.
After the break, the first half of the second stanza belonged to Michaelhouse. The second part of it tilted Hilton’s way.
With less than three minutes played, ‘House made good use of a penalty to set up a lineout only five metres out, and their captain, Nicolas Salamousas, used his big frame to crash over for the hosts’ second try of the contest, between the 15-metre and 5-metre lines out on the right.
Jankowitz brought a loud cheer from the crowd by nailing the conversion kick.
In the ninth minute, Michaelhouse extended the lead to 10 points, with Jankowitz adding a 30-metre penalty.
Grubb matched that penalty with one of his own less than five minutes later, and it was 20-16 with 22 minutes to play.
Both sides pushed and probed, but the defences were committed and sound. Much of the play took place in the middle of the field. However, in the latter part of the game, Hilton put the squeeze on ‘House, enjoying the territorial advantage.
Eighthman Ross Steyn led the charge, but Michaelhouse defended resolutely. With seven minutes to go, they were camped on Hilton’s try line, but the visitors drove ‘House back with gang tackling.
The home supporters had their hearts in their mouths when Ruan Mulder ripped through the Michaelhouse defence, but he was dragged down just short of the line after a scorching run.
With two minutes on the clock, Hilton had a penalty right in front of the posts, only 12 metres out. They trailed by four points, so the option of a penalty kick was off the table. They turned to their bread and butter, picking and driving.
Again, a penalty went Hilton’s way. Steyn was stopped, but another penalty, just left of the uprights, only five metres out, was awarded. After hitting the ball up through a couple of phases, Guy Fender ran onto a pass at speed, against the grain, and was over the line.
The referee, though, ruled that scrumhalf Ben Hughes and centre Alex Jankowitz had held up Fender over the try line. With that, the final whistle blew, and Michaelhouse’s players were mobbed by their supporters.
The hosts’ win was a victory achieved not only through skill but through an unrelenting spirit. They put their bodies on the line and will feel sore on Sunday, but that pain will be sweet because it will remind them of a momentous victory.
Scorers: Michaelhouse 20 (10) – Tries: Oliver Vickery, Fabiano Fierro, Alex Salamousas. Conversion: Alex Jankowitz. Penalty: Alex Jankowitz. Hilton College 16 (10) – Tries: Ruan Mulder Conversion: John Grubb. Penalties: John Grubb (3).
Other results:
u19
II: Michaelhouse 22 Hilton 14
III: Michaelhouse 41 Hilton 7
IV: Michaelhouse 47 Hilton 7
V: Michaelhouse 33 Hilton 7
VI: Michaelhouse 31 Hilton 7
VII: Michaelhouse 55 Hilton 0
u16
A: Michaelhouse 24 Hilton 24
B: Michaelhouse 41 Hilton 0
C: Michaelhouse 41 Hilton 0
D: Michaelhouse 59 Hilton 19
u15
A: Michaelhouse 12 Hilton 10
B: Michaelhouse 26 Hilton 8
C: Michaelhouse 71 Hilton 14
u14
A: Michaelhouse 35 Hilton 19
B: Hilton 57 Michaelhouse 12
C: Hilton 31 Michaelhouse 14
