A talented and well-drilled Michaelhouse team moved to within one home game of an unbeaten season when they cleared the second last hurdle in the form of Maritzburg College with comparative ease, winning 34-8 on Goldstones.
College did well to keep the score down to just 10-0 at the break. The home team’s best highlight of the half was a good field position created from an excellent base kick into the box by scrumhalf Corey Rattray. Apart from that it was Michaelhouse all the way.
The build-up to the first Michaelhouse penalty kick was characterised by very good driving mauls. Even when they had to consolidate a back-foot position, House seem to be able to generate far more power through cohesion than College could manage. House opened the scoring from their second penalty after 11 minutes and here the characteristic of their match play – short flat passes to various ball runners who would gain ground at will with carries. Patience, decision-making and role understanding were fundamental to the success achieved. Michaelhouse flyhalf Bader Pretorius who stood out during the game, made 3-0.
Bader Pretorius also scored the opening try. A rolling maul got House to very near the try-line where a short pass to the flyhalf who had swooped quickly by changing his angle of attack and using has incredible strength on his feet to force a way over and score near the fringe of forward body in the 31st minute. With the angled conversion, the visitors got to deserved 10-0 lead.
College came up with a good attack early in the second half and Ruben van Blerk opened their score with an easy kick, 10-3.
The points came thick and fast for a passage after that. From the kickoff, a diagonal return punt did not find the safety of touch and Michaelhouse made College pay. Bader Pretorius caught the kick, crucially sidestepped the first would-be tackler, which opened up room in front of him so he set off on an exquisite run, beating two more players before offloading to centre Liam Furniss for the try under the posts, which was converted making it 17-3.
A penalty to College straight after the kickoff, allowed them to set up a lineout near the House line. Brad Muil took a clean catch near the front of the set-piece and a good formation saw College’s maul progress quickly and effectively towards the try-line where their rudder Kelton Thunder had the easiest job in the world to dive over untouched. 17-8.
A handling mistake from the next kickoff handed possession back to Michaelhouse inside the College 22. Good individual bits of work by Laim Furniss, Luke Tomlinson, Zander Prinsloo and then the all-important carry up the middle by hooker Matt Wiseman produced the try which Bader Pretorius 24-8.
College won a series of penalties after the next kickoff, had two separate visits to the Michaelhouse redzone and came close to scoring on one of the two occasion but ultimately left empty handed after one of their lineout throws strayed.
Michaelhouse made it 27-8 when the ref penalised College for off the ball ill-disciple.
The contribution of tall lock Jordan Sinsink-Clee was vital. He was unopposed at lineout time and once he had secured a ball near the College line, another House rolling maul allowed Zander Prinsloo to cross for Michaelhouse’s final try near the right corner flag during the last play of the match. Bader Pretorius converted the difficult conversion to cap a very good performance in which he had contributed 19 points and an assist.
34-8 to Michaelhouse is how it ended. The platform for the victory had been laid by the impressive domination of the House forwards when it mattered most.
@McCulleys Workshop:
An awesome player who im sure will have a good tournament
@Cyril: Not on the SAschoolsports web page rankings….more realistic at about 26 or 27….
College ranked at 16 ???????????
@phat55: Let’s see how he performs at CW. If the forwards create a solid platform and the 9 delivers good ball, he could be devastating.
Looks like a rare yet very emphatic victory on Goldstones. Good wishes to Michaelhouse for your real big one next Saturday against Hilton. Here’s hoping you achieve that unbeaten run for your 2015 season and end up ranked a deserved number 1 in KZN.
Congratulations to Ruan Combrinck and his team of coaches on an emphatic yet rare victory on Goldstones. Good wishes for your real big one next Saturday against Hilton.
BP jou yster!!!! 8)