Michaelhouse are the Champions of KwaZulu-Natal schoolboy rugby for 2023!
It turned out to be one of those rare total eclipse like situations. In 1989, Arsenal beat Liverpool in the last match of the English First Division football league season, a match which also happened to decide the title winners. In 2018 Grey College defeated Paul Roos Gymnasium in the last match of their respective seasons in a match that decided which of the two schools would top the SA National Rankings that year. Now in 2023, in their final match of their respective rugby seasons, the big Midlands derby, Michaelhouse, the richest school in South Africa beat Hilton, the most expensive school in South Africa, 18-15 on Gilfillan Field and is so doing overtook their hosts to claim top spot in the province.
The victory ended Hilton’s 9-match winning streak against Michaelhouse.
It was also Michaelhouse’s 100th victory over Hilton.
| HILTON | MICHAELHOUSE | |
| TOTAL WINS | 96 | 100 |
| TOTAL POINTS | 2407 | 2474 |
| LONGEST STREAK | 9 | 10 |
2023 was Michaelhouse’s best rugby season since their unbeaten season of 2015.
ISRF matches excluded from the table above.
It was the third time since 2012, that Michaelhouse claimed the unofficial KZN title.
Apart from the 1st XV, it has been a ground breaking year for Michaelhouse rugby in terms of their overall success rate in local interschools matches.
I it remarkable to see how conditioned and fit the MHC boys look throughout the season.
Great win for MHC.
Heartbreaking to see Kearsney scrambling at the bottom end again this year.
@Henkies: I’m not 100% sure but surely with a new head at Glenwood, Pinheiro will do the right thing & reinstate the fixture. People are not bigger than the history & this derby must happen again.
@Grasshopper: Hey Grassy is that official? I know it was in the works but wasn’t sure it was actually all scheduled for next season. Great news if it is
@Henkies: Now for the Durban derby to be restored, Grasshoppers vs Horseflies. We going to catch a snotklap next year but Rome wasn’t built in a day, we will be back….
That said, the Hilton side is well coached and I think Brad McH has delivered really well.
On the day MHS deserved it for a few reasons but I also felt they tried to play rugby
@Henkies: yeah looked like a big occasion there, Mhouse deserved winners imo because they kept taking the initiative…don’t have a problem with them taking the no. 1 mantle in KZN…but I do feel Hilton must drop out of the national ranking top 10…I don’t think their cumulative results warrant them at 7 or 8 where I saw them last week.
What a great game – it had a real test match feel to it. Both teams really put it out there. I’m pleased for Michaelhouse to come through with the win. Hilton have had a great year. Maybe I’m wrong but I have noticed a lot of backchat and questioning of the referees decisions from their players throughout the season. Also not a huge fan of the Harlem globetrotter like try celebrations where all the backs come running in and join in the high five celebrations. I must be
getting old.
@beet: Okay – I get the logic. I don’t think Westville would have troubled Hilton….but your point stands.
@KES Oldboy: No doubt a debate about sharing the award for top team in KZN.
I awarded on the grounds that Michaelhouse played and beat Westville. That effectively gives them a grandslam of the top 8 schools in KZN.
Its quite common for the Midlands privates to miss out on a local fixture due to their school holidays being different to state schools and their season ending in the second term. So this year a Hilton vs Westville match fell away.
Michaelhouse rugby has come a long way…. Not that long ago they were battling to put out an U14b team & some games were being stopped at halftime. Well done to them on fixing their rugby programme. I’m still confused though as to why they are the champs…. From an outsider it looks like a dead heat for 1st between Hilton & MHS. They both beat all other KZN schools & beat each other once..
@Far Meadows: I think the next few years will be good… this side had 5 grade 11s as regular starters and another 2 or 3 that had decent game time
Throw in a few 2nd XV players and 1 or 2 talented boys from a decent u16 side and next year will be very competitive again
Nice to see 5 boys in the 1stXV who are either sons or grandsons of OMs .
Hopefully we won’t have to wait so long for the next win !