Northwood coach Jacques Deen was spotted jiving in his bakkie, stuck in heavy traffic on the freeway earlier last week. It’s pretty safe to say that if he finds himself in the same situation again this week, he’ll probably get out and dance on the N3! That’s how on top of the world he must feel right now. In both of their KZN interschools games, the Knights looked down and out at some point but came back to pull off unforgettable, last-minute wins.
Just last weekend, at their stunning Hugh Reece Edwards Field—arguably the best school rugby pitch in the province—the Knights faced relentless pressure from a much-improved Michaelhouse pack. It was a remarkable turnaround for House after their loss to Helpmekaar the previous week, showcasing the excellent work of coach James Fleming and his team, despite limited training time due to weather disruptions like lightning. Michaelhouse fully deserved the win based on their dominance in the first half, and they could easily have sealed the deal. However, the Knights hung in there and looked stronger after the break. Down 12-13, the match came down to a clutch kick from U17 fullback Trevor van Vollenstee with time running out, securing the win for the hosts. Trevor has been described as having an exceptional rugby IQ.
A week later at Goldstones, Northwood’s first-half performance against Maritzburg College was a significant improvement on their showing against Michaelhouse. However, a change of ends seemed to change their fortunes, as they now had to contend with the wind. College ramped up the pressure and made their way onto the scoreboard, leading 21-10 with only a few minutes left. But the Knights dug deep, and in dramatic fashion, turned the game around with a try. They sealed the victory in the dying moments when the speedy left wing, Jayden Smith, showed just how dangerous he can be in space. He finished brilliantly from a long way out, helping his team to a memorable 24-21 win. Jayden is another player who has really stepped up his game this season.
Over at the Meadows, hosts Michaelhouse continued to show flashes of their potential, keeping the strong DHS team on edge for most of the match. Unfortunately, the Horseflies were their own worst enemies at times, with a series of unforced errors. However, they managed to pull themselves together when it mattered most, securing a 28-22 victory when lightning interrupted play late in the game.
Kearsney’s protected Stott Field continues to be a headache for the ground staff, as it struggles to return to the glory days when it was an outstanding surface that could handle adverse weather conditions. On the field, it was perhaps the first real sign of what’s to come in the KZN league for the One-Stripes. Their young team was outmuscled by the upper-body strength of a well-drilled Hilton outfit. Three early tries from Hilton suggested a potential massacre, so credit goes to Kearsney for keeping the score to 34-10 after that tough start. The referee awarded Kearsney a number of penalties to give them field positions, but their lineout work still remains a long-term issue. In the end, Hilton ran out comfortable 53-10 winners with some standout individual performances.
Sadly, due to the tragic passing of a Glenwood hockey player during the week, a respectful decision was made to cancel their local interschools match against Westville.
Kudos, credit and respect to Northwood Knights!
I can’t complain with 2 wins like that to start the season. I knew they had lost some core players at the end of last year, but the team is showing guts and finding ways to win. Some new youngsters stepping up, and some of the experienced players holding it together. The backline is still a work in progress. I see they shuffled players around for MBC, but really proud of them. Hope they have a good first tour starting this weekend.