A decisive Michaelhouse 1st XV pulled out all the stops to record an emphatic 45-7 win at Kearsney in front of a large crowd that had gathered to celebrate Kearsney’s Founders’ Day.
The Michaelhouse forwards paved the way for victory with a convincing display. They dominated the collisions with their physicality and made the hard yards with ball carries. Michaelhouse’s defence was also on the ball, affording their hosts very little time or space to make inroads of any sort. Not that long ago, with a similar show of strength against Hilton College, Michaelhouse was unable to capitalise on the scoreboard. During this Kearsney match, they were clinical, attacking with meaning and confidence. A few lucky bounces helped their try scoring cause as well but it showed off their creativity and self-belief at the same time and in the end the six tries to one was a fair reflection of what had transpired on the field of play for 70-minutes.
Based on the platform they laid and the unity with which they played, it only seems fitting that the forwards as a collective should share the player of the match. Typically in a match of this nature, every player in the winning team produces a good performance and deserves praise. Without taking anything away from their teammates, a few House players worth singling out for individual congratulations include flank Jack Walters, lock Gary Porter, inside centre Matthew Tatham and flyhalf Bader Pretorius.
With the return to the starting line-up of highly rated no.8 Nic Egberink, it must have been a close call for the coaching staff to keep Walters in the team ahead of Matthew Potgieter and if so the former justified his selection and then some. Often the player tasked with doing the dirty work particularly on defence and therefore not in the limelight, this game was Walters’ turn to shine. Apart from fulfilling his usual duties, he featured prominently on attack, making tallying carries. The biggest obstacle in the path of Porter achieving maximum success this season has been a nagging shoulder injury. He’s shown a great deal of courage in managing this setback this season and was tower of strength in the lineout during this game. Matthew Tatham is probably Michaelhouse’s third choice inside centre but had a game that any first choice player anywhere in SA would have been proud of. Running exciting support lines and using the strength provided by his muscular thighs to break free of tackles, he impressed with his touches on the ball and was also strong defensively. Pretorius is a player likely to go far in rugby after school. There is no doubting his ability as an individually talented player but its matches like this one where his kick-run-pass decision making brings out the best in his teammates as well as showcasing his skills, that make him stand out as being really special. He was also in outstanding form from the kicking tee, slotting everything.
The 2014 season has been a decent one for this Kearsney 1st XV to the extent that not many people were willing to commit to Michaelhouse winning this game ahead of the kick-off. Under the circumstances Kearsney will be disappointed with their own performance on the day. They certainly are capable of playing a lot better brand of attacking and defensive rugby. In past matches when up against a dominant pack of forwards, Kearsney tended to struggle and the spirit they showed on those occasions were kind of like a boxer who should have been knocked out in the first round but through being smart and composed went the 12-rounds distance, losing on points but landing a few blows of his own along the way and gaining the respect of the opposition. Going in Kearsney had the potential to produce a different result, so full-marks to Michaelhouse for not allowing that threat to ever surface.
Match highlights:
#07: Michaelhouse are set in motion by a good carry from hooker Bradley Roberts. He receives good support. Shortly thereafter Bader Pretorius backs himself to get over the advantage line and then pops the ball to Jack Walters – the flank comes up with handful of valuable carries to turn the Kearsney defence during the game. From a ruck, good continuity follows for Michaelhouse and eventually their patient building opens the door for Gary Porter to collect the ball at the base of a ruck, stretch his 1.97m frame over it and dot down for the opening try, which Pretorius converts. 7-0.
#08: Kearsney flank Patrick Zietkiewicz makes a turnover steal at a ruck shortly after the kick-off. The ball is spread wide and Kearsney enjoy rare attacking possession which takes them to the 5m line where they win a penalty. The home team bravely opts for a scrum but a poor transfer under pressure provided Michaelhouse with the opportunity to fly-hack the ball towards the halfway line.
The first half is a bit of a start-stop affair. Michaelhouse appear to have the upper-hand in the scrums but are penalised a couple of times by the referee as the frontrows tend to go upwards. Apart from this Kearsney are starved of possession mainly by the dominant Michaelhouse pack but also some relentless defensive work by the visitors’ backs.
#23: Kearsney are penalised for what appears to be holding a player back. Pretorius speeds up the game by taking a quick tap-and-go. From the tackled ball breakdown, scrumhalf Thomas Walker produces a well-weighted kick into the corner in behind the Kearsney defence. Kearsney left wing David Zondi is first to arrive on the scene and his priority is to just get the ball off the park so that his team can regroup. Instead goes for distance with a clearance and his weak kick causes two huge problems by not finding touch near the 22m line. Firstly it forces most of Zondi’s teammates to retreat out of the 10m radius, disorganising them further and to compound their problems the ball ends up in the breadbasket of House’s best finisher Bradley Roberts. Roberts proceeds to dodge tackles and picks a couple of deceptive lines that eventually culminates in an outstanding individual effort try. Pretorius converts to make it 14-0.
#29: Clean lineout ball won by Michaelhouse’s Gary Porter provides the platform for a structured attack which centre Michael Tatham capitalises on after hitting the line at a useful angle. Later replacement hooker Matt Wiseman has an equally useful carry. The advances eventually lead to Kearsney being pinged for offsides, with Pretorius knocking over the easy kick, making it 17-0.
#31: Kearsney almost strikes back from the next kick-off. They attack and force a penalty. Scrumhalf James Hall’s long range kick hits the upright, bounces in the field of play and from there rising talent no. 13 for the hosts, James Tedder gets to the ball first. From that breakdown Kearsney has a genuine redzone opportunity but a forward pass ends their attack.
Halftime: Michaelhouse 17 Kearsney 0
#37: Michaelhouse lock Andy Vogel comes up with a meaningful carry. Pretorius then makes an excellent break after beating tackles. The young flyhalf gets well into the 22m area. He’s unable to link so tries to thread through a kick for support runner Tatham to run onto. It’s not quite successful but the ricochet off a defender sits up for Tatham and the inside centre adds a try to go along with his productive day. Again Pretorius converts to increase the score to 24-0.
#40: Michaelhouse are now in sublime form. They turnover Kearsney attacking lineout ball. Walters comes up with a ground gaining carry. Some rucks suck in Kearsney defenders. Prop Greg Jackson has a chance to carry it up himself from the first receiver position but feeds fullback Robbie Lee to his left instead. Lee is a solidly built player, perhaps not the quickest but definitely not the easiest to bring to ground either. He backs himself in the space and his long run ends with him fending off the last line defender and scoring near the left corner. Pretorius converts from the difficult angle. 31-0
Michaelhouse continue to control things with structured play and good carries. They also make use of their depth by bringing on several replacements.
#47: Young Michaelhouse wing Victor Foster comes up with a brilliant bit of individualism. He runs onto the ball, sees room in behind the defensive wall, chips, chases and catches the ball on the bounce, then uses his evident pace to race in for his school’s fifth try. Another 2-points increases the score to 38-0.
#62: Kearsney enjoys their best period of territory and possession but they just cannot find a way to breach the visitors defence. Prop Tijde Visser comes close to scoring. Eventually off a won lineout and drive off the side, Kearsney takes their chance to attack the blindside off a ruck. In spite of there not being an overlap, No.8 Stephen Tedder produces a gritty carry that gets him over the white chalk with all sorts of attention on him. Scrumhalf James Hall slots the angled kick. 38-7.
#70: Michaelhouse saves the best for last. To round off a great exhibition of rugger, they produce an outstanding team try. It starts well inside their own half when right wing Liam Furniss chips the ball over his opponent close to his right touchline. He collects the ball off a favourable bounce and makes a pass on the inside to replacement flank Jonathan Barrie, who makes the damaging run. From there on everything happens at pace as Michaelhouse uses the full width of Stott Field to get the ball out to another replacement in Frank Goble on the left wing. The youngster gets onto the outside of his man and scores in style in the left corner. A wonderful try! Not losing any focus at the end of a game in which Bader Pretorius proved that he is amongst the best no.10’s in SA this year, the young flyhalf made it 7 out of 7 from the kicking tee with another challenging kick.
Final score: Michaelhouse 45 Kearsney 7.
@Far Meadows: Well said – the cycles are a reality of life at a school of 500+ boys and the pattern goes back as far as you care to look;
2011 – weak
2010 – very weak win ratio below 50% – included Pat Howard SA U18
2009 – good side – top 20 – 3 CW players
2008 – v good – top 10 – 6 CW players
2007 – v good – top 10 – 6 CW players
2006 – average – 1 CW player
2005 – 50% win ratio but produced 3 CW players incl Rhodes & Pat Cilliers
2004 – good side – best known for beating Affies
2003 – weak but produced Robbie Diack
@Far Meadows: Agreed, that is what makes the successful years more the sweeter. If you whip everyone every year it becomes too easy and boring. I can safely say I played in the worst year Glenwood has had ever, 1996 – played 19 won 3 and it was against local opposition mostly, not the Grey Bloems etc of todays team. We must have been useless, but we beat a very good DHS side at DHS that year that will forever be etched in my memory. Those of the victories you remember, the hard fought ones. I can bet for the boys of 2006 who beat Grey Bloem, that day will be the one they remember fondly. Glenwood was always a 4 average years followed by a great one sort of school for rugby, this whole strong every year is a false economy of sorts if you buy in the side from grade 10. If the side is good from grade 8 and the players have all been there 5 years then rock on, it’s a purely Glenwood bred team that can be proud…..if not it’s tainted to me…
@Far Meadows: About time you got off, there is only room for one of us up here …
@Grasshopper: I like what you are saying about recruitment, just as Michaelhouse lost the plot with the import of the post matrics in the ‘Red, White & Grey’ era, schools have now lost the plot with the recruitment after the normal standard 6 intake.
Surely losing matches is part of the cycle of schoolboy sport, just as winning is when you have a good year. These are all part of life’s lessons, both winning and losing, and one gets the idea that sometimes we all forget that on a Saturday afternoon on Meadows or Goldstones or wherever it may be that the 30 players on the field are in fact just schoolboys and not pro-sportsmen.
I look at Michaelhouse’s rugby results over the last few years , 2012 was a very good year for them, 2013 not so good and now in 2014 they are having a good year. Did the 2013 results make MHS a worse school than it was in 2012 – no they didn’t .
Ok , I am losing my balance on my soap box and better jump off before I fall off !
@Anti Green: If you have followed this and other blogs long enough you would know I have never supported recruitment by Glenwood or any other schools outside of the usual grade 8 intake. In fact, the Glenwood management don’t particularly like me very much because I question dodgy things happening. No decent person in the right mind would promote bringing in kids to replace kids with pride and passion for the school. I will continue to campaign against recruitment, even willing to start an online petition against it. Easy to do via Social Media and D6 Communicator. I think TK and his cronies will be quite shocked at the response. What it is currently, is there are far more people not in the know with regards to what is happening that just need to be informed. If they were more transparent about movements if would dissipate any allegations and hearsay very easily……in fact it could turn it into a positive. PR is a powerful thing…
@kcob: Cam played ’81 and ’82. That boy could kick. His life cut short in a horrific accident travelling to Ellis Park to play for the Junior Boks. A good mate of mine.
@kcob: Those are awesome stats, thanks
@Anti Green: Yeah, Bader at u17 has a huge future. I also think (only seen him once) that if he can continue to work on his distribution, keep his kicking % up (great display this weekend) and be a great team man; he will be a star.
TT has played 49 consecutive matches since 2012 (Grade10) with next weekends match being his 50th. Heard he surpassed Cameron Oliver’s (1982/83/84) record of 491 points for KC 1st XV and hit 72 out of 87 kicks this year.
@Grasshopper: Hopper no way you are saying that. Have you got a headache? Or had someone hacked your account. You know how to say the right thing.
@Buffel: Agree he would have made an awesome centre, TT and Bader would have made a great paring combination.Would give TT someone to put away. Bader would make TT look even better and heighten his chance of playing SA Schools
@beet: Beet it was tongue and cheek. You are allowed to have a little fun on this blog aren’t you????????
@Anti Green: 2015 is going to be a tough year for the Green Machine, only 2x 1st team starters return…..eish! I hope the management don’t buy in players to fill gaps, that is the wrong way to do it….schools need to accept they will have ups and downs..
Tedder will start with Jonas as back-up. Jonas is highly underrated but maybe that is because he behind a powerful Glenwood pack.
@Anti Green: I watched Bader at trials and then again last week against KC. My real insight was against the Pumas and this boy is mercurial. As an inside or outside cenre he would be devastating . I believe that he could have been used in a utility role this year and then play him in his prefered position next year . He would then cover at flyhalf and give you a kicking option on the second day. It is just unfortunate that he came up against Tedder . In any other year he would have been starting and the rest would be playing second fiddle.
@Anti Green: Heard of Murray Hand?
@Anti Green: according to that article in the Witness from a few weeks ago:
“Responding to allegations that Glenwood fielded boys recruited from another school in its game against Maritzburg College last week, Kershaw said, “There may well be some boys joining us in the third term so that they can be integrated into the system before next year begins but that has not been finalised yet. They are certainly not here now.”
So it might be premature to ID Glenwood’s weaknesses for 2015 until we know exact what recruits they intend bringing in during the 3rd team.
@Anti Green: bwahhhhhhhh hahahahahaha
@Pedantic: I was sure it was Wellington, oh well, Worcester not that much further up
@Pedantic: Well then the selectors did the right thing, if Bader is no flash in the pan. Next year will be a machine year for him.Problem is that GW I hear have a flyhalf problem next year
……………..
@Anti Green: Yep, he is still U17.
@RBugger: There seems to be some confusion, I believe Academy Week is held in Worcester and not Wellington.
@Pedantic: Thanks didn’t know that, Bader still had next year is that correct?
@RBugger: Well written!
@Anti Green: Bader is the Academy Week #10 – really looking forward to watching his progress as he is a huge talent but still can’t fathom why we need to compare him to Tedder when they’re both very different players.
If it’s about MHS fans being disgruntled about Bader playing 2nd fiddle to Tedder, keep in mind that Tedder has 3 years 1st XV and a year of CW experience behind him – hardly a difficult choice for selectors if the players are of similair quality.
@Anti Green: Bader did make the B Side, or Academy as they are called
@Grasshopper: Not questioning the number of GW boys at all. I do have an issue on the 2nd team players being selected. GW are by far the dominant force in KZN rugby so it stands to reason the number of CW boys.
@Thumper: Based purely on results this season, I can understand your confusion and frustration at MC and MHS only having a rep each, it would seem unfair.
I am happy with the 3 CW players from KC, they deserve to be there – and to me, TT is the man to lead KZN at flyhalf this season – this is not a biased call at all, just based on what I have seen since he was in std 8.
From what I have heard, Bader sounds like a great player but I heard the same about Goodsen last year and when I did get to see him, lets just say my expectations were probably a bit high.
However, everyone seems to be in agreement that Bader is a brilliant player and I guess he should have been in the CW 23.
TT, if fit, will perform come CW, he has BMT!!
And I look forward to watching Bader play in Wellington at the Academy Week – will be very interesting to see the boy in action
@Pedantic: Then he has a kicking game, I never noticed it. I’ve always seen the number 9 having a go. I like TT I think he is a bit like Henry Honiball. Yards of talent, I’m not been one sided here, if the MHS number still has another year, then the selectors had done the right thing. But the MHS fly half should have at least made the B side.
Thumper we don’t want to go down that road about the CW selected players, GW 2nd team players get the nod. Now that’s a joke.
@Pedantic: Basically Thumper is questioning why so many Glenwood players are in the CW team, this year he can’t blame Sean Erasmus.
@Thumper: Not sensitive, just intrigued as to how you would change the number of reps. Maybe your post should read why have KC got 3, GW 12 and MC/MHS 1 a piece to avoid confusion
@Pedantic: You have totally misinterpreted my comment. I am not saying KC shouldn’t have 3 CW players, I am saying MC and MHS should have more. Tristan Dixon for me has been the find of the season. Don’t be so sensitive!!
@Thumper: So which of the Kearsney CW players would you leave out, the CW captain, the super consistent scrummy who can swing a match with a 65 metre kick or the young up and coming lock / loosie ?
After deciding, let us know which MC/MHS players you would replace them with and your reasoning behind it (I’m guessing you watched all the trials and will have an objective viewpoint?)
@meadows: I put up some stats the other day re how many SA u20 players have gone on to play for the Bokke and the numbers were very low. The finer details are on the IRB Junior World Championships thread, but in short, in the past six years u20 RWC has produced:
– 11 Bokke;
– 20 AB’s (plus five for other countries)
– 21 Poms (plus one for another country)
– 23 Welshmen.
@Anti Green: I guess that removes your opinion from the pool then – if you haven’t seen TT kick for poles then you haven’t watched any of his matches this season?
Before he went off on Saturday, I believe he kicked 17/17 in the last few weeks.
Seriously, it’s unfair to compare top schoolboy players using school allegiance as your bias – there are currently 3 excellent open age flyhalves in KZN, all with different styles of play and deservedly they will all represent KZN in youth weeks this year.
@Anti Green: Bader is the best flyhalf in KZN by far. TT is not in the form he has been in the past 2 years. How KC got 3 CW players and MC and MHS 1 a piece mystifies me!!
@oldschool: I think TT is a great number 10, but not the best in KZN. I haven’t seen TT kick to many times for poles, maybe his injury has something to do with that? I’m sure to be the best you need a kicking game as well?
@beet: I think that he is with the Leopards.
He was contracted by the Sharks (probably ahead of the ’07 CW) but played second fiddle to Guy Cronje at U19-21 and ended up back in JHB where he was behind guys like Elton. He played some club rugby in JHB but I think that he is with the Leopards now.
@meadows: Justin Botha’s name just surfaced in a chat I was having last week. He’s back on the radar with one of the smaller provincial unions. Can’t remember which one tho.
@oldschool: You need to look at the margin that MHS lost those games.
@meadows:Another one is Joel Stransky who made the SA Schools side in 1984 but missed out in 1985, although Shaun Glover his half back partner at College did make it in 1985.
@Tarpeys: @McCulleys Workshop: Don’t get your lace knickers in a knot and start crying ..your mascara will run !!
Beet , has pretty much summed it up ….. however , every rugby season has many would have could have and should have situations …but the fact is …… TT is the best No.10 in KZN because he made the team and is Captain , this is not based on opinion but is fact …… in addition , popular opinion (inc myself) says that the MHS side is very good , but unfortunately the facts tell us that it is average ….losing to Glenwood, College , Grey Pe and Graeme is fact ….. also the fact is that KC year on year play some of the top rugby schools in the country (even when we have an average year) ……
And Tarpey’s …your statement regarding leadership is a bit off sides , Your 2012 side was actually not that good under Moberly , they never played any top 10 opposition , they lost to an average Glenwood side and an Average Hilton side , they scraped a home win against a grade 11 KC side ….and only played 13 games the entire season …. this 2014 MHS has at least played some very tough schools this year , far tougher than the 2012 fixture list !
@beet: Same as Monna’s Justin Botha. made the SA Schools side in 2006 at 17 and missed out the next year in ’07.
Being an outstanding schoolboy player is no guarantee of even making it to senior rugby. Here is a link that lists all the SA Schools sides since 2003. It is interesting (to me at any rate) how few of these guys, in some years only 2-3, end up playing senior pro rugby.
http://www.schoolsportsnews.co.za/rugby/sa-schools-teams-since-2003/
I must say as someone who has watched Tedder quite a few times over the last 3 seasons, to me he has constantly improved. This 2014 season has been his best one and he’s had to play behind a pack on the backfoot most of the time. He’s a super leader that has inspired his team and he has also has been so key to the success that Kearsney has a achieved this season, that I actually believe a few games won would have been lost if he wasn’t in the team because of his ability and leadership.
Pretorius is IMHO very unlucky not to included in the CW team based on his form.
I also think we should all guard against taking pot shots at two top achievers in an effort to score points in a debate.
Nothing is an absolute either. Players develop at different rates, go through highs and lows and opportunities arise at different times.
I recall CW from 2011. u18 Faf Tredoux of the Bulls was the favourite to claim the SA Sch 10 jersey beforehand. He lost out to Lions u17 player Jaco vd Walt. vd Walt was injured and could not represent SAS in an u18 international. Tredoux was also injured and could not be called up, so u18 player Tim Swiel of WP started (and played well). The backup replacement called on was Paul Jordaan’s brother Pieter who was also an u17 player out of FS. Interestingly Swiel’s backup in the WP team in 2011 was u17 Handre Pollard. So the next year one would have assumed that vd Walt and Jordaan would have been the favourites to make SA Schools based on their 2011 achievements but as it turned out the two unquestionable form flyhalves in 2012 were Handre Pollard and Ryno Eksteen of the Bulls. You take nothing for granted in this game. The talent pool is large and all we can hope for our youngsters is that they are able to produce their best form when it counts most.
@McCulleys Workshop: That is one hell of a statement when considering you are a MHS old or so it seems. When is the last time House played against the likes of GCB? We play the top sides year in and year out at our own festival and have had a fair share of good results and not so good. This year so far-Grey P.E.-PBHS-E.G.Jansen-HTS Middelburg-Dale College. I don’t think we are side stepping anyone.
This 2014 KC side has punched way above it’s weight this season and that has been well documented. MHS were sublime this Saturday gone and I don’t think any side in the province would have stood a chance against them, including Glenwood.
Rugby is about playing with the ball and if you have 5% possession then you are coming to a gun fight with a knife. Front foot ball is what you strive for in a game and that was all too evident in this fixture. A combination of possession and the bounce of the ball went MHS’s way and the rest is history. Well done to you guys.
@kosie: I was thinking a bit more than that…….
@kcob: I saw the Lions play the Bulls as part of the CW selection process up north. Physical up front with good locks. Big loosies and want to dominate the set piece. The bulls beat them at their own game.
Match them up front and I believe KZN should have the edge with their backs. Struggle up front and it will be a looong day
@kosie: ha ha, got it!
@GreenBlooded: Heard the CW side plays The Lions soon in a warm up. That will might give our boys a wake up if they do not already realize how big CW is. CW is going to be rather strongly contended by looking at all the SBR this year.
@kcob: Just say Old boy. Its so much simpler
@GreenBlooded: ok got it, wiki:
“a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.
“partisans of the exiled Stuarts”
synonyms: supporter, follower, adherent, devotee, champion, backer, upholder, promoter, fanatic, fan, enthusiast, stalwart, zealot, disciple, votary;”
@GreenBlooded: I was in the D class, “partisan”, meaning? Need more non MHS and Kearsney bloggers commenting??
@McCulleys Workshop: Not sure? They didn’t attend the u18 ISRF last year either. That said, their u15 team attended the u15 ISRF last year and this year?
@oldschool: Patronizing Oldschool, let’s see you volunteer KC’s services against GCB, PG, PRG etc without posh and becks in your squad. It’s easy to take on the top schools when you have a diamond jubilee year, but like GW or MC take them on with or without a good squad, then let’s see how good your half backs are. In fairness I think TT is a quality player, but so is BP from MHS. Have you even watched him, more than once?
@GreenBlooded: Step into the debate and add some sanity!
@Vleis: what happened to St Andrews Grahamstown?
@kcob: If only this debate were not so partisan…….
@Vleis: what happened to St Andrews Grahsmstown?
@beet: I keep saying this to many MHS supporters that this side had the potential to out do the 2012 team but the massive difference is leadership. TW is a tidy leader but not inspirational as Moberly was. Moberly is probably the best captain that has ever worn the red and white stripes. He was always able to get that little more out of his team at the death of matches. The Kearsney and Maritzburg College games were examples of this and from what I hear, he demanded that the boys leave nothing at practices and his position allowed him to lead by example in terms of physicality and putting his body on the line.
Wow, interesting comments on here about Tedder – YOU WOULD BE MAD TO LEAVE HIM OUT OF THE KZN SIDE!!!
Tedder is a proven flyhalf and will deliver when needed – with all due respect to KC, this year is not there best side and any 10 will tell you just how hard it is to dominate, when your pack are going backwards.
I have not seen Bader play and so can’t comment on him, but to me, Tedder has been tried and tested and come through on all accounts.
As I said to Beet, if Bader is so good over the ball, he should be moved to 12
@ Oldschool – we need to remember that TT played most of his senior rugby behind a dominant KC pack that included the Doops and AS at 8. He was always going to look good. BP on the other hand only has one CW player in his pack and keeps producing every week. TT’s performances at CW last year against strong packs weren’t great. Good player but not in BP’s league. That comment about him being a lightie is indeed invalid. BP grew up on a diet of GCB and the like.
@Thumper: My point exactly; you said “IMHO the MHS 9 and 10 outplayed the CW pairing of Hall/Tedder”.
I’m merely pointing out it appeared you did not even watch the game by virtue of your response of “Do i really have to answer that!! 8) Who would you rather watch?”.
And now for something completely different; someone mentioned that School Boys should play Friday nights; club Rugby on Wednesday nights and Super Rugby on Weekends. Not a bad idea. Everyone gets a piece of the action; especially club rugby whom don’t have a lot of support ton the weekends.
@kcob: Do i really have to answer that!! 8) Who would you rather watch?
@beet: Hi Beet,
I have seen TT play a few times and think he is exceptionaly good.
Something that concerns me a little is that Kearsney seems to build their whole game around him. Even when injured he has to deliver, which he normally does.
At the kearsney festival he was injured a couple of times, but continued playing because the team needed him.
I hope he does not carry some of these injuries into his junior years, just because he was never allowed to recover properly.
@kcob:
I am so confused here! I am clearly out of my depth! I surely know too little to about rugger to comment; hockey for me it is!
@oldschool: To disprove an earlier statement made about the Kearsney no.10 looking ordinary against better packs of forwards, it’s also worth mentioning that he was his team’s star player when Kearsney beat Northwood and Westville, two sides that dominated KC up front.
His injuries haven’t allowed him to play at his best of late and hopefully he can shake them off before CW because I believe that if he is fully fit he has a legitimate shot at making SA Schools. But the compo will be tough and he needs to be at his best.
I think the MHS number 10 is the best in KZN. In the games against GW and College he cut those 3/4 into pieces. This week end KC pack was awesome, they stole tons of ball from MHS. There just seemed to be a problem from the centers outwards. 9 and 10 for CW should be from MHS. Tedder could easily play center.
@Thumper: Hey Thumper
; hope your son’s injury aint too bad. Cant imaging why you would watch KC vs MHS over College vs DHS; being a College parent et al.
@meadows: Don’t forget the ‘slip up’ vs Graeme College
@oldschool: The MHS 10 has played against GCB, Gim and GCB while at his previous school and beaten all 3.
@meadows: the blemish on this year’s MHS team’s record was an unexpected defeat against Graeme College. I’ve met a few of the players in the team and while down in PE, the 2012 MHS came up in a conversion with some of them. That 2012 team ended 1st in KZN, had 6 KZN reps some of whom were serious X-factor players and yet when one compares their results to the 2014, there isn’t that much in it. The 2012 team won just about all of their close games (losing narrowly at Glenwood & Hilton) and as you said, the 2014 lost their close matches.
I certainly didn’t anticipate this sort of margin. I backed House to win but expected a tight game at Kearsney on OB’s day.
I agree with the comment that this is a better side than perhaps they are given credit for. it is interesting how the narrow wins and losses end up defining a season. Had a few of the 1-2 pt losses to Grey High, Glenwood and College gone their way this team would have gone down in the record books as one of the best MHS sides of the last decade.
My opinion , both the KC 10 and MHS 10 are very very good players , I think it is unfair to compare the 2 based on the MHS KC game … as the KC pack was destroyed and Tedder got injured early , from having watched Tedder since primary school , the one thing I can guarantee is that he has done more than enough to prove his quality year after year …. he has massive heart , is crazy fast , has exceptional vision , can kick off both and tackles anything that comes his way ….. in addition to Tedder having single handily won games for KC and proved his BMT over the last 3 years playing phenomenal rugby against SAs best rugby schools …. The MHS lad will have his day next year and hopefully he continues his current form , but he is still the lighty and in my opinion still needs a game or 2 against the likes of GCB or a Gimmies or a Affies to really prove that he can deliver when the chips are down ….its easy to showcase your skills in the DBN league especially when you have the pack that MHS has ….. Time will tell who goes the furtherest after school , but if I was a current selector for the Schools side ..Tedder would be the 1st name on the list .
…..ok……
@beet: Well said!!
@Thumper: This was an outstanding performance by MHS from beginning to end. Their 2014 results speak for themselves and should more or less be the determinant of whether or not they have received enough praise for their achievements or not.
With regards to the halfbacks, the playing fields really weren’t level in terms of the packs they had to play behind and obviously the KC injury reshuffle made a comparison even more difficult to make.
KZN final trials a few weeks ago was better indicator. The KC no.9 was easily the best player in his position while the MHS no.10 was quite possibly the best player at Woodburn that day. With the limited size of the talent pool in KZN in any given year, the MHS no.10 must for now surely be regarded as one of the best players in KZN history to have not been selected for CW. He will have another shot next year but IMHO he is definitely already up there with the best in SA which includes the KC flyhalf
@kcob: I am a College parent, not a MHS parent. I have watched both pairings over a number of weeks. IMHO Hall and Walker from MHS should have made CW. Bader is a better overall flyhalf than Tedder. Hall/Tedder against a better pack of forwards than KC look very ordinary.
IMHO; Tedder played 15min before leaving the field; hall played fly half. How can you compare? They sure did have a cracker but so did your beastly drilled pack of forwards. Bader is good I will say that much.
Kearsney were always under dogs going into this match, no-one I know predicted a KC win. IMHO the MHS 9 and 10 outplayed the CW pairing of Hall/Tedder. I don’t believe this MHS side has been given the credit they deserve this season. A clinical performance by MHS.