May 2024
Here we go again. KwaZulu-Natal’s biggest derby match part 1 for 2024. Hilton hosting Michaelhouse on the lovely Gilfillan Field. Honestly if you have not attended one of these, you must make a plan to go. It is an amazing experience.
There has been a really good season build-up to the main game on Saturday afternoon.
After a poor start to the season, Hilton has found form. They now won six in row. Their last home game a fortnight ago was a somewhat uncharacteristically high scoring 55-37 win against Kearsney. They returned to their intensely focused defensive norm against Glenwood during the Sharks Rugby Day at Kings Park in their last outing, winning 26-7. Even when reduced to 13 players, they stuck to their guns and refused to allow Glenwood to get back into the match. On the offensive, this Hilton team is good at expressing themselves through a range of means and are able to build scoreboard pressure. They have a proper general wearing number-10. Sound coaching structures with one of the best in the business at the helm have gone a long way to seeing this team exceed expectations.
Michaelhouse have also won the jackpot in 2018 with the appointment of the hands-on elite coach James Fleming. House hit their speed wobble against St John’s of Harare at the Saints Fest in Johannesburg but since then they have been on an upward trend. They sealed a valued 24-22 home win against a strong Northwood team two weekends back and were able to extract the same attacking benefits as Hilton did against Kearsney at Kings Park, winning one that quite impressively 34-19. Kudos to Michaelhouse because they have had to rebuild their pack as along their journey. Encouragingly a number of u17 forwards have stepped up to be counted. Their backline is tops.
Since the turn of the millennium, Michaelhouse has held a lead in the head-to-head. However Hilton has won 9 of the last 10 meetings. Michaelhouse clinched their 100th win on Gilfillan in June 2023.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #58)
Young President’s Organisation, which is a global group of young CEO’s. I think that the age cut-off is 40, or thereabouts.
@McCulleys Workshop (Comment #57)
YPO?
@KES Oldboy (Comment #26)
MHS had a new boy intake of 128 boys in 2024, their largest intake ever, 53% coming from KZN and 34% from Gauteng. There is a very limited degree of attrition for the reasons you mentioned, but the school has a waiting list of boys looking to gain entry post starting grade 8. There are boys from 5 countries attending MHS (excluding SA). Interestingly MHS has active OB’s clubs around the world, with a full time director of the OB club, driving OB initiatives and participation. MHS have developed what’s best described as a YPO type facility, where OB’s are encouraged to interact across business backgrounds, helping with a range of initiatives from business support, mentorship, placement of graduates etc. I understand that they are currently looking to provide OB mentors to each school leaver. The OB club is exceptionally active, with a high level of participation. Currently 42% of the boys attending MHS are there having either a grand father or father OB or an elder sibling having attended the school.
@beet (Comment #54)
Good synopsis Beet, theast 20mins were a ho-hum period with little rhythm from both sides. Hilton did inject some fresh legs and kept pushing, earning 3 kickable penalties (all.missed) and then a try with the last move of the game. MHS chose to start and finish with pretty much the same side, o ly one change with a player returning from injury getting 15mins (nice reward for those boys that started to close out the win) but maybe some fresh legs when the impetus had slipped, would have been worth considering.
@beet (Comment #53)
So chatting to some parents yesterday, the field is in shocking condition. It is a low traffic venue as well. Hilton have so many fields that Gillfilian is not required for anything other than rugby which makes the poor condition even more surprising. It has seemingly been dug up and relaid but rhe results are poor, maybe the ridiculous orientation has something to do with it, a 2pm kickoff meant that 80% of spectators were in full sun the entire day and more than half of those had to stare into the sun for the 2nd half.
All that said, it has such potential as a venue with a real cauldron like vibe when packed like yesterday
The match reminded me a bit of Westville vs Glenwood match. Michaelhouse like Westville able to do positive things with ball-in-hand, gain ground and score points from there. Hilton like Glenwood, able to use the start-stop to get into better field positions and pressurise for points from there. However unlike the former game, the last 20min of this one was painful to watch with little positive play action.
I felt MHS deserved the win and once again full-marks to HC of making so much out of so little to only lose by only one point. The HC scrum struggled, their lineout lacked the accuracy they are accustomed to and the reorganised backline could not do what they did against Glenwood at KP. Sweeney who was a player who stood out at his normal possie of 12 against Kearsney, had a difficult time at 9. On some level one has to compliment the MHS D for not affording HC the chances to do what they did against KC or Gwd.
MHS came up with a few excellent plays that resulted in points. For me making the experience even better was the commentary of Andrew Duncan. He has a really good technical eye for the game and his anticipation is tops. He really made the MHS try created by the blindside move off the scrum come to life in terms of the strategy, research and training ground coaching that goes into turning that opportunity into 7 points.
The shoulder charge on the MHS wing Aya Mkhokeli in the right corner must have come close to a penalty try. And the contact in the air on the MHS player during the first half also seemed like it was consideration for serious sanction.
@Coolguy (Comment #52)
Yeah the field looked horrible. Similar to the Stott.
SBR STATS UPDATE
@Ruggabeast (Comment #49)
Zzzzzzzzzz, boring……
@Bush (Comment #41)
Wow! That is a very dominant performance across the board from MHS. 8-10 years ago it was the other way around if I recall correctly. So your comments on JF must be correct – he’s doing a great job. The schools are so similar in so many respects that it is remarkable for the one to be so dominant in this fixture.
@Grasshopper (Comment #24)
So in other words what I call an FF!!!
@Grasshopper (Comment #47)
You even gate crashing the Hilton and House Derby. Man, you need a life and a lot more love at home.
@Crashball (Comment #44)
Sorry who are you? I’ve been here from the beginning. Sports are closely related to politics, pull yourself towards yourself.
@Crashball (Comment #45)
It’s just great to see the program working and that massive gap that was there 6-8 years ago has closed. It’s wonderful to watch closely contested games than runaways. I think BMH is a great School Boy Rugby coach and he will leave a big gap.
@Bush (Comment #41)
Amazing stats… there was a comment around the coaching of BMH vs JF further down. These stats may challenge the logic in that post. Worth remembering that besides coaching the first XV, JF also in charge of the whole rugger program at MHS so I’m sure those down-the-line results give him as much pleasure as the 1st side victory. For the record BMH is a great coach but only coaches the 1st XV (and reffed the u15Cs today and he was really good at that too.)
Interestingly I was at the game today and the scoreline flattered Hilton somewhat. MHS probably 10points better but rugby is a funny old game and right up to the 2nd, Hilton could have won it.
@Grasshopper (Comment #43)
Stick to commenting on the rugby and leave the SA-bashing for your blog, then none of us have to read it…
@Bush (Comment #42)
No we don’t, got better Wors & Kameeldoringhout than anything I’ve ever had in SA….
@Grasshopper (Comment #40)
We braai in South Africa you Barbecue on Immigrant Island UK. You can’t steal our trade names
Good Day for the visitors 2 3 House
Rugby Results Vs Hilton
*1st 24-23*
2nd 31-11
3rd 26-13
4th 47-7
5th 31-7
6th 60-17
7th 40-7
8th 43-0
16A 27-29
16B 62-8
16C 33-17
16D 50-7
15A 21-19
15B 40-0
15C 22-7
15D 52-0
14A 10-55
14B 12-12
14C 12-21
14D 50-0
@Bush (Comment #39)
I know all of that too. I braai three times a week. Enjoy & good luck. I wouldn’t live on the south coast if you paid me..
@Grasshopper (Comment #38)
Every opportunity you get, you try and throw something negative in our faces. All of us living here understand that and do fight for change. What seems your ideal situation is for everybody to leave South Africa.
Africa is Africa and nobody going to change that. Portugese have tried, French have tried, Pommies have tried. The only people that seem to have any success in Africa are the Germans with Namibia.
Good Luck to your friend immigrating to Canada. Regarding braaing and dopping, we do that all the time in Toti so there’s no “sticking to it” unless it’s a sticky buffalo chicken wing with Nando’s sauce.
@Bush (Comment #37)
I love it, just hate the government & what it’s done to the place over the last 30 years of ‘freedom’. It’s the most unfree country in the world, 40% locked in poverty
@Grasshopper (Comment #36)
Do you hate South Africa?
@Bush (Comment #34)
A lot, your brain isn’t very strategic is it? Bob Skinstad overseas making a living, left because the country is in the bin. Many families leaving & taking their kids with them. Mainly wealthy who have kids in the private schools. Stick to braaing & dopping in Toti boet 👍
Link for the games
https://www.youtube.com/live/bSaTlYPzfhM?feature=shared
@Grasshopper (Comment #32)
Now WTF has that gotta do with the price of eggs🤷🏻♂️
@Grasshopper (Comment #29)
You would have been the 7th team all on your own. You also have a toff surname. Almost a House Boy through and through
@Vleis (Comment #30)
I saw him last week in London, he’s probably flying between the two. My paediatric anaesthetist friend left SA for Canada yesterday, taking 20 years of experience at Albert Luthuli with her….
@Bush (Comment #28)
And an old Grey called Herkie Kruger…
@Grasshopper (Comment #27)
Skinstad is moving back to SA, or has done so already.
@Bush (Comment #28)
Ja! House didn’t even have 7 open teams in 96, but a whole 1st team of post matrics…full of double barrelled toff names
@Grasshopper (Comment #24)
You would have played 7th at House then
@KES Oldboy (Comment #26)
Old money then. Also, would be interesting to see if an expats have sent sons there from overseas. Hypothetically say Bob Skinstad, not sure if he has kids but he lives in Surrey. Another would be politicians kids, bet there are tons. Lastly, the no of kids from KZN. All I can say is if you have two kids at one of those two private schools then you need a bar a year to pay for it…
@McCulleys Workshop (Comment #23)
Again – I didn’t say NO private schools are full. Okay, MHS don’t recruit nearly as much as Hilton from grade 10 and up. But I believe there are one or two “new boys” in your first team this year. Perhaps you can confirm or deny? My point was though that even if grade 8 is full, spaces always open up from grade 10 up because when boys leave for whatever reasons, it’s not so easy to get them replaced. 20% sons of old boys is a general figure that I’ve heard bandied about- it’s quite high actually! What do you think it is at MHS?
@Bush (Comment #22)
I didn’t say NO private schools are full. Good for MHS that it is so in demand.
@Bush (Comment #21)
No boet, standard 6ft2 & 112kg
@KES Oldboy (Comment #20)
Hi KES Oldboy
I’m interested in the source of your information on all private schools numbers, your sons of OB stats as well as where MHS like to recruit. Can you fill in the blanks?
@KES Oldboy (Comment #20)
Is that in general? Demand at House was so great, they built a further 2 BE’s
@Grasshopper (Comment #19)
🤣🤣🤣🤣roses for your suster. XXL ffs you a giant
@Bush (Comment #12)
Very few private schools are full. There is always space from grade 10 upwards as boys leave for emigration etc. and their places don’t get filled. And that’s where MHS & Hilton like to recruit – grade 10/11. Also regarding “old boys sons”, even at the most loyally supported schools it’s never much more than 20% of the school being sons of old boys.
@Bush (Comment #16)
XXL for me and XS for my sister….I used to wearing hoops
@Coolguy (Comment #17)
Haha yes you’re right Coolguy. A lot of players surrounding the referee in strong protest. Fortunately this year’s Hilton side isn’t quite a theatrical as last year. Best of luck this Saturday, looks like it’s going to be another great match up like last season’s tussle at Hilton.
@Henkies (Comment #7)
I hear you, DHS were unfortunate to not win on Gilfilan last year, I am certain 2024 home advantage will up your odds, and possibly less interference of the players with the referees. The standard raising of arms in appeal should be reserved for the sport with a spherical ball.
@Grasshopper (Comment #15)
I will buy you a House jersey❤️❤️❤️❤️
@Bush (Comment #12)
Doubt it, look at Kearsney, battling to & they are poorer rich boys. Time will tell. Unfortunately for me Glenwood has a massive uphill battle with location, so u don’t see it getting better too soon 😢. It’s not the Glenwood I once knew
@Coolguy (Comment #9)
I wouldn’t bet against MH for this fixture. Just saying BMH does a fantastic job of taking age group teams that were not that great to new heights at open age group level….perhaps with some reinforcements but I still rate his coaching. Hilton 1sts always look well drilled, and aligned to a good plan. I have friends who teach at MH so don’t mind if they win!
@Bush (Comment #12)
As the pool of quality KZN-based kids gets smaller, through various socio-economic reasons, schools are having to look further afield and this has to be funded by the schools. R400k per year without tours and underpants is not within the reach of too many ordinary folk.
@Grasshopper (Comment #11)
IMO I don’t think those private schools will struggle to maintain their buying power of players. The problem arises with space and Old Boy Sons. What do you do then.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #10)
Yep, past 10 years after Glenwood pasted them in 2014, 67-7 and they cried off. They went out and bought the best grade 8 players possible for their 150th anniversary in 2022, that money might be falling aside now….hard to maintain…
Hilton been recruiting grade 9s and others from around the country, bringing them to the midlands to bolster their rugby programme. @KES Oldboy (Comment #6)
@Jakkals (Comment #8)
Current SBR stats have house lower in 2024 ranking, but as history has shown, many derby’s have gone the way of the underdogs.
@KES Oldboy (Comment #6)
Hilton have a fantastic coach in BMH….not sure if Greg Miller is still there but he also added value. I recon any team under BMH gets better faster than a team under JF. Just my opinion.
Both teams are coming into this game after impressive runs. Very tough to call. Maybe home advantage will shade it for Hilton. Michaelhouse speed and slickness vs Hilton structure and organisation. I am probably backing 2 3 House for this one…those Harlem Globetrotter style jumping chest pump try celebrations from last years Hilton team still bug me
In the age-groups, the MHS matrics were much stronger than Hilton. Have Hilton been strengthened by Gr 11s? Or are there “new” boys? It’s a very close “head to head”. Beginning of the season I would have said MHS easily but Hilton have improved…..
@Bush (Comment #4)
It’s actually at St Mary’s this year! My sister is missing you….
@Grasshopper (Comment #2)
Can only be one 2 3 House
DHS and College was a massive Derby and this year it’s St Anne’s vs GW
@Grasshopper (Comment #2)
Want to experience all these derbies, fantastic traditions and schools we have in SA.
One of my favourite derby matches, their or Meadows. Biggest is debatable, DHS vs College & Glenwood vs DHS have in the past attracted huge crowds. Oldest KZN derby I would need to check, but probably only 1900 onwards in terms of annual. Two very well funded & probably most expensive schools in SA attract the elite toff society for sure. I remember at Hilton once, two helicopters arriving with parents from Jozi. I think I go…..2,3….House! They have been friendlier to Glenwood over the years
This derby is on my bucket list