Durban — As the rugby season comes to an end, various schools will bid farewell to their matric players and hope to end their school rugby careers on a high. Some schools conclude their seasons this weekend while others have recently completed theirs and for many, it was a season of success.
DHS
Durban High School (DHS) was recognised as the top KwaZulu-Natal school after 11 wins, two losses and one draw. The two losses came against Rondebosch and Paarl Boys – both on a neutral surface. This successful season saw the school produce nine Craven Week players and 34 players overall across the various KZN sides.
Northwood
The Knights had a good season, winning eight games, losing three and drawing one. This included a first-ever home victory against Maritzburg College.
Westville Boys’ High School
Westville’s Griffins won the majority of their matches, winning nine, losing six and drawing one. Outgoing captain Chris Cloete said he would miss the family environment that Westville provided its players.
“Westville can often be described as a ‘home away from home’. I will miss the shouting voices of the Westville community and soon enough I will be one of those voices on Old Boys Day,” Cloete said.
He said this was a very special group of boys to play with this season and some exceptional coaches as they became the first Westville team to beat Monument and put 40 points on Hilton College after the big loss in 2022.
First XV coach Njabulo Zulu reflected on his side’s season and acknowledged they could have had a few more wins. He said they would look to focus on fundamentals and conditioning to improve on their results next year.
Maritzburg College
The Red, Black and White team won most of their home games, with the solitary loss coming against DHS.
First XV coach Tim Orchard shared a report of the visit to King Edward School (KES) – their last away game – and said it was successful, having won 14 out of 21 games there despite his side’s defeat.
Orchard said: “It was quickly evident that travelling up to the Highveld twice in two weeks had taken its toll on the Maritzburg College 1st XV as they struggled to find their legs and found themselves 19-0 down.
KES had the last laugh when a stolen line-out was quickly recycled and kicked ahead.
The bounce was fortuitous for the home side, such was the luck for College the entire match and was scored in the far-right corner where the kick was missed.
When the final whistle sounded, KES had secured a 47-21 win.
Other featured schools First XV results:
- Kearsney College won 10 games and lost eight.
- Glenwood won three and lost 12.
- Hilton College won 10 and lost five.
- Michaelhouse won six and lost seven.
WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.
Daily News