The 2023 Chronicle

Both teams played some fantastic rugby, with the lead changing hands several times. We found ourselves 17-8 up five minutes into the second half before DHS scored 19 unanswered points to lead 27-17 with just over five minutes remaining. All seemed lost – although my underlying feeling was how proud I was of the team for giving it their all – only to see them bounce back from the brink, again. We scored a try off a line-out maul and with a couple of minutes remaining won a scrum penalty when big Edrich van Loggerenberg, Thabo Njapha and Aphiwe Shelembe monstered their highly regarded front row. For the second time in a couple of weeks, we chose not to go for the draw and took a tap penalty, searching for the win. We took the DHS team through 11 phases as they defended for their lives until Aphiwe crashed over the line to earn us yet another remarkable win. This team just refused to give up, and this time kept their composure to earn a win against all odds. We travelled to Pretoria Boys High after the much-needed half- term break and welcomed back a few players. It was our first trip to the capital for the out-of-province fixture and we could not have enjoyed the trip any more. The hosts made us all feel so welcome to their beautiful school, and the team had their spirits lifted even more by a pep talk from our 2022 head boy and First XV captain, Andrew Davis, who handed out their jerseys after he had just represented the Sharks U19s against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. The match started off as a bit of an arm-wrestle before we scored some fantastic tries through Campbell Ridl, Thabo Njapha and Wandile Mlaba. Leo Muziva plucked the ball out of the air from a classic kick pass by Luke Davidson to dot down in the corner, and we ended up winning quite comfortably. A long bus trip is always easier after a victory, and we returned home to prepare for Northwood in Durban North on their old boys’ day. There was a huge crowd in place and their field felt like a blue cauldron with flags flying and smoke rising. The team produced a brilliant first half to blow the hosts off the park, leading 31-7 at the break. Murray Baker was at his best and Leo Muziva and Wandile Mlaba were just too hot to handle. We took our foot off the pedal in the second half, only scoring one more try but winning 38-12. Our last game at home, on our Old Boys’ Day, was against an extremely dynamic and athletic Westville team. In what felt like a repeat of the DHS game, the two teams exchanged the lead a few times before we scored a brace of tries of tries to close out the game quite comfortably, at 36-22. I had to pinch myself at the brilliant rugby that the team were playing and their refusal to give in. Tristan Ardé’s multiple ferocious tackles on our line epitomised that. Nothing seemed to dent their spirits or fatigue them. We did, unfortunately, lose our star No 8, Wandile Mlaba, to a knee injury, which sadly also ruled him out of Craven Week and possible higher honours. The last few weeks had left us feeling confident for our final match: Hilton on Gilfillan. We were very aware of having experienced the same feeling in April, but were determined to learn from our mistakes and not allow the occasion or desperation to distract us from getting the job done. This time the boys remained calm, and the mood felt extremely focused. Huge credit must go to young Carlyle Hawkins, who stepped into Wandile’s big boots and looked like a seasoned pro. What a phenomenal game it turned out to be. Hilton were as slick

second half but got to do some defending, which was also a good thing before the big game the following week.

The build-up to the Hilton game was huge – the team were confident and extremely keen to pick up the elusive 100th win over our traditional rivals. Unfortunately, this was not meant to be. Perhaps we were overeager and allowed ourselves to be distracted, or perhaps Hilton played smarter rugby on the day. Either way, we found ourselves down 3-20 with just under 20 minutes to go. Wandile Mlaba took a ball from a restart and had one of his typically powerful runs, which seemed to ignite the team and we went into all-out attack. Tries by Aphiwe Shelembe and Thabo Njapha brought us to within three points with a couple of minutes to play. The boys got back into the Hilton 22 and pounded at the opposition line, even getting over it; unfortunately the ball was adjudged held up. The Hilton defence stood firm until the final whistle and the scene changed from the most incredible vibe to one of absolute devastation. I am not sure that I can recall a more heartbroken team in all my years in rugby. We knew we had not played well and yet felt we had deserved to win the game at the death. An opportunity to win such a big game in such dramatic circumstances had been lost and we had to accept it. The team met on the Sunday night to discuss quo vadis and work out how we could get over this bitter pill in a hurry. We had Kearsney at Botha’s Hill and needed to bounce back, somehow. We did our best to stay positive and not look back, but to say it was a tough week was an understatement. There was a lack of energy in the build-up to the kick-off and Kearsney came out firing on all cylinders, taking a commanding 17-6 lead before prop Luthando Buthelezi scored a try from a rolling maul. Both teams traded penalties before we had one last throw of the dice with a line-out on the halfway line, trailing 16-20. We spread the ball down the backline to Campbell Ridl out wide and, with his typical flair, he made an outside break, racing up towards their 22m line before popping a switch pass to the flying Leo Muziva coming off his left wing to score under their poles and win us the match. Luke Davidson converted, and we came away with a 23-20 win having trailed the entire match. It was a real credit to the incredible resilience and belief of the team, the sheer brilliance of our outside centre and quick thinking of our winger. It was another lesson in never giving up, despite what the scoreboard reads. This team did not know how to wave a white flag, as they demonstrated again the following week. DHS returned to Michaelhouse for our last game before half- term. They were a very strong and well-coached outfit having a successful season. Our spirits were lifted after the last-minute win over Kearsney but the bodies were hurting. We had lost Murray Baker, Josh Aissing and Tom Baguley to injuries, so brought in Aya Mkhokeli, Jack Hughes and Carlyle Hawkins, the latter in the unfamiliar position of inside centre as our Second XV centre, Nik Bratos, had the flu. Little did we know that Campbell Ridl would be forced to withdraw a couple of hours before kick-off with the flu, too. Rather than further disrupt the Second XV, we took a gamble and brought in Luke Jankowitz at fullback; he had been sidelined after straining his thigh the week before. The team agreed that whatever the score, they would not leave anything out on the field. Days like this are made to be remembered, and that is exactly what transpired.

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