Loosehead Prop, Jordan Els charging towards the try line

Loosehead Prop, Jordan Els charging towards the try line

This weekend Westville hosted Hilton College in the first week of the interschool winter sports programme.

On the  Rugby field, Westville won 19 of the 20 games played against Hilton College.

The 1st team game was a highly competitive affair.  Clearly there were plenty of early season nerves as the high error rate kept the score line down.  Both teams’ attacks battled to breakdown the opposition defence and for much of the game, the score line was even.  Hilton opened the scoring with a penalty from their flyhalf, Daniel Hirschowitz.  Westville replied with two penalties from centre, Niel Van Rooyen to lead  6-3 at the break.  Hilton closed the gap early in the second half with another penalty from Hirschowitz to level the score 6-6. Both teams’ kickers then missed with penalty kick attempts. Van Rooyen of Westville missed a relatively easy one to leave the crowd in great suspense and on the edge of their seats.

With ten minutes left of play,  Westville broke through the midfield and finally created quick go forward ball to allow prop Jordan Els to crash over in the right corner.  Van Rooyen was again unable to convert and Westville led 11-6.  Hilton then counter attacked  throwing everything  they had left in their arsenal at the home team. To their credit,  Westville produced a well worked exit play in the final minutes to retain their lead and close out the game.

Westville won the 2nd team game 19 – 3, and all the rest of the Open matches. Hilton’s sole victory came in the 16A game which they won 18-13 in the final minute of play.  Westville won all the under 15 games, winning the 15A game 18 -7. In the under14 games the hosts won the 14A game 31-5 and recorded wins in all the other matches as well.