The Michaelhouse sevens juggernaut dropped a gear with four teams enjoying an almost unblemished record in a six way shootout between hosts Hilton College, Clifton College, St Charles, Voortrekker and the Maun Pups, visitors to the Midlands from the North of Botswana, on Saturday. House’s U15A outfit were stunned out of neutral gear by a shock 15-20 loss to Clifton before resuming normal operations with 35-20 and 22-12 wins over Hilton and St Charles.

Saturday wrapped up a bumper week of football which kicked off on Tuesday with Midlands Trials at Hilton College; and midweek fixtures for the U15A (1-0) and B (0-1) sides against St Charles at St Charles. The U15A lads then joined the first XI on a trek north to have a crack at the St David’s Challenge Cup where both teams advanced comfortably from the pool stages. The firsts then dismantled St Peter’s (2-1) in the quarters, while the U15s recorded the shock of the tournament by unseating the highly touted Norkem, also by a 2-1 margin. The boys from Balgowan were brought crashing back to reality, both being beaten by eventual competition winners Jeppe (first XI, 0-2) and Grey College (U15A, losing on penalties after a fulltime 2-2 score line) for a fourth place finish apiece.

Back in Balgowan, Michaelhouse hosted a full fixture against St Charles College and composite Zenzane Village teams. The hosts enjoyed grand results against the visitors from Scottsville, losing just a single start, drawing two and prevailing in 11, including coming back from a 1-3 halftime deficit to win the U16A clash 4-3. House’s 7^th, U15E and U14F XIs were quite literally dazzled off the park by the Zenzane Village athletes in a neighborly display of sporting camaraderie.