They may have lost the second instalment of the midlands derby, but Hilton College have done enough to claim bragging rights as KwaZulu-Natal’s unofficial top 1st XV side in what marks a fitting farewell to coaching legend Brad Macleod-Henderson.
Also read: Last gasp drama as Michaelhouse topple Hilton in season finale
Despite falling to Michaelhouse in their return fixture, the men in all white have edged out Maritzburg College in a tightly contested race for provincial supremacy, with a head-to-head record against KZN’s heavyweight opposition proving decisive.
The numbers tell the story
When stacking up first encounters against the province’s elite schools, Hilton’s ledger makes compelling reading. Their only blemish came at the hands of Maritzburg College, who threw everything at claiming the unofficial KZN crown in 2026.
But College’s title charge ultimately derailed with costly slip-ups against both Westville and Michaelhouse. Those two defeats proved fatal to their ambitions and allowed Hilton to pip them at the post despite their own loss to the Pietermaritzburg powerhouse.
It’s a testament to consistency over the course of a brutal KZN circuit. Hilton navigated the gauntlet with just one loss in their first meetings against the province’s big guns, and that’s proven enough to separate them from the chasing pack. An early season match against DHS was never played, which would have been a cracker looking at the results that unfolded.
Season not yet done
Whilst Hilton’s campaign has reached its conclusion, the KZN landscape still has some unfinished business. Maritzburg College and Glenwood are set to renew hostilities in a return fixture that carries pride if not provincial honours, whilst Northwood and DHS still need to settle scores in their second showdown.
But for Hilton, the focus now shifts to reflection on what’s been a memorable season—and an emotional farewell.
End of an era
Brad Macleod-Henderson has guided Hilton’s 1st XV since 2016, presiding over a golden era that’s delivered consistent excellence.
This season’s KZN crown provides the perfect send-off for a coach who’s given a decade to the programme. Whilst silverware and rankings matter, Macleod-Henderson’s true legacy lies in the hundreds of young men he’s mentored, the values he’s instilled and the culture he’s built.
The all-white jersey will have a different voice barking instructions from the coaching box next season, but the standards Macleod-Henderson has set will endure long after he’s departed.
