Overview Sporting Achievements:
The last fixtures of the second term saw College’s 1st soccer team triumph in winning the KZN Inland Football League, while there was plenty of great action for the rugby and hockey teams playing at home against Northwood.
Soccer College’s 1st XI soccer team capped a great term’s results winning the KZN Inland Football League final against Linpark 1-0, and were undefeated throughout the league season.
Congratulations to all the players as well as coach, Chemon Petersen, Director of Soccer, Nic Haswell, and MIC, Mike Dibben. A special shout out to Mazithi Qasha who scored for the 5th game in a row, and to Lungelo Matshoge, who won the man of the match award.
Rugby:
College’s rugby teams dominated play on Saturday against Northwood with the boys showing their traditional grit, determination, and commitment. There were 16 wins from the 23 matches played, with two draws and five losses, two of which were on the stagger against Michaelhouse. All of the A teams won their matches, with the Sashas 2nd XV romping home 57-26, while the 1st XV secured a disciplined 36-14 win.
1st XV match report (Mr Tim Orchard, 1st XV coach)
In a match that Northwood rescheduled, Goldstones played host to a game full of running this past weekend. Maritzburg College and Northwood seemed intent on spreading the ball as wide as possible and playing the game at a frenetic pace. In the early exchanges it was all Maritzburg College as they scored two quick tries before Northwood gained a toehold in the match. Northwood when they had possession seemed intent to play the game at a fast pace with the ball being flung wide on every occasion. Maritzburg College seemed intent to use their forwards to generate go forward ball to allow their backs to finish off the job.
In the first half College scored two rapid fire tries through P.Kubheka and S. Mbatha which immediately put the visitors on the back foot. Kubheka finished off a well worked rolling maul and Mbatha finished a very smart interchange on the righthand side of the field. Northwood were rocked by this, but after the initial shock wore off, they then proceed to take the game to Maritzburg College. Northwood scored a try of their own in the half to put the score at 14-7 at the end of the half.
The second half started as the first one began. College placed their opponents under tremendous pressure and R. Quin scampered over to extend the lead. The build up to this try was characterised by sustained pressure which forced Northwood deeper and deeper into their own half. Maritzburg College then scored two tries by their outstanding fullback L. Kunene who is having a tremendous season with ball in hand. These tries did not deter Northwood as they fought back gamely by scoring a consolation try at the end of the match brining the game to what was an enthralling example of thrust and counterthrust by two very attacking minded teams.
Maritzburg College 36 Tries: P. Kubheka, S. Mbatha, R. Quin, L. Kunene x2 Conversions: L. du Toit Penalty; L. du Toit Northwood 14
Hockey
Most of the 15 matches between two strong hockey schools were tightly fought tussles, which saw College won five of their games, losing seven to Northwood and drawing three.
1st XI match report (Kyle Emerson, Coach) Northwood arrived at Pape’s on Saturday feeling confident they could get a result after a few weeks of good form. They came out firing and put College under pressure early on, creating two penalty corner chances in the first few minutes. Their high press and intent to win the ball back quickly proved difficult for the College men to deal with. College did well to keep Northwood from scoring and saw off the early pressure, with the momentum in the visitor’s favour. As College started to have more of the ball, they created chances of their own, and a few penalty corners would end up rolling past the upright by a few centimetres.
A few field goal chances in the first half were kept out by the Northwood goalkeeper, and once again College failed to get the ball over the goal line.
College created several chances in the third quarter, but the goalkeeper and the defence of Northwood was resolute to not allow the home time to capitalise on their counter-attacking ability. Northwood had a few chances of their own in the fourth quarter and earned many penalty corners.
Nic Holmes, College’s goalkeeper was equally as solid in denying the Northwood forwards a chance to score. The College 1st XI showed good fight and desire to take the lead but were unable to find that moment which would break the deadlock.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but the scoreline was in no way as it could have easily been four goals each if it wasn’t for the goalkeepers on both teams doing a fine job. A draw was probably a fair result after an entertaining and tough battle on Pape’s.
Squash:
College’s 1st team squash side participated in the KZN Inter-schools’ squash tournament, competing to be the best team in KZN and representing the province at the SA Top-schools’ tournament later this year.
College began their competition against local neighbours, St Charles College. College started the fixture off on the front foot, racing to a 2-0 lead in rubbers as both Travis Kufal and Veer Premchund recorded excellent 3-0 victories. St Charles fought back, winning the 3rd string rubber 3-1 and setting up a ‘grand-stand’ finish with the no. 1 & 2’s still to play. Both matches proved to be epic encounters with spectators oscillating between courts 1 & 2 to get a glimpse of the action. After some lengthy rallies and heavy legs eventually starting to give way, College claimed victory on both courts, with William Galliers and Thomas Pratt winning their respective rubbers 3-2, giving College a well-deserved 4-1 overall fixture win.
College then faced Michaelhouse, in an immensely tight encounter. Travis Kufal continued his great form to win his 5th string match 3-1, giving College a 1-0 lead. Veer Premchund came agonisingly close in his 4th string match, unfortunately losing out 2-3, despite playing some of his best squash of the year. Matt Mason however, wrestled back the initiative for College with a hard-fought 3-1 in his 3rd string match-up. Once again it came down to the no. 1 & 2 matches, with College holding a slender 2-1 fixture lead. Thomas Pratt and William Galliers gave it their all but unfortunately it was in vain as Michaelhouse went on to claim the no. 1 & 2 string matches and clinched the overall fixture result 3-2.
Congratulations to the following players who have recently gained provincial representation for various age group teams: U/19A: Thomas Pratt U/19B: William Galliers U/16A: Tilak Nana U/16B: Veer Premchund and Travis Kufal U/14A: Lethu Mahaye and Samuel Johnson
Sport report compiled by Maritzburg College
