Overview Sporting Achievements

College’s last fixtures for 2023 were against respected rivals Westville Boys High. There were several closely contested matches across the codes, with College 1^st team winning the basketball, while the Westville 1^st water polo team dominated in the pool. The 1^st XI cricket teams were very evenly matched, and the game was judged a draw when heavy rain stopped play.   Congratulations to College’s Jack Odell and Matthew van Heerden who finished as the 1^st U18 team and 4^th overall in the Dam 2 Dam 2 day river race.

Water polo

Westville proved the stronger in the pool, winning five of the seven matches. College’s U15A team secured a very good 8-5 win, while the U14B side gave their all, in brave battle which ended in a 7-7 draw.

Basketball

College won 10 of their matches against Westville, and the 1st team secured another great win, 79-60 – their 7^th unbeaten game in a row.

1^st team report (Mr Suwi Siwila- Director Basketball)

In what was an emotional end to the season, Maritzburg College played their rivals from the “Ville”, the Griffins. The game marked a year since the passing of College coach Mr B Khumalo. In his honour, Maritzburg College will in the future, compete for the Khumalo cup for every last game of the season – a tribute worthy of the much-loved coach.

The 1st team knew that winning this game would signify a run of seven unbeaten games in the league, and an impressive haul of 20 wins from 23 games this season. Westville, known as the Northwood slayers, were eager to spoil the College run and showed intent in the 1st quarter of the game, cheered on by their energetic supporters. College took a slender 4-point lead at the end of the 1st quarter which helped silence the crowds. The College supporters would not have it any other way, as they saw their team take a 21-point lead halfway into the second quarter. College then went into autopilot, navigating the Westville onslaught with calm and poise to see out the game, 79-60.

Well done to Westville on a gutsy performance by a young team that shows a lot of promise. The afternoon was capped off with K Mthimkhulu receiving his 50th cap for the 1st team, something Mr Khumalo would be proud of. A big thank to the coaches and staff; Mr J Wilcock, Mr T Tshabalala and Ms Z Zweni.

Cricket

1^st XI match report (Mr Robbie Coutts – 1^st XI coach)

The College 1^st XI travelled down the N3 to Westville to take on Westville on the Bowden’s Field. The Westville captain won the toss and had no hesitation in sending College into bat on a wicket with lots of grass and in overhead conditions that would help the bowlers.

The decision was the right one with wickets falling at regular intervals, uneven bounce and lateral movement making batting very difficult. The most important partnership of the day was 43,  between Chad Mason and Oliver Da Costa. The pair, through hard work and doggedness got their team to the tea interval with the score on 70-4, Mason taking a blow to the neck from a ball back of a length. Unfortunately for College, Da Costa was runout first ball after tea, and wickets then fell at regular intervals. The only lower order batsman to add anything meaningful was Asanda Khumalo with a run a ball score of 20. College was quickly bowled out for 109 in the 42^nd over.

Westville after an early loss, Michael Gibson with the wicket, settled to put on 49 for the second wicket, and were 58 for 2 after 22 overs. The College bowlers were extremely disciplined, bowling only four wides, making scoring very difficult for Westville.  The game was changed by the College spinners, Mason, da Costa and James Wiggill,  who picked up a collective 6 for 53 in 25 overs. With a thunderstorm fast approaching, College put the Westville batsmen under pressure, the spin trio, backed by good fielding, and pickingd up wickets at regular occasions. The teams were sent off for lightening, with Westville still needed 17 runs with 3 wickets in hand. The game was unfortunately ended by heavy rain.

Scores in brief: College 109 all out; Mason 25. Westville 93 for 7; Wiggill 3 for 17. Match drawn

Canoeing

Congratulations to Jack Odell and Matthew van Heerden who finished as the 1^st U18 team and 4^th overall in the Dam 2 Dam 2 day river race.

1^st team report – Mr Darren Sherriff, Director of Aquatics

On Saturday College travelled to Westville for the last fixture of the season. It was a tough encounter against a very strong Westville team. They we up 0-6 in the first chukka and just kept extending their lead as the game went on. College managed to find the back of the goals four times but unfortunately it wasn’t nearly enough, losing 4-18.

Sports report sent by Maritzburg College