Sports News: Maritzburg College vs Pretoria Boys!
Maritzburg College sent over 800 boys and staff up to Pretoria Boys’ High for the annual exchange, which saw a full round of both rugby and hockey fixtures against one of our longest and strongest school partners! In addition, the table tennis, squash and golf teams were also part of the exchange as well as the jazz band who participated in a wonderful shared musical performance.
Hockey
Maritzburg College’s hockey teams can be justifiably very proud of their performance winning 11 of their 19 matches, and drawing 7 while losing only 1. With a positive goal difference of 27, it was a very strong performance from the #RedArmy. College’s 1st XI secured a 2-1 win.
The 1st XI played a spirited and well drilled PBHS team on Saturday morning – always a difficult place to play as they are fiercely competitive at home.
College started the game extremely well, continuing their strong performance from the KES Easter Festival, controlling most of the possession and territory, and creating multiple opportunities which were unfortunately not converted. Multiple penalty corners by College saw the PBHS goalkeeper up for the challenge; playing an outstanding game and truly the difference between the two teams.
College earned a penalty stroke from a deliberate infringement in the circle from a penalty corner. Uyanda Dlamini, the College captain, stepped up and converted for his team. Then College scored a counterattack goal with a deft finish from Matthew Smith to take the score to 2 nil up. This lead created an exciting finish. College incurred two green cards and a yellow card for robust challenges putting immense pressure on the entire team to stay composed in the final minutes, which saw PBHS score a goal against the run of play.
College held on for a well-deserved win away from home and full credit to all the boys who played with maturity and control.
Report (1st XI coach and Hockey Director, Mr Mark Sanders)
Rugby
College’s 27 rugby teams produced a dominant performance against PBHS, winning 19 games, drawing 3 and losing 5. The 1st XV had an excellent game winning 45-28.
Report (1st XV coach, Mr Nico Breedt)
On a beautiful autumn afternoon in Pretoria, College’s 1st XV put on which was probably their best performances of the season.
From the start it was evident that College meant business and the boys were leading 21-0 after 25 minutes. Pretoria Boys never gave up and scored two unanswered tries just before the break. It was clear that a win was never going to be easy for either side.
College started the second half even more determined and played some outstanding rugby at times and defended like their lives depended on it. With 7 minutes to go, College led 45-14. PBHS capitalized on some late opportunities to score the last two converted tries of the match. The final score 45-28.
Probably the most rounded performance of the season thus far and what made it even more noteworthy was how the players responded regardless of the amount of travel in the past 10 days, a short training week and a last-minute senior player withdrawing a day before the match. All involved, players, coaches and supporting staff can be very proud.
Table Tennis and Tennis
College’s table tennis team produced an excellent 23-7 win against PBHS, although the tennis team lost 2-7 to the boys from Boys’ High.
Golf
Unfortunately for College, PBHS’s golfers proving the stronger team winning 5.5-0.5.
Squash
Pretoria Boys’ High dominated against the College teams and secured a 17-3 win.
Soccer
The KZN Inland Term 2 League finally kicked off this week after last week’s opening games were rained out. Overall College won four of their five matches, losing just one. The Maritzburg College 1st XI made the very short trip to face local rivals Alexandra in what is always an entertaining fixture.
Alex scored first, against the run of play after a break away in the first half. A strong second half performance from College secured them the three points after goals from Mazithi Qasha (2); Malachi Momple and Sphelele Sibiya saw them emerge 4 – 2 winners.
The 1st Team travels to Kimberley this week for the annual ABSA Wildeklawer Soccer Tournament. Results:
1sts vs Alex won 4-2
2nds vs MCS won 2-1 U16A vs Umvuso lost 0-1 U15A vs Linpark won 3-0
U14A vs Linpark won 4-1
Debating
College’s debaters enjoyed a great 4th round of events this week with the grade 8 and junior teams in action. College won one and lost two of their, debates and secured two best speaker awards.
Juniors
College 1 v MHS1 – College won, best speaker N Luvuno College 2 v Howick -College lost, best speaker K Mkhwane
Grade 8
College 1 vs Carter – forfeit
College 2 vs MHS 1 – lost
