Sports News: Maritzburg College vs Hilton

Overview Sporting Achievements

Maritzburg College was honoured to take on the hockey and rugby teams of respected rivals Hilton College on their Old Boys’ Day. Although the opposition had home ground advantage College’s teams did not disappoint and played with skill, determination and commitment, producing excellent results. Winning 16 of their 17 rugby matches, and all A team games, the 1^st XV ended the day with a superb 23-20 win.

Congratulations to the Maritzburg College soccer 1^st XI team who are the 2025 Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland under 19A league champions beating Carter 2-0 in the final on Wednesday.

Hockey

College’s hockey teams played with passion, precision, and plenty of pride, delivering an outstanding set of results across the board against Hilton College, winning eight of their 13 matches. The 1st XI Red Army clinched a nail-biting 3-2 victory, showcasing grit and determination while the 14A continued their excellent season securing a commanding 4-0 win.

1^st XI report (1^st XI coach and Hockey Director, Mr Mark Sanders)

Maritzburg College headed up the hill to take on Hilton College expecting a tough encounter on their Old Boys’ Day, and with Hilton ranked in the top four in South Africa.

The first quarter lived up to every expectation. College started off strongly with a few turnovers resulting in a circle entry and a penalty corner. Dane Jackson fired off a drag flick low to the keepers right and buried it, giving College an early 1-0 lead. Another turnover from a good press saw the ball come to Uyanda Dlamini on the left side of the circle, who struck a tomahawk beating the keeper low to his right and taking the score to2-0 in a matter of minutes. Hilton did not sit back, creating a few opportunities, and some indiscipline from a College defender allowing them to get a shot off on a tight angle. The ball beat Ndlovu in the College goal taking the score to 2-1. Shortly after, Hilton were awarded a penalty stroke to level the scores at 2-2

College managed to earn another penalty corner just before the quarter break, and Jackson stepped up again and flicked the ball a little higher than the previous one, ensuring College would end the quarter 3-2 up. An amazing spectacle of hockey in the first fifteen minutes.

For the rest of the game, the action went back and forth with both teams missing opportunities. Ndlovu in the College goals was a standout performer keeping the Hilton boys at bay, and College missed a few easy scoring opportunities which would have buried the game. In the last fifteen minutes, Hilton was awarded a penalty corner, and once again Ndlovu was up to the challenge, ensuring the game ended with the score at 3-2 to College. It was a remarkable game and a wonderful achievement for the Maritzburg College team.

Summary of results:

Rugby

Maritzburg College brought the fire to Hilton College’s Old Boys’ Day with a powerful display of rugby excellence across all age groups! From the juniors to the First XV, our boys played with heart, skill, and unshakable College pride, which saw them win 16 of their 17 matches. It was a thrilling end to the day which saw the 1^st XV bring home a nail-biting 23-20 triumph.

1^st XV report (1^st XV coach, Mr Nico Breedt)

From the start of the final game, Maritzburg College was under huge pressure and spent most of the 1^st half defending and battling to get into Hilton’s half. Although College scored the first converted try, Hilton struck back and scored two tries of which one was converted. Going into the break Hilton led 12-7.

Hilton scored first in the second half with a successful long-range penalty for poles and College replied shortly after also taking the three points with an almost 50m kick to poles. College managed to get the opening try in the second half and converted leading marginally 17-15. Another period of good play resulted in a penalty for College and the shot at goal was successful, increasing College’s lead to 5 points.

Hilton managed to score in the corner after some powerful mauling but was unable to convert, leaving the scores tied at 20-20, with less than 10 minutes to go.

A powerful scrum resulted in a penalty to College in Hilton’s half and College bravely took the three and the lead but 100 seconds of drama awaited.

From the kick off, College couldn’t gather and Hilton was awarded a line out 40m out from College’s goal line. Hilton got a penalty from the resulting play, opting to go for poles and the draw, but narrowly missed and the game was done. Some good fortune for the College boys and supporters and a massive congratulations to all involved as it is a rare feat to come away with a victory at Hilton. Final score 23-20.

1st Team Rugby Rankings

Summary of results:

Soccer

Congratulations to the Maritzburg College soccer 1^st XI team are the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland under 19A league champions beating Carter 2-0 in the final. It was another top performance from our 1st team with two second half goals, courtesy of W Zondi and M Qasha, securing the win. A special shoutout to M Qasha who was awarded top scorer for the league!

Canoeing

At the SA canoeing marathon championships held in Upington, College’s Keegan Vogt produced an outstanding performance. In the U18 K1 long course, Keegan took silver, and in the U18 K2 long course, together with his partner, Ryley Smith, they won gold! Keegan also secured 1^st place in the K1 short course and has qualified for the South African team to race in Gyor, Hungary in September.