Overview Sporting Achievements:
It was a big weekend for the College 1st XI soccer team who took part in the Big Primo 10 tournament hosted at Hilton College. College won the inaugural event, but lost the semi-final in 2022. On Sunday they rose to the challenge and triumphed bringing home the trophy for the 2nd time, winning all their matches. Results from the pool round; Vs Hilton won 3-2 Vs Clifton won 3-0 Vs SCC won 5-0 In the quarter final they faced Michaelhouse and won the match 2-1, securing a place in the semifinal against the Hilton side again. College 1st XI did not disappoint and emerged the victors with a score of 1-0. The final against Glenwood was a tough game, but College fought hard and won the match and the tournament, with a final score of 1-0. Well done to all our boys, and to Nic Haswell, Mike Dibben, Chemon Petersen and their coaching team, we are so proud of you!
This weekend also saw Maritzburg College host the boys and staff of Pretoria Boys’ High for the second exchange of the season. With nine sporting codes in action and a wonderful music concert, it was a great weekend of activity.
Rugby:
College fielded 24 rugby teams against PBHS, winning 22 of their matches with convincing wins for all the A sides. The 1st XV enjoyed a very good game on Goldstones winning the match 43-12.
1st XV match report (Mr Tim Orchard, 1st XV coach)
Goldstones played host to the return fixture against Pretoria Boys’ High School on Saturday. Maritzburg were coming off a historic win against Affies in Pretoria whilst PBHS had a narrow loss against KES on Brookes. Both sides were looking for a good performance, but the weather looked to play a significant role as conditions were very blustery.
Credit: Justin Waldman Sports Photography
Maritzburg College started extremely well as a spilt kick-off allowed them to re-gather possession, and after some powerful carries, L Kunene crossed over to score after a mere thirty seconds. Two minutes later, a powerful College maul surged towards the try-line from the halfway line leaving PBHS defenders in its wake. It inexplicably collapsed with the whitewash beckoning, but that did not stop the College pack from scoring from the resulting penalty. P Kubheka emerged with the ball as he bashed his way over the try line to further extend the College lead after the kick was converted by L du Toit. Maritzburg College continued to dominate play but could not convert that pressure into points due to a dogged PBHS defense.
Their stoic defending was shattered when R Quin made a sniping run to brutally expose a defense that was caught napping, and scored a wonderful solo try under the poles. The game was still all College as they kept their visitors trapped deep within their own half, and this pressure was converted once again after a series of powerful carries from the attacking team. The ball was shifted quickly into the waiting arms of C Reardon who showed some wonderful footwork to score an unbelievable try, and put PBHS under further pressure. On the verge of halftime, captain S Kadira found himself on the score sheet with a trademark bustling run to score under the poles. The try was converted, and College led 31-0 at halftime. PBHS were not dead and buried, as were very much in the match even though the scoreline did not reflect it.
The second half started off with PBHS showing great guts and this was reflected on the scoreboard when the visiting side was rewarded with a fine try to open their account. College hit back straight away with T Walton finishing off a wonderful sequence of carries, leaving the PBHS defense grasping at thin air. With PBHS looking to keep the ball alive, their scrumhalf made a sniping break from next to the breakdown and raced away to score a fine try and cap off a very good performance by the young man. College was not finished though as Kunene made another of his incisive runs and set up L Makhathini with an unreal pass to take the score to 43-12 in College’s favour. The second half was unfortunately not as exhilarating as the first, but the damage had been done in the first half and College was happy to take another win.
Maritzburg College: 43 Tries: L. Kunene, P. Kubheka, R. Quin, S. Kadira, C. Reardon, T. Walton and L. Makhathini Conversions: L. du Toit x4 Pretoria Boys High School: 12
Hockey
Fifteen hockey teams took on PBHS, with six wins, five draws and four losses. College scored 24 goals compared to PBHS’s 19. The 1st XI were again held to a draw, in a tightly fought contest between two very evenly matches sides.
1st XI match report (Mr Kyle Emerson, 1st XI coach)
Competing with PBHS always brings out the best in a College team. After the 1st fixture at PBHS earlier in the year ended in a draw, both teams were keen to get one over their strong rivals. The game started at a frantic pace with College creating two early opportunities in the opening minutes. The PBHS goalkeeper made a couple good saves, one shot narrowly missing the target. College earned the first penalty corner and a well worked variation left Uyanda Dlamini to beat the goalkeeper, but he was once again up to the task and denied College from opening the scoring.
The College press and defence discipline stifled PBHS’ main strength, which is their midfield. They were unable to find the space and freedom to play like they are used to. However, this did not stop them from creating opportunities of their own and Nic Holmes, the College goalkeeper, was very effective in the goals keeping the hosts out. The opening goal came towards the end of the first quarter when Jacques Bradford threw an overhead to forward Julian Konigkramer who did well to beat his defender and run into the circle and pop the ball over the sliding goalkeeper. College had some chances to extend their lead but couldn’t make the most of these.
The second half saw PBHS start to build some momentum and it was through a drag flick at a penalty corner that they were able to level the scores. Both teams continued to search for a winner but they could not be separated, despite PBHS earning two penalty corners on full time, which they could not convert. This match was played with a strong fighting spirit from both teams, who displayed their skill on both defence and attack and proved that they were evenly matched.
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