Sports News Highlights from Maritzburg College.
The highlight of the past weekend’s sporting action was undoubtedly Maritzburg College’s squash team placing 2nd in South Africa at the Top Schools tournament.
For the last of the winter fixtures of 2025, College’s rugby and hockey teams headed down to Durban to take on Glenwood and ended the season with excellent results. College also hosted the 2nd KZN Schools Cycling race, and there was also canoeing and soccer action from the RedBlackWhite.
Rugby
College’s rugby teams delivered a powerhouse performance against Glenwood, winning 15 out of 17 matches and showcasing depth, skill, and spirit across all age groups.
Standout performances came from the 1st XV with a determined and gritty performance, fighting like trojans to secure 14-10 win, a high-scoring thriller from the U16A (38-28), and a clean sweep with commanding scores for the U14 teams. In arguably the best performance of their season, the U15A produced a 21-14 win.
1st XV report (Mr Nico Breedt, 1st XV coach)
Maritzburg College 1st XV played their final match of the season, hosted by Glenwood High School. Both teams naturally wanted to give their matric boys a fairy tale ending and the atmosphere was electric. Glenwood was the first to score a converted try with a well-executed backline play. As always College fought back immediately and after a long period of sustained pressure and perseverance struck back with a converted try of their own. The only extra points scored in the second half was a successful penalty taken by Glenwood, and the half time score stood at 10-7.
College started the second half strongly, scoring their second try of the match and converting, giving them a 4-point lead. The stage was set for a high scoring game but superb defence from both teams resulted in many errors. Glenwood had almost all the territory and possession for most of the second half, but miraculously College managed to keep Glenwood out to hold on to their narrow lead, winning the match 14-10. There was a sense of disbelief from the crowd considering the pressure Glenwood had put on College’s goal line. The last game of the season was a true testament to our College boys’ spirit and belief, and a memorable send off for the matrics.
Results:
| Team | Opposition | Result |
| 1st | Glenwood | W 14-10 |
| 2nd | Glenwood | L 7-17 |
| 16A | Glenwood | W 38-28 |
| 16B | Glenwood | W 24-0 |
| 15A | Glenwood | W 21-14 |
| 14A | Glenwood | W 43-14 |
Squash
The College squash team made history finishing in 2nd in South Africa at the Top Schools Tournament, playing with plenty of grit, determination, and true College spirit.
A huge well done to T Kufal, T Nana, B Mahaye, V Premchund, J Maistry and C Pillay, as well as coach, Mr Simon Brill, and a special shoutout to B Mahaye who went unbeaten throughout the tournament – an outstanding achievement!
Match Results:
vs Strand: won 5-0
vs Rondebosch: won 4-1 vs Selborne: lost 1-4
vs Grey High: won 4-1
vs St Andrews (Bloem): won 3-2
Hockey
The College hockey teams wrapped up the 2025 winter season in spectacular style against Glenwood High School delivering an outstanding set of results! Out of 11 fiercely contested matches, College secured 9 impressive wins, with just 1 draw and 1 narrow loss.
The boys played with heart, skill, and determination, racking up a remarkable 37 goal difference across the fixtures. The 1st XI RedArmy secured a convincing 7-0 victory, with both the U16A and U14A also winning their games.
1st XI report (Mr Mark Sanders, Director of Hockey and 1st XI coach)
College 1st XI travelled down to Glenwood for the final fixture of the season as well as the return fixture between the two schools. College won the first fixture earlier in the season on Pape’s and Glenwood would be looking to exact some revenge. Added to the intensity of the game, this was the final game for all the matric boys in both teams, so there was plenty to play for.
College started off slowly and a little shaky with multiple turnovers, and Glenwood pressed hard and high up the field, playing with the intensity of a team in front of their home supporters.
College made a structural change, managing to play out the back with a lot more freedom and ease. Several fast-paced attacks and some penalty corners saw College end the first quarter two nil up.
The rest of the game was played in the same manner with College scoring goals at critical times producing relentless attacks and counter attacks. Uyanda Dlamini finished the game with a hattrick (two drag flicks in penalty corners and one penalty stroke), a wonderful way for the College captain to finish his Red Army Hockey career. College ended the game and the season with a masterclass performance of fast-paced attacking hockey which saw them secure a very convincing 7-0 well-deserved win.
Result:
| Team | Opposition | Result |
| 1st | Glenwood | W 7-0 |
| 16A | Glenwood | W 1-0 |
| 14A | Glenwood | W 2-0 |
Soccer
This past Saturday saw College’s soccer teams take on Westville High School in very closely contested matches which saw the teams win jus tone of their five games, drawing two and losing two.
1st XI report (Mr Nic Haswell, Director of Soccer and 1st XI coach)
Westville started the game in the ascendancy and raced into a 2-0 lead, aided by some defensive errors from the College team. College’s prolific forward, Mazithi Qasha managed to get a goal back for the visitors before the half time break to set up an enthralling second half, which did not disappoint the spectators. Both schools created chances in the second half, but it was a header from Qasha that drew the scores level at 2-2. Westville were handed a chance to win the game with a penalty in the
final minute, but College’s Captain, goalkeeper CJ Sukraj denied them from the spot with an excellent save and the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Summary of results
U14A drew 0-0
U15A lost 0-4
U16A lost 0-3
2nds won 2-1
1sts Drew 2-2
