Sports News: Maritzburg College weekend recap.

Sports News from Maritzburg College on their weekend recap.

The weekend saw Maritzburg College play its first full round of summer fixtures of this season, in the main against Kearsney.

Congratulations to our U15A water polo team who took bronze in the Curro Hillcrest water polo tournament, and to the U14A basketball team who finished 2^nd at the inaugural St Benedict’s Basketball tournament.

Cricket

College played nine matches against Kearsney, winning six, with one tie and losing two, and one no result due to poor light.

Well done to the 2^nd XI who secured a very convincing eight wicket victory playing at Kearsney.

Basketball

Although unfavourable weather resulted in all outdoor basketball fixtures having to be cancelled, College produced excellent results on the indoor courts winning seven of their 10 games. The 1^st team held on to win their game 55-53.

1^st team report (Mr Jacques Wilcox, 1^st team coach)

A change in weather usually brings a change of season, basketball season. The unexpected rain managed to dampen the mood as the outdoor games were called off, forcing all in attendance into the APMH turning it into an intimidating atmosphere for a first fixture, especially with the rivalry being between Kearsney College and Maritzburg College.

A strong performance by Maritzburg College saw the first quarter end 17 – 10. Kearsney made strong defensive adjustments allowing them to curb the Maritzburg College offensive flow and bringing them back into the game, eventually taking the lead.

Back-and-forth play characterised the rest of the game as both teams fought for the win. Two missed free throws by the Kearsney player, with nine seconds left to play, saw Carl Fynn secure the rebound for College, who stormed to the other side of the floor absorbing contact for the finish, and giving College the lead. The game ended with a nail-biting 55 – 53 win to College.

The u14A team went up to the inaugural St Benedict’s Basketball tournament putting on a strong performance against tough opposition reaching the final. A strong Saheti team made them battle it out for the trophy, unfortunately, it was not to be as Saheti proved too strong, winning the final 63 – 32.

Summary of results U14A

Group stages

Won Vs St John’s (B) 59 – 30 Won vs Redhill 54 – 17

Lost vs Saheti 73 – 44

Won vs Christian brothers 87 – 10

Quarter finals

Won vs Saint Benedict’s 54 – 44

Semi finals

Won vs KES 45 – 44

Lost in finals vs SAHETI 63 – 32.

College finished in 2^nd place

Water polo

Congratulations to the College U15A water polo team who competed in the Curro Hillcrest water polo tournament and took 3^rd place.

Kearsney proved stronger in the pool for the rest of the fixtures, although the College U14A team kept spirits alive with an exciting 10-4 win.

1^st team report (Mr D Sherriff, Director of Aquatics)

On Saturday College hosted Kearsney for the first of season water polo fixture. It was a tightly contested first half with the score at 7-8 to the visitors after two chukkas. In the third, the College side lost momentum and conceded eight goals while only scoring one. Going into the final chukka down by eight meant it was going to be a massive challenge. Well done to the Kearsney team who held on to their lead winning 14-23.

Summary of results U15A Curro Hillcrest Tournament

Summary of results

Debating

College’s A Ngcobo participated in the Cliffton Debating Clash this weekend and achieved two best speaker awards. His team broke to finals and won, with Ngcobo finishing in 4^th place. .

Canoeing

Well done to Josh Worthmann and partner (Daniel van Eeden) who competed in theU16 K2 events at the 2025 Olympic Hopes Canoe Sprint Regatta in Račice, Czech Republic, finishing 15^th overall in the K2 1000m event and 24^th in the K2 500m race.