Match Report: St Charles College vs Clifton
1st XV Rugby (as reported by Head Coach, Craig Dwyer)
On a warm and sunny afternoon in Pietermaritzburg, perfect conditions set the stage for an entertaining fixture of running rugby. The 1st XV took on a determined Clifton College side, who arrived desperate to secure their first win of the season.
The opening half was a scrappy and frustrating affair, marked by frequent stoppages. Despite struggling to piece together fluid passages of play, the hosts showed clinical precision in the few opportunities that we created. Two well taken tries gave the home side a narrow 12–5 lead at the halftime break.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. St Charles came out with renewed energy and intent, executing our game plan to speed up the tempo and play on top of Clifton. With cleaner ball and improved continuity, we began to assert dominance across the park.
Several players stood out in this commanding second-half display. Eben Crafford and Braydon Joese were pivotal in setting the tone, while Carl Chekera and Dresden Coetzee made significant contributions in both attack and defence. Their efforts ignited a flowing, attacking game from the Wild Dogs, who began to stretch Clifton’s defence with strong carries up the middle and slick ball movement out wide.
As the phases mounted, so too did the scoreboard pressure, and St Charles ran in a flurry of second half tries to take the game well beyond reach. The final score of 52–10 was a testament to the side’s ability to regroup and dominate after a shaky start.
Credit must go to Clifton College, who were well in the contest during the first half and never backed down despite the scoreboard. Their spirit and effort were commendable, and we wish them the very best for the remainder of their season.
For the boys in Blue and Gold, the result was a satisfying one, particularly given the physical challenges heading into the match, and a performance in the second half that truly showcased the team’s potential at the back end of the season.
Hockey
1st Team Hockey (as reported by Head Coach, Matthew Coombes)
Clifton Durban made the journey to Pietermaritzburg to face St Charles College for the second time this season, following a tightly contested first encounter, which Clifton narrowly edged. With both teams eager to assert dominance, the stage was set for another thrilling clash, and it didn’t disappoint.
From the opening whistle, the game was played at a high tempo with both sides displaying structured and intelligent hockey. Clifton adopted a disciplined, defence-first approach, allowing St Charles time on the ball at the back. The hosts took full advantage, building up confidently and earning a string of early short corners. One such opportunity was expertly converted, giving St Charles an early 1–0 lead. Clifton responded almost immediately, showing resilience and grit. They forced a short corner of their own and made it count, levelling the score.
The tit-for-tat nature of the contest continued throughout the first half. Clifton was next to strike, taking a 2–1 lead, but St Charles replied in kind through yet another short corner. Their momentum continued with a third short corner goal, Rowen Rajah completing his hat-trick, to give the home side a 3–2 lead at halftime.
After the break, Clifton began to control more possession and territory, but St Charles remained disciplined in defence and dangerous on the counterattack. The deadlock persisted until the final chukka, when a flurry of drama unfolded. A series of cards saw St Charles reduced to nine men, and Clifton capitalised clinically, scoring twice, one of which completed a hat-trick for their own penalty corner specialist, to take a 4–3 lead. St Charles, undeterred, fought back valiantly. A sweeping move down the left channel ended with Blake Francis firing a superb backhand shot from a tight angle to bring the score to 4–4.
As the final seconds ticked down, the excitement wasn’t over. A lapse in concentration from the Clifton defence allowed St Charles in behind, resulting in a short corner awarded on the final buzzer. With the crowd holding its breath, the decisive flick flew just wide of the post, and the pulsating encounter ended in a dramatic 4–4 draw.
A big thank you to Clifton for making the trip up the hill. It was a fantastic day of hockey between two highly competitive teams, and we look forward to the next chapter in this growing rivalry.
