Sports news of St Charles College Old Boys Day – 10 May 2025
1st XV Rugby (as reported by Head Coach Craig Dwyer)
Old Boys’ Day 2025 was always destined to be special, marking the 150th year of St Charles College. And on a packed Old Orchard’s field in Pietermaritzburg, the spectacle delivered on every front — electric rugby, passionate supporters, and a celebration of tradition that will live long in the memory.
The match itself got off to a blistering start. St Charles College wasted no time in stamping their authority, launching into an early lead with a brilliantly executed set-piece move straight off the training ground. From a five-man line-out, fly-half A.J. Bosman unleashed a pinpoint cross-field kick that found Likuthi Mbalana in space. Mbalana gathered and raced in to score under the posts, sending the home crowd into raptures.
From minute one to minute 70, the game crackled with intensity. Both sides played with fearless urgency, delivering bone-rattling collisions on both attack and defence. The commitment on display was unmistakable — two proud schools throwing everything into a contest that meant more than just points on a board.
In the end, Maritzburg College edged the contest, claiming a hard-fought 26-16 victory. But the scoreline only tells part of the story. St Charles College’s standouts were many on the day. A.J. Bosman, wearing the 10 jersey, not only orchestrated play with poise but also racked up 11 valuable points from the tee. Around him, the likes of Sili Nciza, Matthew Naude, Eben Crafford, Raphael Ajibade, and Athi Qumo delivered massive performances, each playing their part in a real team effort. But more than individual brilliance, it was a full 15-man display — every player stepping up, every tackle contested, every inch fought for.
Off the field, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. The stands at Old Orchards were heaving, packed to the rafters with old boys, current students, families, friends, and supporters from every corner of the community. It was a day when everyone played their part, creating a wall of noise and energy that lifted the players and honoured the legacy of St Charles College.
A heartfelt thank you must go to Maritzburg College, who brought their full-hearted competitiveness and sportsmanship to a derby steeped in rich history. This age-old rivalry once again showed its worth, and we look forward to many more chapters in the years ahead.
Finally, to the St Charles boys: thank you for leaving it all out there and for wearing the jersey with pride, leaving it in an even better place for the next battle. The spirit of St Charles College shone brightly on Saturday 10 May — on and off the field.
1st Team Hockey (as reported by Head Coach, Matthew Coombes)
The 1st team hockey match, St Charles College vs Maritzburg College, took place on Friday night in front a large crowd and an electric atmosphere on the newly named Beckett Astro.
The boys in Blue and Gold came flying out the blocks in front of their home crowd and managed to dominate the early phase of the game, winning a number of short corners and creating some good goalscoring opportunities. Unfortunately, the ball wouldn’t find the back of the goal with the ball being saved by the Maritzburg College keeper or ricocheting off the post. The Saints players would regret those missed opportunities later on.
Going into the 2nd and 3rd quarters, the game evened out, but St Charles still worked hard to transfer pressure onto the College defence. This did leave gaps at the back, and Maritzburg College capitalised. Their forwards were electric and combined really well, causing havoc in the St Charles back line. They managed to score 3 goals in as many attempts. An indication of how clinical the College strikers were.
Neither team stopped their aggression and it showcased some excellent hockey from both sides with the ball moving from one end of the field to the other. Again, St Charles were not able to capitalise on the opportunities while Maritzburg College managed to score a further 2 with the final score ending 5-0.
It was a great game for all spectators to watch. A game that showed tremendous attacking ability from both teams, with only one being able to capitalise. A great Friday night spectacle, and we look forward to the next one.