Overview Sporting Achievements:
College’s 1st XI soccer team are playing exceptionally well and had another great week, with another win, this time in the KZN U19 Inland 2nd term League semi-final against Alex High, with a final score of 2-1.
Congratulations to the seven College boys selected for the KZN squash team to compete in interprovincial tournaments later in the month.
College travelled up to Hilton College on Friday and Saturday to play a full round of hockey and rugby fixtures. It was to be tough day out for the boys losing both the 1st XV and 1st XI matches. Congratulations to Hilton College for their excellent wins.
Congratulations to the two College old boys who have been selected for the SA U20 rugby squad – Litelihle Bester (OC 2022) from the Sharks and Mawande Mdanda (OC 2021) from the Bulls.
Soccer:
College’s 1st XI soccer team won the KZNHSFA U19 Inland 2nd Term League semi-final against local rivals Alexandra High during the week. After a slow start that saw Alex leading 1-0 going at halftime, the College spirit prevailed, as the home side scored two successive goals to win the match 2-1.
After a total of 26 league fixtures throughout the league season, there is now just one game remaining – The Final, which will be contested between Maritzburg College and Linpark 1st teams on Barns field on 8 June at 15h30 and will be televised LIVE on DSTV Channel 216.
Squash:
Congratulations to the seven College boys selected for the KZN squash team, to compete in various interprovincial tournaments at the end of June. U19A: T. Pratt U19B: W. Galliers U16A: T. Nana U16B: V. Premchund, T. Kufal U14A: B. Mahaye, S. Johnson
Earlier in the week, the Maritzburg College 1st squash team competed in the 1st round result of the KZN Inter-Schools’ Team Championship, winning their matches 4-1 against St Charles College.
Rugby: 1st XV match report (Mr Tim Orchard, 1st XV coach)
College’s rugby teams played against Hilton College in the main with a few filler matches against Linpark and Northwood. There were good wins for the junior teams with both the 15A and 14A triumphing, but the 16A, 2nd and 1st teams were beaten.
Saturday was billed as a heavyweight clash between Hilton and Maritzburg College to see who would be rated the number one school in the province, with both schools going into the match in good form. College wanted to take the game to Hilton and assert early dominance on their opposition, whilst Hilton with their low-risk rugby wanted the opposition to do all the playing deep in their own half. College inexplicably started the game very poorly, gifting Hilton an early try when a pass was made which was snaffled by a delighted Hilton player. From this moment on, the game was all Hilton as this error seemed to force the College team into a state of shock which, when they eventually came out of it, Hilton were 19 points ahead and College holding onto the game. The first half was all Hilton as College could not get any purchase in the match.
The second half started off with College attempting to find the necessary gears to take the fight to their opposition. Unfortunately, Hilton was too far ahead, and added a further ten points to their total to take it to 29 points whilst College had to mount an almost impossible comeback to even think of winning the game. College sparked into life deep in the second half, but it was too little too late, and whilst they added two converted tries and physically dominated their opposition, Hilton’s polish allowed them to record a good win for the home team on Gilfillan much to the delight of the home supporters.
Maritzburg College 14 Tries: P. Kubheka x2 Conversion: L. du Toit Hilton College: 29
Hockey:
1st XI match report (Kyle Emerson, Coach)
College’s hockey teams played 15 matches, winning 6, drawing 2 and losing 7. The 1st XI Red Army suffered at 0-3 defeat to Hilton College.
Two well-structured teams met on a cold Saturday morning at Hilton College. College started the game well and created the first scoring opportunity through open play when Banele Dlamini crossed the ball into the circle, but the Hilton goalkeeper did well to keep it out with an outstretched foot. College earned a penalty corner after some good build-up play, but the drag flick from Asanda Khumalo was well-saved by the post man after the goalkeeper had been beaten.
College would regret not taking their chances, and in the second quarter Hilton were able to take the lead after a right sided circle entry. The ball rolled into the 9-yard area, and after the first shot ricocheted off the post; the Hilton forward was able to react first and push the ball into the goal and a diving Nick Holmes could do nothing about it.
A few minutes later, some poor defending allowed Hilton’s Aka Mda to enter the circle and take a shot, beating Holmes at his bear post. The half time score was 2 – 0 to Hilton.
College created more opportunities in the second half but were unable to turn their possession into meaningful results, and the Hilton goalkeeper made a number of saves to keep the lead. Another defensive error, where the ball was turned over deep in College’s half, and then passed to a Hilton midfielder, allowed Hilton to quickly counter-attack and use their number advantage to easily score their third goal. College continued to try and find their opener but two of their penalty corners were saved and one was flicked wide.
Well done to Hilton College, who were the deserved winners 3-0 on the day, as they were able to take their chances and create possession into outcomes.
Sports report compiled by Maritzburg College
