Overview Sporting Achievements
Maritzburg College’s cricket and basketball teams travelled down to the coast to take on longtime rivals DHS, while the basketball top teams took part in the Top Schools Festival.
Congratulations to: Tayden Royappen who won a bronze medal in the U15 mixed doubles of the South African Junior Table Tennis Championships, and to Seth Redlinghuys who won a bronze medal in the U15 boys doubles.
Basketball
Nineteen basketball teams were in action on Saturday, with most of the fixtures being against DHS, in Durban. College won 12 of the games, and the 1st basket basketball team continued their excellent season with a 41-30 win.
1st team report – Suwi Siwila (Director of Basketball)
Playing DHS at DHS was always going to be a tall order. Maritzburg College was in high spirit coming off two tournament second place finishes and a league win over Northwood undoubtedly the most athletic and well assembled team in the country.
The task was not made easier by the howling wind and absence of SA schools point guard Ashar Ngcobo. With shooting out of the picture the game was always going to be a low scoring affair. DHS familiar to Durban conditions got off to a strong start and took an early 1st and second quarter lead. Led by K Sibankulu and W Dlamini, College fought back to gain a slender 28 -18 lead in the 3rd quarter. The full court press paying dividend to what was a rather comfortable game for DHS. Once College took the league and exerted their dominance there was little DHS could do but watch as College cruised to victory, under some difficult conditions, finishing off the game 41- 30.
Cricket
College’s teams played against coastal rivals DHS this weekend. College won 11 of their 13 matches, losing just two. After winning the toss and electing to bat, College were all out for 158. DHS replied with 159/6 winning the match by a four-wicket margin.
1st XI team report – Robbie Coutts (1st XI coach)
College captain Bryn Brokensha won the toss on the Theobald Oval in Durban and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a wicket that looked like it would get lower and slower as the day progressed.
College started well, openers Liam Armstrong and Caleb Thomas putting on 64 for the first wicket. This was College biggest partnership of the innings, a mix of good bowling and poor shot selection never allowed College to settle, the visitors were unable to put together any significant partnerships. Wickets fell at regular intervals after tea, College were disappointingly bowled out for 158 in the 44th over.
DHS started well, the College new ball attack allowing the DHS opening batsmen to settle in. Leg spinner Chad Mason gave his team some hope with a good spell of leg spin bowling, picking up 4 wickets in his spell of 10 overs. Unfortunately for College a combination of good running between the wickets by the DHS batsmen and poor discipline in the field let them down and they allowed DHS too many easy singles in the inner ring. DHS getting home in the 40th over, 6 wickets down.
Scores in brief:
College 158 all out; Thomas 54
DHS 159 for 6; Mason 4-31
DHS won by 4 wickets
Water polo
College’s top teams took part in the Top Schools Water polo tournament over the weekend. The 1st team finished in 8th place overall, while the U15A produced some excellent results to finish 4th. The U14A side finished strongly and were placed 7th overall.
Canoeing
College’s canoeists took part in the School league relay race over the weekend posting some very good results. Overall, College finished 2nd for the 2023 season, behind Michaelhouse.
U18
Jayden Jv Rensburg, Luke O’CONNOR and Jack Odell – 4th
U18
Chris Adam, Matthew van Heerden, Simon Norton – 5th
U16
James Gotte, Brad Cook, Nathan Curry and Matthew Rawson – 5th
Overall, for the 2023 season, College’s boys secured excellent places:
U16
Luke O’CONNOR 3rd
Keegan Vogt 7th
Jayden JvRensburg 8th
U14
Josh Worthman 1st
Matthew Rawson 3rd
1st
Vs Westville lost 6-13
Vs Glenwood won 7-6
Vs Hilton lost 4-13
Vs DHS lost 6-11
Vs Invitational won 11-3
Vs MHS lost 6-7
Finished 8th
