For the 2^nd weekend in a row, around 700 Maritzburg College boys headed out of province, this time up to King Edward VII School (KES) for the annual sport exchange. In addition, there was canoeing action and the College 1^st XI soccer team set out to defend their PRIMO 10 title up at Hilton College

Rugby

College secured 14 wins from the 21 matches played, including the U14A, U15A, and U16A. The 2^nd and 1^st XV teams, battling with a number of injured players, both lost their matches.

1^st XV match report (Mr Tim Orchard – 1^st XV coach)

It was quickly evident that travelling up to the Highveld twice in two weeks had taken its toll on the Maritzburg College 1^st XV. They struggled to find their legs in the first half of the match and before they knew it, were 19-0 down in as many minutes after a rampant KES side had left their usually stout defence in tatters.

KES were very much “up” for the match and played at an intensity that Maritzburg College battled to match for much of the game. KES opened the scoring by pinning the away side deep in their own half, a College clearance was kicked out nearly on the halfway line allowing KES to launch an attack. Invention by their SA Schools flyhalf created a mismatch out wide, the tackle was missed, and the KES player dived over to open the scoring in front of a packed stand full of joyful Old Edwardians. KES struck again straight away from the resulting restart when a very narrow College defence was exploited by their flyhalf Moyo, who shifted the ball quickly to the lefthand edge to put his speedsters away. A desperate College defender missed his tackle, and the KES fans were ecstatic with the double hammer blow they had just inflicted on their visitors. The score stood at 12-0 to the home team after just six minutes of play.

College tried manfully to get back into the match after a driving maul was brought down agonisingly close to the KES line. From the resulting breakdown the College forwards hammered away at their opponents but a knock on at a wide ruck gifted the ball back to their opponents who cleared their lines to relieve the pressure. College again was pinned deep in their half and from a clearance kick, KES were able to score their third try of the match. From the resulting lineout out a series of smartly executed offloads found their way into their scrumhalf’s hands who scampered away to score underneath the goalposts, with the kick a formality, and KES now had a commanding 19-0 lead.

College hit back eventually when Ntsika Mkize chased down a seemingly lost cause and dotted the ball down when a kick was charged down and dribbled into the in-goal area before the KES defenders had a chance to do so. The kick was converted, and the score stood at 19-7. From the resulting restart, KES opted to kick the ball short where it was regathered by one of their players who out jumped the College players. The ball was recycled and after a barnstorming run the score quickly became 26-7 when the kick was converted as the halftime hooter sounded.

Normal service resumed quickly after the second half commenced when College placed the KES scrum under massive pressure but the ball somehow managed to find itself to their flyhalf’s hands. With a deft touch, he played the ball back inside to their leftwing who sprinted clear of a several College defenders to score his hattrick with thirty minutes of the match remaining. The score now stood at 33-7. Eventually in the fiftieth minute College hit back through their powerful scrum. With the KES defence on the back foot through the power of the College scrum, Raayke Maartens darted over to score the simplest of tries which was converted by James Slevin to put the score at 33-14.

It was KES who scored the next points of the match when they again exploited a narrow College defence to put their left wing away for his fourth try of the match. The kick was converted, and the score now stood at 40-14. College hit back again after a penalty was tapped to allow their powerful forwards to hammer away at the KES defence. This paid off when number 12 Nkululeko Sithole exploited a defence on its heels to score College’s third try of the match and put the score at 40-21.

KES had the last laugh though, when a stolen lineout was quickly recycled and kicked ahead. The bounce was very fortuitous for the home side and bounced into their hands, such was the luck for College the entire match, and was scored in the far-right corner where the kick was missed.

When the final whistle sounded, KES had secured a 45-21 win.

Maritzburg College 21

Tries: Mkize, Maartens and Sithole Conversions: Slevin x2, Thackwray

King Edward V High School 45

Summary of results:

Hockey

College’s hockey teams enjoyed a great penultimate round of matches against King Edward VII School culminating in a 5-3 win for our 1st XI. There were nine wins from the 14 matches played, with two draws and three losses.

1^st XI match report (Mr Kyle Emerson – 1^st XI coach)

The 1^st team game started with College dominating possession allowing them to create a few chances in the first quarter. Two drag flicks were well saved, and a ball cleared off the line from a KES defender as they did everything they could to keep the visitors from scoring. KES were not able to create any meaningful circle entries, however their pace and skill upfront would always pose a threat if they got that chance.

College continued to press high and with intensity and did not allow KES to build phases out the back. College earned a third penalty corner but were not able to convert, and moments later a brilliant outlet down the right saw a KES forward knock the ball into space behind the defence and the other KES forward was sprinting into the circle to get the ball. Nic Holmes came rushing out to meet him, fouling him in the process and they earned a stroke which the captain scored. College did not panic, and knew that if they stuck to their plan, the chances would come. The equaliser came 4 minutes before the end of the first half, when a good turnover high in the field and some quick passing resulted in Julian Konigkramer running into the circle. As he drew the keeper and rolled the ball into the 9-yard area it hit a KES defender’s foot and bounced into the goal.

College seemed to lose concentration for a few seconds, at the restart; they weren’t five metres from the hit, and the KES forward quickly threw a high ball into the circle and earned a penalty corner. The captain finished it off with a great drag flick to beat both ‘keeper and postman. A wake-up call for College who felt the effect of the KES forwards. College launched another attack, and in a moment of madness, a KES player made unnecessary physical contact with Banele Dlamini off the ball to earn himself a red card, meaning KES would have to play the rest of the game with 10 men. From the resulting free-hit, College once again found the equaliser through Matt Smith who finished it off after the initial save was made by the goalkeeper. Half time and the score was 2-2.

It was clear that KES were not going to lie down, and they defended well as a unit and looked to catch College on the counter. College would move the ball around the field with purpose and do their best to shift the KES defence. This worked and allowed them to create multiple circle entries and KES goalkeeper had a busy time keeping the score down. The goal eventually came in the 8^th minute of the third quarter when Ethan Fabre picked out Banele Dlamini with one of his signature balls through the lines. Dlamini knocked the ball onto his backhand and calmly slotted it past the advancing goalkeeper. In the 7^th minute of the 4^th quarter, College scored their 4^th goal when Konigkramer hit a bouncing ball on his backhand with power from the top of the circle past a stationary goalkeeper who had no time to react.

KES would keep trying and found a 3^rd goal with another drag flick, this time low to Holmes’ right. This created a nervy few minutes but College capped off a solid performance with a 5^th goal, when Mosupye once again broke the line and played the ball into the circle. Konigkramer was in the right place to pounce on the rebound and flick the ball into the goal.

An exciting game of hockey that could have been closer had KES kept all their men on the field. College did well to dictate play and control the game to ensure a well-earned 5-3 victory.

Summary of results:

Cross Country

Relays were run against KES with eight teams from each school. The best Maritzburg College junior team finished in 3^rd place while the top seniors finished in 4^th and 6^th places.

Other Sporting results

Debating

The Maritzburg College debaters continued their excellent form in the League quarter finals winning both the grade 8 and senior rounds.

Grade 8:

College 1 v College 2 – College 1 won, best speaker K Mhwane Senior:

College 2 v TWC 2 – College won

Soccer

College’s 1^st XI soccer team set out to defend their Primo Big 10 title at Hilton College, this weekend. They finished second in their group and faced Westville in the quarter finals, which they won 2-1. Up against Glenwood in the semi-final, they lost 1-2.

Pool

College vs Glenwood; lost 1-2 College vs Clifton; won 3-1 College vs St Charles; won 2-0

QF

College vs Westville won 2-1

SF

College vs Glenwood lost 1-2

Report sent from:  Sally J Upfold (Director: Marketing & Communications)

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