Sports Results: Maritzburg College teams’ triumph on Reunion Day

Overview Sporting Achievements

Over the past weekend, Maritzburg College warmly welcomed hundreds of its alumni for the annual Reunion celebrations. Alongside exhilarating soccer and basketball matches pitting the Old Collegians against the current College boys, there was a thrilling lineup of hockey and rugby fixtures against Michaelhouse. The highlight was the clash between the two first XV teams on Goldstones for the FNB Classic Clash.

Across the codes and teams, matches were characterised by College’s spirited determination and commitment. College’s hockey teams did not disappoint with nine wins from 12 matches. In a hard- fought match that stood at 0-0 in the 3^rd quarter, the Red Army first XI triumphed defeating Michaelhouse 2-0. Watched by thousands of supporters gathered on Goldstones, College’s 1^st XV gave it their all from the start, and much to the delight of the Reunion Day crowd, won the match 24-17.

Rugby

College fielded 27 rugby teams on Saturday, with 24 of the matches against the boys from Balgowan. The boys of the Red Black White produced a fiery performance on Reunion Day, winning 20 of their 24 matches against Michaelhouse. The 1^st XV took to the field for the FNB Classic Clash, after a spectacular blazer display and traditional war cry with the old boys who gathered in front of Basher Ridge. From the first minute their determination, grit and courage never wavered and secured them a well-earned win.

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

Saturday was the 179^th meeting between Michaelhouse and Maritzburg College, and this encounter between the two schools was no less than an epic encounter. Michaelhouse came into the match very much on a high, after recording a good win on Gilfillan against their bitter foes Hilton College, whilst Maritzburg College were a little battered and bruised after two extremely tough fixtures up at Wildeklawer against Grey College and Paul Roos. Michaelhouse fancied themselves as favourites as they were unbeaten in KZN whilst College was looking for a good performance back at home.

College started off very brightly as they looked to wrestle momentum away from their opponents. After a great display of high tempo physical rugby, Jake Jansen off-loaded the ball to tighthead prop Aiden Botha who burst through the Michaelhouse defensive line to put away speedster Luyanda Kunene, who scored the first points of the match. College looked to score more points but a series of soft penalties at the breakdown prevented them from gaining any more momentum and allowed

Michaelhouse to get back in the game with a penalty kick of their own. On the seventeenth minute a powerful College maul was stopped agonisingly close to the Michaelhouse tryline, and after a set of powerful carries, Jake Jansen crashed over to extend College’s lead to nine points. College now had their tails up and looked to further extend their lead. This didn’t take long as Nkululeko Sithole expertly read a Michaelhouse backline move to pluck the ball in the air and race away to score under the poles much to the delight and celebration of the boys on Basher Ridge. The score remained at

19-3 at halftime with College very much in control of the match.

The second half started off with Michaelhouse hitting straight back with a try of their own after College were caught napping, gifting Michaelhouse a penalty which allowed them to drive for the College line. This allowed the visitors the momentum they had craved in the first half, allowing them to crash over to make the score 19-10 with most of the second half still to play. The match went into somewhat of a lull during the third quarter as both sides looked to deliver the knockout punch, but fortunately for the home fans, it was Maritzburg College who landed it. Yet again a series of powerful carries by their forwards allowed Naz Issacs to beat the defence of their opponents to crash over and score what proved to be the winning try of the match. Michaelhouse looked to get back in the match but resolute defence with some bone shuddering tackles put paid to any hopes they had in mounting a comeback on Goldstones. The visitors did secure a consolation try right at the death for only their second try of the game. This would be the final moment of the match much to the delight of the College side and the hundreds of supporters on Reunion Day.

Maritzburg College 24

Tries: Kunene, Jansen, Sithole, Isaacs. Conversions: Thackwray x2

Michaelhouse 17

Summary of scores

Hockey

Twelve College’s hockey teams played against Michaelhouse, and the boys produced some outstanding play to win nine of their matches. The 1^st XI were on top form, and delivered a committed performance that saw them score two goals in the last quarter of the match and bring home a great win on Reunion Day.

1st XI match report (Mr Kyle Emerson, 1st XI coach)

Michaelhouse came to College on Reunion Day after back-to-back wins, confident and dreaming of a rare win on Pape’s. The College boys had prepared well and after a routine victory the week before against St Charles, learnt some lessons and built on that performance.

Michaelhouse were shaken by the pace at which College played. They were turned over numerous times on first phase and resorted to overheads to try and gain any form of territory. Being stifled of possession, they were unable to assert themselves on the game.

College created their first chance in the opening minute of the game, a baseline circle entry which resulted in a goal. After a few moments of deliberation, the goal was disallowed for a dangerous ball into the 9-yard area. This was a warning to Michaelhouse of how threatening the College forwards can be. A few minutes later, and another right-sided circle entry saw Banele Dlamini’s shot fired just over the cross bar. College were unable to convert their chances in the first half, after a penalty corner was saved and the second never resulted in a shot at goal.

Michaelhouse did well to hang on and keep College at bay in the third quarter. The goalkeeper made a goal line clearance after a good break down the right-hand side by Ipeleng Mosupye saw him connect with Julain Konigkramer who found Ethan Maynard on the far post but he was not able to lift the ball over the diving ‘keeper. College continued to mount up the number of circle entries but Michaelhouse crowded the circle and made it difficult for them to get a shot off. The only time

Michaelhouse were able to hold onto possession, was when College were penalised with a card, on two occasions.

Some fiery words were said at the final quarter break, and College boys sprang into action and upped the pace. A nervous moment saw Michaelhouse earn their first penalty corner of the match, after a sloppy turnover in midfield led to a circle entry. However, it was easily saved by Nic Holmes. The resulting long corner saw Konigkramer turn the ball over just outside his circle and launch a great counterattack which led to the opening goal. He burst down the line and Dlamini did well to get ahead of him to receive the ball, eliminate a defender and find Konigkramer in the circle, who passed the ball to Siwa Sithembu, who made no mistake with his flick over the goalkeeper. This made Michaelhosue surge forward and they earned themselves another penalty corner, however this would be to their demise again. Awande Mthalane intercepted the ball in the circle and quickly rolled the ball outside to start another counterattack. Sithembu found Konigkramer who played a superb diagonal aerial ball across the field to Tai Fulton waiting outside the circle. The hunger and desire from Dlamini was evident as he ran the length of the field to find himself on the far post and Fulton picked him out with a pinpoint pass as he deflected it in to make it 2-0 to the home team.

This is how it ended with a 2-0 win, and College would have felt relieved that they did not let their early dominance go to waste, by finding the goals in the fourth quarter. A great performance from a passionate and motivated team who entertained the many old boys and College supporters who came out in their numbers to support.

Summary of results

Soccer

The Maritzburg College soccer teams played several midweek fixtures producing excellent results. On Reunion Day, they took on a talented team of Old Collegians, and cheered on by loyal supporters, the match ended with a 4-4 draw.

Summary of results:

1sts vs Alex, won 3-1. 2nds vs Ixopo, lost 2-1.

U15A vs Hillcrest, won 3-2.

U16A vs Riverwood 1sts, won 3-2. 1^st vs OC, drew 4-4

Squash

Well done to the College boys who participated in the final provincial squash trials last week, securing excellent results.

U19

1. Galliers – withdrew (ill)
2. Kufal – 2nd
3. Pillay – 13th
4. Premchund – 8th

U16

1. Nana – 1st
2. Mahaye – 3rd
3. Maistry – 4th
4. Johnson – 6th

Sports Report sent from Maritzburg College

1st Team Rugby rankings