It was a busy week for the Saints sport teams. The senior swimming squad performed very well, finishing in top spot at the Dimont Gala, while the track and field athletes enjoyed the start of the aQuelle Series at the Msunduzi Athlteics Stadium.
The block fixture for the week was against Maritzburg College and the first team cricket and basketball encounters are reported by the respective Head Coaches as follows:
City Derby Thriller Goes Down to the Wire (Divan van Wyk)
Saturday’s city derby delivered everything one could hope for as St Charles College hosted Maritzburg College on a glorious summer’s day, with both teams producing a contest worthy of the occasion.
Winning the toss, St Charles College elected to bat first on a fresh wicket being used for the first time this season. The Blue and Gold skipper made the calculated call, aware that while the surface might play a touch slow early on, it traditionally rewards patience and becomes excellent for batting as the innings progresses.
What wasn’t in the script, however, was the outstanding new-ball spell from Reece Willson, who bowled with real class and control. Supported well by his bowling partners, Maritzburg applied relentless pressure as St Charles found themselves reeling at 59 for 5. Willson claimed three key wickets, while two LBW decisions—more a result of shots played than extravagant appeals—added to the visitors’ momentum.
Just when the hosts needed something special, Ryan Clarke and Relebogile Mokoena rose to the occasion in emphatic fashion. Their magnificent 118-run partnership for the sixth wicket dragged St Charles firmly back into the contest and showcased grit, skill, and composure under pressure.
Clarke was simply flawless, crafting a superb unbeaten 100, his maiden century for the Blue and Gold, fittingly sealed with a boundary off the final ball of the innings. Mokoena complemented him beautifully with a high-quality 50, as St Charles closed on 186—a total that gave them a chance, though not a guaranteed path to victory, on a good batting wicket.
With the ball, St Charles College started superbly. Opening bowlers Jack Richards and Jayden Saville struck early, reducing Maritzburg to 27 for 2 and setting the tone for a fiercely contested chase. The visitors steadied through a composed partnership between Dax Jursa and Luan van der Merwe, who batted intelligently, rotating strike well and punishing anything loose. Yet what stood out most was the relentless intensity of the St Charles First XI in the field.
Perhaps the proudest moment for Blue and Gold supporters was witnessing just how hard this team stayed in the contest. On a true batting deck, the boys threw themselves around, hunted wickets, and created chances relentlessly—coming agonisingly close to three early run-outs, each time missing the stumps by inches.
The bowling effort was nothing short of outstanding. Kaiyuran Naidoo, ever reliable, delivered a superb spell of 2 for 18 from 10 overs, while Jayden Saville returned to claim 4 for 26 in 8 overs, keeping St Charles firmly in the hunt right until the end.
In a thrilling finish, the match went down to the final over, with Maritzburg College eventually edging home by one wicket. Next up, the boys travel to Michaelhouse this week, with hopes that the weather allows for yet another epic encounter.
Well done to the men in Blue and Gold, and thank you to Maritzburg College for a superb game of cricket.
Basketball – The City Derby (as reported by Head Coach, Darren Holcomb)
St Charles College hosted long-time rivals Maritzburg College in a highly anticipated basketball fixture, played just a week after the two sides met in the AISJ Tournament semi-finals, a contest that College had won. With the rematch taking place on their home court, the Saints were eager to test themselves once more against the highly ranked visitors and prove their growth in front of a passionate home crowd.
A capacity crowd and a vibrant atmosphere set the stage for a high-stakes encounter. From the opening tip-off, however, it was College who looked the more settled side, handling the occasion with composure and executing well at both ends of the court. Their disciplined play and intense defensive pressure allowed them to slowly but surely build a nine-point advantage.
St Charles College took time to adjust to the pressure defence but showed resilience, finding ways to break the press and generate scoring opportunities. Unfortunately for the home side, their finishing let them down at crucial moments. Missed makeable shots and missed lay-ups only added to the pressure, preventing the Saints from closing the gap.
The contest remained competitive through the first three periods, with both teams playing quality basketball. Despite this, College was able to maintain its nine-point cushion throughout. When St Charles College looked poised to mount a final push, the visitors responded immediately, showing maturity and control under pressure.
Relentless offensive rebounding and calm execution proved decisive for College, while the Saints ultimately struggled to sustain their intensity. As the final quarter unfolded, College pulled away to claim a convincing 70–49 victory, once again underlining their quality in this storied rivalry.
While the result did not go the Saints’ way, the fixture showcased the strength of school basketball and the intensity that continues to define encounters between these two proud rivals.
