Story by Brad Morgan
Basher Ridge explodes with delight as the Maritzburg College 1st XV of 1986 adds another try to its tally.
With the summer sports programme now in the rear-view mirror, the attention turns to the winter sports and rugby, of course, draws the spotlight, especially at 1st XV level.
As an introduction to the season, we thought it would be a fun exercise to travel back in time to 1986 to share in the experiences of Kevin Trodd, former Head of the Maritzburg College Old Boys’ Association and a member of the College team of 1986 with his younger brother, Brent.
The previous year’s 1985 team had been one of the greatest among many great teams produced by Maritzburg College. They had played 18 matches and won 18 times, including a 10-4 win on Goldstone’s over a Grey College team that had five South African Schools players in its ranks. Bishops were vanquished 44-0.
Inexperienced
Now, though, only Jeremy Thomson remained as a regular starter from that side. Anthony Gilson and Brenton Catterall had played sparingly.
“No expectations, but we knew we were under the spotlight,” Kevin Trodd said.
Ultimately, the 1986 team did justice to the fine traditions of Maritzburg College rugby. There was a good reason for this, Trodd explained, pointing out that three times a week during the previous year the new 1st XI had, pretty much, practiced against the outstanding 1985 1st XV. They had been battle-hardened against the best.
Captain
One matter that wasn’t an issue was captaincy. Ant Gilson had captained College through all the age groups. Now, too, he was also the Head of School.
“He was respected and knew how to manage us,” Trodd said. “He led by example and spoke when it was necessary.”
Saint Stithian’s Festival
Maritzburg College opened their season in Johannesburg at the Saint Stithian’s Festival. It was an unusual experience for the side as festivals were a relatively new concept. In fact, the Saint Stithian’s Festival had begun the previous year. There, the programme was one of play, day off, play, day off, play…
College took on Potchefstroom Boys’ High, a good team, in their first outing and managed to shut them out, running away to a confidence-building 30-0 victory. It is, of course, worth mentioning that tries at that time were worth four points.
fter a convincing win in their first run out of the season, College faced Selborne College in their second match. The East London side gave the boys from Pietermaritzburg a tough battle. At half-time it was 6-6, with College scoring a try courtesy of Kevin Trodd, who partnered Jeremy Thomson in the midfield.
After the break, though, Selborne hit the front when their left wing, Vogel, crossed the whitewash to make it 10-6. College responded well and found ripostes through Ian Vynne, then a very young standard 9 boy, and Grant Reed, although neither try was converted. Kevin Trodd then wrapped up a 20-10 win for College by adding another four-pointer, which was converted by Jim Payn.
Up against Wynberg in their last match, College bossed the contest, crossing for three tries in the first half and another two in the second as they kept their opposition without a point for the second time in three matches, winning 24-0.
Interestingly, only two teams emerged unbeaten from the Festival: Maritzburg College and Grey College. Another of the better teams of the Festival proved to be College’s traditional rivals, DHS.
Natal opener
Back home, College travelled inland to Weston for their Natal opener. There was something of a surprise in store for the favoured team from Pietermaritzburg when Weston took a 6-4 lead into half-time. It seems coach Dave Dell set College straight during the break because once the match resumed it was all College as they roared to a 32-6 victory behind a dominant performance from their pack, which netted them five second-half tries.
Dell was a straight talker and not afraid to express himself, Kevin Trodd said with a slight grin.
Rain made for difficult conditions and proved to be a great equaliser when College took on Linpark the following weekend. Surprisingly, Linpark outscored their more fancied rivals by two tries to one, but College, whose try was scored by Kevin Trodd, extended their winning streak to 27 in a row, claiming victory by just two points, 13-11.
When Trodd crossed the whitewash, he tried to get in under the poles, which freaked everyone out. Linpark had a notoriously shallow try-scoring area and they feared he would step out. After the game, Dave Dell let Trodd know that he didn’t think much of that decision.
A handsome win
Next up for Maritzburg College was Voortrekker, a team that had defeated Linpark 15-4 a week before College’s narrow win over the same opposition. Any thoughts that the contest might be a tight one were quickly dispelled by College. They took a 16-6 lead into half-time and raced clear in the second stanza, running in six tries in all, to record a handsome 40-6 win.
Kevin Trodd, who had moved to scrumhalf, went over for a try after a dazzling 50-metre break, while his brother, Brent, was also on the scoresheet. The other tries went the way of centre Jeremy Thomson, left wing Tyrone Thole, flyhalf Udo Goedeke and lock Brenton Catterall. Goedeke added five conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 20 points.
Meanwhile, Michaelhouse downed Linpark 29-15 to keep their record for the season clean, with four wins and no defeats. Bruce Herbert and company, with a powerhouse pack, were increasingly looking like the clearest challengers to College’s crown as Natal’s best. Still, Westville Boys’ High and Hilton College were also among the unbeatens.
“Who can stop Maritzburg College?”
A local newspaper, though, was convinced following College’s demolition of Voortrekker, presenting an article titled: “Same old question: Who can stop Maritzburg College?”
Glenwood, fresh off of three wins on the trot, their most recent being a clearcut 21-0 defeat of Kearsney, would be the next to try to lower College’s colours, but Goldstone’s, ominously, awaited the Durban school.
Fine form
Just a week before a much-hyped trip to Bloemfontein to take on Grey College, Maritzburg College showed they were in fine form by romping to a 29-3 win over Glenwood. As they had done on a few occasions already in the season – against Weston and against Voortrekker – College bossed the contest after the break and turned a 9-3 advantage into a 20-point victory.
Once again, Kevin Trodd found his way over the try-line, while Ian Vynne, twice, and Tyron Thole, also crossed for four-pointers. Udo Goedeke had his sights well-tuned, adding three penalties and two conversions.
“Everybody wanted to beat College. They had to pile in to get it right,” Kevin reckoned. “Our thing was we are fitter and better than them. We’d climb in in the second half.”
Also, there was little analysis of opposition done at that time. Accessible video technology did not yet exist for that. However, at halftime the coach was able to give feedback and College could adjust their game, if necessary.
Maritzburg College’s most enduring supporter, the 1st XV mascot.
Grey College clash
Amid much excitement and nervous anticipation, on 9 May, College was in Bloemfontein to face Grey College, a team packed with quality from 1 to 15. Their backline, especially, was skilful and fast.
The playmaker was Pieter de Haas, who played centre alongside the hard-tackling Buks Steenkamp. Out wide, Jannie Venter and Jaco Swanepoel offered supreme pace, while Louis Boje, the older brother of future Protea, Nicky, did duty at flyhalf. He owned an exceptionally good boot. At fullback, Ruan van der Merwe, as was the Grey way, was a key attacking option.
Up front, locks Chet Maherry and Gustav du Plessis usually dictated matters for the home side, with hooker Andries Truscott a mobile fourth loose forward. College, though, offered up a backline that could match Grey blow-for- blow, and the Maritzburg pack, while not the largest, was extremely well drilled and cohesive. Four of the players would make the Natal Schools side a little later in the season. A fantastic game was in the offing, and Grey were eager to avenge a loss to College in 1985, in one of the most hyped matches in the history of South African schoolboy rugby.
“We thought we might take a smack, because ’85 had done so well,” Kevin Trodd admitted. But College would scrap to the final whistle. “Our okes in our team had this quiet, dogged determination. We weren’t just going to get rolled over. “The first 10 minutes up there was scary [because of the altitude and the dry heat], and we had no supporters, other than a few parents. It’s not like today, when many go to varsity there. There was a lot of quiet excitement, from both sides. It was quite a nice game.”
It was more than a nice game, it was a great advertisement for South African schoolboy rugby, with both teams running in four tries apiece. Ruan van der Merwe dotted down twice for Grey, Buks Steenkamp also went over, and Jannie Venter added the fourth. For College, Jeremy Thomson scored a try. His centre partner, Brent Trodd, also breached the Grey defences, while flank Ginger Turner and eighthman Rich Dolbey added further tries for the visitors.
The difference, in the end, though, came down to the boots of the two flyhalves and, on this occasion, the advantage belonged to Grey’s Louis Boje. He converted just one of his team’s tries, but added two penalties, while Udo Goedeke managed only two conversions, leaving Grey College the winners by a narrow 24-20 margin. That defeat brought to an end a 28-game winning streak for College.
Alex suffers College backlash
Captain Ant Gilson and company did not take kindly to that loss. Unfortunately for Alexandra High, they faced the backlash from College the following weekend.
With the College pack bossing matters up front, it become more and more one-sided the longer the match continued. At half-time, Maritzburg College led 25-3, and when Alex began to tire from the massive amount of defending they were subjected to College ran wild to power away to a 63-3 victory, crossing for 11 tries. Eight conversions and a penalty by Udo Geodeke did Alex no favours. However, they were helped by the match being stopped slightly early to allow rugby fans to get down to Durban in time to watch the Springboks and the rebel New Zealand Cavaliers do battle.
The Trodd brothers were among the try scorers again, while winger Ian Vynne, with a hat-trick, and Tyrone Thole, with a brace, also scored. Flank Warren Wilson added another two tries, and flank Gino Turner was on the scoresheet for the second week in a row.
Meanwhile, Hilton’s unbeaten record was well and truly ended by Grey College, who ran out 43-11 winners in a curtain-raiser played at Kings Park. Michaelhouse remained unbeaten, but they faced a major challenge in their next game. It was against Maritzburg College.
Michaelhouse showdown
With four players in their pack who would represent Natal at the Craven Week later in the year, Michaelhouse had the firepower to match College up front, it seemed. Also, the match was in Balgowan. If any team from Natal could take down College, many believed it was going to be Michaelhouse.
It was very tight in the first half, with College shading it on the scoreboard 9-6, thanks to three penalties from Udo Goedeke. Scrumhalf Murray Collins, who would represent Natal at the Craven Week, crossed for a converted try for the home team. With half the game gone, Michaelhouse looked to have the measure of College up front. However, Jeremy Thomson was about to show Michaelhouse the class that would earn him selection for the South African Schools side. He sliced though the home team’s defences to score two tries and set up another two as College ripped the hosts apart.
What had been a tight contest became a one-sided hiding, with College running in five second-half tries – Tyrone Thole, Brent Trodd and Ginger Turner also scored – and Udo Goedeke adding four conversions and a penalty. It ended 40-6.
“That was Jeremy ‘s top game,” Kevin Trodd opined. “It was just one of those days. We kicked into gear. Things worked.”
Michaelhouse, to be fair, had been affected by the after-effects of a hepatitis outbreak, which had seen their team quarantined for three weeks.
“Only a disaster can stop College”
“Only a disaster can stop College” a newspaper headline rang out ahead of their next game against Hilton College, which would take place on Old Boys’ Day on Goldstone’s. Their narrow four-point loss to Grey College, who subsequently thumped Hilton by 32 points, suggested the writer had read the tea leaves correctly.
However, Hilton had given the unbeaten College side of 1985 one of its toughest games, and matches are not played on paper. Also, star centre Jeremy Thomson had suffered a bruised heel and was forced to miss the clash. A decision was made to play the Trodd brothers in the midfield.
In a very tight match, Hilton managed two penalties from Rowan Varner, who would be selected for the South African Schools cricket team later that year. College replied through a try from Udo Geodeke. He was, then, presented with a difficult conversion attempt from out wide, but struck the ball sweetly. Goedeke’s kick passed high above the posts. It was close, but the two linemen raised their flags. However, referee Mark Howard-Browne disagreed and overruled his linesmen.
In a stunning upset, Rory Dyer’s Hilton 1st XV, thanks to a gritty defensive effort, became the first Natal team to win on Goldstone’s since 1980, sneaking a 6-4 win. For the record, the last Natal team to win on Goldstone’s all those years earlier had been DHS, who won 17-10.
From 1981 to the end of the 1985 season, College had since been on a tear. During that time, they won 74 matches, drew three and lost only two. The newspaper headline that followed the big upset win read “Hilton beard the College lion”.
Natal Schools selections
The following week, Natal Schools trials were held at Kings Park, with six sides in action: North Durban, South Durban, Maritzburg, Midlands, Highways, and a Selectors XV. When the Natal side was announced, it included six College players and five from Michaelhouse. The College boys included Warren Wilson, Richard Dolbey, Brenton Catterall, Udo Goedeke, Jeremy Thomson, and Ant Gilson, who captained the team.
At the Craven Week, Natal accounted for the always strong Northern Transvaal after a tremendous tussle. They were narrow 4-6 losers to Eastern Province, and then beat Far North. Jeremy Thomson and Escourt’s Leon van Rooyen made the SA Schools side.
DHS derby
Having lost to Hilton, Maritzburg College had a chance to right the ship on Old Boys’ Day against their traditional rivals, Durban High School, which was founded in 1866, just three years after College. Playing free-flowing running rugby, with excellent link up play between their loose forwards and backs, College roared into a 13-0 lead, with Ian Vynne going over for a try and Udo Goedeke adding a try, conversion and penalty. They led by that margin at the break.
In the second half, DHS, exhibiting great character, took the game to College. They got onto the board with a fantastic try which had begun in their 22, and soon added a second, which went unconverted, but left them trailing by only three points. A penalty by Goedeke gave College some breathing room at 16-10 (remember tries were worth four points), and he then sealed the deal by selling a terrific dummy to go over beneath the posts for a try. He added the extras and the red, black and white sealed a 22-10 victory.
Goldstone’s then welcomed Kearsney, who made the short trip up from Botha’s Hill. They put in a strong effort, but Maritzburg College had their measure, triumphing 14-3.
Nine scintillating tries
It was next the turn of Northlands, who had enjoyed some excellent results in 1986, to visit the capital city of Natal. They were put to the sword as College ran in nine scintillating tries. Presented with good quality ball, the Maritzburg backline revelled, with Jeremy Thomson leading the way. Wingers Ian Vynne and Tyrone Thole and fullback Jim Payn made hay, too. Northlands managed six points through an intercept try, but by then they were already 22-6 down. It was one-way traffic.
After turning with the score at 28-6, Maritzburg College added a further 24 points in the second half without conceding any to record a lopsided 52-6 victory. Jeremy Thomson and Ian Vynne scored a brace of tries each, with Jim Payn, Tyrone Thole, Udo Goedeke, Warren Wilson, and Brenton Catterall also dotting down. Udo Goedeke knocked over eight conversions.
DHS on Founders Day
Matters were going to be a lot tougher in their next game, with College travelling to Durban for the second clash with DHS of the season. It would take place on the Durban school’s Founders Day. “It was one of the biggest pressure games,” Kevin Trodd recalled.
In front of a big crowd, DHS hit the front through a penalty, but Maritzburg College hit back through a Jim Payn try, converted by Goedeke. At half-time, though, it was the home side that led 7-6 after Mike Woods crossed for a try.
College had DHS under pressure in the second half, but failed to convert a number of chances. Their pressure and persistence, nonetheless, eventually told and Jim Payn and Brent Trodd went over for four-pointers, one of which Udo Goedeke converted, to see College to a 16-7 win.
Rejuvenated Glenwood rematch
Waiting to take on College in their next outing was a rejuvenated Glenwood line-up. After losing to the team from Pietermaritzburg earlier in the season, they had then gone down to Northlands. Since then, though, they had beaten DHS 8-3, Westville 17-15, and outplayed Hilton 20-7. Wind in Durban made it a game of two halves, with College opening up a 13-0 lead in the first half, through tries from Anthony Gilson and Ian Vynne, one of which Goedeke converted. He also slotted a penalty.
Glenwood used the wind intelligently in the second half to pin College deep in their territory. They were rewarded with tries by Craig Hampson and Craig Reiche, both converted by Shaun McMahon, which left them one point behind College. Then, in the last five minutes of the game, Glenwood charged down an attempted College clearance. They shifted the ball down the backline to Natal Schools’ centre, Trevor Labuschagne, who slotted a drop goal to put his team in front for the first time. With little time remaining, Glenwood held on for a narrow 15-13 victory.
Recalling Glenwood’s match winning score, Kevin Trodd said: “The game was [almost] over, but they kept coming. I saw Trevor Labuschagne. He dropped back a bit. We could see they were working for a dropped goal. I chased him [and tried to charge down the kick], and it snuck over. “
Season finale
Maritzburg College’s season ended with a visit from Pretoria Boys’ High, who gave College everything they could handle on Goldstone’s. PBHS had been through an inconsistent season, defeating Saint Stithian’s and King Edward VII, but losing by some margin to Grey College and DHS. Thus, College was expected to secure a routine victory. It was anything but easy.
The teams exchanged first half penalties before good link up play between the forwards and backs led to Jeremy Thomson putting Ian Vynne in the clear to dot down for the home side. The conversion attempt was from an acute angle, but Udo Goedeke knocked it through the uprights. At half-time, College were 9-3 to the good.
After the break, the visitors dictated terms in the second stanza. They were rewarded when one of their wings, Nourse, went over for a try, but it was unconverted. A last-minute attempt by PBHS to slot a drop goal from in front of the uprights went awry and College came away with a 9-7 victory.
Reflecting on the 1986 1st XV
Despite starting the season with an extremely inexperienced team at 1st XV level, College ended the it with 14 victories and only three defeats, and those three came by the very slim margins of just four, two and two points. Not much had been expected of the 1986 team, but they had risen to the expectations that were traditionally accorded the Maritzburg College 1st XV. They had shown the fight, the fitness, the skill and the pride that were synonymous with the red, black and white, and they had been rewarded with a season they could look back on with pride.
The following year, Brenton Catterall captained the Maritzburg College 1st XV. He also captained Natal Schools, and then South African Schools.
Brenton Catterall, South African Schools’ captain in 1987.
Udo Goedeke, meanwhile, became one of those rare sportsmen to represent South African Schools at both rugby and cricket.
Warren Wilson and Grant Reed were also selected for South African Schools, bringing to four the number of players who represented College in 1986 who went on to make it to the top rung of schoolboy rugby in the country.
Coach’s thoughts
At the conclusion of the season, coach Dave Dell shared his thoughts on his team. They read: “Mr Dell didn’t expect the team to be as successful as it has been as only one player remained from last year’s team. However, what they lacked in basic skill, they made up for in tremendous determination and spirit.
“Jeremy Thomson was the main instigator of tries… Mr Dell would rate him as probably the best centre since [future Springbok] Andy van der Watt. “Mr Dell also commends Udo Goedeke, who came from the fifth team, to score 174 points this season, which puts him in the top five points’ scorers ever in a season.
“Obviously, all those boys who were selected for the Natal Schools side deserve our congratulations, but Mr Dell would particularly like to congratulate “Gino” Turner, who must be rated as one of the greatest triers the school has ever had as he was even prepared to play hooker in the final game, when illness and injury deprived us of first team hookers.”
RESULTS
Maritzburg College 30-0 Potchefstroom
Maritzburg College 20-10 Selborne College
Maritzburg College 24-0 Wynberg Boys’ High
Maritzburg College 32-6 Weston
Maritzburg College 13-11 Linpark
Maritzburg College 40-6 Voortrekker
Maritzburg College 29-3 Glenwood
Maritzburg College 20-24 Grey College
Maritzburg College 63-3 Alexandra High
Maritzburg College 40-6 Michaelhouse
Maritzburg College 4-6 Hilton College
Maritzburg College 14-3 Kearsney College
Maritzburg College 22-10 DHS
Maritzburg College 52-6 Northlands
Maritzburg College 16-7 DHS
Maritzburg College 13-15 Glenwood
Maritzburg College 9-7 Pretoria Boys’ High
P 17 W 14 L 3
PF 411 PA 123