Overview Sporting Achievements
Over 750 boys and staff from Maritzburg College travelled up to Pretoria Boys’ High (PBHS) in what must be one of the biggest school exchanges in the country. Over the years this has grown from only a sporting exchange focused on hockey and rugby, to one which encompasses the rich cultural and sporting diversity of both these schools.
The exchange saw 28 rugby matches and 15 hockey teams take part, while the schools also competed in chess, mountain biking, table tennis, squash, public speaking and debating. In addition, the Big Band musical evening was a very special event which celebrated the musical talents of the boys from College and Boys’ High.
While most of the sporting activity was up at PBHS this weekend, College’s squash, soccer and newly established volleyball teams competed in local tournaments. Congratulations to 6th former Luke Akerman who won the Maritzburg Golf Club championship over the weekend with a well-played 142 – 2 under par.
Rugby
Nine busloads (28 teams) of keen and enthusiastic rugby boys arrived at PBHS ready to fight for dominance on the rugby fields and did not disappoint, winning an outstanding 25 of their 28 matches. There were very convincing victories for the U14A, U15A, U16A and 2nd XV. However, it was the closing match perfor=mance of the 1st XV, on the back of excellent Easter festival results, which touched the hearts of the #RedBlackWhite supporters. A gritty and determined group, despite not having the captain Kadira in the side sidelined with an ankle injury, they worked as a team, and secured a very well-deserved 47-15 win.
1st XV match report (Mr Kelvin Elder – 1st XV coach)
The start of the 1st team game heralded perfect conditions for running rugby. Early into the match PBHS managed to get on the scoreboard with a converted penalty. With their tails up, they then managed to score their first of two tries in the match when they punctured the College defence after a period of sustained possession allowed them to dot the ball down in the corner. College captain, Kuhle Mthimkhulu returned the favour straight after the kick-off and dotted the ball down under the posts to open up College’s account.
College was exceptionally brave on their defense throughout the match, not allowing the hosts to gain further momentum. This sustained pressure allowed College to get over the line once again taking the score into half time 12-8 in College’s favour.
The second half saw College continue the momentum, dominating the possession and running in five tries which resulted in a final score of 47-15. An outstanding performance from in-form fullback, Luyanda Kunene, saw the young man taking the Man of the Match award.
College will travel to Kimberly this coming weekend to participate in the Wilderklawer festival where they will play Stellenberg and Framesby.
Maritzburg College 47
Tries: K. Mthimkulu, C. Reardon (2), L. du Toit, R. Quin, E Mouton, P Kubheka
Conversions: L du Toit (5), J. Slevin
Pretoria Boys’ High 15
Summary of results:
Hockey
College fielded 15 hockey teams against PBHS, in what were some very closely contested matches. With draws for most the open teams, the U16A continued their impressive season with a 2-0 victory, while the U14A team secured a 1-0 win.
1st XI march report (Mr Kyle Emerson – 1st XI coach)
Travelling to Pretoria to take on PBHS is never easy. The determination and fight which ‘Boys High play with is difficult enough, and to do it at altitude is a tough adjustment.
The game started at a high pace as both teams pressed each other high up the field. Both teams moved the ball well and played with good structure as they tried to break the other team down. PBHS earned two penalty corners in the first half but couldn’t get a shot off and threaten the goal.
It was in the third quarter that College would really start to assert themselves on the game and create some good chances, but were unable to convert. The best chance of the game fell to Brokensha and Bernstein who were able to create a 2 vs 1 with the goalkeeper after a counterattack but were unable to connect and find the back of the net.
A few minutes later, the College pressure allowed them to earn a stroke. Unfortunately, they couldn’t open the scoring with this as the PBHS goalkeeper saved it. College would rue this missed chance as early in the fourth quarter PBHS opened the scoring. Nick Holmes did well to save the first shot, but he was then impeded from getting up as the forward fell on top of him, and when the College defender tried to clear the ball, he was taken out by PBHS forward, only for the ball to fall to a PBHS forward who hit the ball into the goal. The umpire adjudged there to be no foul play and awarded the goal. This only got the College men more fired up and four minutes from time a good ball was played into the circle by Asanda Khumalo who found Banele Dlamini and, after skilfully beating two defenders, he flicked the ball into the net.
College would earn two more penalty corners in the dying minutes but were unable to score and take the lead. The game would end 1-1 with College feeling like they had done enough to earn the win, but couldn’t convert opportunities.
Summary of results:
Other sporting and cultural codes vs PBHS
There were also excellent results for College’s other sporting and cultural teams against PBHS.
Cycling
College’s senior cyclists dominated the track event which took part at Grootfontein MTB Park, while our juniors gave a good account of themselves but weren’t as strong as PBHS on the day.
Seniors:
1st Luke Newlands
3rd Cole Sellick
5th Brent Foster
6th Ethan Kock
7th Michael Jewaskiewitz
9th James Anderson
Juniors:
2nd Kayden Searle
4th Daniel Janneker
Squash
College vs PBHS won 13-9.
Table tennis
College vs PBHS won 16-14.
Chess
The College chess team played 3 rounds, winning 2 and losing 1.
Golf
College unfortunately lost 1-3 to PBHS in the golf matches played at the Waterkloof Club.
Debating
College’s senior debating team (open age), made up of KZN provincial level debaters, went up against opponents of a similar calibre from PBHS, and did very well to win. The College junior team who are Pietermaritzburg league players lost to PBHS.
Public speaking
In a format which proved challenging, College’s participants acquitted themselves very well. Sixth former, Kristen Marais achieved 90% and tied in 1st position with the PBHS speaker. Matthew van Rooyen and Keegan Steele also achieved distinctions.
While most of the sport activity was up at PBHS this weekend, our soccer and newly established volleyball teams competed in local events.
Golf
Congratulations to 6th former Luke Akerman who won the Maritzburg Golf Club championship over the weekend with a well-played 142 – 2 under par. Luke’s father, Jonty Akerman, is an Old Collegian who won the same trophy in 1999.
Cycling
After returning from PBHS, College’s cyclists took part Shongweni XCO Champs #2 event and posted the following results:
- Luke Newlands overall placing 18th and 5th in age category
- Cole Sellick overall placing 24th and 8th in age category
- Kayden Searle overall placing 33rd and 4th in age category
- Michael Jewaskiewitz overall placing 36th and 10th in age category
- Ethan Kock overall placing 37th and 11th in age category
Squash
Locally, several of College’s top players were involved in the highly competitive KZN Junior Closed tournament, hosted in PMB on Friday and at Westville Country Club on Sunday. Amongst top players from various schools across the province, the boys did their school proud. Individual results in the different age groups were as follows:
U/19:
- 5th – W. Galliers
- 3rd – T. Pratt
U16:
- 17th – K. Pillay
- 13th – J. Maistry
- 9th – T. Kufal
- 8th – V. Premchund
- 5th – T. Nana
Soccer
This week our soccer teams kicked-off their much anticipated KZN High Schools 2nd Term League fixtures with a mixed bag of results as follows:
- u15A vs Hillcrest, Drew 0 – 0
- u14A vs SASTRI, Lost 4 – 1
- u16A vs Glenwood, Won 2 – 1.
- 2nds vs Alex, Lost 3 – 0.
Our 1st Team starts their League campaign this Wednesday vs Newton on Barns Field at 3pm and will then be travelling to Kimberley for the Wildeklawer Sports Tournament.
Volleyball
As a very newly established sporting code at College, the volleyball teams did very well playing against Westville, Northwood and Highway College, winning four of their five matches and losing just one.
U15
Vs Highway College A won 2-1
U19
Vs Westville 2nd won 2-0
Vs Westville 3rd won 2-0
Vs Northwood 1st lost 0-2
Shooting
College boys took part in the KZN Open Championship held at Newcastle
U20 10m SPORTER
2nd. J Kauffman
4th. K Parker
5th. R Pitout
6th. Z Desebrook
7th. J Martin
U16 10m Sporter
3rd. N Naidoo
4th. M. Naidoo
5th. P Khumalo
U20 3P Sporter
3rd. J Kauffman
4th. R Pitout
6th. K Parker
7th. J Martin
8th. Z Desebrook
U16 3P Sporter
3rd. N Naidoo
4th. M Naidoo
6th. P Khumalo