Overview
The weather proved challenging for Maritzburg College’s first round of winter fixtures, with teams travelling to DHS. All the 1st team hockey matches had to be cancelled on Friday due to heavy rain, but Saturday saw 11 hockey teams in action against DHS and Northwood. Thirty rugby teams played with plenty of guts and determination in the main against DHS with some filler games against Michaelhouse, Hilton and Westville.
Congratulations to the College canoeists who continue to produce excellent results, competing this weekend in the Umkomaas marathon, while the school’s squash players produced very good results at the Growth Point Open held in Pietermaritzburg over the weekend.
Rugby
Thirty College rugby teams took to the field against Durban High School, and the teams fought hard with plenty of guts and determination across the age categories to win 10 of the 21 games. Congratulations to our 14A who secured a great 22-5 victory in their first game for College.
1st XV match report (Nico Breedt – 1st XV coach))The Winter rugby season of 2025 commenced with an opening away fixture, against College’s oldest rivals, DHS.
There was plenty of anticipation and excitement around the opportunity to play one of the top 1st XV sides in KZN. Coming away with a victory would be seen by some as somewhat of an upset, but what better motivation to work and prepare even harder. With all the hype and hard work over the off season, the time had finally arrived.
On a somewhat slippery surface the conditions were such that the team with the best execution of a tactical territory game, would ultimately reign supreme. Combined with set piece dominance and resilient defence, victory would be inevitable.
The first half was for the most part a very equal affair. College kicked two challenging penalties from almost the same area on the field. And after trailing 3-0 early in the match, College lead most of the second half 6-3. Losing College’s vice-captain and outside centre early in the half, due to an unfortunate head knock, made the task slightly more of a challenge but the boys remained focused and positive regardless. With four minutes remaining, DHS scored the first try of the match which was also converted. Soon after, on the stroke of half time, DHS kicked through another loose ball and scored again under the poles. Half time score 6-17 in favour of the home team.
The second half, unfortunately for College, was mostly dominated by DHS. DHS’s superior execution of territorial tactics pinned College deep in their own half for most part of the rest of the game. The College defence was put under enormous pressure and albeit very gutsy, DHS converted that pressure into another two tries, of which one was converted.
With the score favouring DHS 29-6 and almost 15 minutes remaining, there was a sense of inevitability that the home side was going to run away with it. In true College spirit the College boys never gave up and DHS did not score again. With a couple of minutes left, after defending for most of the second half, College were able to score their first try which was also converted.
Maritzburg College 13 DHS 29
Penalties 2, Cahill
Tries: 1, Vyambwera
Conversion 1, Tsoko.
Summary of scores
| Team | Opposition | Result |
| 1st | DHS | L 13-29 |
| 2nd | DHS | L 15-22 |
| 3rd | DHS | W 7-5 |
| 4th | DHS | L 5-12 |
| 5th | DHS | W 17-14 |
| 6th | DHS | W 32-0 |
| 7th | MHS | W 14-7 |
| 8th | MHS | W 24-5 |
| 9th | Hilton 7th | L 0-33 |
| 10th | MHS 9th | L 3-5 |
| 11th | Hilton 8th | L 7-33 |
| 16A | DHS | L 23-25 |
| 16B | DHS | L 0-7 |
| 16C | DHS | W 14-9 |
| 16D | DHS | W 19-3 |
| 16E | DHS | W 27-7 |
| 16F | Westville E | W 27-12 |
| 15A | DHS | L 7-19 |
| 15B | DHS | L 7-24 |
| 15C | DHS | W 15-14 |
| 15D | DHS | W 34-10 |
| 15E | DHS | W 63-0 |
| Team | Opp | Result |
| 14A | DHS | W 22-5 |
| 14B | DHS | L 0-17 |
| 14C | DHS | L 7-15 |
| 14D | DHS | L 12-14 |
| 14E | DHS | L 31-33 |
| 14F | Westville 14E | L 12-36 |
| 14G | Westville 14F | L 17-29 |
Hockey
Torrential rain on Thursday and Friday saw several fixtures cancelled including all the A team games. College won seven of the 11 hockey matches played over the weekend, losing 4.
Summary of results
| Team | Opposition | Result |
| 1st | DHS | Cancelled |
| 2nd | DHS | Cancelled |
| 3rd | DHS | Cancelled |
| 4th | Northwood 5th | W 10-0 |
| 5th | Northwood 6th | W 5-0 |
| 16A | DHS | Cancelled |
| 16B | DHS | L 0-2 |
| 16C | DHS | L 1-3 |
| 16D | DHS | W 3-2 |
| 16E | DHS | W 4-1 |
| 16F | Northwood | W 4-1 |
| 16G | Northwood | W 4-0 |
| 16H | Northwood | L 0-5 |
| 14A | DHS | Cancelled |
| 14B | DHS | W 4-0 |
| 14C | DHS | Cancelled |
| 14D | DHS | Cancelled |
| 14E | Northwood | L 2-3 |
Canoeing
College’s canoeists competed in the Umkomaas marathon held over two days with the highest water levels recorded in a while.
Results
Jack Odell and (OC) Nick Cook – 9th
James Gotte and Matt Wilson (Hilton) 13th overall and 1st U18 K2
Keegan Vogt and partner Marco Magni 19th
Matt Rawson and Jordan Byres (Hilton) 27th and 2nd U18 K2.
Squash
Well done to the Maritzburg College squash players who competed in the Growth Point Open held in Pietermaritzburg this weekend, achieving the following rankings:
Nana – 2nd U19
Premchund – 3rd U19
Kufal – 7th U19
Mahaye – 2nd U17
Maistry – 4th U17