Maritzburg College boys had a very busy Easter holiday sport programme participating in various hockey and rugby festivals as well as competing in golf, cycling, canoeing, swimming and tennis events around the country. The school hosted the U.19 Nomads hockey festival which saw 10 teams take part over three days. College was also the host for the annual Skonk Nicholson U.16 and U.14 rugby festival with 20 teams participating.

Rugby

Overall College’s rugby teams had a very showing at the various festivals winning 10 of their 15 matches, drawing one and losing four. The Maritzburg College 1st XV took part in the St John’s Easter Festival winning two of their three matches. The U14A and U16A teams were undefeated at the Skonk Nicholson Festival playing some excellent rugby, while the U15A side travelled to Gauteng forthe Francois Swart festival hosted by Affies, winning one game, drawing one and losing one.

1st team reports (Mr Tim Orchard, 1st XV coach)

Vs Boland Landbou

Boland Landbou were too strong for Maritzburg College claiming a 32-17 win in College’s first match of the St John’s Easter Rugby Festival. The first half was a bruising encounter between the two schools, with Boland enjoying the better of the early exchanges, and keeping College in their half for an extended period. At halftime Boland were 17-5 in front. The second half saw a shift in possession with College having more time on the ball. Boland enjoyed a few moments of magic and these were in the end what made the difference giving them a well. deserved win, although the final score of 32-17 perhaps not fully doing justice to College’s performance.

Vs SACS

Maritzburg College left it late to narrowly beat SACS 26-24 in a highly entertaining match at the St John’s College Easter Rugby Festival. The first half saw SACS finding their rhythm the quickest, often also catching College out against the run of play. College were happy to take on the boys from Cape town physically, while SACS looked good finding the space and playing the ball out wide. The running rugby was the winner in the half, with SACS closing out the half with a 19-7 lead. The second half saw a thrilling contest, with SACS enjoying the lead for the majority of the game. College however always kept within touching distance, with both teams exchanging blows on the scoreboard. It was the boys from the KZN capital that had the last laugh as they scored a late try toclaim a narrow 26-24 victory.

Vs Lions XV

College were always favourites going into the clash, but the Lions put in an inspiring first half performance, to go down 5-0 at the break. The Lions had opportunities of their own to get points on the board, but the penalties just simply didn’t land. The second half saw the Lions scoring their first points of the festival through a well worked team try, which was converted. College looked better in the second half, which was evident in the scoreline. The Lions conceded a bulk of tries around the outside, with College combining well in the backline to set off their wingers, who constantly troubled the Lions defence. In the end, College finished their festival run on a high, securing a valuable 24-7 victory.

14A
Opposition Result

• Zwartkop Won 19 – 14
• EG Jansen Won 33 – 28
• St Charles Won 21 – 19

15A

• Helpmekaar Drew 17 – 17
• Noordheuwel Lost 8 – 10
• Jeppe Won 40 – 7

16B

• HS Centurion Lost 17 – 29
• HTS Middelburg Lost 7 – 24
• Zwartkop Won 76 – 0

16A

• Zwartkop Won 19 – 15
• Garsfontein Won 22 – 18
• St Charles Won 55 – 0

1st XV

• Boland Landbou Lost 19 – 32
• SACS Won 26 – 24
• Lions XV Won 24 – 7
• Played 15 Won 10 Drew 1 Lost 4

Hockey

College’s 1st XI, U16A and U14A sides participated in various Nomads festivals while the 2nd XI took part in the Keith Fairweather festival at Michaelhouse, the U16B side travelled to Jeppe for the Jeppe Mercian festival, and the U14B team competed in the Ken Florens festival hosted at Northwood. The 1st XI also took part in the King Edward VII (KES) Easter festival winning three of their five matches, drawing one and losing one.

Summary of results

2nd XI Team (Keith Fairweather Festival at Michaelhouse):

The 2nd XI did very well at the festival, winning five of their eight matches, drawing two and losing just one game.

• VS Bishops drew 0 – 0
• VS Jim Fouche won 10 – 0
• VS Volkskool Potchefstroom won 5 – 0
• VS St Andrews Bloemfontein won 4 – 0
• VS Midstream College won 2 – 1
• VS Grey College drew 0 – 0
• VS Falcon College won 3 – 2
• VS Linden lost 1 – 2

U16 B Team (Mercian Festival at Jeppe):

The College U16B team were undefeated at the Mercian festival winning al their matches and

• drawing against St David’s 2-2.
• VS Parktown u16A won 2 – 1
• VS Jeppe u16B won 1 – 0
• VS St David’s u16A drew 2 – 2
• VS St Johns u16B won 5 – 0
• VS St Benedict’s won 1 – 0

U14 B Team (Ken Florens Festival at Northwood):

The festival hosted at Northwood provided a great learning experience for the U14B team who did very well winning three of their five matches.

• VS Jeppe Won 4-0
• VS Northwood Invitational Won 4-1
• VS Grey College Lost 1-3
• VS Ashton College Won 3-1
• VS SACS Lost 2-3

U16 A Team (Nomads Hockey Festival at PBHS):

College’s U16A team faced some strong competition at the Nomads festival winning two of their five games.

• VS Grey High Lost 2-4
• VS Wynberg Drew 2-2
• VS St John’s Won 1-0
• VS Selborne Won 2-0
• VS Jeppe Lost 0-4

U14 A Team (Nomads Hockey Festival at Hilton College):

Hilton College was the host for the 2024 U14 Nomads which saw the College team win three of their

matches and draw one, showing statistics of 16 goals for and only 5 against.

1st XI Team (Nomads Hockey Festival at Maritzburg College):

College’s 1st XI won two of their matches at the 2024 U19 Nomads hosted on the campus.

• VS Grey High Lost 2-3
•  Wynberg Won 1-0
• VS St John’s Won 2-1
• VS Selborne Lost 0-2
• VS Jeppe Lost 0-1

1st XI Team (KES Hockey Festival):

The 1st team then travelled up to Gauteng for the KES Easter festival which saw them win three of their matches, draw one and lose one.

• VS Queens College Won 3-0
• VS Waterkloof Won 1-0
• VS Rondebosch Drew 1-1
• VS Parktown Won 3-0
• VS Grey College Lost 0-1

Cycling

College’s cycling team raced at Thaba Trails in Gauteng during the holidays competing against top cyclists from around the country.

Friday 29th March XCC:

Youth category:

• Kayden Searle 23rd

Junior Men category:

• Cole Sellick 22nd
• Brent Foster 26th
• Michael Jewaskiewitz 34th

Saturday 30th March XCO:

Youth category:

• Kayden Searle 21st
• Junior Men category:
• Luke Newlands 12th
• Brent Foster 29th
• Michael Jewaskiewitz 34th
• Cole Sellick 38th

Canoeing

Three College canoeists produced exceptional results at the SA Sprint Championships at Germiston Lake, racing over four distances (5000m, 1000m, 500m and 200m).

Keegan Vogt secured 1st place in the K1 U16 500m, 1000m and 5000m events and finished 2nd in the 200m race. In the K2 doubles he won the 200m, 500m and 1000m events with his partner, and also took part in the K2 mixed doubles finished 5th in both the 200m and 500m events.

Josh Worthmann raced in the K1 U16 events, finishing in 7th place in the 200m, 5th place in both the 500m and 1000m, and 9th in the 5000m event. Paddling in a K2 he secured 2nd places in both the 5000 and 1000m races, and finished 3rd in the 200m event. Competing in the mixed doubles, he came 3rd in the 200m and 2nd in the 500m races.

Keigan Clarke raced in the K1 U14 events, securing 4th place in the 200m, 3rd place in the 500m and 1000m events and 4th position in the 5000m. In the K2 events he won the 500m, and finished 2nd in the 200m and 1000m races. In the mixed doubles he secured a 2nd place in the 200m race.

Tennis

The tennis team headed to the St Stithian’s festival to play against the top tennis team from around the country. With some excellent individual performances, the boys finished in 9th place overall.

Golf

College’s golfers took part in the Affies festival finishing in 9th place.

Swimming

Top College swimmer Ricky Lottering recently competed at the South African Junior Nationals and swam exceptionally well, earning three gold medals, two silver and one bronze. Next up is the Senior Nationals which doubles up as Olympic trials. Ricky has been long listed for the Olympic team and being short listed will depend on his results at Senior Nationals. At the SA level gala that took place in Bloemfontein from 21st to 24th March, two of the College boys did extremely well.

Jordan Mumford:

Freestyle:

• 200m – 3rd
• 100m – 3rd
• 50m – 4th

Butterfly:

• 100m – 2nd
• 50m – 5th

Relays:

• Mens 16-19 years 4 x 50m freestyle – 1st
• Mens 16-19 years 4 x 50m mixed – 1st
• Mixed 16-19 years medley – 2nd
• Mixed 16-24 years 4 x 100m freestyle – 2nd

Cody Potgieter:

Freestyle:

• 400m – 4th
• 100m – 2nd
• 50m – 2nd

Backstroke:

• 200m – 3rd
• 100m – 1st
• 50m – 2nd

Butterfly:

• 50m – 3rd
• 200m individual medley:
• 2nd place

Breastroke:

• 50m – 1st

Relays:

• Men 16-19 4x50m medley – 1st
• Men 16-19 4 x 50m freestyle – 1st
• Men 16-19 4 x 100m freestyle 1st