Maritzburg College’s rugby A teams traveled up to Hilton for the Sharks trials, taking on Westville in some very keenly contested matches. The College hockey A teams played Westville at home, while the rest of the rugby and hockey teams took on longtime rivals Michaelhouse. This week saw the announcement of the KZN Inland hockey teams with Maritzburg College taking an exceptional 32% of the places across the teams, a well-deserved reflection of the boys’ commitment, determination and skill. Congratulations to the College squash first team who took first place in the KZN inter-schools’ tournament, qualifying for the SA Top School’s competition. There was also plenty of other sporting action with the debating, soccer and cycling teams producing very good results.

Hockey: College’s hockey teams were unbeaten against Michaelhouse over the weekend winning six of their nine matches and drawing three. The A teams produced excellent results against Westville winning two and drawing one match, with the 1st XI securing a convincing 2-0 win. Well done to all the hockey teams.

1st XI report (1st XI coach and Hockey Director, Mr Mark Sanders) Maritzburg College 1st XI hockey team welcomed rivals Westville to Papes on Friday determined
to put up a strong fight on their home turf, Pape’s! Westville played the brand and style which has worked for them this season, sitting deep in a half court press waiting for the surge of College attacks, while when they had the ball, they used the aerial ball and threw it deep into the College half. Knowing this College played most of the hockey. College started off well and scored their first goal in the first quarter through Lynton Fitz – a well worked team goal and a simple finish. College proved to be the dominant of the two teams and created many opportunities and circle entries with little reward, as the Westville defense and goalkeeper stood firm.

Maritzburg College’s hockey A teams produced excellent results against Westville winning two matches and drawing one, with the 1st XI securing a convincing 2-0 win.Credit N Moyo (Maritzburg College)

College created multiple penalty corners, but the Westville penalty corner defense ran good lines closing down the threat of the flickers and variations. Eventually College managed to score a counterattack goal through some good skill and speed from Siwa Sithembu, setting up another simple finish for Lynton Fitz to score his second goal of the match, and securing a well-deserved 2-0 win.

Rugby: The Maritzburg College rugby A teams faced tough competition against Westville in the Sharks trials with some close scoring games. Producing excellent rugby action, the 1st XV lost narrowly 21-22. The rest of the College rugby teams hosted Michaelhouse securing 15 wins from the 20 games played, with the 2nd XV Sasha’s producing a nail-biting performance to draw 32-all on Goldstones.

1st XV report (1st XV coach, Mr Nico Breedt)
This year’s College ‘home’ fixture vs Westville was hosted by Hilton College. For the 3rd year, KZN trials were held at a central venue where all the tier 1 schools gather with their A teams playing their respective fixtures. The College boys were extremely excited to upset the unbeaten Westville side and what an opportunity it was to make a statement, especially on such an important day in the rugby calendar.From the start the collisions were fierce and the tempo exactly what one would expect from two extremely motivated rugby teams. Westville crossed the whitewash first with a long range try from a set phase scrum. Soon after Westville was on the board again beating College on the blindside and scoring in the corner. The conversation was unsuccessful and after 15 odd minutes Westville led 12-0. For the second time in the first half College passed on an opportunity to kick a penalty for poles and opted for an attacking line out instead. This time College managed to get over the line after some hard work by the forwards. Unfortunately, they could not keep the momentum and conceded their 3rd try of the match, after a knock-on advantage straight after the kick-off receipt. It seemed like a high scoring encounter was inevitable. After only 22 minutes, Westville lead 19-07. Soon after College scored with a quick tap penalty and Westville hung onto their now 19 – 14, lead until half time.

The second half saw College regain possession after the kick-off and after some well-worked phases they scored in the corner, and the try was brilliantly converted. College led 21-19. Not too long after Westville kicked a long-range penalty of 50m+ to regain the lead, 22-21. With a little more than 20 minutes remaining no one would ever have guessed that would be the final score. Although both teams threatened their opponent’s goal lines on several occasions, the defence held strong. College had a last-minute opportunity but could not hold on to possession to force a dying second penalty for a chance to kick a penalty to win the match. Again, a narrow loss and a defeat that will sting for a while as the team would feel that they had played well enough for most of the encounter to cause a major upset.

MCRugby: The Maritzburg College rugby A teams faced tough competition against Westville in the Sharks trials with some close scoring games. Producing excellent rugby action, the 1st XV lost narrowly 21-22.Credit for photos: N Moyo (Maritzburg College)

Squash College’s squash 1st team secured victory at the KZN inter-schools squash tournament, finishing 1st in the A section, with an unbeaten record of 4-0. Congratulations to B. Mahaye and J. Maistry on winning all of their matches.

Summary of results:
Vs Westville 2nds won 5-0
Vs Michaelhouse won 4-1
Vs SCC won 3-2
Vs Westville 1sts won 3-2
Our 2nd team also participated in the A section, finishing 8th, while a mixed junior side played in the
B section and finished 7th.

Congratulations to Maritzburg College’s squash 1st team who secured victory at the KZN inter-schools squash tournament, finishing 1st in the A section, with an unbeaten record of 4-0.

Soccer
The past week saw College’s 16A team take on the Michaelhouse 1st XI losing 0-2, while the 1st XI
beat Edendale Tech 1-0.
Summary of results:
U16A vs MHS 1st XI lost 0-2
2nd XI vs Riverwood 1st XI lost 1-2
1st XI vs Edendale Tech won 1-0
Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2

Cross Country
Maritzburg College hosted the cross-country league which saw the boys do extremely well
Summary of top results:
Juniors
2nd N Msimang
3rd J Wilson

4th C Markham

Senior Boys
1st S Ismail
2nd L Makhoba
Cycling
This weekend saw College’s mountain bikers tackle the Brink Gravel Growl producing excellent results
Summary of results: 48km: Junior Men:
Kayden Searle 1st
Brynn Fourie 3rd
Caden Wood 6th
Hlumisa Dlamuka 7th
28km: Youth men:
Diego Rencken 1st
Sub-junior male:
Luke Stainbank 2nd
Debating
Debating results for the College grade 8 saw them lose to TWC but beat MCS.