Overview

College’s first fixtures of the year are traditionally against our respected rivals Westville Boys High, and the past weekend was no different. In a full round of matches, College dominated on the basketball courts, while Westville proved the stronger on the cricket fields and in the pool.

College won 16 of their 20 basketball matches against Westville, with the 1st team repeating their 2023 end of year victory against Westville, winning 75-56.  College’s 1^st XI cricket team had a good game with an undefeated 101 from the captain Mason, and were unlucky to lose in the penultimate over. The College canoeists had a great start to the season participating in the 2^nd Dusi pre-season race, with podium places in the U18 K2 and U16 K1 events, as well as for College canoe coach Bridgitte Hartley in the ladies K2 race.

Basketball

College won 16 of their 20 matches against Westville, with the 1st team repeating their 2023 end of year win against Westville 75-56.

1st team report (Ms Nonkululeko Gumede)  The Alan Paton Hall was alive with anticipation as the curtain rose on the much-awaited first basketball fixtures of the season. Excitement permeated the air as eager 2nd formers joined the ranks of the red, black, and white-clad boys. The 1st team clash began with the home team, Maritzburg College, initially falling behind the formidable boys from Westville, concluding the first quarter at 11- 14 Westville continued to exert pressure, showcasing flawless finishes at the rim. Yet, a transformative moment unfolded for College when they showcased remarkable ball skills, and Masinga emerging as the standout player. In a dramatic turn of events, College seized control, surging ahead amidst a brotherly uproar from the spirited College boys, boldly asserting their aspirations for victory in 2024. The game reached its climax with two slam dunks and a last-second basket, cementing Maritzburg College’s well-deserved triumph. As the final whistle echoed through the hall, the scoreboard proudly displayed a decisive winning score of 75-56, signalling a promising start to what looks to be an exhilarating season ahead.

Summary of results:

• 1st  Westville  College  75-56  Won
• 2nd  Westville  College  28-21  Won
• 3rd  Westville  College  25-23  Won
• 4th  Westville  College  32-37  Lost
• 5th  Westville  College  47-14  Won
• 16A  Westville  College  22-47 Lost
• 16B  Westville  College  8-24  Lost
• 16C Westville  College  37-25  Won
• 16D  Westville  College  22-18 Won
• 15A  Westville  College  41-27  Won
• 15B  Westville  College  19-14  Won
• 15C  Westville  College  10-15  Lost
• 15D  Westville  College  24-21  Won
• 15E  Westville  College  25-4  Won
• 14A  Westville  College 45-7  Won
• 14B  Westville  College  32-10 Won
• 14C  Westville  College  26-3  Won
• 14D  Westville  College  8-3  Won
• 14E  Westville  College  9-8  Won
• 14F  Westville  College  7-4  Won

Cricket

College’s 1st XI cricket team had a good game with an undefeated 101 from the captain Mason, and were unlucky to lose in the penultimate over. Several matches were cancelled due to waterlogged fields. Rain and DoE school closures prevented most of the practices taking place in the first week of term, and the matches proved to be good learning experiences for the boys, with much to work on in the weeks ahead.

1st XI match report (Mr Robbie Coutts – 1st XI coach)

College’s captain Chad Mason won the toss and did not hesitate in electing to bat on a good batting pitch. The Westville opening bowlers were disciplined and bowled in good areas at the start of the innings, putting the College opening pair of Daniel Nadasan and Llewellyn Sutherland under pressure. The pressure told with both opening batsmen back in the changeroom with the score on 7. Mason and Michael Gibson absorbed the early pressure and batted well to tea, adding 83, College 90 for 2 after 25 overs. The partnership of 117 was broken when Gibson was caught and bowled for a well played 58.

College was unable to accelerate towards the end of their innings, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Mason batted through and in the last over went to a well-deserved century, ending on 101 not out. College finishing on 212 for 9 in their 50 overs. The Westville start was solid but slow, the first wicket falling on 42 in the 13th over. The Westville batsmen played intelligent cricket, running well between the wickets and putting bad balls away to the boundary. The College team came out firing after tea and put the opposition batsmen under pressure, taking wickets at crucial times. Ryan McKean and Sphamandla Dzanibe bowled well in tandem, not allowing the opposition batsmen any easy runs. The Westville batsmen absorbed the pressure and ensured there would be no late drama, getting home with 9 balls to spare, 5 wickets in hand.

Scores in brief:

College 273/6; Mason 101*, Gibson 58

Westville 216 for 5; Konigkramer 2-27, Dzanibe 2-39

Westville won by 5 wickets

Summary of scores:

1st Westville  50  College 212 for 9; Mason 101*, Gibson 58  Westville 216/5  College lost by 5 wickets

2nd Westville  30  College 123/9; Ferraz 22, Currie 22  Westville 124/3; Hughes 1-19 College lost by 7 wickets

3rd Westville  20  Cancelled

4th  Westville  20  College 203/6; Ekerold 62, Naidoo 37, Knoetze 32, Clark 23  Westville 141 all out; Clark 3-19, Naidoo 4-24

College won by 62 runs

5th  Westville 20 Cancelled

16A Westville 50  College 183/7; Fabre 39, du Toit 28 Westville 125 all out; de Bruyn 6-26, Naidoo 3-29

College won by 58 runs

16B  Westville 40 Westville 125 all out; Pedlar 4/15, Jursa 3/18  College 77 all out  College lost by 48 runs

16C Westville 20 Cancelled

15A Westville 50 College 136 all out Westville 137/9; Schoeman 2-34; Hosking 2-10 College lost by 1 wicket

15B Westville 40 College 41/10 Westville 42/2 College lost by 8 wickets

15C Westville 20 Cancelled

15D Westville 20 Cancelled

15E Westville  20 Cancelled

14A Westville 50  Westville 230/8  College 37 all out  College lost by 193 runs

14B  Westville 30  Westville 185/7; Brigg 3-16, Watson 3-22  College 117 all out; Watson 25, Folscher 2 College lost by 68 runs

14C Westville 20  Westville 124/6  College 84 all out  College lost by 40 runs

14D Westville  20  College lost by 7 wickets

Water polo

Westville proved the stronger in the pool, winning all of the nine matches, although the scores were

very close in a number of games.

1st team report – Mr Darren Sherriff, Director of Aquatics

Maritzburg College hosted Westville on Saturday in what was always going to be a tough encounter.

College took an early lead and looked to control the first chukka. Westville came back strongly, and

were able to gain the lead and pull away from College. College lost the match 6-12.

Summary of results:

• 1 st Westville  College- Long Course  6-12 Lost
• 2nd Westville College-Short Course 4-6 Lost
• 3rd Westville College-Short Course 3-6 Lost
• 4th Westville College-Short Course 3-5 Lost
• 5th Westville College-Short Course 2-8 Lost
• 15A Westville College-Short Course 6-14  Lost
• 15B Westville College-Short Course 6-9 Lost
• 14A Westville College-Short Course 3-13 Lost
• 14B Westville College-Short Course 3-11 Lost

Canoeing

The 2nd race of the pre Dusi Series, Geoff’s road to 2nd Saddles took place on Sunday 21 January.In the K2 U.18 event, Matthew van Heerden and Jack Odell placed 2nd, and Keegan Vogt and partner (Greg Palframen) took the bronze. Simon Norton and James Gotte finished the race in 6th position. In the U.23 category, College’s Jayden JvRensburg paddling with OC James Sharpe finished in 7th place, while Josh Worthmann and Gary Clarke completed the race in 42nd place overall. For the K1 U/16, event, College’s Scott Venniker took sliver and completed the race in 11th position overall of the K1 boats. A special congratulations to our coach, Bridgitte Hartley, who with Hilary Bruss, took top spot in the ladies event.