Maritzburg College’s last fixtures of the year were played in true sporting camaraderie against our respected rivals from Kearsney College. College’s basketball and cricket teams rose to the occasion winning most their games, with both 1st teams securing victories.
Special mention must be made of the exceptional performance by young Luka Puddu batting for the 15A side on Barns. He made an outstanding double century, 209 runs in a 283 partnership with teammate Venter, who made 90 runs! Congratulations to Kearsney, who, after some hard-fought games, proved the stronger in the pool.

Basketball The basketball sporting action in the Alan Paton Memorial Hall matched soaring temperatures outdoors. College’s basketball teams have had a phenomenal season, and today was no exception, as they won 13 of their 15 games against respected rivals Kearsney College.
The first team did not disappoint the many supporters cheering them on, bringing home a convincing 74-54 victory.

1st team report (Mr Jacques Wilcock, MIC: Basketball) The final fixture of the year saw College up against Kearsney who always provide some excellent competition. The soaring temperatures were just fuel to the fire that was building inside the Alan Paton Memorial Hall. The early fixtures saw them settled by narrow margins including some overtime victories for each school. The main fixture of the day had College storming to a commanding 20-8 lead by the end of the 1st quarter. Some good play from Kearsney brought them back into contention and they were looking poised to take the lead at any moment. College entered the 4th quarter leading 50-36. An
outstanding performance from College’s N Ngcobo carried the team over the line with his 21 points and a good supporting cast of M Askham with some lethal daggers from deep ending on 10. College were the victors on the court 74 – 54 but basketball won the day.

MCollegePuddu: Congratulations to Luka Puddu who scored an exceptional 209 runs off 147 balls to steer the Maritzburg College U15A team to a decisive win against Kearsney.

Cricket: On a baking hot day our cricket teams produced excellent results against Kearsney College. Cheered on by supporters, College won 10 of their 12 matches. Special mention must be made of the exceptional performance by young Luka Puddu batting for the 15A side on Barns. He made an outstanding double century, 209 runs in a 283 partnership with team mate Venter, who made 90 runs! Well done boys. Having had an excellent season, 6th form 1st XI captain Chad Mason ended his last match for College in style on Goldstones, making 75 runs and taking 3-38 wickets, steering his side to a 32-run victory.

1st team report vs Kearsney (Mr Robbie Coutts: 1st XI coach) The Maritzburg College 1st XI hosted Kearsney on Goldstones on a hot and humid day. College captain Chad Mason won the toss and opted to bat first. College knew they needed to improve on their previous Saturday performance, aiming to bat 50 overs and set the opposition a score of over 200. The Kearsney bowlers were disciplined from the start, denying the College batsmen any loose deliveries. Every attempt to build momentum was thwarted as
wickets kept falling, leaving College at a precarious 26 for 3 by the 8th over. Michael Gibson then joined his captain at the crease, and the pair showed their experience, putting together a solid partnership of 59 runs. Just before the tea interval, however, a misjudged run saw
Gibson dismissed for a patient 16, with College going into the break at 95 for 4 after 25 overs. Post-tea, Mason was joined by Oliver Da Costa, and their 58-run partnership provided some much-needed stability. Da Costa’s wicket for 16 and Mason’s shortly after—departing for a well-constructed 75—left College at 143 with all eyes on the middle and lower order to push for a competitive score.
Karl Dedekind and Sphamandla Dzanibe took up the challenge, adding a brisk 45 runs off 53 balls.

In the closing overs, College’s tail-enders chipped in crucial runs, helping College reach a final score of 213 all out in their allotted 50 overs. Defending their total, Reece Willson started his spell brilliantly, swinging the ball prodigiously and dismissing both Kearsney openers, finishing with figures of 2 for 11 in his first 6 overs. He was unlucky not to claim a third wicket, as a catch off his bowling was ruled not to have carried to wicketkeeper Tian van Niekerk. Sphamandla Dzanibe and Kyle de Bruyn kept the pressure on, holding Kearsney to a below-required run rate leading up to tea, where they reached 94 for 2 but were still in contention. After tea, Oliver Da Costa’s introduction into the attack applied immense pressure on the Kearsney lineup. Da Costa’s miserly spell of 10 overs conceded just 14 runs, while his combination with Mason turned the match decisively in College’s favour. Together, they claimed 4 wickets for just 23 runs in 8 overs, dismantling Kearsney’s middle order. With disciplined fielding, College ensured Kearsney couldn’t forge a match-winning partnership, eventually bowling them out for 181 in the 49th over to secure a hard-fought 32-run victory. A well-rounded team effort and an exceptional display of disciplined bowling and fielding allowed Maritzburg College to clinch a memorable win over a determined Kearsney side. Scores in brief College 213 all out; Mason 75, Dedekind 24 Kearsney 181 all out; Mason 3-38, Willson 2-11 College won by 32 runs Summary of scores:

Maritzburg College’s U15A playing on their home ground Barns’ played an outstanding match against Kearsney winning by 156 runs, after L Puddu and Venter put on a 283 run partnership. Puddu scored an exceptional 209 runs off 147 balls!

Team Result:

• 1st College 213 all out; Mason 75 Kearsney 181 all out; Mason 3-8 College won by 32 runs
• 2nd Kearsney 202 all out; Naidoo 3-22 College 133 all out College lost by 69 runs 3rd Howick 1st 130/6; Barnes 2-15 College 131/4; Jursa 66 College won by 6 wickets
• 4th Kearsney 90 all it, Thompson 3-10, Palmer 2-0 College 91/1; Cook 35*, Kruger 31* College won by 9 wickets
• 5th College 157/7, Jackson 28 Kearsney
• 4th 138/9, Aheer 3-9 College won by 19 runs
• 15A College 383/5; Puddu 209, Venter 90 Kearsney 191 all out; Schoeman 3-45 College won by 192 runs
• 15B Kearsney 100 all out; Zakwe 5-23 College 105/1; Thomas 57, Zakwe 28* College won by 9 wickets
• 15C College 168 all out Howick 110 all out; Rajarathnam 3-13 College won by 58 runs
• 15D Kearsney 62 all out College 66/1 College won by 9 wickets
• 14A Kearsney 249/6; Bishop 3-48 College 187 all out; Briggs 43* College lost by 62 runs
• 14B College 170/9; Watson 36*, Francis 26 Kearsney 120 all out; Watson 4-23 College won by 50 runs
• 14D Kearsney 45 all out College 56/3; Mpisane 35* College won by 7 wickets

Water polo The scorecard does not do justice to the way the College water polo boys played against Kearsney in the beautifully upgraded Dudley Forde Aquatic Centre over the weekend. Much to the excitement of the supporters, the teams gave their all, with the 2nds leading until the dying moments after Harris scored 6 goals, and 6th former Nick Holmes stepping in as goalkeeper for the 1sts and making some great saves!

1st team report (Mr Darren Sherriff – Director Aquatics) On Saturday College hosted Kearsney for the last fixture of the 2024 season. It was going to be a tough encounter. Kearsney took and early 2 goal lead. K Vogt scored to put College on the scoreboard in the first chukka. Kearsney kept a firm grip on the lead of the game, with College clawing back at every opportunity that they could. In the final moments of the game College captain J Jansen managed to score the final goal of the game, although this was not enough as Kearsney came out victors 8-10. Summary of scores:

Team Opposition Result
1st Kearsney L 8-10
2nd Kearsney L 13-12
3rd Kearsney W 8-7
4th Michaelhouse W 9-6
U15A Kearsney L 5-13
U15B Kearsney L 5-7