02 September 2024
Maritzburg College was a hive of activity on Saturday as the Pietermaritzburg school hosted its Family Day, with the Nashua Sevens on Goldstone’s in the spotlight.
Only the Clifton Sevens earlier in the season had featured u18 teams, so many of the sides in action at College looked quite different from the u17 outfits which had contested the High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, at Glenwood and DHS.
Both Westville and DHS, the winners of the Glenwood and DHS Sevens respectively, chose to give their u18 players a last twirl in their schools’ colours, which was pleasing to see. It shouldn’t always be about the results. And, the truth be told, there were some excellent rugby players in action for both schools, but the fact that they had played so little sevens did show itself at times.
St Charles brought back their matric boys for the event, too, and one immediately sensed the confidence in their ranks. They’re superb as a unit, blessed with speed, good hands and a next-level understanding of one another.
College, as always, was a tough proposition on their famous field.
Glenwood has played some excellent rugby during the sevens’ season and it was no different in Pietermaritzburg. They scored one of the most important wins of the round robin stage when they edged out Westville 24-21. Michaelhouse, meanwhile, did Saints a huge favour by handing DHS a 19-17 defeat.
DHS beat St Charles comfortably, but Saints had already done enough by the time they met to secure their place in the final against Glenwood.
Given a shot at the gold, the Pietermaritzburg school turned on the style to run out comfortable 33-10 winners.
U18 RESULTS
Maritzburg College 12-19 Glenwood
Westville 38-7 Hilton College
Michaelhouse 12-35 St Charles
DHS 29-17 College 7s
Glenwood 31-14 Hilton College
Maritzburg College 5-26 Westville
Michaelhouse 19-17 DHS
St Charles 68-5 College 7s
Maritzburg College 29-19 Hilton College
Glenwood 24-21 Westville
Michaelhouse 26-21 College 7s
St Charles 10-33 DHS
Final
St Charles 38-14
u15 Competition
While their u18 team didn’t quite go all the way, Glenwood was crowned the champion of the u15 division.
They played a clever, energy-sapping game, which played to their strength of having some flyers in their ranks. The Green Machine often popped clever kicks into space, turning their opponents, and often enough, too, the Durban boys were first to the ball and through for tries.
They faced Maritzburg College in the final. When they had met earlier in the day, Glenwood won a tight contest 19-15. The title decider was more open, but once again the Durbanites triumphed, this time by a 31-26 margin.
U15 RESULTS
Maritzburg College 38-19 Michaelhouse
Glenwood 29-21 College 7s
Maritzburg College 31-12 College 7s
Glenwood 31-22 Michaelhouse
Maritzburg College 15-19 Glenwood
Michaelhouse 38-17 College 7s
Final
Glenwood 31-26 Maritzburg College
Leave a Reply