13 April 2023
The holiday period provided rich pickings for Maritzburg College sports teams, with the rugby sides, especially, impressing. They suffered only one defeat, although that single setback for the 1st XV, against Grey College at the Noord-Suid Festival, was, by far, the toughest game the vaunted Free Staters have faced this year. Meanwhile, the 1st hockey team was one of only two sides to end the Saint Stithian’s Easter Festival unbeaten.
RUGBY
The Maritzburg College 1st XV should charge for the entertainment they provide! Their two matches against Noordheuwel and Grey College at the Noord-Suid Festival were among the best and most eye-catching on a rich smorgasbord of mouth-watering clashes.
In fact, their win over Noordheuwel was so high scoring and close that it required a steward’s inquiry as Mike Greenaway reported for Pinnacle Schools.
Then, College’s character-filled go at Grey College had neutrals on the side-lines chanting “Maritzburg, Maritzburg, Maritzburg”, sensing an upset. While it didn’t quite happen, College took plenty out of the game, including a huge confidence boost. Coach Tim Orchard recently told Pinnacle Schools that some of his players might have thought they didn’t belong at the highest level of schoolboy rugby. They know now that they do.
At the Saint John’s Festival, Sasha Kadira’s side continued to impress, claiming comfortable wins over a Lions Invitational XV and Hoërskool Nelspruit before downing Jeppe in a fine come-from-behind victory on Easter Monday.
In Pietermaritzburg, both the under-16 A and under-14 teams shone at the Skonk Nicholson Festival.
The under-16s faced a tough schedule and came through with flying colours, finishing with a win over a Die Brandwag side that had accounted for both Saint Charles and Kearsney College.
Meanwhile, the under-14s dealt with tough challenges from Pretoria opponents in their first two games before romping to a big win over Sasolburg in their Easter Monday match.
Results
1st XV
Noord-Suid Festival
Maritzburg College 47-45 Noordheuwel
Maritzburg College 24-37 Grey College
Saint John’s Easter Festival
Maritzburg College 50-5 Lions Invitational
Maritzburg College 43-19 Nelspruit
Maritzburg College 26-22 Jeppe
u16
Skonk Nicholson Festival
Maritzburg College 36-8 Zwartkop
Maritzburg College 23-5 Garsfontein
Maritzburg College 19-12 Die Brandwag
u14
Skonk Nicholson Festival
Maritzburg College 22-12 Zwartkop
Maritzburg College 15-7 Garsfontein
Maritzburg College 70-12 Sasolburg
Hockey
Maritzburg College hockey teams were in action at the Nomads Festival, arguably the toughest of all schoolboy hockey festivals in South Africa, during the Easter holiday.
Bryn Brokensha and his 1st team won two and lost three, but their 2-1 win over Grey High was the only loss inflicted on the hosts. Meanwhile, the under-16 A team, sparkled, recording four wins, including a memorable victory over Jeppe, and a draw with Grey High.
The under-14 side matched the 1st team with two wins and three losses. They, too, enjoyed an especially impressive result, downing Wynberg Boys’ High by the odd goal in five.
Then, at the Saint Stithian’s Easter Festival, only College and the hosts came away from the event with unbeaten records. They shared a 2-2 draw in College’s opening game. Overall, the team won three and drew two.
Results
1st XI
Nomads Festival
Maritzburg College 0-2 Wynberg
Maritzburg College 2-1 Saint John’s College
Maritzburg College 1-3 Jeppe
Maritzburg College 2-1 Grey High
Maritzburg College 0-3 Grey College
Saint Stithian’s Easter Festival
Maritzburg College 2-2 Saint Stithian’s
Maritzburg College 4-0 Helpmekaar
Maritzburg College 2-0 Menlo Park
Maritzburg College 1-1 Saint Andrew’s College
Maritzburg College 3-0 Waterkloof
U16 A
Nomads Festival
Maritzburg College 1-0 Saint John’s College
Maritzburg College 2-1 Wynberg
Maritzburg College 1-1 Grey High
Maritzburg College 3-2 Jeppe
Maritzburg College 3-0 KES
U14A
Nomads Festival
Maritzburg College 5-0 Saint John’s College
Maritzburg College 1-3 Jeppe
Maritzburg College 3-2 Wynberg
Maritzburg College 1-3 Selborne
Maritzburg College 0-3 Grey High
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