Maritzburg College and Pretoria Boys hold biannual derby
Maritzburg College’s campus was alive with activity and action over the weekend as the school held the first of its biannual derbies against Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS).
Always a popular and exciting clash between two powerhouse schools, the event did not disappoint. There were no less than 52 individual fixtures across ten sporting and cultural codes, and a full round of hockey and rugby fixtures last Saturday.
Earlier in the week saw the start of the soccer season with College fielding five teams in action against various schools.
RUGBY
College fielded 29 teams last Saturday, with 28 of them taking on PBHS. It was a great day for the Red Black White who won 25 of their games. The first XV secured a convincing 43-15 win against PBHS on Goldstones, much to the delight of the boys on Basher Ridge.
First XV coach Tim Orchard says Maritzburg College’s fixtures against PBHS are always closely contested, and the first team rugby match was no different.
The first half was a very cagey affair and College had to work very hard to maintain their lead with PBHS firmly in the fight with a gutsy display for which they are renowned.
The second half was very different to the first, with College’s plan to subdue the PBHS maul proving very effective, and they played some very expansive rugby walking away with a comfortable win.
The score was 21-13 at the halftime break.
During the second half College extended their lead to 31-15. After a good lineout drive, captain Phiwaynkosi Kubheka barged over to score, the try was converted, and College now had a unassailable lead at 38-13. More good play from College allowed Reinhardt Jacobsz to grab his second try of the match and take the score to 43-13, which proved to be the final score of the match
MARITZBURG COLLEGE: 43
Maritzburg College’s Brett Hosking on the Tomahawk versus Pretoria Boys High in a match that saw College secure a 1-0 won.
competitors, PBHS, winning nine of their 16 games, losing four and drawing three. The Red Army first XI won their game 1-0 playing in front of a very supportive home crowd on Pape’s.
First XI coach Kyle Emerson said rhe fixture between College and PBHS is always a tight one which is evenly matched.
There is a guarantee that both teams will play with passion and resolve until the final whistle, and this match saw exactly that.
PBHS got off to a fast start and had an early circle entry and missed chance in the opening minute of the match.
After that, College was the stronger team in the first half and dominated possession and territory. They were able to turn PBHS over many times and kept the ball due to PBHS sitting a bit deeper in defence.
After good build-up play from the back, Ryan McKean slapped a ball through to the field and when the defender mis-trapped the ball, Tai Fulton was well-positioned to get the bouncing ball.
He controlled it well and popped it over the advancing goalkeeper to give College an early lead in the first quarter.
The PBHS goalkeeper was up the task on the day and made many good saves. His best was when Julian Konigkramer flicked College’s first penalty corner of the day and he made a diving stick save.
Nic Holmes was also on fire and made a good stick save in the first half. College were unable to take any of their other chances in the first half, with the score at 1-0 at half time, College felt like they were in the driving seat.
PBHS started the second half with a flurry of energy and renewed vigour and caught College sleeping. The momentum shifted in the favour of the visitors, who couldn’t make that count.
College gave away a silly penalty corner for not being five metres away from a free hit with about three minutes to go in the third quarter. Solid defence and concentration allowed College to keep out seven consecutive penalty corners from PBHS.
Another chance went begging to extend the lead when Ethan Maynard fired a good shot at the goals but the goalkeeper advanced quickly and blocked the angle. After a good counterattack,
Konigkramer was fouled in the circle and College earned a stroke. Once again, the PBHS goalkeeper kept his team in the hunt by diving low to save the stroke taken by captain Ipeleng Mospuye.
College were nearly made to pay for these missed chances as PBHS hit the crossbar with two minutes to go, and in the dying seconds they were only able to hit the post.
The game was exciting for the spectators and even though there was only one goal scored, there was plenty of good hockey that created scoring opportunities.
It was the goalkeepers who were most impressive and must be praised for showing defensive pride in keeping their team in the hunt for the result they were after.
It was a busy weekend for the College MTB team. They hosted PBHS up at the Knoll in Winterskloof last Friday, and racing on their home trails, the boys were in top form securing the senior and the junior trophies and placing first and third in both races.
SENIOR RACE
Luke Newlands — First
Brent Foster — Third
On Sunday, College’s cyclists took part in the second KZN provincial race at Cascades MTB Park.
In the Junior Men category, College secured second to fifth places, while in the Youth Men category, the boys placed second, 10th and 18th.
JUNIOR MEN
Luke Newlands — Second Brent Foster — Third
Cole Sellick — Fourth
Michael Jewaskiewitz — Fifth
YOUTH MEN
Kayden Searle — Second Daniel Janneker — 10th Joe Jankovich — 18th
SUB JUNIOR MEN SQUASH
College’s top 12 squash players (first and second teams) both drew 3-3 against PBHS in some very competitive games.
TABLE TENNIS
The College table tennis teams won 21 of their 31 games against PBHS
First team won 6-4
Second team drew 5-5
Third team won 5- 0
Fifth team won 5-0
GOLF SOCCER
The week saw the start of the soccer season with College’s five teams taking on various schools, winning four the five games.
First vs Ixopo drew 2-2
Second vs Linpark first won 2-1
16A vs ML Sultan first won 2-1
15A vs DBN Academy won 4-3
14A vs DBN Academy won 14-0