16 July 2024
RUGBY
Maritzburg College and Affies produced a nail-biting thriller when the 1st XVs met on Goldstone’s on Saturday. In a back-and-forth classic, the lead changed hands seven times before the Wit Bulle sneaked a 39-37 win.
And it was only 30 seconds from time when Affies’ flyhalf Ruben Pienaar struck a penalty between the uprights to edge the visitors ahead.
The points’ scoring began early, with College and SA Schools’ tighthead Aiden Botha crashing over for a try just left of the uprights, and the action never let up from there.
Affies’ skipper Janco Purchase, who like Maritzburg’s captain Phiwayinkhosi Kubheka made SA Schools in 2023 and 2024, showed what the national selectors saw in him, mixing his game up nicely with hard, direct running and some of the most outstanding distribution skills to be found anywhere.
One of the highlights of the contest was a 25-metre pass to his right, which put right-wing Nicolaas Grobler into space and over for a try.
James Slevin was superb for College at flyhalf, and his excellent goal kicking – he didn’t miss a kick all day – kept the pressure on Affies’ throughout.
When Wasi Vyambwera scored in the left-hand corner to bring the Red, Black and White to within a point late in the contest, Slevin brilliantly converted from the touchline, in front of Basher Ridge, to put College 37-36 ahead with three minutes to play.
“James, today, was special,” Maritzburg College Director of Rugby Hendré Marnitz, said. “His ability to control the game and his effort in training the last couple of months has been excellent.
“I give him a lot of credit for the effort that he puts in, and it rolls over into his game. He really works tirelessly at his kicking and the finer details. I’m really proud of James, and he is a really good kid, as well.”
It was a wholehearted, never-say-die effort from the College 1st XV that so nearly brought them a victory over an Affies’ team that has enjoyed a very strong season. The Wit Bulle have lost three times in 2024 – by five points to number one ranked Paul Roos; by four points to number two, Grey College; and by one to third-ranked Paarl Gim – and it was very nearly loss number four on Goldstone’s.
Relieved and proud, Affies’ Head of Rugby, Ruan Jacobs said after the game: “We knew coming here, it was going to be tough, but what a win! We stuck it out until the end. I think the guys deserved it for the way we played. It’s nice for them to win a tight one in the white jersey.”
His opposite number, Hendré Marnitz, was proud of his team’s heart and drive. “The biggest thing for me was that the effort was unreal,” he said. “I know the result didn’t go our way, but that’s 9.9 out of 10 for effort and execution. The 0.1, unfortunately, is the penalty in the last minute. But you can’t fault the effort. It was unbelievable.
“The skill set was good today. The attacking mindset was good. The physicality was good. That’s sport, isn’t it?”
Overall, Affies dominated the rugby fixtures. They’re one of the few schools in South Africa capable of matching and bettering Maritzburg College down through the age groups, but the Red, Black, and White gave them some tough games.
The 4th XV shone with a 19-19 draw, while the u14A side fell narrowly short, going down 10-12. There was also a feast of scoring in the 16A match, with the sides sharing 70 points in a contest Affies won by 16.
RESULTS
1st: Maritzburg College 37-39 Affies
2nd: Maritzburg College 10-33 Affies
3rd: Maritzburg College 21-26 Affies
4th: Maritzburg College 19-19 Affies
5th: Maritzburg College 7-24 Affies
6th: Maritzburg College 8-38 Affies
7th: Maritzburg College 7-42 Affies
8th: Maritzburg College 5-27 Affies
9th: Maritzburg College 12-43 Affies
16A: Maritzburg College 27-43 Affies
16B: Maritzburg College 6-22 Affies
16C: Maritzburg College 12-62 Affies
16D: Maritzburg College 0-50 Affies
16E: Maritzburg College 0-50 Affies
15A: Maritzburg College 13-49 Affies
15B: Maritzburg College 3-50 Affies
15C: Maritzburg College 7-57 Affies
15D: Maritzburg College 5-55 Affies
15E: Maritzburg College 3-50 Affies
15F: Maritzburg College 0-50 Affies
14A: Maritzburg College 10-12 Affies
14B: Maritzburg College 3-52 Affies
14C: Maritzburg College 7-36 Affies
14D: Maritzburg College 0-36 Affies
14E: Maritzburg College 0-40 Affies
HOCKEY
While Maritzburg College slightly edged the overall results in hockey, Affies were thrilled to come away with draws in the three big games between the 1st XIs, u16As and u14As.
In a cagey 1st team affair on Pape’s Astro, the visitors flooded the midfield and demonstrated disciplined defence to restrict the hosts’ chances. College, as they have done for pretty much the entire season, enjoyed the better of the ball possession and territory, but they found the going tough in the final third of the field.
It was 0-0 at half-time, but early in the second half Ryan McKean turned defence into offence and picked out Julian Konigkramer high in the Affies’ half. As the College striker was about to get off a shot, he was taken out by the Affies’ goalkeeper, which led to the umpire pointing to the penalty spot.
Uyanda Dlamini stepped up to take the stroke and comfortably dispatched it to give the Red, Black and White the lead.
Coach Kyle Emerson‘s side continued to dictate matters but, with only a couple of minutes remaining, Affies managed to rescue a draw. When the Pretoria school got off a rare shot on goal, their captain Wian van Schalkwyk was on hand to one-time a rebound off ‘keeper Nick Holmes’ pads into the College goalbox.
Competition in the open age group was extremely tight, with College winning two games, Affies winning one, and two ending in draws, while the hosts scored seven goals to the visitors’ eight.
At u16 level, the results tilted Affies’ way, thanks to a couple of big wins by their u16C and u16D teams, but Maritzburg College had slightly the better of the u14 results.
RESULTS
1st: Maritzburg College 1-1 Affies
2nd: Maritzburg College 1-0 Affies
3rd: Maritzburg College 0-3 Affies
4th: Maritzburg College 2-2 Affies
5th: Maritzburg College 3-2 Affies
16A: Maritzburg College 1-1 Affies
16B: Maritzburg College 0-1 Affies
16C: Maritzburg College 2-6 Affies
16D: Maritzburg College 1-6 Affies
16E: Maritzburg College 2-2 Affies
16F: Maritzburg College 2-0 Affies
16G: Maritzburg College 3-1 Affies
14A: Maritzburg College 2-2 Affies
14B: Maritzburg College 1-1 Affies
14C: Maritzburg College 2-1 Affies
14D: Maritzburg College 0-3 Affies
14E: Maritzburg College 1-0 Affies
Leave a Reply