Hilton College crowned Primo Big 10 champions

They faced Northwood in the final. The Knights truly earned their place in the title game, edging out Maritzburg College in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals after drawing with the Red, Black, and White for a second day in succession, before outlasting a tough Michaelhouse lineup in the semi-finals.

The Durban school triumphed 7-6 from the spot against College after neither team had found the back of the net in regulation time. They, then, kept a high-scoring Michaelhouse team quiet to claim a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

Early in the final, Northwood made most of the running, but Hilton kept their shape well and afforded the Knights’ players little time in possession.

Then, striker Efe Ozcan broke open the game when he, after creating pressure, ran onto a loose pass, charged into the box and beat the ‘keeper as he tried to close down the angle.

Northwood kept working hard to level matters, but Ozcan struck again for Hilton in the second half, stepping up to convert a penalty to help his side put one hand on the trophy.

An all-out defensive effort kept Northwood at bay and the Hilton team was able to celebrate with their schoolmates at the side of the field when the final whistle sounded.

With the win, Hilton gets its name onto the trophy, alongside Michaelhouse, Maritzburg College, and Glenwood

Ozcan, after his heroics in the title decider, was named the Man of the Match, while Michaelhouse’s Asande Nkosi was recognised as the Primo Bigs 10’s top goal scorer after netting six times.

‘House impressed. They topped Pool C – the only pool with four teams – ahead of Westville Boys’ High on goal difference.

Goalkeeper Luke Mitchell, the hero of their penalty shootout win over Ixopo in the final of the Jody Momple Cup last year, denied Westville from the spot after Michaelhouse had scored from a penalty to earn the Balgowan boys a 1-1 draw. That set ‘House up to top the pool standings.

In a key game, Kearsney edged out Clifton College 2-1 to go through to the quarterfinals as one of the two best third-place teams. That left Clifton to face St Charles for ninth place. Saints had done little wrong, drawing one and losing two by only a single goal on both occasions, but, sometimes, that’s the way the cookie crumbles,

For Maritzburg College, previous winners, going out early was a chastening experience. They played most of the football in their quarterfinals’ loss to Northwood – maybe too much football deep in their own half at times, which led to some turnovers and Knights’ shots on goal – but they were wasteful in front of goal. They had the talent and the skill but failed to turn it into goals and wins.

Glenwood, almost always a tough team to break down, had suffered a blowout in their cross-pool playoff against College, going down 0-5 on Saturday, but they got back to their plucky formula in the quarterfinals, keeping a talented Westville attack at bay before losing out on spot kicks.

Kearsney, as they were throughout the event, were organised and hard-working, but they lacked a cutting edge up front and were kept off the scoresheet by Hilton in their last eight match.

For the other losing quarterfinalist, DHS, their challenge was more a matter of managing the occasion. They played some good football and challenged some of the top teams well, included drawing with Hilton and beating Maritzburg College in pool play. But, in their 0-3 quarterfinal loss to Michaelhouse, they lost their composure – and so, too, did some in the ‘House lineup – and that cost them.

In the ninth-place playoff, Clifton College showed resilience after suffering a couple of lopsided losses on Saturday. Up against St Charles, they fell behind to a brilliant scorching long ball that exposed their defence and left their goalkeeper helpless, but they fought back.

Their never-say-die effort was reflected in the fact that they scored off a rebound after a shot on goal had struck a post. The 1-1 result was a fair reflection of the game.

For Hilton College, it was a weekend to remember. To win the event they host, facing their keenest competition and their most respected opposition, was a dream come true.

RESULTS

Group A
Hilton 2-1 St Charles
St Charles 1-1 Glenwood
Hilton 0-0 Glenwood

Group B
Northwood 2-0 DHS
Northwood 1-1 Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College 0-1 DHS

Cross-pool playoffs
Hilton 1-1 DHS
St Charles 0-1 Northwood
Glenwood 0-5 Maritzburg College

Group C
Michaelhouse 1-1 Westville
Clifton 1-2 Kearsney
Westville 4-0 Clifton
Michaelhouse 2-1 Kearsney
Westville 1-0 Kearsney
Michaelhouse 8-0 Clifton