9 September 2025
Winning the Jody Momplé Cup is never straightforward. It takes only one slip in the knockout format and that’s the end of a team’s challenge for the Cup. That’s why Michaelhouse successfully defending the title on Sunday at Hilton College was such a monumental achievement.
After dominating their group games on day one, ‘House withstood three fierce challenges on day two to lift the title again.
The competition brings together 24 schools from across Pietermaritzburg and the KZN Midlands, who are divided into eight groups of three. After day one, the sides progress to the Cup, Plate, and Bowl playoffs. Therefore, nothing but wins will do.
On Saturday, Michaelhouse wasted no time in setting out their stall. They opened with a 3-0 win over Weston Agricultural College before dispatching Grace College 4-0 to top their pool. The knockout rounds, though, asked far more demanding questions.
Carter High, the runners-up in 2023, tested ‘House sternly in the quarterfinals, but a single strike proved enough to see the defending champions through 1-0. From there, the margins only narrowed.
St Charles College held a 1-0 lead deep into the second half of their semi-final against Michaelhouse on a header from the exciting Ethan Apollos, but the Balgowan boys scored late to force a penalty shootout and goalkeeper Luke Mitchell stood tall as ‘House advanced to the final, 4-2 from the spot.
In the title decider, Maritzburg College provided the sternest examination of the lot. Their quick-passing game, well suited to the lush surface of Zungu Field, stretched the Michaelhouse defence. ‘House, meanwhile, favoured a more direct approach, attacking down the flanks to create opportunities. Chances came at both ends, but neither side could land a decisive blow.
That meant that the final, for a second year in succession, went to penalties.
College struck first, but Michaelhouse hit back. Then Mitchell produced the save that made the difference. Delighted, he sprinted towards his team-mates, who rushed the field to join him in ecstatic celebration, much like they had done a year earlier.
Mitchell, who deservedly walked away with the Player of the Final Award, admitted afterwards that the memories of 2024 came flooding back.
“I just tried to stay as calm as I possibly could,” he said. “I took it one penalty at a time. There were thoughts of last year, but I stayed in the moment.”
Michaelhouse’s triumph was built on an up-tempo game in which the team worked hard to turn over possession and hassle the players on the ball. The cohesion between their backs, midfielders, and forwards in executing their defensive duties was one of the primary keys to their success. That, and a never-say-die team engine that ran at full chat until the final whistle.
For Maritzburg College, losing out on penalties in the final was, perhaps, an appropriate comment on a season of mixed fortunes. They had accounted for Hilton College, champions of the Primo Big 10, in a tense semi-final that was also decided on penalties.
St Charles, meanwhile, booked their semi-final berth with a 1-0 win over the Mancosa KZNHSFA Inland B-League champions, ML Sultan Secondary.
At the conclusion of the event, Maritzburg College’s Mazithi Qasha and Hilton College’s Tadi Hove shared the Bryce Moon Top Scorer Trophy.
Meanwhile, Nomaswazi High, playing in the event for the first time, lifted the Bowl after edging out Riverwood College in the final. Their story was a reminder of the competition’s wider value in growing the game.
And for a second year running, Haythorne Secondary was crowned the winner of the Plate. They showed grit and determination in their final, recovering from 0-2 down against Linpark to level matters at 2-2. Then, in yet another shootout, they held their nerve to seal a 5-4 victory.
RESULTS
Group A
Hilton 4-1 Greytown
Greytown 2-1 Newton
Hilton 8-1 Newton
Group B
Alexandra High 4-0 Wartburg
Wartburg 1-5 Linpark
Alexandra High 1-0 Linpark
Group C
Maritzburg Christian School 2-0 Haythorne
Maritzburg Christian School (2) 2-2 (3) Etham College
Haythorne 2-1 Etham College
Group D
Maritzburg College 2-1 Nomaswazi
Nomaswazi 0-1 Howick High
Maritzburg College 2-0 Howick High
Group E
Carter (5) 0-0 (4) Riverwood College
Riverwood College 1-3 Umvuzo
Carter 2-1 Umvuzo
Group F
Michaelhouse 3-0 Weston
Weston 4-1 Grace College
Michaelhouse 4-0 Grace College
Group G
Edendale 5-0 Treverton
St Charles 4-0 Treverton
St Charles (5) 1-1 (3) Edendale
Group H
Ixopo 1-0 St Nicholas
St Nicholas 1-3 ML Sultan
ML Sultan (3) 2-2 (2) Ixopo
BOWL
Bowl Quarterfinals
Newton School 1-0 Wartburg Kirchdorf School
Etham College (2) 1-1 (4) Nomaswazi High
Riverwood College 3-0 Grace College
Treverton College 3-2 St Nicholas Diocesan School
Bowl Semi-finals
Newton School (4) 2-2 (5) Nomaswazi High
Riverwood College 3-0 Treverton College
Bowl Final
Nomaswazi High 2-1 Riverwood College
PLATE
Plate Quarterfinals
Greytown High 2-3 Linpark High
Haythorne Secondary 1-0 Howick High
Umvuzo Secondary 3-1 Weston Agricultural College
Edendale Technical High 0-2 Ixopo Secondary
Plate Semi-finals
Linpark High (4) 2-2 (5) Haythorne Secondary
Umvuzo Secondary (5) 0-0 (4) Ixopo Secondary
Plate Final
Haythorne Secondary (5) 1-1 (4) Umvuzo Secondary
CUP
Cup Quarterfinals
Hilton College (8) 1-1 (7) Alexandra High
Maritzburg Christian School 0-4 Maritzburg College
Carter High 0-1 Michaelhouse
St Charles College 1-0 ML Sultan Secondary
Cup Semi-finals
Hilton College (4) 0-0 (5) Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse (4) 1-1 (2) St Charles College
Cup Final
Michaelhouse (4) 0-0 (3) Maritzburg College
Leave a Reply