3 February 2026
(Feature photo: Ryan Clarke, courtesy of Duncan Andrew)
CRICKET
St Charles College and Maritzburg College renewed their Pietermaritzburg rivalry on the SCC Oval on Saturday. As has often been the case between the traditional foes in recent seasons, the contest delivered drama, tension, and a finish that kept players and spectators guessing right into the final over.
In the end, it was Maritzburg College who held their nerve, edging home by a single wicket in a pulsating derby.
Winning the toss, the hosts elected to bat, but their innings never quite found consistent momentum. While nine St Charles batsmen made their way to the middle, six were dismissed for single figures, and captain Thando Zama contributed 10 in an otherwise stuttering effort.
Only two Saints’ batsmen truly found fluency, and they were ultimately responsible for dragging the innings into a competitive position.
The tone was set in the opening over when Maritzburg College captain Reece Willson struck immediately, bowling Caleb Sharp without score. Zama followed soon after, and although Ryan Clarke showed early intent, wickets continued to tumble around him.
Keegan Vermaak managed just two, Owen Widdows five, and Connor Simpson six, leaving St Charles in trouble on 59/5 in the 21st over and searching desperately for stability.
That stability finally arrived, though, when Clarke was joined by Lebo Mokoena. The pair dug in, absorbing pressure and rebuilding patiently against a disciplined College attack. Their sixth-wicket partnership of 118 runs, compiled over 28.1 overs, was an exercise in resolve and game awareness.
Mokoena brought up a well-earned half-century from 96 balls, striking three boundaries, before being run out in the 49th over.
Clarke, however, carried on to the end, and did so in style. He brought up his century by cracking the final ball of the innings to the boundary, finishing unbeaten on exactly 100 from 131 deliveries, with 10 fours, as St Charles closed on 186/7.
Willson led the visitors’ bowling effort with 3/38 from his 10 overs, while Luke Venter’s 1/30 and Akhil Bharath’s miserly six overs for just 12 runs kept Saints in check.
Maritzburg College’s reply was more measured, but not without early setbacks. Openers Bharath and Kyle de Bruyn were removed within five balls of each other, leaving the visitors wobbling on 27/2.
Luka Puddu and Dax Jursa responded with a composed 47-run stand to settle the nerves, and after Puddu fell for 20, Jursa and Luan van der Merwe added another 42.
Jursa’s 44, which included five boundaries, ended when he was caught and bowled by Kaiyuran Naidoo, but Willson then partnered Van der Merwe to keep College on course. When Van der Merwe was run out for a hard-fought 52 in the 45th over, College was on 167/5 and still well placed.
A remarkable late twist followed. Ryan Clarke and Jayden Saville sparked a collapse that saw four more wickets fall for 16 runs, leaving the visitors on 183/9 and still needing four to win.
Luke Venter joined Willson with the tension at its peak, and it was Venter who finally sealed the contest, sending the second ball of the final over to the boundary for a dramatic victory.
Saville’s 4/26 and Naidoo’s 2/18 had threatened to turn the game on its head, but, in a classic derby finish, Maritzburg College found a way to prevail, claiming bragging rights in a thriller that lived up to its billing.
Results
St Charles College 186/7 (Ryan Clarke 100*, Lebo Mokoena 50; Reece Willson 3/38); Maritzburg College 190/9 (Luan van der Merwe 52, Dax Jursa 44, Luka Puddu 20; Jayden Saville 4/26, Kaiyuran Naidoo 2/18). Maritzburg College won by one wicket.
2nd XI
Maritzburg College won by 52 runs
3rd XI
Maritzburg College won by seven wickets
u16A
St Charles 194/8; Maritzburg College 195/6
Maritzburg College won by four wickets
u16B
St Charles Maritzburg College
Saints won by eight wickets
u16C
St Charles 5th XI 202/8; Maritzburg College 149/6
St Charles won by 53 runs
u15A
St Charles 123/10; Maritzburg College 124/2
Maritzburg College won by eight wickets
u15B
St Charles 122/10; Maritzburg College 123/2
Maritzburg College won by eight wickets
u14A
Maritzburg College 245/7; St Charles 77/10
Maritzburg College won by 168 runs
u14B
Maritzburg College 197/4; St Charles 123/10
Maritzburg College won by 74 runs
BASKETBALL
There was no stopping the Maritzburg College first team in the SK Arena. Fresh off winning the American International School of Johannesburg Basketball Tournament, where they also defeated Saints in the semi-finals, College played with confidence to power their way to a dominant 21-point victory.
It was 30-21 at halftime and 70-49 by the end of the game as College pulled away after the break.
Wonga Makhanda led all points’ scorers with 14, while Tebang Lekhobo added 12 as the duo dominated at both ends of the court.
It was a tough day for St Charles, who won only three of the 20 games.
Results
1st: St Charles 49-70 Maritzburg College
2nd: St Charles 32-37 Maritzburg College
3rd: St Charles 26-29 Maritzburg College
4th: St Charles 18-23 Maritzburg College
5th: St Charles 38-18 Maritzburg College
6th: St Charles 19-43 Maritzburg College
7th: St Charles 12-34 Maritzburg College
16A: St Charles 18-42 Maritzburg College
16B: St Charles 18-31 Maritzburg College
16C: St Charles 9-37 Maritzburg College
16D: St Charles 27-25 Maritzburg College
15A: St Charles 17-43 Maritzburg College
15B: St Charles 25-27 Maritzburg College
15C: St Charles 9-11 Maritzburg College
15D: St Charles 12-35 Maritzburg College
15E: St Charles 21-16 Maritzburg College
14A: St Charles 10-54 Maritzburg College
14B: St Charles 8-52 Maritzburg College
14C: St Charles 6-24 Maritzburg College
14D: St Charles 2-34 Maritzburg College
WATER POLO
While St Charles is busy growing their water polo programme, Maritzburg College is working to restore theirs to the heights it once attained as the premier programme in KwaZulu-Natal.
On Saturday, it was competitive in the pool, with Saints, mostly, facing one team down in the College ranks.
The St Charles 1st team drew with College’s 2nds, and the Saints’ 2nds beat College’s 3rds. College’s 4ths, though, convincingly won against the St Charles 3rds.
College also won the u15A clash.
Results
1st: St Charles 7-7 Maritzburg College 2nd
2nd: St Charles 6-4 Maritzburg College 3rd
3rd: St Charles 5-15 Maritzburg College 4th
15A: St Charles 6-14 Maritzburg College
Saints u14A at Reddam House Helderfontein
St Charles 0-12 St Alban’s
St Charles 6-6 Affies B
St Charles 9-2 Clydesdale
St Charles 3-13 Affies
St Charles 11-3 Rand Park
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