13 May 2025
Clifton College hosted St Alban’s College for their Founders Weekend celebrations, with a full fixture list of hockey and rugby matches on the menu.
It has been a tough season for the Clifton 1st XV, and it didn’t get any better at the Riverside Sports Club on Saturday, with the side going down 0-38.
I was at the game, but I don’t want to discuss it much. I want to share the words of Clifton captain Devan Schwartz, who made one of the best post-match speeches I have heard. His words should be what is taken away from the match.
Addressing the supporters on the stands, he said: “I’ve made 500 brothers at this school. I made 600, with the matrics from the year before.
“This day is not about rugby. It’s not about hockey. It’s about celebrating Clifton. It’s not the score that we wanted, but we achieved what we want to; we made a brotherhood when we came here.
“We’re a brotherhood when you guys on the stands shout for us, even though we are losing. That’s brotherhood. That’s pride for your school. That’s pride for the Clifton badge. That is the Clifton way.
“It’s not about these guys being the best guys in Clifton,” he said pointing to his team. “It’s about these 23 men who put their bodies on the line for Clifton, defending Clifton’s honour, defending Clifton’s legacy.
“When I come back 10 years down the line, I hope Clifton thumps St Alban’s, when we play here. Whether you play D team hockey, 1st team hockey, B team rugby, 1st team rugby, it doesn’t matter – when you leave this school, you will always be a Clifton old boy.
“You will always remember the Clifton badge. You will always remember walking through the halls.
“This day is not about us. It’s about Clifton. I thank you boys for being here and supporting us through thick and thin.
“I love you guys. Thank you.”
Delivered with passion and honesty, Devan Schwartz’s words touched hearts, and it’s worth watching him deliver them on Facebook.
RESULTS
1st: Clifton 0-38 St Alban’s
2nd: Clifton 14-17 St Alban’s
3rd: Clifton 0-53 St Alban’s
16A: Clifton 17-10 St Alban’s
15A: Clifton 7-26 St Alban’s
14A: Clifton 24-5 St Alban’s
14B: Clifton 19-38 St Alban’s
HOCKEY
Earlier in the day, the meeting of two good 1st XIs took place on the Riverside Astro. Clifton and St Alban’s had previously seen a lot of each other, having contested both the Belgotex Sport Coastal Cup and, more recently, the Standard Bank Hibbert Shield.
While St Alban’s has put together a better season overall, including an unbeaten run at the Independent Schools Hockey Festival, Clifton boasted the better recent form, finishing seventh at the Hibbert Shield, which is currently the toughest hockey tournament in the country, while St Alban’s placed 12th.
An exciting showdown beckoned, but, as St Alban’s coach Guy Elliott admitted afterwards, it became more of a chess match, but the visitors came away with a 2-1 win.
A disciplined and deep-lying defence characterised their play. While Clifton enjoyed plenty of possession, they were wasteful with it, trying to go too long too soon, their coach Calvin Price said, adding that they had 40 turnovers to the 20 committed by St Alban’s.
It was a frustrating outing for the home side on the occasion of Tim Saulez‘s milestone 50th outing for the 1st XI, which was rewarded with a special playing shirt, adorned with the number 50.
St Alban’s took an early lead through Will Hewett, who converted a penalty corner with an accurate shot, low and to the ‘keeper’s right, and they doubled their advantage from the penalty spot, from where Michael Meiring confidently converted the opportunity.
Clifton struggled to break through the well-structured St Alban’s defence, but when they did, right at the beginning of the fourth chukka, it came from a beautifully flowing move down the right flank, with a sharp ball to the far post being emphatically redirected into the goal box by Nick Northend to give the hosts hope of rescuing a draw, at least.
Unfortunately for Zach Williamson and company, as quickly as they pried open the St Alban’s defence, it closed again, and Clifton kept prodding away with little give from the visitors.
RESULTS
1st: Clifton 1-2 St Alban’s
2nd: Clifton 0-1 St Alban’s
16A: Clifton 4-1 St Alban’s
16B: Clifton 1-0 St Alban’s
16C: Clifton 0-2 St Alban’s
14A: Clifton 0-1 St Alban’s
14B: Clifton 1-0 St Alban’s
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