Posts by Jono Cook
Bryn Brokensha stars with bat & ball in Maritzburg College first XI’s win over DHS
This past weekend saw Maritzburg College play DHS and Hilton in a range of cricket fixtures, some of which were played in a round-robin format of T10 and T15 matches. College played 21 matches in all, winning 13, losing 4, and 4 matches ended with no result.
Maritzburg College first XI coach Robbie Coutts reports that the College first XI brought home an exciting 50-over victory against the DHS first XI in Durban on Saturday, despite being under pressure for a large portion of the match.
College captain Johnathan van Zyl won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a pitch that looked like it may break up in the afternoon.
Feature photo: Maritzburg College first XI all-rounder Bryn Brokensha played a pivotal role with bat and ball in the visitors’ exciting 13-run win over the Durban High School first XI on Saturday.
The DHS seam bowlers thrived in the first 10-over power play, taking two early wickets to leave College in the precarious position of 28 for 2 after the 10 overs.
Maritzburg College first XI captain Van Zyl and batting partner Creedon Smith then worked hard in the difficult conditions to establish a 56-run partnership before Smith (24) was out on the stroke of morning tea, the College score 75 reading for 3 after the initial 25 overs.
Van Zyl then linked well after tea with the new batsman Bryn Brokensha, the pair putting on 63 for the 4th wicket before the skipper was out for a well-played 64 that was crafted under considerable pressure.
Brokensha had scored an unbeaten century (139 not out) for his club side the weekend before and built on that momentum. In partnership with the new batsman Luc Jacobs, Brokensha changed the momentum of the game in the closing overs, the pair adding 66 off 51 balls.
Brokensha batted intelligently, running well between the wickets and punishing any loose deliveries, his unbeaten 77 off 78 balls getting College to a defendable 226 for 6 in their 50 overs.
In reply, DHS got off to a great start, the opening partnership of 42 coming off 6 overs before Jacobs trapped an opening batsman in front and was rewarded with the umpire’s raised finger.
College coach Coutts reports that there was very little opportunity for his team in the
next 12 overs, the DHS batsmen punishing anything lose. The DHS second-wicket partnership had reached 65 before the Maritzburg College leg-spinner Chad Mason struck, the DHS total now reading 107 for 2.
At afternoon tea, the DHS first XI were in a comfortable position at a 136 for 2, needing 91
to win in 25 overs with 8 wickets in hand.
However, the introduction of Maritzburg College off-spinner James Wiggill slowed the scoring rate and it was Wiggill who made the vital breakthrough. That said, at 163 for 3 in the 32nd over, DHS were still in control of the outcome of this absorbing match, needing 64 off 18 overs with 7 wickets still in hand.
But it was College’s Caden Hohls who changed the game in the 38th over of DHS’s allotted 50, taking two wickets, both leg-before-wicket dismissals. The breakthrough spurred
the College team on, the Red Black & Whites knowing that the best way to win the game was to bowl DHS out.
From this point onwards, College never allowed the opposition batsmen to settle or any significant partnerships to develop. Brokensha returned to the bowling attack in the 39th over and continued where Hohls had left off, to pick up another wicket, the DHS run chase faltering from 181 for 3 to 181 for 6.
With the pressure now fully on the DHS lower-order batsmen, the College team upped a level with their fielding, not allowing DHS any easy singles.
However, coach Coutts reports that the College bowlers then lacked discipline and bowled far too many wides which allowed DHS to keep the scoreboard ticking over and in the process to go past the 200 mark.
But it was Brokensha who gained the decisive breakthrough by picking up wickets in the 43rd and 45th overs to put College back in control.
And it was Brokensha’s batting partner in the closing overs, Luc Jacobs who finished the game off in College’s favour by bowling out the last DHS batsman, for College to register a thrilling 13-run win.
First XI scores in brief
Maritzburg College 226 for 6 in 50 overs (Johnathan van Zyl 64, Bryn Brokensha 77*)
DHS 213 all out (Caden Hohls 3 -33, Bryn Brokensha 3-30)
Maritzburg College won by 13 runs
Maritzburg College U16A batsman Cameron Ferraz gets home safely during Saturday’s action on Goldstones as the ball flies harmlessly past the wickets. Photo credit Justin Waldman Sport Photography
Other Maritzburg College cricket results:
2nd XI DHS 76-7 (Mchunu 3-13)
2nd XI College 77-3 (Khumalo 41*)
College won by 7 wickets
4th College 71/6
4th DHS 57/9 (Sewpersad 3-8)
College won by 14 runs
Maritzburg College U16A 97/10
Hilton U16A 98/6
Maritzburg College lost by 4 wickets
Maritzburg College U16A College 132/7
DHS U16A 97/10
Maritzburg College won by 35 runs
College U16B 124-7 (Goslett 30, Tocknell 26*)
DHS 92 all out (Mornet 3-26, Armstrong 3-22)
College won by 33 runs
College U16B 63-5 (6/6) (J Knoetze 19, Warren 18*)
Hilton U16B 53-4 (6/6) (J Knoetze 2-3)
College won by 10 runs
DHS U16C 87/10 (Egberink 4-10 in 3 overs)
College U16C 90/6 (Ferguson 27)
College won by 4 wickets
College U15A 222 all out
DHS U15A 223/2
College lost by 8 wickets
DHS U15B 95/7
College U15B 96/3
College won by 7 wickets
DHS U15C 55/9 (20 overs)
College U15C 56/1 (6 overs)
College won by 9 wickets
DHS U15D 50 all out
College U15D 51/0
College won by 10 wickets after 6 overs
DHS U14A 73/4 (12 overs)
College U14A 59/3 (12 overs)
College lost by 14 runs
DHS U14B 88/8 (Jordaan 3-10, N Naidoo 3-22)
College U14B 89/3 (Schirge 35)
College won by 7 wickets
College U14E 119/1 (Clarke 50*)
DHS U14E 43/3
College won by 76 runs
Westville U14A cricket team setting the pace under coach Wayne Scott
With 4 wins from 4 outings the Westville U14A cricket team has enjoyed an enviable run of success in the first school term of 2022.
And their results have not gone unnoticed outside KZN with the team being highly regarded across the country in this particular age group.
You would be hard-pressed to find an U14A coach who has as much experience and know-how as Wayne Scott, who is clearly getting positive responses from his players.
Tyler Trenoworth assists Wayne with the Westville U14A coaching duties and the combination is bearing fruit in the team’s performances and long may this continue in 2022.
This past weekend the Westville U14A side beat Clifton by 7 wickets and prior to that beat Northwood by 7 wickets, Hilton by 11 runs and Maritzburg College by 90 runs.
Westville U14A scores in brief
Clifton 71/6
Westville 73/3 (McGough 35*)
Westville won by 7 wickets
Northwood 176 (De Bruin 55, Searle 53; Lottering 3-36)
Westville 177/3 (McGough 66*, Rasmussen 42)
Westville won by 7 wickets
Westville 112
Hilton 101 (Brooker 3-15)
Westville won by 11 runs
Westville 261 (McGough 56, Delvin 33, Baudach 48)
Maritzburg College 171 (McGough 4-25)
Westville won by 90 runs
Glenwood rugby teams’ fruitful trip to Sarel Cilliers in northern KZN
Congrats to the Glenwood rugby teams for what look to have been productive pre-season performances at the Sarel Cilliers Rugby Festival held in Dundee, Northern KZN over the weekend.
The Glenwood teams are getting into gear for their first official inter-school fixture of the year, against Northwood on Saturday, 12 March at Northwood and the evidence of form and combinations on display in the Dundee matches will have given Glenwood first XV coach Jose Dosantos and his fellow Green Machine coaches plenty to think about and implement ahead of March 12 at Northwood.
The six Glenwood matches up in northern KZN were reportedly played in very hot weather and the boys were given plenty of encouragement from their travelling parents and supporters and the assembled schoolboy rugby fans.
The Glenwood U14 side beat Ferrum 51-0; Glenwood U15s won 39-0 against hosts Sarel Cilliers U15s; the one of the two Glenwood U16 select sides beat their Vryheid counterparts 41-0 with the other defeating Landbou Vryheid 60-0.
And the remaining matches went as follows:
The U18 Glenwood “Light Greens” beat a Vryheid first XV 55-6
The U18 Glenwood “Barely Greens” beat a Dundee High School first team 22-14
And a Glenwood U18 team tagged as the “Dark Greens” were edged 17-14 by a Welkom Gimnasium first XV.
Mrs Taryn Hughes took the photographs.
#GlenwoodRugby #PassionWithPurpose #character #resilience #tolerance #gratitude #discipline #integrity #respect
Maritzburg College basketballers’ 100% win record
Apart from the success Maritzburg College enjoyed in the MyLife Dusi Canoe marathon over the weekend, there was also much to savour on the Red Black and White basketball courts.
The Maritzburg College first basketball team won the U19 tournament that was hosted at the school, as well as emerging victorious in the concurrent U14 event.
Feature photo caption: College’s victorious U14 basketball team won all their matches and the junior section of College’s basketball tournament hosted this week.
Competing with 9 other schools, College won the U19 final 91-67 against Northwood while the Red Black and White’s U14A team beat their Northwood counterparts 50-36 in the U14 event’s final.
The Maritzburg College first team won their preliminary round matches in the U19 section by 95-55 over Kearsney College, by 111-18 against Linpark, by 61-13 versus Port Shepstone High School and by 92-67 against Westville Boys’ High.
Maritzburg College firsts beat St Charles College by 13 points (66-53) in the U19 semi-finals before prevailing in the title match as mentioned, 91-67 versus Northwood.
The Maritzburg College U14A team won all their preliminary round matches, 45-22 vs Westville, 63-8 versus Maritzburg Christian School, and 38-17 vs St Charles.
In the U14A semi-finals Maritzburg College beat Kearsney 48-37 before toppling Northwood U14A by 50-36 in that age-group’s final.
The 100% success record of the Maritzburg College basketballers in the week that was began earlier in the week when the boys in Red Black and White won all 7 matches that were played against St Nicholas and Carter High.
Those results
College 2nds 40 St Nicholas 1sts 8
College U16B 21 St Nicholas U16A 4
College U14B 19 St Nicholas U14A 4
And versus Carter – College 1st team won 68-28; the U16A won 65-6, the U15A won 66-1 and the U14A won 36-5.
Meanwhile, it was pretty tough going for the College seconds water polo team who finished 11th in the Logan Stanley 2nd Team Festival, although the last two matches ended with College taking the honours.
College 2nd team water polo results:
vs Northwood 2nds lost 13-0
vs Kearsney 2nds lost 9-8
vs Westville 2nds lost 7-2
vs St Charles 1sts lost 8-7
vs KES lost 8-5
vs Toti won 8-3
vs Glenwood won 9-2
Another successful Dusi for Maritzburg College
It seems that Maritzburg College is synonymous with the Dusi canoe marathon and this past weekend was no different as Old Boys of the Red Black and White, Dusi legend Andy Birkett and the recently matriculated Dave Evans were the overall winners in their K2.
While it is hopefully the first of many Dusi wins for Evans, it was a remarkable ninth consecutive win for Birkett and his 12th in all.
When one considers how the slightest mishap can derail Dusi dreams in a flash… talk about not putting a foot wrong.
The 2022 MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon, contested over the past Thursday, Friday and Saturday, featured 9 current Maritzburg College boys as well as the usual posse of Old Boys who have graced this canoe epic with distinction for decades on end.
The Maritzburg College U18 boys did themselves and their school proud.
College grade boy 12 James Goble and his partner Ross Palframan of St Charles College finished 3rd in the U18 doubles section. Maritzburg College’s James Sharpe and Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert ended in 5th place with schoolmates Ross Finnie and Ian Hemingway in 8th spot.
Feature photo caption: The Maritzburg College U18 pair of Joshua Glyn-Cuthbert and James Sharpe finished 5th in the U18 K2 race in this year’s MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon. Photo supplied by Maritzburg College.
College’s Chad Newman and his K2 Dusi partner Gemma Fradd of St Anne’s won the U18 K2 mixed category.
It was a College one-two in the U18 K1 section with Kent Rhodes ahead of Chris Adam.
College Old Boys Jack and David O’Dell finished 14th overall and were the first K2 home in the under-23 age group.
College’s head canoeing coach Bridgitte Hartley finished 3rd in the women’s K2 race alongside her K2 partner Pippa McGregor.
This is what Andy Birkett told SABC News of his and fellow Maritzburg College Old Boy Dave Evans’ Dusi win in their K2: “It’s been another great race. I love racing in this beautiful valley that we’ve got, especially racing with Dave. He was so strong over the last three days. The last three days have been tough, I tell you. The first day was rather tough on me; there was a lot of running, but each day has its own challenges today [Saturday] also hard paddling into the finish but tough racing as always.”
St Anne’s FB file photo: The Maritzburg College and St Anne’s Diocesan College duo of Chad Newman and Gemma Fradd combined beautifully to win the Under-18 K2 Mixed category of the 2022 MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon on Saturday.
St Charles College first XI beat Hilton by 2 runs in T20 at Saints
Tuesday afternoon, 8 February 2022 was certainly one to remember for St Charles College cricket as the first XI, second XI and U16A teams all recorded T20 wins from the three T20 matches against visitors Hilton College.
The fixtures were arranged to at least get in some cricket between the schools after the past Saturday’s rain prevented a single ball being bowled in those scheduled fixtures.
These totals etc. are according to the Hilton stats.
In the first XI T20 match on the Saints Oval yesterday, St Charles firsts scored 125 for 6 wickets in their 20 overs, to which Hilton replied with 123 for 9, which left St Charles the winners by 2 runs. Can’t-sit-still moments at the end.
SCC photo caption: The St Charles College first XI after beating Hilton College first XI by 2 runs in the T20 match at St Charles Oval on Tuesday afternoon.
In the previous four completed matches between the two schools’ first XIs the Hilton teams of the era had won three and lost one.
In the second XI T20 match on Colts field, St Charles seconds compiled 114 in their 20 overs, to which Hilton replied with 80, giving St Charles the win by 34 runs.
In the previous two completed matches at second XI level, Hilton had won both, by 69 runs and 6 wickets respectively, so a feather in the cap of Saints seconds.
In the U16A match, Hilton made 107 for 7 in their 20 overs, and St Charles responded successfully to reach 108 for 4 and thereby a 6-wicket victory.
Access to previous results at U16A level were not available at the time of writing.
Westville firsts basketball beat DHS for first time in 10 years
Last Friday was one to remember for Westville basketball as the first team beat Durban High School for the first time in 10 years – the final score being 76-70 in favour of the Griffins at their Multi Purpose Centre
This followed another notable win for Westville firsts, that being the 78-70 win over Hilton College.
The last two outings came off the back of the 71-56 away defeat to the strong Maritzburg College first team in the PMB school’s Alan Paton Hall on the first Saturday of the new school term.
This certainly seems to be a vibrant sports code at Westville that is going from strength to strength.
ALL RESULTS TO FAR THIS YEAR FROM THE WESTVILLE PERSPECTIVE
Teams in bold have won 3 from 3 matches this year – the U15 age group particularly dominant.
Basketball vs DHS
1st – (W) 76-70
2nd – (W) 37-5
3rd – (L) 13-14
4th – (L) 26-32
5th – *BYE*
16A – (L) 13-23
16B – (W) 27-19
16C – (W) 21-1
16D – (L) 16-17
16E – (L) 8-9 [vs WBHS 15E]
15A – (W) 26-23
15B – (W) 34-28
15C – (W) 27-4
15D – (W) 13-6
15E – (W) 9-8 [vs WBHS 16E]
14A – (L) 7-29
14B – (W) 8-3
14C – (W) 9-0
14D – (L) 3-2 *OT
14E – (W) 6-2
Summary: Played – 17 Won – 11 Lost – 6
Basketball vs Hilton
1st – (W) 78-70
2nd – (W) 38-13
3rd – (L) 24-39
4th – (L) 19-30
5th – (L) 22-23
16A – (W) 28-21
16B – (L) 21-23
16C – (W) 23-11
16D – (W) 26-13
16E – (W) 27-14
15A – (W) 35-24
15B – (W) 34-26
15C – (W) 14-7
15D – (W) 21-7
15E – (W) 46-4
14A – (L) 21-23
14B – (W) 9-6
14C – (L) 6-7
14D – (W) 25-4
14E – (W) 9-2
P – 20 W – 14 L – 6
Basketball vs Maritzburg College
1st – (L) 71-56
2nd – (W) 39-24
3rd – (W) 27-18
4th – (W) 27-19
16A – (L) 15-28
16B – (L) 15-27
16C – (W) 27-19
16D – (W) 20-19
15A – (W) 30-28
15B – (W) 25-20
15C – (W) 28-18
15D – (L) 15-18
15E – (W) 23-2
14A – (L) 8-20
14B – (L) 5-21
14C – (L) 5-22
14D – (L) 4-18
14E – (L) 9-25
P – 18 W – 9 L – 9
#westvilleboys #westvillegriffinsbasketball #westvillebasketball
Hilton College cricket at St Charles College this afternoon for T20 matches
Three Hilton College cricket teams travel to hosts St Charles College this (February 8th 2022 Tuesday) afternoon for a 3pm start, the matches in the T20 format.
Although the abbreviated nature is not ideal, today should go a way in making up somewhat for the disappointment of Saturday’s cancelled-due-to-the-weather, longer-format matches.
It is certainly a lot better than nothing at all. And given the time constraints and crowded schedules of schools these days it is great to see.
All 3 Hilton teams look to be strong units in their particular division or age-group category and, weather permitting this afternoon, should test the Saints to the full.
Hilton College 1st XI
Jake Carstens, Jarryd Pike, Charles Swart, Ivan Lockem, Ross Boast, Kristofer Watt (capt), Matthew Stewart, Nicholas Chantler, Matt Wilson, Olwethu Kweyama, Kieran Kilmartin
Hilton College 2nd XI
Luke Watt, Hylton Lötter, Jason Dix, Samuel Strydom, Matt Diemont, Matt Rout (capt), Wian Liebenberg, Thomas Roy, Brett Cutting, Christopher Roy, Matipa Denenga
Hilton College U16A
Christopher Wagner, Jarred Kitto (capt), Ivan JJuuko, Kyle Christie, Ethan van Heerden, Grant Bridgeford, James McGregor, Didier Rey, Kingsley Thompson, Murray Loughor-Clarke, Natenzi Denenga
St Charles College first team basketballers prevail over rising force Hilton College
St Charles College has been one of the dominant schools in KZN basketball over the last two decades and have regularly been ranked in the top 3 nationally.
However, Hilton College under the leadership of basketball director Ayanda Shange, have made a prominent rise in the standings of late. This included a dominant victory at home over the SCC team to start the Stayers’ season in term 4 of 2021.
With exceptional shooting, Hilton were able to beat St Charles College in that Stayers match late last year and signalled their intentions for term 1 in 2022.
Justin Waldman Sports Photography feature photo: St Charles College’s Malachi Prigge was in great form against Hilton College firsts in the SK Arena at Saints on Saturday.
Saints first team basketball head coach Darren Holcomb reports that this past Saturday saw the two teams’ first meeting since and, with limited other sport (especially no cricket) being played due to the inclement weather, the SK Arena at Saints was full of energy.
“With strong crowd support for the home team, St Charles College looked to bounce back.
“The early minutes of the game were uneventful as both teams battled to find their range. Both teams missed opportunities to apply pressure and the game was tightly poised by the end of the first quarter.
A happy St Charles College firsts basketball team with the scoreboard to reflect it. Saints 68 Hilton College 50. Photo by Justin Waldman Sports Photography
Based on the outcome of the Stayers’ match late last year, Hilton perhaps were favoured to win the game on Saturday, but it was the Saints who made the initial run.
“Behind a variety of different defensive looks, which included zone, man and full-court presses, the Saints were able to assert some dominance and jump out to a fair lead by half-time,” said Darren.
“Although no one player can be singled out for SCC, the defensive team energy was outstanding, and they managed to build more and more pressure on Hilton with their full-court press. This led to several Hilton turnovers and easy baskets for the home team.”
St Charles College managed to extend their lead further in the 3rd quarter, with their largest points difference being 26 points.
“With confidence high, the Saints fell into a wonderful team rhythm which allowed very few opportunities for Hilton to fight back and the final score was 68-50 in St Charles College’s favour.”
In the other Saints/Hilton basketball matches, Hilton seconds beat Saints 27-12; Hilton thirds won 21-20; Hilton U16A won 26-25; Hilton U15A lost 33-19; Hilton U14A won 19-18.
The U16A and U14A matches, just one point in it, as in the third team match. Gripping stuff for players, coaches and spectators.
Basketball and water polo prevail while cricket suffers the inclement weather
A second week of cricket weather on cricket practice weekdays and water sports conditions on cricket match Saturdays meant that 15 cricket fixtures against Clifton College and the golfing showdown between Michaelhouse and Maritzburg College were washed out over the weekend.
Basketball
Michaelhouse’s Murray Witherspoon reports that, as per last week, basketball barrelled on in the indoor centre, where Michaelhouse were in imperious form over visitors Clifton College, winning 15 from 15, including solid wins for the U16A (48-8), U15A (30-14), and U14A (26-7) sides.
Michaelhouse feature photo caption: Michaelhouse U16 paddlers Louis Souchon and Aiden Furby taking on Mission Rapid in the Campbell’s to Dusi Bridge race on Sunday.
Murray says that the first 3 periods of the first team basketball encounter saw a pedestrian spectacle, with Michaelhouse only able to convert a mountain of possession into a molehill of points.
Michaelhouse skipper Lucky Mabuza’s boys couldn’t miss in the final stanza though, nailing 3-pointers seemingly at will; and with mounting confidence, frustrating rebounds became crowd-inciting points.
“The scoreboard, no longer stuck in the mud, ticked over furiously until the final second for the home team’s 80-23 win.
“Next door, in the aquatics centre, the water polo match spoils were being more equitably shared. Clifton dominated the open age group winning everything on offer going into the first team game.
“The much-fancied Clifton first water polo team opened the scoring but were forced to content themselves with trading goals all the way through to midway into the third chukka.
“The home team faithful were just starting to believe that the upset of the season might be on the cards when Clifton’s sheer weight of class turned the tide. A late goal from Michaelhouse firsts could do nothing to avert the outcome, a 9-5 win for the Clifton College first team.”
Murray reports further that the Michaelhouse age groups were able to stem the Clifton tide. Proving their pedigree, House’s U14A boys followed up the B side’s win with an 8-3 victory of their own; while a little later in the morning, the Michaelhouse U15A (7-2) and B (8-5) lads were able to do the same.
Canoeing
Michaelhouse’s canoeists revelled in the high water levels on Saturday paddling into second place (Reuben Baldry) and fourth place (Robert Butcher) in the U18 event of the Dash & Crash on the Upper Umgeni, which also doubled as the first race on the 2022 interschool race calendar.
Aidan Furby crossed the line in first place with Louis Souchon in third in the U16 event while Jess Webber placed third in the U14 age group.
On Sunday, Rob Butcher partnered Dom Furby into third place in the U18 race of the Campbell’s to Dusi Bridge event, while Rourke Murray and Stuart Neilson claimed first place with Louis Souchon and Aiden Furby just behind in second place in the U16 race.