Posts by Jono Cook
Remember when… The 2007 KZN10 hockey season in review
I’ve thrown in a number of bits and pieces from my memories of that year.
Featured image: 2007 Kearsney College captain & SA Schools defender Greg Last who went on to represent SA and play for numerous seasons in KZN Raiders title-winning teams and in Europe for his Belgian club.
Maritzburg College were the top-rated KZN team, having played 17 games won 14 lost 3.
Living Legend: Mike Bechet… an incredible record as a schoolboy hockey coach in SA.
Next up with 15 goals were the penalty corner drag-flick guided missiles of the exceptionally strong powerfully-built left ⬅ half Tyron Mingard who wasn’t the sort of guy a striker looked forward to playing against.
Nine Maritzburg College first team players represented KZN Midlands at the Interprovincial Nationals in Port Elizabeth.
The Willowton, Pietermaritzburg based Greenfields team are now the biggest players in the synthetic sports turf market with prominent names in the SA hockey fraternity such as the legend that is Tommy Hammond among the staff led by former outstanding player and current international umpire Ayden Shrives.
Thomas More College had their first player selected for SA Schools – current Kearsney College first team head coach Sihle Ntuli.
In 2007 the current Kearsney College head coach Sihle Sigz Ntuli became the first (and only) Thomas More College boy to be selected for SA Schools.
* Astonishing when one looks at it now, Clifton College – one of the top teams in SA this year – were a second-tier hockey school in 2007. Clifton’s rapid hockey progress is one of the most remarkable KZN10 success stories.
Our Boys of KZN10 in SA Hockey 5s & Rugby 7s for Youth OG Qualifier
FIVE of the 8 players selected for the SA Fives hockey team to take part in the July 19-28 Africa Youth Games Qualifier tournament for October’s Youth Olympic Games are from KZN10 schools while DHS number 8 and captain Celimpilo Gumede is in the SA Sevens squad. The KZN10 hockey boys are Taine Bird of Northwood (Taine a recent feature article in KZN10.com), Guy Morgan (Kearsney College), Mphumelelo Maphumulo and Jared Campbell (both Maritzburg College) and Matt Lewis of Clifton College (KZN10.com knows how to pick ’em – Matt is another recent feature on your favourite website). And to top it all, Kearsney head coach Sihle Ntuli will be the man in charge.
Feature image: DHS captain and number 8 Celimpilo Gumede in SA 7s squad.
Northwood and SA 5’s shot-stopper Taine Bird is outstanding on the indoor hockey arena and Astro surfaces… a great base for Hockey Fives best practice.
The Africa Qualifier event is in Algiers, Algeria and the rugby and hockey winners go to The Big Show – the Youth Olympic Games in the City of Super-Friendly Beautiful Girls (trust me on this one, the Argie girls love SA guys) – Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Kearsney College captain Guy Morgan is heading to Algiers with his SA Hockey 5s team-mates for their shot at qualifying for The Big Show in Buenos Aires.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg
Ahem… We gotta qualify first… Yes, dear KZN10.com fans, it’s make or break in Algiers as it is the single opportunity for South Africa to make it to The Big Show in the stunning South American country that is Argentina.
Mphumulelo Maphumulo’s laser-sharp target is the Africa Qualifier Hockey 5s gold medal with the SA team in the Algerian capital city of Algiers July 18-29.
Photo Matt Marshall
The Youth Olympics is for players age 14 to 18. The 2014 Africa qualifier was in Gaborone, Botswana which featured over 50 African countries. The inaugural Games were in Morocco in 2010.
The pace off a standing start and stick-ball dexterity of Mphumulelo’s Maritzburg College team-mate Jared Campbell will ensure that the Red Army flag flies high in Algeria.
Photo Matt Marshall
TEAMS FOR ALGERIA
RUGBY SEVENS
Christoffel Grobbelaar, Christiaan Pretorius, David Kellerman, Celempilo Gumede (DHS), Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Ross Braude, William Rose, Jacobus Hattingh, Muzilikazi Manyike, Diego Appollis, Ofentse Maubane, Ethinique Adams, Albertus Horn, Juandre de Klerk, Lional April, Remy Engelbrecht, Campbell Willemse
* Squad of 17 to be trimmed to 12 ahead of departure.
Management: Marius Schoeman, Sandile Ngcobo
Clifton College match-winner Matt Lewis will be a massive weapon from penalty corner and field play for the SA Youth team in Algiers.
Photo Terry Lewis
HOCKEY FIVES
Taine Bird (Northwood), Guy Morgan (Kearsney College), Cody Postumus, Mustapha Cassiem, Mphumelelo Maphumulo (Maritzburg College), Matt Lewis (Clifton College), Jared Campbell (Maritzburg College), Peter Jarvis, Luke Wynford
Management: Sihle Ntuli (Kearsney College)
Highly regarded Kearsney College head coach Sihle Ntuli will be the guiding force driving SA Hockey 5s’ trophy quest at the Africa Youth Games next month.
Photo Tracey van den Aardweg
Shedders’ holiday High Performance cricket camps a game-changer
ANDREW Shedlock has taken the art of cricket coaching to the next level. Two High Performance Shedders Cricket Academy camps, to be held in Durban North from 25 to 28 June and 9 to 12 July could be the turning point in KZN schoolboy cricketers’ lives. Critically, in my opinion, each camp is limited to a maximum 20 boys.
If I was age 13 to 17 again this would have been the catalyst in turning a (so-I’m-still-told) talented top-order batsman with a sound technique (thanks to Digby Rhodes, Vince van der Bijl and others) into a far better batter.
Although I captained the Maritzburg College first XI and made some runs, as a perfectionist I found myself so frustrated with the technical and mental aspects of surely – next to golf – one of the most complex ball sports around. The frustration at knowing I was not making any progress in taking my game to the next level resulted in (later much-regretted) giving up the game a couple of years post-school.
Enough of that. Coming across the Shedders ad, the first instinct was to have a look, as Andrew Shedlock and I go back 42 years, as opponents and friends. So what has Shedders got on the menu, I thought. Well, it blew me away.
Shedders, a University of Stellenbosch sports science graduate and internationally respected coach and cricket-specific fitness and conditioning consultant with the CV to prove it, has in my opinion nailed down the key to cricket success.
Featured image: Shedders has worked with legends of the game. Here’s Shedders with Sri Lanka cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara, the elegant left-hander and wicketkeeper who scored a total of 28 000 runs for his country across all formats and retired with a Test average of 57.40. Shedders’ direct contact with some of the world’s best cricketers has been of enormous practical benefit to his coaching skill set.
Apart from comprehensive batting and bowling sessions with top-class professional coaches that on its own will establish a solid platform for the upcoming cricket season (starting as early as the third term in KZN), Shedders has also teamed up with Durban North-based optometrist Glen Nugent and sports fitness and talent identification educationist eta College in offering a three-pronged approach to his camps.
I phoned him, wanting to know more.
“Thanks Jono, always good to chat. I’ll never forget that U13A game on Leeches at Maritzburg College when you were College skipper and I was DHS captain. Great memories.”
A deep thinker on the game, Shedders is constantly looking for the edge that turns “good enough” into best. The research and success-in-practice of Shedders’ internationally-acclaimed fellow University of Stellenbosch sports science graduate Dr Sherylle Calder’s EyeGym programme inspired one section of the three-pronged content of the upcoming camps. Dr Calder pinpointed Visual Intelligence training as a key tool in making a better player.
Shedders says, “a batsman’s ability in making the transition from seeing the ball to immediately processing that split-second information into employing the correct cricket stroke can make or break an innings. This is just one aspect of transferring vision into decision.”
“Sherylle worked with the 2003 World Cup-winning Australian cricket side, as well as David Miller in enhancing performance and clearly Dave and the Aussies reaped the rewards, as did the England (2003) and Springbok (2007) Rugby World Cup-winning players.”
Known for his get-in-the-trenches work ethic, one of the Andrew ‘Shedders’ Shedlock mottoes is: “Cricket is a verb not a noun so get training!”
“I’ve identified the much-talked-about but little understood hand-eye co-ordination aspect as one of the keys to unlocking the mysteries behind why talented KZN high school cricketers struggle to deliver consistent performances. I constantly hear things like ‘you can’t teach it, you’ve either got it or you haven’t’, and ‘he’s naturally gifted’. My response? A cricketer as gifted as David Miller benefited from visual intelligence training, Dave saying that it provided him with the extra edge to perform at a high level. Every cricketer, be it a batsman, bowler, wicketkeeper or fielder, constantly searches for consistency. That’s why I see this aspect as a vital function of the camps.”
To this end, the Shedders cricket camps’ optometrist, Glen Nugent, will conduct an eye and vision assessment for each player and provide the boys with follow-up cricket-specific exercises and drills to work on.
Fitness is another key indicator of success or failure. The ability to concentrate without distraction in turning a quality 50 into a match-winning hundred… or converting a useful 3-fer into a match-deciding fifer can, in my opinion, be best-judged by whether a schoolboy has the mental and physical stamina to maintain best-practice and accuracy whatever the outside influences and circumstances may be.
Shedders says this is where eta (exercise training academy) step into the camp package: “eta will conduct fitness testing services to assess current athletic abilities and to identify physical attributes and areas in need of improvement. Baseline fitness testing allows for the setting of goals and testing at regular intervals. It helps track a cricketer’s progress towards those goals.”
The fitness assessments/tests to be completed will include:
* Functional Movement Screening
* Body Composition Assessments
* Flexibility Assessments
*Agility Assessments
* Power and Speed Assessments
* Balance and Hand/Eye Co-ordination Assessments
* Power and Speed Assessments
* Cardio-respiratory Assessments
* Muscle Strength/Endurance Assessments
*Nutritional/Dietary Assessments
Clearly there is not going to be much idle time for the camps’ young cricketers. No doubt there wasn’t much idle time for a just-out-of-school Hashim Amla when Shedders was head coach of the Dolphins Cricket Academy. Hashim Amla is quoted as saying that Shedders is a coach who had a positive influence on his cricket career.
To sum up: I’ve seen Shedders in action – no “only-observe-from-the-sidelines” coach, he’s not afraid to get in the trenches. Ask Jonty Rhodes and Lance Klusener, to whom Shedders must have each pitched a thousand-plus throw-downs during his time with the Dolphins.
Shedders has the sports science background, world-level sports-playing (he’s also a former Springbok water polo player) and international cricket title-winning experience to appreciate what it takes to succeed.
Shedders is the kind of guy I’d go to war with. He’s a leader who is never afraid to push the boundaries harder and further in every sphere of cricket excellence.
My only regret about Shedders? His June/July cricket camps weren’t around when Jono Cook the aspirant teenage cricketer needed them. After a good first term, I had a shocking fourth term.
I’m convinced it would’ve been different if Shedders’ camps had been around in my time.
Unlike me, today’s KZN high school cricketers have got that opportunity.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
LIMITED TO 20 BOYS PER CAMP
Camp 1
Mon 25th to Thurs 28th June
Camp 2
Mon 9th to Thurs 12th July
Ages: 13 to 17
Time: 2pm to 4.30pm daily
Venue: Shedders Cricket Academy Durban North
Contact Shedders at 083 791 7646
or shedders@worldonline.co.za
Craig Joubert… distinguished member of the KZN10… We salute you
IT’S going to be a hectic, emotional roller-coaster weekend for internationally-renowned rugby referee Craig Joubert. First up, the Maritzburg College Old Boy is guest speaker at the Friday evening St Charles College Old Boys’ Dinner – a polished, entertaining address is certain from this accomplished man – before his final appearance as a rugby ref on Graeme Gilfillan Field 3pm Saturday – the landmark 200th Hilton College/Michaelhouse first XV match in the 115-year term of this remarkable rugby rivalry – and a match that has a special, personal meaning to Craig… More about that later… Before this widely respected, popular son of the KZN capital enjoys welcome down time with mates in the incomparable KZN midlands.
Featured image… “NO, NOT THIS TIME RICHIE…”
KZN10.com asked Craig to tell us more.
“Thanks Jono, it’s great to make my debut on KZN10.com!
“A couple of thoughts… I started refereeing in Maritzburg because I loved the game; schoolboy rugby was a massive part of my early rugby-and-refereeing life – and throughout my career.
“I have always tried to continue to referee schoolboy rugby whenever my schedule has allowed. The Hilton vs Michaelhouse game is a very special schoolboy rivalry and early in my career both schools were generous in welcoming me, as a schoolboy myself, in refereeing the 2nd XV fixture on this day.
“Unbeknown to me at the time, it would also be the last time I would see my late dad (Des) referee, as he did the 1st XV game before falling ill soon afterwards.
PROUD DAD… INSPIRED SON… World-renowned international rugby referee Craig Joubert and his mentor, his father Des, in the embryonic stage of the Craig Joubert success story.
“As I now stand in the twilight of my refereeing career and look forward to an exciting future with World Rugby – coaching and mentoring the Sevens World Series referees through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games – I am thrilled that my schedule has allowed me to referee this fixture as the final game of my career (and with thanks to the Midlands Referees’ Society, with whom I have always maintained my membership, for the appointment).
“I love what a great rivalry these 2 schools have – and the privilege to have been involved in a few of these contests over the years. It seems right that I run out on the same field – and to referee the same game – as my final act as a referee, as what my dad did so many years ago.
“I can’t wait.”
… Wow … Craig, I’m a bit of an emotional bunny… shed a tear at the mere hint of a hospital pass… but the way you expressed this closing chapter of your on-field action… I had to reach for the KZN10.com tissue box.
Thanks mate.
Enjoy every moment.
Northwood keeper Taine Bird a shot-stopper of note
HIGHLY-REGARDED Northwood first team hockey goalkeeper Taine Bird is enjoying another successful season. KZN10.com talks to the Durban North-based shot-stopper.
Taine, as the last line of defence, a unique burden – or perhaps “responsibility” is a better word – rests on the goalkeeper’s shoulders. It can be a weight that is overly onerous – especially on one of a first team’s most critical players (2 shots can mean 2 goals and a 2-1 loss despite overall match domination) so how does it affect the Northwood number 1?
Featured image: Northwood and KZN Coastal U18A’s Taine Bird will stop at nothing to keep a clean sheet.
“It brings out the best in me as I thrive under pressure, which boosts my performance in a game,” is Birdy’s quick response.
Giles Bonnet, who captained the 1982 Michaelhouse, Natal Schools and Schools hockey teams before adding the SA men’s captaincy, head coach of the SA men’s and women’s side and more to his illustrious career in the game, once said – when I was reporting on the SA women’s side on behalf of then-sponsors Investec Bank – that a consistently successful hockey team is built on 3 things – a striker who can score and create goalshot chances, an excellent penalty corner attack and defence, and a quality goalkeeper.
With that comes the responsibility of those three facets performing at peak level as often as possible – especially the keeper.
“It’s important to have a cool head during pressure situations,” says the Northwood vice-captain. “I enjoy pressure, taking on responsibility, helping to run a smooth show. It adds value to the team and gives my teammates less stress to cope with during a match.”
Taine’s representative recognition to date is virtually faultless: In outdoor hockey – KZN Coastal U13A, 14, 15, U16 (2 years) and U18 (2017/18) as well as SA U16 (2 years) and SA U17. On the indoor hockey front, Taine was selected for the SA All Stars age-group side and plays in the Northwood first side.
At men’s club level, Taine plays for the Crusaders 1sts in the KZN Premier League.
With 59 first team matches under the belt, the last Northwood match in 2018 being an emphatic win at home against St Benedict’s over the weekend, has the knowledge earned during those fixtures helped improve Taine’s game between the posts?
“The number of earlier first team matches helped me settle down in the position and find my feet. I feel I have developed tremendously since my first match, as I now know more about my own game and my role in the team than I did 2 years ago.”
As the Northwood vice-captain, what are Taine’s thoughts on the first team’s skipper?
“Marco Valle-Dove has done an outstanding job leading the Northwood 1st XI. Marco is so passionate; he’s open and honest with all the boys in the team and does his best to resolve any issues that may arise. As a defender, Marco is a brick wall at the back; not much gets past him! In the general sense, Marco is an outstanding player.”
The Northwood first side of 2018 have experienced highs and relative lows; some matches haven’t gone their way, but Taine feels that the bare stats don’t tell the whole story: “We have had our ups and downs, we haven’t won all our matches but that doesn’t describe our season.
“As a squad we try to measure ourselves on our match performance rather than just the result. We are determined to play our part in further enhancing what is already a very good hockey culture at Northwood. We have had a relatively good season.”
Northwood first team head coach Shaun Baker warms up his keeper Taine Bird.
Apart from his Northwood first team journey now at an end, it is also Taine’s last year in schoolboy representative hockey.
“One of the major challenges coming up is the Interprovincial Nationals tournament during the July holidays as it is my last schoolboy IPT. I’m looking forward to playing a part in securing the gold medal with my KZN Coastal U18A team-mates.”
So how did the Taine Bird hockey adventure begin and who has guided him on his journey?
“I started playing hockey in grade 6 at Northlands Primary. Mr Clive Beetge was my first KZN age-group coach and left a long-lasting impression. Mr Darryn Gallagher (previously Northwood, currently director of hockey at Hilton College) has also had a great influence, as has Mr Michael Wiggett (Northwood hockey coach and chiropractor at Northwood Sports Medical Centre). They have moulded me into the hockey player I am today and have helped in every way possible.
“As much as I appreciate the input of the coaches mentioned, I would have to say that (the current Northwood first team coach and director of hockey) Mr Shaun Baker has had the greatest influence. Mr Baker is constantly helping me improve and wants the best from me. Mr Baker is an excellent coach and while we have the utmost respect, Mr Baker is also able to understand us boys on our level, which leads to a stronger coach/player relationship and is beneficial towards the team.
Playing goalkeeper can all-too-often be a lonely place as, to adapt the well-worn cliché coined by former U.S. president Harry Truman, the buck certainly stops with the, ahem, shot-stopper. Apart from the support of coach and team-mates when the going gets rough, as it always will in a sportsman’s life, who else is there to offer a heads-up to Taine Bird?
“At the end of the day, the support of my family has been what keeps me going… just the thought of that makes me want to perform even better; to make them happy as well as myself.
“I would not be where I am today without the help of my mom (Mel ), my dad (Russell), sister (Saxon), grandmother (Margaret) and my girlfriend ( Hannah ) – and also my friends. They are always there to watch my games when they can and are constantly supporting me in everything that I do. Sometimes I think they are even happier than I am when I make a representative team, which is a major positive to me. I am just extremely grateful for these amazing people in my life.”
It’s been a busy season, so which has been the match that sticks out most>
“The most memorable game for me has to the one with Maritzburg College. We, as the Northwood squad, put on the performance of a lifetime – we played as one. For me, it was our best performance.”
It was a 1-1 draw against one of the top handful of teams nationally, in which Taine reportedly made in the region of 15 goalsaves – a healthy number of which were apparently quite remarkable.
The Clifton College first team are another squad that stand out for Taine. “Clifton are one of the best and most challenging sides to play against in KZN. Clifton have also proved themselves outside the province. They have come such a long way – the calibre of hockey that they are putting out against the traditionally big schoolboy sides.”
Northwood hockey guru Shaun Baker last year; the Genesis of his chosen career inspired by SA schoolboy hockey coaching legend Mike Bechet – whose achievements are without peer – Bakes was captain of Maritzburg College during Bech’s unprecedented 700-plus matches as the Red Army’s guiding light.
Northwood director of hockey and first team head coach Shaun Baker on Taine Bird: “I am Taine’s biggest fan, I believe that he possesses the right stuff to become a world class goalkeeper. He moves in his kit like a field player and this makes him exceptionally hard to predict.
“His eye is excellent too, which brings his stick saves into play more so than the average goalkeeper. However at times he relies on this a little too much and can let a ball through that he could have gloved – when he gets this right, he will be a real big force to beat in the sticks.
“Taine’s ability to understand a game plan and basic hockey principles makes him an excellent communicator and drill sergeant. He understands the game so well that I even had him coaching the U14C team – a team which lost their coach just after the Easter break. Taine took over and had an excellent season with them, only losing two matches out of nine.
Taine goes the extra mile, he is in matric, offered to coach a team that trains three times a week, the 1st XI trains minimum three times a week with a video session on top of that. He played outfield for the 3rd XI – scoring 6 goals for them, as well as making every single goalkeeper session at 05h45 on Fridays with SA goalkeeper Richard Curtis. He did not miss a single session, all without detriment to his marks (which I kept a close eye on).
“This shows the character of this young man. He is bigger than just being a goalkeeper. He will be sorely missed next season as the value he adds beyond his saves is irreplaceable.”
Wow! Praise indeed.
A quiet confidence… hard-earned by way of diligent attention to detail and consistent, daily effort.
KZN10.com wishes Taine Bird, who has had an outstanding record this season in the crucial penalty-corner-save aspect of goalkeeping, as well as an excellent percentage of shot-saves from field play, everything of the best for next month’s Interprovincial Nationals.
Taine Bird in 20 seconds
Nickname – Birdy
Birdy in 1 word – Perseverance
Favourite breakfast – Pancakes
Favourite food – Pizza
Actor – Ryan Reynolds
Actress – Megan Fox
TV show – Narcos
Holiday destination – Bali or Hawaii
Board game – Jungle Speed
Car – Camaro SS
3 Desert island must-haves – Hockey Astro, personal chef, good WiFi signal
4 Things I can’t live without – Family & loved ones, hockey, friends, food
Favourite quote – Do something today that your future self will thank you for
If I could attend any sports event – Olympic Games
Down time – gym, chilling with friends
On your screensaver – “Prove them wrong”
*****
Taine Bird did-you-knows
* Age 8 he could read music & play piano
* Paige Challis Chandler, a then teacher at Northlands Primary (now at DPHS) gave up her school holiday to introduce Taine to goalkeeping
* His main focus going into high school was cricket – wicketkeeper/batsman
* Made SA U16 age 14, turning 15 on 17 July
* Keeper (age 15) in 2016 KZN Premier League promotion- winning Crusaders 1st team
* First Premier League Game age 16 – possibly the youngest keeper to do so
* 2018 Founders Week (Dale College) played keeper 1st half vs Potch Gym, scored a goal as striker 2nd half, making Northwood Sport 1st team history
* Scored T20 100 for Northwood 5ths vs Westville (Friday social team)
* Still age 17, one of Birdy’s current focus points is SA selection for Africa Youth Games (Algeria-July 2018) then Youth Olympic Games (Argentina-Oct 2018)
* Currently 20-odd hockey training sessions a week
* Trains @ Movement X Cross-fit when possible
* Term 1 2018 – 3 A’s, 3 B’s & a C.
Jono Cook footnote: Passion and energy like this, wish I could buy a piece.
*****
Hilton vs Michaelhouse epics 88-90 – Hentie Martens remembers!
HENTIE Martens needs no introduction – Michaelhouse Old Boys remember as if it was yesterday THE phenomenal Hentie try for Hilton College against their old friends. The former Springbok scrumhalf deflected my questions re: The try, and referred to the contribution of his team-mates. I invite those who were there to describe it… There was no way I could get it out of one of the most down-to-earth, humble guys you’ll ever meet. Hentie won 4 from 5 of his first XV derbies with Michaelhouse. Here’s the farmer’s (reluctant) story.
Featured image: Hentie clears in his Hilton Michaelhouse maestro performance on Gilfillans 1989.
“Thanks Jono, great to be on KZN10.com and long may it continue. I was fortunate enough to play 11 times against Michaelhouse – 5 times for the Hilton1st team. One game in 1989 to be held at MHS was called off as a result of flu.
“MHS boys claimed that we chickened out of course! All 11 games against MHS were played in the best of spirits and the crowds were unbelievable. Our war cries were not much to talk about, maybe as a result of there being no smartphones to video!
“The only chants we used to hear were ‘HI- LT-ON-Hilton!’ and ‘JUMP JUMP JUMP!’
“The first game in 1988 was at MHS. MHS had players Kelvin Strachan and Murray John Wilson, Hilton were pretty much the underdogs as we had no real stars but were as usual very motivated for the game.
“Murray John was my direct opposition and Natal schools scrumhalf. I wanted to make an impression.
“I can still clearly remember Nick Davies throwing me around like a piece of old dried khaki bos. Hilton won on Meadows 26-10 and one of the star players was Proteas cricketer Derek Crookes. In the return game on Gilfillan it was a hard-fought battle.
“We had one of the best flanks I know, Gary Fyvie. Gary was inspirational to the whole team throughout the season and this Hilton MHS was no different. Derek kicked 5 penalties and we won 15-10.
The Hilton College first XV Class of 1989.
“1989 saw only one Hilton MHS and that took place at Hilton. MHS had a well-balanced side and good loose forwards with Alfie Messenger, Scott Kimble and ‘The Dog’ Geppy Armstrong.
“Alfie was one of their star players and also represented Natal Schools together with Mark Armstrong who was scrumhalf.
“Hilton also boasted with 5 Natal Schools players in the likes of Jason Dent, Deon von Benecke, Russell Leahy and I. Tries only being 4 points, which saw most of the games being close. Hilton snuck in again and some would say the ref was on our side; however the late Ian Rogers was a World Cup referee. Final score 16-6.
“In 1990 it was a totally different story. We had 5 Natal schools players (Chris Bowley, Damon Thomas, Wayne Fyvie, and Hentie Martens Dave Oxenham) and MHS had Brett Davidson and Chubby Chabana, who was the MHS Captain. Who knows what happened on Meadows.
“Before we wiped the you-know-what out of our eyes we had lost. The second team also lost.
“For many Hilton boys in our age group it was first loss against MHS in our school career. Gutted!!
“For the next month we were all in mourning. We could not wait to get back at MHS.
“The second game on Gilfillan we were as motivated as can be. The night before the game I snuck out of the house and went to the centre spot on Gilfillan and reflected on my years at Hilton. What an honour!
“The next day we redeemed ourselves and every 1st team boy had the game of his life. Wayne Fyvie was as usual exceptional. I happened to be in the right place at the right time and was lucky to get a couple of tries. Hilton won 25-6.
“In all three of those years the scrumhalf held a key position and in 1990 Stu Porrill needs to be mentioned as he was superb at Meadows.
“I need to thank my late dad whom I am sure everyone remembers with the yellow hat and video machine at every game that I played.
“In case the memory falters I can always refer to the videos!
“It certainly was an honour and privilege to have been involved in such special rivalry between 2 great schools.”
WOW! Hentie, thank you and thank you. Sent shivers down the KZN10.com spine.
Bring on Super Saturday, 16 June 2018 on Graeme Gilfillan field at Hilton College. THE 200th MATCH!
HENTIE MISCELLANEOUS
* In 1993, 4 years after finishing his auspicious times at Hilton College (Class of 1989) Hentie Martens became the 598th Springbok.
* English Premier League club Bath RFC have had fellow KZN10-schooled players in Butch James, Peter Dixon (both Maritzburg College), Matt Stevens (Kearsney) and Hentie Martens (Hilton).
Saturday sees 200th Hilton/Michaelhouse 1st XV match
AT 3pm on Saturday, 16 June 2018 on Hilton’s Graeme Gilfillan Field, the landmark 200th first XV match between Hilton College and Michaelhouse will take place. Michaelhouse have won 99, Hilton College 90. There have been 10 draws. In 1987 both matches ended in draws… 7-7 and 9-9. The 0-0 draw in 1917 might rank as the least thrilling encounter. Michaelhouse have notched up 2 371 points in the 199 matches… Hilton have chalked up 2 236… The average score per match – over 199 matches – is 12-11 in Michaelhouse’s favour.
Both sides have enjoyed winning streaks of 7 fixtures… Michaelhouse more recently, between 2007 and 2011… Hilton’s coming between 1926 and 1929.
Michaelhouse’s greatest winning margin was 51-0 in 1910, followed closely by the 48-0 win in 1921. Hilton’s 42-12 win in 2013 beats last year’s 41-12 on Meadows by a dash of whitewash.
The first match was in 1904, which Hilton won 6-0. From that point, Michaelhouse enjoyed considerable success. Hilton had to wait until 1932 to regain the lead. Hilton had now edged in front by 20 victories to 19.
The first XV win/loss lead was to change hands six or seven more times before 1966, when Hilton College relinquished a lead they have yet to regain. By 1976 Hilton had managed to regain parity on 58 wins apiece, but the boys in Red and White’s 10 wins and two draws in the next 12 encounters cemented their advantage, which remains at Michaelhouse 99 and Hilton College 90 as the days and hours tick ever-so-slowly by ahead of Super Saturday’s 3pm Big Show on Hilton’s Graeme Gilfillan Field.
Photo Martin Ashworth
Here are the last 7 years’ stats in the distinguished 115-year history of Hilton College vs Michaelhouse first XV rugby matches:
2012 – 1 win each
2013 – Hilton won both
2014 – Michaelhouse won both
2015 – Michaelhouse won both
2016 – 1 win each: Hilton won 10-8 and Michaelhouse won 21-17
2017 – Hilton won both: 38-21 and 41-12
2018 – Michaelhouse 5 Hilton 22 (Meadows)
Photo Martin Ashworth
* There were a few years in the 155 years of Hilton/Michaelhouse first XV contests where, for various reasons, just a single fixture was contested.
# Thanks to Murray Witherspoon and Ray Mkhulisi for the information.
Westville Old Boys treated to 15 hockey matches vs Maritzburg College
FIVE of the 15 hockey matches between hosts Westville and Maritzburg College on Westville Old Boys’ Day, Saturday 9 June 2018 were decided by one goal while two ended in draws. First team – Westville won 2-1; U16A 1-1; and U14A Maritzburg College won 3-0. Overall results: Westville won 4 Maritzburg College won 9 and 2 draws.
The fixtures concluded the Westville season. Maritzburg College won 9 of the matches for a 60% win rate with Westville winning 4. The overall goal tally reflected that Westville scored 14 in the 15 matches with College netting 31… The figures equate to an average 1 goal a game for Westville and 2 per match for College.
Featured image: Westville first hockey team 2018
Photo by Keiya Davies
The Open age group saw Westville 1sts and 3rds the victors with College 2nds and 4ths emerging as the winners in their matches.
The U16 age group reflected that Westville won 2 matches (C’s and F’s), College 3 (B’s, D’s and E’s) and 1 draw (A’s).
The U14 age group saw Maritzburg College win 4 of the 5 matches against Westville. The Red Black and White won A’s B’s, C’s and D’s while the E’s match ended in a 0-0 stalemate.
The first team match sounds like it was an absolute humdinger, in keeping with recent times. As Ann Davidson says, “What a great game to finish the Westville season.”
RESULTS – WESTVILLE vs MARITZBURG COLLEGE
Westville scores first
Open
1sts 2-1
2nd 1-2
3rd 3-1
4th 0-2
U16
16A 1-1
16B 0-4
16C 3-2
16D 0-4
16E 1-5
16F 1-0
U14
14A 0-3
14B 2-3
14C 0-2
14D 0-1
14E 0-0
Westville vs Maritzburg College rugby wrap
WESTVILLE rounded off the school’s 2018 rugby season on Saturday, 9 June at their Wandsbeck Road, Bowdens, Citadel*. It was Westville Old Boys Day, the visitors Maritzburg College.
Westville first XV won 35-27
Overall rugby results
Westville won 8
Maritzburg College won 12
Picking some of the Westville notables
The first team’s 35-27 win; U16A’s becoming the first side to beat Maritzburg College 16A’s this season (32-22); Westville U15B’s and C’s wins; plus 4 of their five U14 teams taking the spoils.
Photos by Keiya Davies… As Rose Henshaw says, “Awesome photos Keiya!“
Picking some of the Maritzburg College notables
Victories in 4 of the five U19 matches; 3 of the four U16 matches; and 3 of the five U15 matches; plus the emphatic U14A win.
Reflecting on the age-group first-tier results it was 2 wins apiece
Westville won 1sts and 16A’s with College winning 15A’s and U14A’s.
Overall points scored in the 19 matches
Westville 285 (average 15 points per game)
Maritzburg College 565 (average 30 points per game)
RUGBY RESULTS
Westville scores first
U19
1st XV 35-27
2nds 17-28
3rds 12-55
4ths 0-36
5ths 5-42
6ths 0-47
U16
16A 32-22
16B 17-22
16C 0-34
16D 0-36
U15
15A 15-24
15B 7-0
15C 13-12
15D 5-43
15E 17-40
U14
14A 14-48
14B 14-12
14C 17-15
14D 26-7
14E 39-15
* No need to Google – “Citadel” dit beteken “Fortress” – did the Google myself just in case my brainbox was playing tricks on me.
Mucha Match Action ahead in KZN10 Fri Nite Super Saturday Fixtures
MIGHT be Comrades weekend but there’s still much to savour in KZN10 rugga/hockey match action across the golden province & on the Highveld. Prince and the Saints entertain Hilton College on Old Orchards, Maritzburg College are Highway-bound to Westville (Old Boys Day) on Bowdens, Clifton College make the climb to Michaelhouse on Meadows and Kearsney College trek to St Benedicts & Jeppe. It’s a free weekend for Glenwood and DHS while the Knights of Durban North have concluded their rugby and hockey seasons.
TRY-TIME… Maritzburg College’s elusive centre Nkondlo Radebe in full flight on Meadows last Saturday.
Photo Martin Ashworth
SELECTED FIXTURES
@ St Charles (vs Hilton)
Saturday
1sts Hockey – 11h15 (Saints Astro)
1st XV Rugby – 13h45 (Old Orchards)
@ Michaelhouse (vs Clifton)
Saturday
1sts Hockey – 11h45 (Aitkens Astro)
1st XV Rugby – 14h00 (Meadows)
@ Westville (vs Maritzburg College)
1sts Hockey – 11h45 (WBHS Astro)
1st XV Rugby – 14h30 (Bowdens)
@ St Benedicts & Jeppe (vs Kearsney)
Friday
1sts Hockey (vs St Benedicts) – 18h30
Saturday
1sts Hockey (vs Jeppe) – 10h45
1st XV Rugby (vs St Benedicts) – 10h30