Posts by Jono Cook
Hilton College : Coca-Cola T20 Challenge
by Jono Cook
Hilton College 🎓 first XI captain James Ritchie (17) will be leading the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge Dolphins 🐬 franchise winners at the Coca-Cola Schools T20 Challenge National Franchise Finals at Tuks in Pretoria from March 16 to 18.
“To be captain of Hilton College first XI is a great honour. Hilton College has a proud cricket tradition.
I’m a bowling all-rounder. My passion is my leg-spin, in which I take a lot of pride.
“I was given the opportunity to open the batting in the latter part of the 2017 season and with a few good scores I kept my position up front.”
In the Coke T20 KZN Inland final vs Michaelhouse, the Hilton matric lad’s 4 overs, 3 wickets for 11 runs was his best T20 performance to date in this year’s event.
“My batting hero is Quinton de Kock, as I am also a left-handed opening batsman. De Kock’s carefree attitude when he bats is inspirational to me as he makes it seem as if most of the world’s best international bowing attacks are within his reach.
“My bowling hero is Shane Warne, as his ability to be so accurate and get so much turn as a leg-spinner is unbelievable.”
James says that Hilton College are hoping to come out on top in the Coke T20 finals at Tuks.
The last time Hilton College represented the Dolphins at the Big Show was in 2015 when they lost to Menlo Park off the last ball of the final.
Some of the Hilton College cricketers in that final were Angus Curtis, Matthew Dahl, Craig Krog, Dan Hirschowitz and Tim Copland.
“We are hoping to go one better this year. We as a team have had a good run of results in the T20 format and are looking to continue that momentum at Tuks.”
James, best wishes to you personally and to the team.
Northwood hockey’s Knight
Jono Cook talks to the man at the helm of Northwood hockey
AT Northwood, a boy ascends from being a squire to the ultimate accolade, a Northwood Knight – a proud member of the Durban North schools’ community of Old Boys.
In the Middle Ages, a knight was an Englishman who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armour.
In a sense, that is the part being played in the service of Northwood hockey by this talent factory’s director of the sport, a position he got his teeth into this year.
Shaun Baker, one could imagine, is the right man in the right place at exactly the right time. And like so many good stories, it began with a realisation, then a dream, followed by a plan…
The Shaun Baker hockey tale began as a six-year-old in a fun tournament in Estcourt, the town where he grew up. The George Forder seven-a-side tournament was where the love affair was born.
“As far back as I can remember, hockey dictated my life … and continues to do so with my career. I played for KZN Midlands [now KZN Inland] U13 and soon found myself at Maritzburg College where my passion for success in hockey grew and was nurtured, particularly by Mike Bechet. I was lucky enough to have played for four years under Bech, from grade nine as a bench boy/water boy/ bag carrier/ball collector to my matric year in 2002 where I had the honour of captaining the Red Army.
“Bech taught me many of the skills I own and have developed in my coaching and playing career. He is undoubtedly one of my role models and I can’t thank him enough for the support I continue to receive from him.”
Post-school, Baker’s teaching degree was part of the plan – a plan that he was ultimately going to coach professionally down the line. The journey began in earnest when Bakes played and coached at several clubs, schools and in the KZN provincial teams before deciding to further his career as a player and coach in the UK.
“It was there where I gained so much from the experience life had to offer both on and off the pitch in many different countries through playing, coaching and travelling.”
A director of hockey position at Bryanston School ensued in 2012. A season in the Brisbane Premier League and a coaching stint in the Gold Coast Premier League in Australia added to the Bake hockey armoury. But home is where the heart is.
“I made the decision to move back to South Africa for the most important people in my life, my parents. Seeing them at most once a year, was just not good enough. Things fell into place and I was fortunate enough that the Northwood family saw the value I could offer … the decision was an easy one.”
So what has this hockey soldier’s time in Europe and Australia taught him?
“My time over there has broadened my mindset on many factors of life in general and this has filtered through positively into my coaching. In 2009, I went over assured and confident in my abilities as a coach but I was very quickly eaten alive by some of the best coaches England and Australia had to offer. It was a sink-or-swim moment in my career, particularly in Australia where the style of hockey and the perception of the game is so different to anywhere else I have experienced.”
The effect was that it made Mr Baker question his coaching structures, planning of training sessions and opened his eyes to a new way of seeing the game.
“I now see the game so much more simplistically and have a better understanding for it - and a higher respect too. I am up there with the biggest hockey nerds in the world and I am always trying to test my limits, learn new ideas from other coaches at every opportunity I get.”
Having been away for some time, what does he see in the current SA schoolboy hockey set-up?
“I believe there are two main points I have seen with fresh eyes, coming in after eight years out of the circuit …
“South African schoolboy sport in general is too focussed on the national ranking for their schools and are therefore results-driven rather than performance-driven. It is no different in hockey, many players and coaches only care about the win/draw percentage rather than how well their team played. Process-based hockey will reap profitable rewards and I experienced this in both the UK and Australia.”
An example of this can be found in these comments: “Our matches with Maritzburg College (2-2) and Jeppe (0-1) were two of the best games of hockey I have seen at school level. The Rondebosch (2-4), SACS (3-1) and Paul Roos (4-2) matches at Founders Festival were high-end performances from both us and our opponents as well.”
Baker is pleased with the speed that his players’ hockey outlook is evolving.
“I have changed the way my Knights think about the game. It’s been in a short space of time and it is showing in our performances; they understand that if they play, well the
experience is enjoyable regardless of the result. I used to have a win-at- all-costs mentality myself but that is not how life works. Hard work and a good performance - even when the result doesn’t favour you - is way more powerful to any team and coach, if it is understood and harnessed.
“Willingness to share coaching ideas and plans. South African coaches by nature do not share ideas and coaching techniques yet we have some seriously talented coaches. Again, this was my approach but, being involved in two internationally established hockey playing nations, I learnt to share. It is a major part of the national development for coaches to share coaching ideas, structures, team building ideas etc with coaches from other clubs, schools and academies.
“When I was at the KES Easter Hockey Festival this year, I asked several coaches of teams that Northwood played if they were happy to share their game plan they implemented when playing us, for the most part, their facial expressions were priceless! I wasn’t asking to know how their respective schools play structurally, I wanted to know where they were trying to exploit us or limit our strengths.
“That provides me with knowledge of potential ‘blind-spots’ that I can then develop and eliminate in areas of weaknesses and develop and grow areas of strength. I am happy to sit with any coach and go through how we played against them and why, all it means is that the next time I face that coach, I have to be that much better. Surely that is a good thing?”
What is your ‘game plan’ to attract the rich talent that Durban North has to offer when the quality of KZN schools is so good?
“Haha …! So you are using my above answer to make me share my biggest secrets? Clever! Durban North is a community and communities look after and out for each other. That will be my catalyst to attract boys from within the community to Northwood. The fact that Northwood is literally in the heart of the Durban North community should make it the school of choice, which for many Durban North parents’, it is not.
“I understand that there will be allegiances to other schools because dad or brother went there etc, however, I will create a legacy through Northwood Hockey and Northwood School that will attract players because they want to be a part of something special, not because they were offered the biggest scholarship because they were the superstars of the local prep schools, but because they see the value in what I plan on doing for the school over the next 5 years.
“There are misconceptions about Northwood, however, being in the trenches myself and an employee of the school, I speak the truth when I say they are just that, perceptions without substance. For me, that is a great starting point, as I know how many families already send their boy/s to other schools based on this, it is therefore my priority to show the Durban North community the truth about this fine institution that is Northwood School.”
Best wishes to a fine hockey man.
Courtney Halle has enjoyed a stellar season by anyone’s measure
The Maritzburg College first team defender played a big part in the team’s ranking by www.saschoolsports.co.za as the number one schoolboy hockey side in the country.
Halle was also selected for KZN Inland U18A, KZN Inland U21, SA U18 and the SA U21 Junior World Cup training squad.
So how has it all happened, what are the key factors in this boom year for the Ladysmith, KZN-based Halle who filled senior positions as a boarder and in the school at College.
“As proud as I am of myself and my achievements, it’s only a result of hard work and dedication plus the support of many people,” says the tall defender.
“There’s no real way to express my feelings about this year as they are overwhelming! This year was my second and last year playing for the college 1st XI. The reason why we are such a successful hockey school is because our hockey staff buy into the idea from the lowest to highest teams. We work extremely hard at practice and look to earn the respect of others by assisting on our off days with the coaching of teams as low as the U14G and F teams who deserve as much respect as the 1st team.”
Halle admits that much what drives him comes from within. “I am a very competitive guy who wants to always raise the bar and be better than what’s expected. I am driven by people who have told me I can’t do it and also to do my parents proud.”
Of the Maritzburg first hockey team Class of 2015, the immediately likeable Halle says the guys bonded as a team and came together to do a job. “We have successfully finished 1st in SA again according to the SA School Sports rankings and had more than the whole first side in the provincial set up.”
Alongside Halle in the SA U21 Junior World Cup training squad are good friends and College team-mates Tyson Dlungwana and MK Letuka as well as Old Collegians and ex-team-mates Tevin Kok, Peabo Lembethe, Onke Letuka and Siya Nolutshungu.
“College boys who represented KZN Inland were myself, Tyson Dlungwana, Andile Ndlovu and Michael Godfrey amongst the defenders; links Landon Campbell and Gareth Herselman, and strikers Michael Forrest as well as Bob Njapha. Our College coach, Devon van der Merwe, was also our provincial coach.”
College boys selected for the SA U18 side were Halle and Dlungwana, with Andile Ndlovu and Sanele Magoso being selected for the SA U17 squad.
Halle is acutely aware of the responsibilities he carries for the team. “Being a defender comes with its pros and its cons. The slightest of mistakes could result in the scoreboard ticking against your favour. So yes, I feel it puts huge strain on you as you have to take the smallest window of opportunity to turn over possession and win back that ball. Dealing with the strain though just means you need to work harder than ever before. Backing your goalkeeper to assist is also a key aspect.”
Penalty corner drag flicking is one of Halle’s favourites. “I thrive on knowing I have to be better than the opposition goalkeeper and that I have the potential to put my team ahead. There’s no better feeling than knowing you contributed a large amount to your teams success in a tight game, winning no more than 1-0.”
It takes time to know your game, develop the necessary mettle and advance your emotional make-up to really blossom and Halle appears to be getting there – and fast.
“Through the years I have matured as a hockey player and learned to deal with certain situations. I have learned to be calm in all situations, as you need to be so as a drag flicker. When we are under pressure to equalize I wouldn’t say I thrive on it but I like to set the pace at the back and get the game moving forward to get that needed goal.”
As for memorable, nail-biting games, there have been plenty stored in the Halle memory bank. “From beating Glenwood in our second last game last year to move into first place in SA, to beating Westville and Jeppe both 1-0 this year with seconds to go as a result of drag flicks.
“Although I think my most memorable game would be College vs Pretoria Boys for our third meeting of the year when we came from 2-0 down on Pape’s Astro at College to win 3-2, scoring two goals inside 90 seconds at the start of the second half.”
As far as individual goal strikes are concerned, the St Albans match stands out for Halle. “Against St Albans at the start of the season I scored a hat-trick and College went on to win the game 4-3. It was a huge milestone to achieve as I began to find my feet as a drag flicker. It is a memory I will not forget.”
Another highlight was last season. “When we played Glenwood at home after previously losing to them in Durban that same season. College won the game 4-1 to have the last say in their last game, and our second last game. We had to win by three goals to take the title of first-ranked team in SA for 2014.”
Halle loves the schoolboy hockey festivals, like the annual Nomads festival. “These festivals are extremely enjoyable as they bring competition that we would not normally play in KZN and allows us to be out of our home environment. It’s an important bonding time for the team as it sets the standard for the rest of the season. It also allows for you to make many friends, who you will see time and time again on and off the field during the year, and the years to come.”
As for his 2016 ambitions, one in particular is crystal clear: “Next year I will be looking to make the SA team that will take part in the Junior World Cup Africa Qualifier.” The winners of that one go through to the Junior World Cup finals in India later in the year.
Varsity Cup hockey also looms large in 2016 and Halle will likely be at Tuks or UJ studying towards a B.Comm with the focus on the entrepreneurial world.
Ultimately he would love to earn senior men’s national colours.
“It’s just unfortunate that we cannot make a career of hockey in South Africa; I think it’s a huge downfall and a burden on our potential success. I would love to look to make a career and play in the Indian and Belgium leagues.”
As to his mentors, Halle doesn’t hesitate for a second. “My parents have always played a huge roll in my success with their continuous support and interest in me. However I can’t forget about my coaches, from day one being my mother! My high school coaches played a huge roll too. Brandon Swart, Kyle Emerson, Devon van der Merwe and Chris Oldnall were always pushing my boundaries and driving me to succeed.
“I must make special mention of Devon van der Merwe. He has coached me the last two years and has had something to add to every aspect of my game, and ensures you are always pushing the limits. I can’t forget though, the part played by Mr Brandon Swart, where my seeds were planted.”
It all started for Halle at Monument Primary School in Ladysmith. “I have always been a fan of hockey since toddler days, although I only really started enjoying it last year. What makes hockey different to any other sport for me is that the game is never won, and can go either way at any moment! It’s all about the team who pitches on the day.”
Braam the best thing for St Charles College rugby
“Braam picked up technically our seam bowler was struggling with stiffness and he sorted out the problem in no time,” says Irons.
Braam studied physical treaining , everything he knows comes from coding and hours of working with players, trial and error, information he has gathered over time.
“I develop things I don’t copy and it all comes from working with 100s of young boys as well as professionals.,”
“St Charles is a great establishment, it’s in pristine condition and I was always made to feel very welcome by the staff, you want to be part of it, I learnt this when St Charles hosted our Investec Rugby Academy courses in PMB.”
The name Braam van Straaten is internationally known, so it’s a big name in terms of publicity for Saints.
But that’s not why they employed him.
“What attracted us was watching how Braam ignited the passion in the young boys at the Investec Academy and his ability to get the boys to believe in their capabilities, which is aligned with the ethos of St Charles College,” says Irons.
“Another attraction is Braam is a trained teacher so all he does comes from an educational perspective and that is important to us,” adds Irons.
Braam believes his priority is instilling in his boys an understanding of the game, this is what gives him satisfaction.
“I see myself as a technical performance coach who enables the player to understand why it is he is being asked to do what the coach asks of him.”
Rowan sees Braam’s task as contributing to bringing St Charles College’s winter sports up to the level that is currently being enjoyed by the summer sports.
“We also want to keep the focus on education through sport and with the processes Braam brings and his attention to detail we have goals that don’t just stop in PMB – it’s a process that we are committed to and excited about.”
Braam believes if players get the correct information it eliminates a whole heap, of time wasted on the training field.
“Things can change very quickly in a team – and a school – we’re looking to hit the ground running at St Charles. I’ve been fortunate to coach all around the world, and learn from some of the best coaches so if you instil a belief, for me it’s not about a five year plan it’s about getting it right from the word go and I have done this before in just 10 sessions.
“I have taken a team within a 10-session period and as a sa-schoolsports.co.za first XV ranked 90th in SA and they have beaten a school first XV ranked 12th in the country , it was this year, Northern Cape versus Diamantveld on their derby day 32-17.”
That speaks volumes for the calibre of coach and mentor St Charles College have at their disposal.
“It is about progression from session to session rather than week to week or month to month, with the correct information it can happen a lot quicker.
“You can change something in a three-hour period, that is what I have learnt in 12 years of coaching, you have to get the young player to understand why they are doing it, they have to understand the logic of the skill and what the benefit of doing that drill is going to give them.”
This is what gives a lesser-profile school’s players the self-belief necessary to beat a high school far more highly regarded .
“I am a firm believer that in SA we have not given the players the technical know-how of playing what they see in front of them; ability is born and not coached, but that natural ability can mask the fact that every player who has aspirations must learn the why of what he is doing.”
Van Straaten has developed an athlete profile that reveals the perception the players have of their knowledge base.
“ I think a fault in SA is that we over-complicate things, we need to break it down and simplify the process, to get the players to understand why they are doing what they are doing.”
The five schools in one that is St Charles College means that much of Braam’s focus will be on the junior school section.
“Analysis and feedback on a day to day basis is essential.”
Van Straaten says rugby teaches a player life lessons that he can take with him in his day to day life,.
“Rugby is the sport that teaches you so much about life, it taught me everything I need to know;, we need to find what makes St Charles College special, we want to inspire young boys to be better people, better rugby players and better athletes.”
It is clear that St Charles rugby is on the right track and in Braam van Straaten they have the strategist with the technical and practical knowledge to steer the school into a bright new rugby era.
Ryan Kyle wears the cap well
JONO COOK talks to Maritzburg College first XV head coach Ryan Kyle
The surnames Kyle and Thompson have been regular occurrences in Maritzburg College first XV team sheets since the 1960s and one of the brotherhood, Ryan Kyle, is head coach of the school’s premier team this year.
Ever since Ryan Kyle can remember, there have been stories swopped and tales told amongst his worthy band of kith and kin who have represented the Red, Black and White’s first XV on the fabled turf at Goldstones, Maritzburg College .
“As a family, the Kyle and Thompson clan have been blessed with the memories and opportunities that College provided. It’s wonderful to reminisce on family holidays of each one’s memories, memories that we all talk about with such gratification. Maritzburg College is close to all of us.”
No less than 12 members of the family played for the Maritzburg College first XV. Ryan’s uncle Rodney, a front-ranker, was the first of the clan to earn the much-coveted White Badge on his jersey. The 11 that followed were either flanks or wings – a remarkable statistic.
Ryan Kyle played on the wing for the Maritzburg College first team in 2000, “the year that College went to New Zealand, winning all seven tour games, under the watchful eye of Messrs Dave Anderson, Lance Veenstra and Bruce Collocott, great rugby men from whom I learnt a lot”.
So, he personally understands what that recognition means, taking the field for the first XV.
“It is a great honour to have been appointed to coach this team; it is an institution that many hold so dear. It is a massive responsibility and one that I looked forward to tackling from the outset. We have a team of passionate coaches and medical staff that all have the same objective – to see the team succeed. The urge to do well and the commitment to this cause is something that drives me.
“Like I said to the players, wearing the Red, Black, and White jersey and the White badge and representing so many current College boys – and the ones that have gone before – is one of the biggest privileges and responsibilities a College boy or coach could have. It’s a team effort.”
So, what is Ryan Kyle’s coaching pedigree?
“I am a World Rugby Educator and have an IRB [International Rugby Board] level 2 coaching qualification. I have coached the Maritzburg College U15A team for two seasons, coached the Southern KZN U21 side for two seasons, was the assistant coach of the KZN U18 Country Districts’ team in 2013 and the head coach of the same side in 2014.
“I have coached 7’s teams to Mauritius as well as assisted with a SA Platteland U19 side that toured the UK in 2011. I coached my previous school’s 1st XV, Creston College, for six years.”
Ryan Kyle is much more than “just” the Maritzburg College first XV head coach – he follows the tradition of teacher/coaches. It is a tradition that appears to be on the way out at many schools.
What is his opinion on the merits and pitfalls of what are essentially, two different job descriptions? There are surely positives and negatives in each case?
I have always had a real love for teaching and it is something that I really enjoy doing. As school sport has become so professional, many don’t see the two working hand in hand. For me it’s really important to interact in the classroom with the boys who I coach in the afternoon. You get such a better understanding of the whole player and not just the boy who rocks up and practices in the afternoon. It is a very busy program and you have to juggle it effectively. I still feel though that you have a more holistic understanding of your players when you also teach them.”
A gentleman in the finest tradition, Ryan is also a geography teacher, the admissions PRO, a life orientation teacher, and a boarder master at Hudson House. A husband and father, too.
How does he fit it all in?
“I am very fortunate that my wife is exceptionally supportive of my career and she has really involved herself in her support of what I do. My kids have grown up next to the rugby field and they absolutely love the game. It’s a very fine balance, I am after all a husband and father first. Education and coaching is a calling, these young players become like your own kids. It’s a real privilege to try and build into their lives.”
In 2015, under then Maritzburg College first XV head coach Francois Lubbe, and again in 2016 under Kevin Smith, Ryan Kyle assisted on the sideline during games.
“We are all passionate rugby chaps and it was wonderful to have been able to assist with calls and general game management on Saturdays. It allowed Francois and Kevin to work through me to the players on the field. I really enjoyed this role. The excitement on Saturday afternoons and the passion during the games are memories I will savour.”
Pre-season plays an important role in readying body and mind for the challenges ahead. How did College approach their pre-season and who was involved?
“The pre-season went well. The players had a positive approach to all their training. They worked very hard during the December holidays on the areas that needed work. Our biokineticist, Jason Greeff, does a great job with the boys’ conditioning. We also brought in an American sprint coach, Chris White, who worked with the boys’ running and sprinting technique on Friday afternoons.”
Is Chris also involved during the actual season?
“Our programme is just so full so we have to balance out our training effectively. I would really like to see athletics become a priority amongst KZN schools again. I firmly believe that athletics and rugby complement each other so well. We are hoping to involve Chris White more and more into the future. We are also really lucky to have an IAAF athletics stadium going up 50m from the school and we hope to make good use of the facility.
“There were some very hot days during pre-season training in the first term, which the boys wanted to work through. It indicated a positive attitude amongst the players. As a coach, that player positivity is exciting to work with.”
So how well has Ryan Kyle managed to gel with his first team squad players?
“I have really enjoyed my time with the team. We have training sessions, gym sessions and video sessions which take up 5 afternoons of the week, so I have got to know them all really well. It’s important to understand that there are 15 different characters and that in order to get the best out of each player one needs to know each individual well. It’s a real brotherhood. It’s often a very nostalgic feeling for me and often brings back fond memories of my time here almost 20 years ago.”
Given the non-negotiable commitment of his players, a coach in the Ryan Kyle mould will give them every possible chance to succeed.
Every coach worth his salt is not afraid to call on outside expertise, when needs be. Indeed, it is as much the people in supporting roles who give the head coach the space, time and opportunity to make his mark.
“Kevin Smith is our director of rugby and is always willing to assist. Tim Orchard, who has been coaching at College for many years, is our forwards coach. He did a great job with the forwards in 2016 and I have enjoyed working with him this season – he is a proud College rugby man. Cameron Fraser, our backline coach, coached the second XV last year. He had a good season with them. He is also the KZN Country Districts backline coach and is a real student of the game.
“Our support team includes our bio, Jason Greeff, who I previously mentioned, as well as our physios, Mike Denton and Kent Yateman, who do a great job in keeping the players on the park.”
As to the available talent this year – and whether it is harvesting its potential at this stage of the season?
“Our aim has been to ensure that the players have the tools they need. So much of where success comes from emanates from having the correct mindset and attitude. The players are extremely motivated to succeed. I believe these ingredients enable the boys to perform at their best.
“Maritzburg College rugby has always prided itself on a very hardnosed, no-nonsense forward dominated game which allowed the backs to get ball on the front foot and score tries. If we get good ball to our backs we have the skill and explosive arsenal to score tries.
“We take each game as it comes, concentrating on how we want to execute our game plan against the team in front of us. Having said that, every coach’s ideal is to dominate upfront and allow the backs to exploit that dominance.”
As many a coach will tell you, executive and administrative support is critical to on-field success, so does the Maritzburg College executive provide Kyle with the necessary backing to secure a strong base?
“I have always received the backing that I need from the executive. They are very supportive and I have appreciated that. Many of them are also passionate sportsmen and women, and are genuinely interested in the wellbeing of rugby and all sports at College.”
At the time of writing, in mid-May – following the meritorious 49-31 victory over long-time rivals Michaelhouse on Maritzburg College’s much-celebrated annual Reunion Day – the Red, Black and White’s first XV had played eight matches, won five and lost three.
That first official match of the 2017 season, Grey College – on Goldstones on the last Saturday of March – it doesn’t come any bigger… and there was talk amongst schoolboy rugby fans that perhaps the timing wasn’t ideal.
In terms of result, Grey won 30-3, but in the greater scheme of things did the scheduling of the fixture at that early stage of the Maritzburg College season bring more positives than negatives?
“We often play Grey at either the beginning or right at the end of the season. They are a wonderful rugby school and their rugby history speaks for itself. We want to test ourselves against the best and for us the timing of the game this year gave us a good indication of what we needed to work on for the rest of season.”
Next up was the St Stithians Easter Festival during the April holidays.
Ahead of the season, Kyle had said he was excited about the different challenges his men in Red, Black and White would face: “Every game is a fresh challenge and our focus centres on controlling what we can control. This approach allows us the opportunity to be the best we can be.”
Looking back, did the Saints Fest deliver the hoped-for outcomes?
“Absolutely, festivals allow you to test the depth of your squad and it’s a great time to build some spirit in the camp before the full season starts. We enjoyed our time at Saints and found full value in what we wanted to achieve there.”
Northwood and Pretoria Boys’ High were consecutive away matches successfully negotiated before hundreds of Maritzburg College boys and scores of staff trekked up to Johannesburg and the annual fixtures with their friends at King Edward VII School (KES).
Those three matches, an overall impression please coach?
“Our fixture against Northwood was played under lights during the week. It was a great experience for the players who don’t often get the opportunity to play a night game. We played well and scored some well worked tries. We did a lot of travelling to the Highveld at the start of the season and we knew that Pretoria Boys High would be tough, especially at home. Both schools share a similar ethos and its one of our highlights during the season. We were down 10-19 at one stage but did well to finish the game strongly, winning 36-24. It was then up to Johannesburg to take on our friends at KES. They are having a wonderful season and we knew it would be a great challenge. We were up at half time but unfortunately ran out of steam right at the end, KES running out deserved winners.”
* Then it is DHS plus the rest of the fixtures – Hilton College on Goldstones at the end of May followed by Westville at home in early June and a set of away matches versus Kearsney College and Glenwood before the July holidays break.
The season wraps up in the third term with Affies in Pretoria, before Pretoria Boys’ and KES at home, the Skonk Nicholson 7’s on August 19 bringing the curtain down on the 2017 Maritzburg College rugby year.
One can only wish the thoroughly likeable Ryan Kyle and his team everything of the best for the rest of the season.
********
A family’s association with the Maritzburg College first XV
The Kyle/Thompson dozen who played matches for the 1st XV in their day:
Rodney Thompson (Uncle) – 66&67 (Natal Schools) Prop
Geoff Thompson 69/70 Flank
Colin Kyle (Uncle) – 65,66&67 (Natal Schools) Wing
Peter Kyle (Father) – 73&74 (Natal Schools) Wing
Malcom Thompson (Uncle) – 73&74 (SA Schools) Flank
Bash Kyle (Uncle) – 75&76 (Natal Schools) Captain Flank
Mark Kyle (Cousin) – 93 (Natal Schools) Wing
Roger Thompson (Cousin) – 93 Flank
Barry Kyle (Cousin) – 94&95 Wing
Brad Thompson (Cousin) – 96 Flank
Ryan Kyle – 2000 Wing
Shawn Kyle (Cousin) – 01 Flank
Athletics makes better rugby players
The outstanding performances of the KZN U16 and U18 rugby teams at Grant Khomo and Coca-Cola Craven Week this year were exceptions to the generally disappointing performances over the past number of years.
In one-on-one situations the boys from outside KZN over the years have generally appeared to have the upper hand on their KwaZulu-Natalian counterparts.
Why is this? One man who has experience from inside the KZN enclave and on the Highveld strongly believes (and he is not alone among KZN schoolboy rugby aficionados) it is due to the fact that those provinces such as the Western Cape and Gauteng placing a greater emphasis on the athletics sports code produce better rugby players as a rule. Affies, Waterkloof, Menlo Park, Paarl Boys, Paarl Gim, Grey College etc.
Ruan Lombard played scrumhalf for Affies (Die Witbulle), has a degree in sports psychology from UJ, is head of physical education at Maritzburg College and was the MC U16A rugby head coach in 2017. Next year he moves to DHS where teaching mathematics and coaching the U16A are his initial priorities.
“Going back a bit, if you look at Springbok Fourie du Preez… (who became one of the greatest scrumhalves in the world). Before playing for the Witbulle it was said that he was too slow to get higher honours in rugby … so during the December holidays he did speed work with the athletes and that helped him (achieve at Affies and thereafter). Another bloke is Bulls and Bokke number eight Pierre Spies… Pierre Schoeman and Jean Schoeman, the Sharks and Bulls front-rankers, both did shot put at school.
Ruan Lombard continues: “You can see the difference on the rugby field. In my matric year (2008) both our wings ran 10.4 and 10.9 respectively for the 100m event and our 8th man Hendrik Hoogenboezem was part of the relay team. Our one centre was the javelin champion. That’s just to name a few. Affies prides itself on its 100m relay sprint teams and so this filters through onto the rugby field.”
Ruan says athletics, particularly in the first school term gives boys a physical, mental and emotional self-confidence, self-discipline to tackle the rigours of the looming rugby season – and this can be applied to boys in the other major winter sports codes, hockey and soccer.
“Athletics is all about competition, it’s a breeding ground for mental- and self-discipline. In Gauteng, for example the Inter-High Athletics we have 25 schools coming to watch, you want to be the best. This can be done in the KZN capital and midlands, as well as the Durban region. Then a KZN Athletics Day bringing the best together… then the community gets involved, they become hugely popular calendar events.”
The 100m, 200m track events and long jump are focus areas for the backline rugby players and possibly one or two loose forwards; maybe the 400m to 800 and 1500m for stamina in the case of certain rugby players and positions; the field events like shot put, discus, javelin for the front-rankers and locks plus plus…
“They help rugby players and those in other sports codes develop agility, balance, their speedwork… Once you go into the rugby or hockey season the difference now is that your speedwork, agility etcetera is already done (and it’s not just “boring” shuttle runs and the like). Mentally you are in a good place too. Allied with a good conditioning programme in the gym, it instills so much physical and mental positivity, discipline in the boys before the rugby\hockey season even starts. Then it’s a case of skills work with ball or stick in hand, the rest of pre-season is already done.”
Ruan says KZN lacks this focus and it needs to be promoted in the interests of all sports codes as it will deliver more consistent performances for KZN at national weeks.
“I think (2017 KZN and SA Schools centre) Conan le Fleur is a Western Cape boy who came to Glenwood in KZN. His first tackle… on the Blue Bulls centre… set the tone for the KZN win and set them up for a successful Craven Week. It is also important to instil a sense of fun into the pre-season… the athletics can do this. If you push the boys there has to be a reason behind it. In KZN the rugby boys often wait for the coach to give them extra work. You want the boys to ask for a bag of balls, to want to train on their own… Fez Mbatha the KZN and SA Schools hooker from Maritzburg College is one who did so and he reaped the rewards.”
Maritzburg College biokineticist Jason Greeff is in full agreement: “It’s all about running mechanics in many sports codes – and that is where athletics coaching comes in … most boys haven’t been taught from a young age how to run efficiently, so from a bio-mechanical point of view more emphasis on athletics in the first term will aid speedwork, fitness and injury prevention, the benefits will cross-over into rugby, hockey and football, to name just three.”
One school in particular is perfectly placed to benefit from the opportunities that athletics in the first term brings to the major winter sports codes.
Maritzburg College deputy headmaster co-curricular Brandon Swart said that the almost-completed world-class athletics stadium across the road from the school will add exponential value.
“Our athletics season has been moved from the third to the first term primarily to better position our school championship athletics event but the spin-off this is going to bring to all our sports codes, especially those in pre-season like rugby and hockey is going to be tremendous. So whilst these boys are going to be having heats and training towards the school athletics championships it’s also going to assist their speed training, their sprint training, running styles for all the other codes and this is going to improve our other sports codes without us even realising it.”
Swart said the new athletics stadium is also a springboard for revitalising athletics in the region. “The stadium is of world-class standard … the tartan track, the facilities will allow our coaches to expand on their ability to coach but also it means that athletics can run concurrently to everything else we are doing, so there is no longer any need to take out two grass hockey fields or a cricket field to paint in an athletics track, as in the past.
“We no longer have to force the athletics programme into a space, it now can happen naturally and that’s what this facility literally across the road from Maritzburg College provides for us.
And the advantages of this new athletics stadium to the greater KZN capital and midlands community of schools speaks for itself.