CLIFTON SCHOOL
Highveld cricket matches leave Maritzburg College & Clifton 1sts with food for thought
WITH the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Cricket Festival now just 26 days away, OMCW hosts Maritzburg College and fellow KZN10 invitees Clifton College got some solid time in the middle during the Fasken Time Cricket Festival hosted as always by St Davids Marist Inanda over the weekend.
Not all the sides were at full strength – Clifton, for one, were missing key players in captain and prolific batting all-rounder Matthew Montgomery, as well as outstanding all-rounder Simon Holmes. That said, the 2 two-day matches were invaluable to all who participated.
Feature image: Maritzburg College’s grade 11 top-order batsmen Jacques van der Walt (left) and Andrew Todd scored half-centuries against St Albans. Photo Jono Cook
Some experiences can be avoided if you consult the experts first. hhttp://titantech.co.za/
I’m just surmising from afar that the experience also gave the two participating KZN10 sides – Maritzburg College and Clifton – much food for thought and specific aspects to work on ahead of the domestic season getting into full swing.
The two KZN10 sides were well beaten in three of the four matches with the fourth leaning towards Maritzburg College before ending in a draw.
Certainly in head coaches Dave Pryke of Maritzburg College and Yashin Ebrahim of Clifton we have the calibre of cricket men to implement the necessary remedies.
Rest and recuperation is good for a cricketer’s soul. https://www.fordoun.com
Other OMCW sides St Stithians, Cricket South Africa TAP (Talent Acceleration Programme) XI, KES (King Edward VII School) and St Albans College Pretoria also got in some quality time.
Based on the outcomes at St Davids it appears that the three Johannesburg-based sides (assuming CSA TAP – I am not sure – is primarily from Gauteng ) are running into prime form at this early stage of the 2018 third/fourth term school cricket season.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the upcountry schools fare against the KZN sides at OMCW, which takes place in the greater PMB region and where the local lads are more accustomed to the conditions
Individual awards went to Cameron Shekleton of St Stithians (Best Batsman, with the remarkable average of 261), Neo Felane of the CSA TAP XI (Best Bowler, with 14 wickets) and Bryce Parsons of King Edward VII School (Best Player, with 265 runs and nine wickets).
Batting is about confidence, so set your mind at ease with a vision test. www.hilliarandgray.co.za/
ROUND 1 SCORES IN BRIEF
St Stithian’s vs Clifton
Clifton 108 (Joshua Hoffman 8/36) and 165 (Daniel Elgar 41, Joshua Hoffman 6/52)
St Stithians 388/6 dec (Cameron Rowe 156, Cameron Shekleton 131)
St Stithians won by an innings and 115 runs
Cricket South Africa TAP XI vs St Alban’s College
CSA TAP XI 246 (Marco Jansen 62, Bonga Makhakha 54, Rein Hulme 3/31) and 95/8 (Bradley Leonard 3/19, Hulme 3/24)
St Alban’s College 113 (Ross Whitelaw 49, Odirile Modimokane 7/6) and 221 (Hulme 70, Jacques Vosloo 3/28, Neo Felane 3/46)
CSA TAP XI won by 2 wickets
Make sure your communication is up to speed or anticipate plenty of run outs. https://www.cellc.co.za/
St David’s vs St Andrew’s (Bloemfontein)
St David’s 298/7 dec (Jacob Miltz 130, Alex Lategan 106) and 226/3 dec (Miltz 67, Lategan 60)
St Andrew’s 271/6 dec (Corne Viljoen 102, Ruan Cronje 63) and 68/0
Match drawn
King Edward VII vs Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College 251/9 dec (Jared Campbell 51, Bryce Parsons 3/59, Keegan Jansen van Rensburg 3/64) and 254 (Dean Dyer 76 not out, Jacques van der Walt 70)
King Edward VII 364/7 dec (Heinrigh Pieterse 190, Bryce Parsons 117, Mondli Khumalo 3/74) and 142/1 (Joshua Streak 52, Jason Bracher 50)
King Edward VII won by 9 wickets
Maritzburg College pacemen Mondli Khumalo (3-74) and Jayden Gengan (4-36) got wickets in the respective KES and St Albans first innings. Photo Jono Cook
ROUND 2 SCORES IN BRIEF
Maritzburg College vs St Alban’s College
Maritzburg College 240 (Andrew Todd 70, Dean Dyer 66 not out, Simon Miller 3/20) and 183/5 dec (Jacques van der Walt 54 not out, Jordan Landsberg 3/29)
St Alban’s 121/7 dec (Ross Whitelaw 57, Jayden Gengan 4/36) and 258/7 (Rein Hulme 73, Whitelaw 67, Shaun Elliot 3/29)
Match drawn
St David’s vs Cricket South Africa TAP XI
St David’s 60 (Marco Jansen 3/11, Neo Felane 3/4) and 180 (Jacob Miltz 70, Neo Felane 7/38)
CSA TAP XI 218/9 dec (Tahir Isaacs 82, Tetelo Maphaka 3/42, Bradley Griffin 3/73) and 23/0
CSA TAP XI won by 10 wickets
* St Andrew’s School (Bloemfontein) vs St Stithians
St Andrew’s 273 (Henre Koekemoer 84 not out, Ruan Cronje 52, JP Bloem 3/31, Tristan Brooks 3/53)
St Stithians 332/1 dec (Cameron Shekleton 130 not out, Cameron Rowe 90, Mudiwa Chanakira 99 not out)
Match drawn
* From the scores source I accessed.
Clifton’s Ariq Chetty put his bat aside to take 4 wickets in the big KES 1st innings total.
* Clifton Durban vs King Edward VII School
Clifton Durban 226 (Daniel Elgar 41) and 174 (Crispin McKenzie 4/53, Bryce Parsons 3/9)
King Edward VII 378 (Parsons 102, Jason Bracher 64, Ariq Chetty 4/143) and 23/0
King Edward VII won by 10 wickets
* It appears, from the scores source I accessed, that the KES first innings total is almost certainly not exactly correct but other than that the rest of the detail is. KES did win the game by 10 wickets.
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
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
Master Blaster Matt Lewis the Clifton kingpin
In KZN10 schoolboy hockey circles and further afield Matt Lewis needs no introduction – let’s find out more.
It’s not a piece of cake being captain of one of arguably the top three or four first teams in SA. Then you’re also primary goalshot go-to man from field play, also the G-Force missile man at penalty corner drag-flick time… and also…
So does all this pressure, this responsibility weigh heavily on young shoulders… the answer suggests BMT is not lacking.
Feature image: Matt Lewis goalbound… prepares to enter the strike zone after advancing across the attacking third.
Photo Terry Lewis
“Hi sir, with these responsibilities comes a lot of pressure to perform and those are the conditions I thrive in and play my best. The main goal of being a striker is to score as many goals as possible and there is no better feeling than scoring goals.”
At a young age Matt has already garnered recognition beyond Clifton and KZN’s school boundaries.
On the Astro (outdoor) front Matt’s accolades include four years Clifton first team (2015-18), three years first team at one of KZN and SA’s top clubs Riverside (2016-18), age-group selection (KZN Coastal U16A 2015/16), (KZN Coastal U18A 2018) and SA U16 2015/16.
But, wait! I hear. Yes, you’ll hear about the 2017 outdoor hockey annus horribilis in due course.
On the indoor hockey courts Matt has been able to transfer his outdoor hockey skills with success – it is not a given that a quality exponent on the turf will also be pretty sharp inside a sports hall.
It is worth noting that in terms of months outdoor hockey dominates the hockey year compared to indoor, but the sports code of sideboards and six-a-side has enjoyed a significant resurgence in the last decade or so – primarily with its popularity amongst the youth at the more prominent hockey schools, from primary to high.
So Matt’s indoor representation looks like this – 1st Clifton college 2015-18, Pro Series Indoor (Psi) Panthers (one of the Durban franchises) 2014 to 2016 and SA All Stars U17 selection in 2017.
Doing what he does best: Taking on defenders when hitting the attacking third with the strike zone just a hard yard or three further.
Photo Terry Lewis
Returning to matters Matt and Clifton firsts on the Astro, Matt says: “I have been playing for the last 4 years and have enjoyed every bit of it. I am on 80+ games so far, having made my debut in 2015. In the earlier years I didn’t have the responsibilities that I have in current times . My game has developed a lot since then and the transformation from individual hockey into playing 1-touch hockey became a reality in 2015. I play a completely different game now, than what I did in 2015 and I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I was given then.”
As to what qualities of leadership does Matt aspire to when captaining the Clifton firsts, he says, without hesitation, “Passion, determination and lead by my actions are important to me.”
Matt is content, at this point, with the first team season: “Yes I do think we have had a good season so far.”
Played 20 Won 17 Drew 3.
“We still have – Helpmekaar and St David’s this coming weekend, we then have Michaelhouse on 9 June and Kearsney 13 June.
“We have produced quality results against big hockey schools.”
A clear ambition of Matt and his first team is to stay focused on their remaining school matches in order to complete the season the way they intend to, but what lies ahead in terms of KZN Coastal U18A?
“Winning gold at IPT (U18 Interprovincial Hockey Nationals tournament hosted by Maritzburg College in the first week of July) is another goal on my mind as I feel we as KZN Coastal have a very strong team to do so.”
The genesis of Matt’s hockey, where did what is burgeoning into something special begin?
“I started playing when I was 6 years old at my current hockey club Riverside HC.
“Michael Baker was my first coach who made a special difference. Having missed out on making the U12A KZN Coastal team, he gave me a call up to the U13C team – we went on to win gold at the IPT and it changed me as a player completely.”
Another gamechanger for matters hockey al la Matt Lewis was Calvin “Chicken” Price: He was my coach when I made my debut for Clifton in grade 9 and backed me all the way, he mentored me and gave me the opportunity I am ever so grateful for.
As to the here and now? “Keegan Pearce. He is my current (head) coach for Clifton College (and the sports code’s director) and has coached me for the last 3 years. He has changed my game to a new level and I can’t thank him enough for it – he is passionate and pushes me to do my best. He knows me the best and expects a lot from me, which pushes me to be a better player.”
One Mark Hopkins is another gamebreaker in the development of Matt Lewis Hockey: “Mr Hopkins is the current SA men’s coach and my club hockey coach, he knows the game like no other – has so much knowledge… He has coached me at a level, and has shown me what it takes to compete at the highest level and I am grateful to learn that at such a young age.”
OK okay Matt, but coaches aren’t the be-all and end-all… There is the not-so small matter of real life outside the white lines of stick and ball.
“As some people know I was out with a knee injury and had to have surgery.”
At this juncture, dear reader, please refer to paragraph 7 … and annus horribilis…
“My friends did not stop believing in me and after a long road to recovery I am back and feeling better than ever. Now to the (most) important people, I cannot thank my parents, brother and sister enough for the support that I received during this tough time. They did everything they could for me during the early parts of my injury and have continued that support to this day.”
Defenders are you ready?
In a KZN10 schoolboy hockey career so illustrious already, what to date – in Matt’s unerring eye – has been the most memorable Clifton match… and why…
With the instantaneous Matt Lewis reflex action that turns a goalshot rebound into a Matt Lewis goal, here’s the answer: “Northwood game – it was nice to get a win against them as a lot of the players in their team are my mates. It is also a Durban North derby and the competitive levels are high.”
OK, there’s the obvious attraction of crossing hockey swords with a neighbour, but what about a KZN10 team a little further afield? Once again the unequivocal response – “Maritzburg College – they are a very good team.”
I was privileged to watch the 1-1 draw in what was a Battle Royale on the Red Army’s fortress Pape’s Astro. It was a no-holds-barred Last Man Standing affair played with a fierce, unflinching will and no little skill in which Clifton showed tremendous team grit to force a stalemate in a match that coach Pearce said was not the usual quality Clifton performance.
Says Matt: “College have produced quality results for years and have been regarded as the best team in the country a lot of those years.”
With star striker quality of the Matt Lewis calibre hitting peak, don’t be surprised if the IPT Nationals gold medal goes back to Durban early next month.
“Thank you, sir.”
Here’s Matt Lewis in 20 seconds
Favourite food……. biltong
Actor…… Will Smith
Actress……. Margot Robbie
TV show……. Peaky Blinders
Holiday destination……. Cape Town or Kruger
Board game…… don’t have one
Car……. Jaguar F-Type
Nickname……. Lewy
So, Lewy in one word……. passionate
Favourite breakfast……. bacon and eggs
3 desert island must-haves……. cellphone, TV and some mates
4 things I can’t live without…….. friends , hockey, biltong and the beach
Favourite quote…….. “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today” – H. Jackson Brown jnr
If I could attend any sports event…….. Olympic Games
Down time……. relaxing with friends and playing PlayStation
———
Matt Lewis, clearly much more than just a hockey player.
KZN hockey showdown this afternoon: Red Army vs Clifton on Pape’s Astro
Keegan has been head of hockey at Clifton for two years while his opposite number Dylan Coombes is in his first year at the helm on Fortress Pape’s.
Both outfits are encouraged to execute an exciting brand of attacking hockey that has at its core a number of similarities:
Calmness under pressure
‘This derby is certainly a highlight for the Durban North community’
“WE’VE certainly won the week with regards to our preparation,” says Northwood first XV head coach Torsten Sorensen. “The boys have really been exceptional. The fact that we never got to play Michaelhouse last weekend (a lightning warning forced the match to be abandoned before kick-off) has given the boys renewed energy and focus.”
The preparations Torsten refers to were towards getting on the front foot from the kick-off in the once-a-year Durban North derby against Clifton, which kicks off at 1.10pm on Riverside Sports Club’s premier rugby paddock.
‘There’s a healthy rivalry due to our proximity… the boys know each other well’
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith (left) with Northwood 1st XV head coach Torsten Sorensen.
“Our team medical officer Richard Tyler and strength and conditioning head Simon Vickers have been outstanding in this regard and those injured players have followed a strict and rigorous process in order to return quickly but, more important, safely.
“We have our 8th man Ranger Mfakadolo (featured image) back from a 2-week injury layoff as well as our winger Lina Majola. Both add tremendous value. We have sadly lost our loosehead prop Aston Sparks to a concussion two weeks ago.”
This is Torsten’s first derby as head coach. The rugby man through and through that is Torsten-Erik Sorensen (of Danish heritage) was assistant to Grant Bashford in 2016 and Dick Muir in 2017.
Intensity & focus will be among the watchwords for Clifton College first XV captain Josh Brown and team today.
Clifton College first XV inside centre & headboy Jack Koch will be looking to create space in the derby at Riverside today.
For a man so passionate about the sport, coaching was clearly the next avenue, the journey taking him to Westville Boys’ High in 2006 – where he stayed until 2015. The Great Dane coached the Westville 1st XV in the years 2012 to 2014. The move to Northwood came in 2016, as an assistant to Bashy (Grant Bashford) then Dick Muir.
“I was appointed head coach by Dick when he left to join the Sharks last year.”
“Our brand is high tempo and skillful. We are very fortunate to have Grant Bashford as our director of coaching. His vast experience at Super Rugby level as well as his great relationships with many of rugby’s top current coaches around the globe have allowed us to be at the cutting edge of the modern game.
“From our training regime, to our conditioning and patterns of play we are very up to date with what many of the top New Zealand franchises are doing. Just this week we were rubbing shoulders with the Chiefs coaches and conditioning staff and this reinforced our belief that what we are doing is right.”
When it comes to today’s opponents, is it clear that the Northwood head coach has much respect for the school.
“I admire the Clifton ethos and the culture of individual excellence that they drive. Their boys are always extremely well mannered and proud of their school. They have a very experienced coaching staff, many of whom I’ve worked with in the past. “(Clifton head coach) Ross (Saayman) has lots of experience and has been with Clifton for many years now.”
Clifton College director of rugby Grant Bell (left) and first XV head coach Ross Saayman are held in high respect.
“I’ve worked under their current director of rugby Grant Bell whilst at Westville Boys… Grant is an astute, experienced coach with a tremendous rugby brain. We certainly will not go into this game complacent. We can expect a well-coached team.”Thanks for your time, Torsten – the much-appreciated insight into Northwood’s prep for today’s derby as well as the respect you have for Clifton.
KZN10.com wishes Northwood and Clifton all the best for today’s Durban North derby.
‘It’s a high-profile hockey match for both schools,’ says Clifton head coach
Clifton director of hockey and first team head coach Keegan Pearce is widely respected for his bigger-picture thinking.His thoughts on the Saturday, 16 May 2018’s Durban North derby with Northwood that launches at 11.15am on the Riverside 2 turf:
“Preparation this week has been tough with the flu hitting 4 of our boys really hard,but fortunately we are at full strength for the derby barring Alex Kerr our regular centre back who has been out for over a month with glandular fever.”
“Fortunately we get to play at home, which for us is Riverside. We are really blessed with a great group of boys at Clifton, and they have nominated this as one of their compulsories, so we are expecting over 400 boys to crowd around the Astro to cheers the 1st team lads on. ”
The Clifton hockey man will have his first team assistant coach Andrew Dunn alongside to help steer the ship.
Clifton 1st hockey team assistant coach Andrew Dunn will be supporting his head coach all the way during the Durban North derby today.
The Clifton first hockey team will appreciate every ounce of support from their schoolmates today…
As to the brand of hockey Clifton aspire to play: “Our focus this year has been on trying to manipulate space in certain pre-identified areas when we have the ball. Defensive pride and identifying our shape in counter-defence has been of high importance for us. Accountability and intensity have been focus areas at training and that understanding has filtered into our games during our down phases – and we really have absorbed pressure well.
“We have a strong PC (penalty corner) attack battery that includes two KZN U18A (drag) flickers … and we have balanced out our PC and field goals nicely, which is great to see. We defended nine PC’s in our 2nd half against a competitive Glenwood team to not concede, so hopefully our PC defence is another strong area for us today.”
Keegan has a lot of time for his opposition’s hockey: “Northwood have produced some clinical results this season, and under Bakes (Shaun Baker) they are sure to be well structured and immensely aware of their individual and team responsibilities. They have brilliant young talents and I’m sure they will bring a great game plan and intensity to today’s encounter.
Ace Northwood shot-stopper Taine Bird will be properly tested by the Clifton College penalty corner machine.
“KZN is blessed with talented hockey schools and every local derby is evenly contested, Today should be no different and the atmosphere at Riverside is going to be extremely special.”
Well said Keegan.
KZN10.com wishes Clifton well for today’s special occasion in Durban North and KZN hockey.
Northwood’s hockey director & head coach on today’s Clifton derby & more
NORTHWOOD director of hockey Shaun Baker has played the game at a high level – while at school and post-school.
Captained Maritzburg College under the tutelage of schools (and more) hockey coaching legend Mike Bechet, and played and coached in a number of countries across the globe.
His thoughts on the much-anticipated 11.15am Durban North derby 19 May 2018 between the Knights and KZN top 10 hockey neighbours Clifton College on Riverside Turf 2:
“Thanks Jono. Preparations this week – hasn’t been an ideal week of preparations as quite a few boys have had this tummy bug and flu that is doing the rounds. However I am pretty much at full strength.
“I have only been in charge and head coach for one other Northwood vs Clifton derby, which was last year and we drew 0-0 at Northwood.”
‘Clifton head coach Keegan Pearce has a great eye for the game’
“The attraction with regards to the derby is, I think, due to the fact that many of the local prep school boys either go to Northwood or Clifton, so there is a seriousness from their side. The Clifton match is definitely a big one…”Bakes says he’s excited to see what the Clifton 1st XI produce on Game Day:
“They are a very well-rounded team with some real quality in their ranks. The likes of Matt Lewis (a phenomenal hockey player), Kyle Whiteboy and (Matthew) Montgomery alone are incredible hockey players who lead that side this year.”
The Northwood hockey leader says that Clifton’s hockey as a whole has grown impressively in recent years.”I know that a big part of that is due to (Clifton hockey director and head coach) Keegan Pearce.
“I have coached against him at school and club, played against a team of his… he has agreat eye for the game and has good structures in place to develop more than just a good team or player.
“I am a huge fan of his and we have spoken on several occasions about the game and picked each other’s brain. I really do have a lot a respect for him as an opposition coach.”
Bakes, KZN10.com wishes you and the Northwood lads all the best for today’s derby.